_A._ Think you not then The case is just the same about the good. That the good is something by itself, intrinsic And he who’s learnt, does at once become Himself a good man? just as he who’s learnt Flute-playing is a flute-player; or dancing, A dancer; weaving, a weaver. And in short, Whoever learns an art, does not become The art itself, but just an artist in it. Plato, in his theory of Ideas, says, “That since there is such a thing as memory, the ideas are in existent things, because memory is only conversant about what is stable and enduring; and that no other thing is durable except ideas, for in what way,” he continues, “could animals be preserved, if they had no ideas to guide them, and if, in addition to them, they had not an intellect given to them by nature?” But as it is they recollect similitudes, and also their food, so as to know what kind of food is fit for them; which they learn because the notion of similarity is implanted naturally in every animal; owing to which notion they recognize those of the same species as themselves. What is it then that Epicharmus says? Eumæus’ wisdom?—not a scanty gift Appropriated to one single being; But every animal that breathes and lives, Has mind and intellect.—So if you will Survey the facts attentively, you’ll find, E’en in the common poultry yard, the hen Brings not her offspring forth at first alive, But sits upon her eggs, and by her warmth, Cherishes them into life. And all this wisdom She does derive from nature’s gift alone, For nature is her only guide and teacher. And in a subsequent passage he says:— There is no wonder in my teaching this, That citizens please citizens, and seem To one another to be beautiful: And so one dog seems to another dog The fairest object in the world; and so One ox seems to another, ass to ass, And swine to swine. And these and similar speculations are examined and compared by Alcimus through four books, where he shows how much assistance Plato has derived from Epicharmus. And that Epicharmus himself was not indisposed to appreciate his own wisdom, one may learn from these lines, in which he predicts that there will arise some one to imitate him:— But as I think, I surely foresee this, That these my words will be preserved hereafter In many people’s recollection. And Another man will come, who’ll strip my reasons Of their poetic dress, and, clothing them In other garments and with purple broidery Will show them off; and being invincible, Will make all rivals bow the knee to him. XIII. Plato also appears to have brought the books of Sophron, the farce-writer,[31] to Athens, which were previously neglected; and to have availed himself of them in his Speculations on Morals: and a copy of them was found under his head.