on a much larger and grander scale.

YOUNG SOCRATES: What do you mean?

STRANGER: I mean to say that when we were asked about a king and

statesman of the present cycle and generation, we told of a shepherd of

a human flock who belonged to the other cycle, and of one who was a

god when he ought to have been a man; and this a great error. Again,

we declared him to be the ruler of the entire State, without explaining

how: this was not the whole truth, nor very intelligible; but still it

was true, and therefore the second error was not so great as the first.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Very good.

STRANGER: Before we can expect to have a perfect description of the

statesman we must define the nature of his office.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.

STRANGER: And the myth was introduced in order to show, not only that

all others are rivals of the true shepherd who is the object of our

search, but in order that we might have a clearer view of him who is

alone worthy to receive this appellation, because he alone of shepherds

and herdsmen, according to the image which we have employed, has the

care of human beings.

Statesman