their freight; and are guilty of other rogueries. Now suppose that we,

bearing all this in mind, were to determine, after consideration, that

neither of these arts shall any longer be allowed to exercise absolute

control either over freemen or over slaves, but that we will summon an

assembly either of all the people, or of the rich only, that anybody who

likes, whatever may be his calling, or even if he have no calling, may

offer an opinion either about seamanship or about diseases--whether as

to the manner in which physic or surgical instruments are to be applied

to the patient, or again about the vessels and the nautical implements

which are required in navigation, and how to meet the dangers of

winds and waves which are incidental to the voyage, how to behave when

encountering pirates, and what is to be done with the old-fashioned

galleys, if they have to fight with others of a similar build--and that,

whatever shall be decreed by the multitude on these points, upon

the advice of persons skilled or unskilled, shall be written down on

triangular tablets and columns, or enacted although unwritten to be

national customs; and that in all future time vessels shall be navigated

and remedies administered to the patient after this fashion.

YOUNG SOCRATES: What a strange notion!

STRANGER: Suppose further, that the pilots and physicians are appointed

annually, either out of the rich, or out of the whole people, and that

they are elected by lot; and that after their election they navigate

vessels and heal the sick according to the written rules.

Statesman