YOUNG SOCRATES: Are they not right in saying so?

STRANGER: Very likely they may be, and we will consider their claim.

But we are certain of this,--that no one will raise a similar claim as

against the herdsman, who is allowed on all hands to be the sole and

only feeder and physician of his herd; he is also their match-maker

and accoucheur; no one else knows that department of science. And he is

their merry-maker and musician, as far as their nature is susceptible of

such influences, and no one can console and soothe his own herd

better than he can, either with the natural tones of his voice or with

instruments. And the same may be said of tenders of animals in general.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Very true.

STRANGER: But if this is as you say, can our argument about the king

be true and unimpeachable? Were we right in selecting him out of ten

thousand other claimants to be the shepherd and rearer of the human

flock?

YOUNG SOCRATES: Surely not.

STRANGER: Had we not reason just to now to apprehend, that although we

may have described a sort of royal form, we have not as yet accurately

worked out the true image of the Statesman? and that we cannot reveal

him as he truly is in his own nature, until we have disengaged and