sophists and rhetoricians are confounded with _legislators and judges_, and are employed about the same things, and know not what to make of themselves, nor other men of them. For, if the soul did not preside over the body, but the body over itself, and cookery and medicine were not examined into and distinguished by the soul, but the body itself decided, estimating things by its own gratifications, that tenet of Anaxagoras would prevail extensively, friend Polus, (for you surely are acquainted with it,) that is, all things would be confounded together, things medicinal, and healthy, and pertaining to cookery, being undistinguished from each other. 47. You have heard, therefore, what I consider rhetoric to be, corresponding to cookery in the soul, as that in the body. Perhaps, however, I have acted absurdly, in that, though I do not allow you to make a long speech, I myself have extended mine to a great length. But I deserve to be pardoned: for when I spoke briefly you did not understand me, nor were you able to make use of the answer that I gave you, but required an explanation. If, therefore, when you answer, I in my turn shall not know what to make of it, do you also prolong your discourse: but, if I do know, suffer me to do so; for that is fair. And now, if you can make any use of this answer, do so. ----- Footnote 66: Bekker omits the words σοφισταὶ καὶ ῥήτορες, and Ast suggests δικασταὶ for σοφισταὶ, in either of which cases the addition of the words in italics would be unnecessary. ----- _Pol._ What do you say, then? Does rhetoric appear to you to be flattery? _Socr._ I said, indeed, that it was a division of flattery. But do not you remember, Polus, though so young? What will you do by and by? _Pol._ Does it seem to you, then, that good rhetoricians are to be esteemed as vile flatterers in cities? _Socr._ Do you ask this as a question, or are you beginning an argument? _Pol._ I ask a question. 48. _Socr._ They appear to me to be of no estimation at all. _Pol._ How to be of no estimation? Have they not the greatest power in cities? _Socr._ Not, if you mean that to have power is a good to him who possesses it. _Pol._ But I do say so. _Socr._ In that case, rhetoricians appear to me to possess the least power of all men in cities. _Pol._ But what? do they not, like tyrants, slay whomever they please, and deprive of their property, and banish from cities whomever they think fit? _Socr._ By the dog, Polus, I am doubtful with respect to each of the things you say, whether you assert these things yourself, and declare your own opinion, or ask me. _Pol._ I ask you. _Socr._ Be it so, my friend. Then you ask me two questions at once. _Pol._ How two? _Socr._ Did you not just now say, that rhetoricians, like tyrants, slay whomever they please, and deprive them of their property, and banish from cities whomever they think fit? _Pol._ I did.