_Sokr._--Perhaps you do not reflect that pieces on the draught-board, when their position is changed, still remain the same. You know medical treatises: you know that physicians are the really knowing about matters of health: and that they agree with each other in writing about them. _Comp._--Yes--I know that. _Sokr._--The case is the same whether they be Greeks or not Greeks: Those who know, must of necessity hold the same opinion with each other, on matters which they know: always and everywhere. _Comp._--Yes--always and everywhere. _Sokr._--Physicians write respecting matters of health what they account to be true, and these writings of theirs are the medical laws? _Comp._--Certainly they are. _Sokr._--The like is true respecting the laws of farming--the laws of gardening--the laws of cookery. All these are the writings of persons, knowing in each of the respective pursuits? _Comp._--Yes.[23] _Sokr._--In like manner, what are the laws respecting the government of a city? Are they not the writings of those who know how to govern--kings, statesmen, and men of superior excellence? _Comp._--Truly so. _Sokr._--Knowing men like these will not write differently from each other about the same things, nor change what they have once written. If, then, we see some doing this, are we to declare them knowing or ignorant? _Comp._--Ignorant--undoubtedly. [Footnote 23: Plato, Minos, 316 D-E.] [Side-note: That which is right is the regal law, the only true and real law--that which is not right, is not law, but only seems to be law in the eyes of the ignorant.] _Sokr._--Whatever is right, therefore, we may pronounce to be lawful; in medicine, gardening, or cookery: whatever is not right, not to be lawful but lawless. And the like in treatises respecting just and unjust, prescribing how the city is to be administered: That which is right, is the regal law--that which is not right, is not so, but only seems to be law in the eyes of the ignorant--being in truth lawless. _Comp._--Yes. _Sokr._--We were correct therefore in declaring Law to be the finding out of reality. _Comp._--It appears so.[24] _Sokr._--It is the skilful husbandman who gives right laws on the sowing of land: the skilful musician on the touching of instruments: the skilful trainer, respecting exercise of the body: the skilful king or governor, respecting the minds of the citizens. _Comp._--Yes--it is.[25] [Footnote 24: Plato, Minos, 317 C. [Greek: to\ me\n o)rtho\n no/mos e)sti\ basiliko/s; to\ de\ mê\ o)rtho/n ou)/, o(\ dokei= no/mos ei)=nai toi=s ei)do/sin; e)/sti ga\r a)/nomon.]] [Footnote 25: Plato, Minos, 318 A.] [Side-note: Minos, King of Krete--his laws were divine and excellent, and have remained unchanged from time immemorial.]