[Footnote 8: Plato, Theagês, 126 D. Here again Stallbaum (p. 222) urges, among his reasons for believing the dialogue to be spurious--How absurd to represent the youthful Theagês as knowing what arguments Sokrates had addressed to others! But the youthful Theætêtus is also represented as having heard from others the cross-examinations made by Sokrates (Theætêt. 148 E). So likewise the youthful sons of Lysimachus--(Lachês, 181 A); compare also Lysis, 211 A.] [Footnote 9: Plato, Theagês, 127 A.] Demodokus joins his entreaties with those of Theagês to prevail upon Sokrates to undertake this function. But Sokrates in reply says that he is less fit for it than Demodokus himself, who has exercised high political duties, with the esteem of every one; and that if practical statesmen are considered unfit, there are the professional Sophists, Prodikus, Gorgias, Polus, who teach many pupils, and earn not merely good pay, but also the admiration and gratitude of every one--of the pupils as well as their senior relatives.[10] [Footnote 10: Plato, Theagês, 127 D-E, 128 A.] [Side-note: Sokrates declares that he is not competent to teach--that he knows nothing except about matters of love. Theagês maintains that many of his young friends have profited largely by the conversation of Sokrates.] _Sokr._--I know nothing of the fine things which these Sophists teach: I wish I did know. I declare everywhere, that I know nothing whatever except one small matter--what belongs to love. In that, I surpass every one else, past as well as present.[11] _Theag._--Sokrates is only mocking us. I know youths (of my own age and somewhat older), who were altogether worthless and inferior to every one, before they went to him; but who, after they had frequented his society, became in a short time superior to all their former rivals. The like will happen with me, if he will only consent to receive me.[12] [Footnote 11: Plato, Theagês, 128 B. [Greek: a)lla\ kai\ le/gô dê/pou a)ei/, o(/ti e)gô\ tugcha/nô, ô(s e)/pos ei)pei=n, ou)de\n e)pista/menos plê/n ge smikrou= tino\s mathê/matos, tô=n e)rôtikô=n, tou=to me/ntoi to\ ma/thêma par' o(ntinou=n poiou=mai deino\s ei)=nai, kai\ tô=n progegono/tôn a)nthrô/pôn kai\ tô=n nu=n.]] [Footnote 12: Plato, Theagês, 128 C.] [Side-note: Sokrates explains how this has sometimes happened--he recites his experience of the divine sign or Dæmon.]