of the greatest importance, whilst others should execute his orders.

YOUNG SOCRATES: True.

STRANGER: And, therefore, the arts which we have described, as they

have no authority over themselves or one another, but are each of them

concerned with some special action of their own, have, as they ought to

have, special names corresponding to their several actions.

YOUNG SOCRATES: I agree.

STRANGER: And the science which is over them all, and has charge of the

laws, and of all matters affecting the State, and truly weaves them

all into one, if we would describe under a name characteristic of their

common nature, most truly we may call politics.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Exactly so.

STRANGER: Then, now that we have discovered the various classes in

a State, shall I analyse politics after the pattern which weaving

supplied?

YOUNG SOCRATES: I greatly wish that you would.

STRANGER: Then I must describe the nature of the royal web, and show how

the various threads are woven into one piece.

112

Statesman