_Pol._ Ask. _Chær._ I ask then, If Gorgias happened to be skilled in the same art as his brother Herodicus is skilled, what name should we rightly give him? Would it not be the same as his brother? _Pol._ Certainly. _Chær._ In calling him a physician, then, we should speak correctly? _Pol._ Yes. _Chær._ But if he were skilled in the same art as Aristophon, son of Aglaophon, or his brother, what should we properly call him? _Pol._ Evidently, a painter. _Chær._ But now, since he is skilled in a certain art, what can we properly call him? 5. _Pol._ Chærephon, there are many arts among men by experience experimentally discovered: for experience causes our life to proceed according to art, but inexperience according to chance. Of each of these different persons partake of different arts, in different manners; but the best of the best; in the number of whom is Gorgias here, who possesses the finest of the arts. _Socr._ Polus appears, Gorgias, to be very well prepared for speaking: but he does not do what he promised Chærephon. _Gorg._ How so, Socrates? _Socr._ He does not appear to me to answer the question that was asked. 6. _Gorg._ Do you then, if you please, ask him. _Socr._ No, but if yourself would be willing to answer me, I would much rather ask you. For it is evident to me that Polus, from what he has said, has studied more what is called rhetoric, than conversation. _Pol._ Why so, Socrates? _Socr._ Because, Polus, when Chærephon asked you in what art Gorgias was skilled, you praised his art, as if some one had blamed it, but you did not say what the art itself is. _Pol._ Did I not answer, that it was the finest of all arts? _Socr._ Certainly. But no one asked you what was the quality of the art of Gorgias, but what it was, and by what name we ought to call Gorgias; just as Chærephon proposed the former questions to you, and you answered him well and in few words. Now, therefore, tell me in the same manner, what art Gorgias professes, and what we ought to call him. Or rather, Gorgias, do you tell us yourself what we ought to call you as skilled in what art. _Gorg._ In rhetoric, Socrates. 7. _Socr._ Ought we, then, to call you a rhetorician? _Gorg._ And a good one, Socrates, if you wish to call me, as Homer says, what “I boast myself to be.” _Socr._ But I do wish. _Gorg._ Call me so, then. _Socr._ Shall we say too that you are able to make others rhetoricians? _Gorg._ I profess this not only here but elsewhere. _Socr._ Are you willing then, Gorgias, to continue, as we are now doing, partly to ask questions and partly to answer, and to defer to some other occasion that prolixity of speech, such as Polus just now began with? But do not belie what you promised, but be willing to answer each question briefly.