_Gorg._ Of what thing, Socrates? say, without fear of offending me. _Socr._ It appears to me, then, Gorgias, to be a certain study, that does not belong to art, but to a soul that is sagacious and manly, and naturally powerful in its intercourse with men. The sum of it I call flattery. 42. Of this study there appears to me to be many other divisions, and one of them is that of cookery; which, indeed, appears to be an art, but, as I maintain, is not an art, but skill and practice. I also call rhetoric a division of this, and personal decoration, and sophistry, these four divisions relating to four particulars. If, therefore, Polus wishes to enquire, let him enquire, for he has not yet heard what division of flattery I assert rhetoric to be: but he did not observe that I had not yet finished my answer, nevertheless he asks me, if I do not think that it is beautiful. But I shall not answer him, whether I think rhetoric is beautiful or base, till I have first answered what it is. For that would not be right, Polus. If then you wish to enquire, ask me what division of flattery I assert rhetoric to be. _Pol._ I ask, then, and do you answer, what division it is. _Socr._ Will you understand me when I answer? For rhetoric, in my opinion, is a semblance of a division of the political art. _Pol._ What then? Do you say that it is beautiful, or base? _Socr._ Base, I say; for I call evil things base: since I must answer you, as now knowing what I mean. 43. _Gorg._ By Jupiter, Socrates, but I do not myself understand what you mean. _Socr._ Very likely, Gorgias: for I have not yet spoken clearly. But Polus here is young and hasty. _Gorg._ But leave him alone; and tell me in what way you say that rhetoric is a semblance of a division of the political art. _Socr._ I will endeavour to tell you what rhetoric appears to me to be. And if it is not such as I describe it, Polus here will confute me. Do you not call body something, and soul something? _Gorg._ How not? _Socr._ Do you not, then, think that there is a certain good habit of each of these? _Gorg._ I do. _Socr._ What then? an apparent good habit, which is not really so? for instance, to explain my meaning, many appear to have a good constitution of body, whom no one but a physician, and a teacher in gymnastics, could easily perceive not to have a good constitution. _Gorg._ You say truly. _Socr._ I say that there is something of this kind both in the body and in the soul, which causes the body and the soul to appear to be in a good condition, when they are any thing but so. 44. _Gorg._ Such is the case.