_Socr._ Polus, I am not among the number of politicians: and last year, happening to be chosen a senator, since my tribe held the presidency and it was necessary for me to collect the votes, I occasioned laughter, because I did not know how to collect them. Do not, then, require me to collect the votes of those who are present. But if you have no better mode of refutation than this, as I just now said, give the question up to me in my turn, and make trial of that mode of refutation which I think ought to be adopted. For I know how to procure one witness of what I say, that is, the person with whom I am discoursing, but I let alone the multitude; and I know how to take the vote of one person, but I do not even discourse with the multitude. Consider, then, whether you are willing in your turn to give me an opportunity of refuting by answering the questions I shall put to you. For I think, that you and I, and other men, are of opinion, that to commit injustice is worse than to suffer it; and not to be punished, than to be punished. 66. _Pol._ But I, on the contrary, think that neither myself nor any other man is of this opinion. For would you rather suffer injustice than commit it? _Socr._ Yes, and you, and all other men. _Pol._ Far from it; neither would you, nor I, nor any other man. _Socr._ Will you not answer, then? _Pol._ By all means. For I am anxious to know what you will say. _Socr._ Tell me then, that you may know, as if I asked you from the beginning: whether does it appear to you, Polus, worse to commit an injustice or to suffer one? _Pol._ To suffer one, in my opinion. _Socr._ What then? whether is it more base to commit an injustice or to suffer one? Answer me. _Pol._ To commit an injustice. _Socr._ Is it not, therefore, worse, since it is more base? _Pol._ By no means. _Socr._ I understand. You do not think, as it seems, that the beautiful and the good, and the evil and the base, are the same? _Pol._ Certainly not. _Socr._ But what do you say to this? Beautiful things in general, such as bodies, colours, forms, sounds, and pursuits, do you call them severally beautiful, without reference to any thing else? As, for instance, first of all, with respect to beautiful bodies, do you not say that they are beautiful, on account of their usefulness, in reference to the particular thing for which each is useful, or on account of some pleasure, if in being seen they give delight to the beholders? Have you any thing else besides this to say respecting beauty of body? _Pol._ I have not. 67. _Socr._ Do you not, then, denominate all other things in the same manner beautiful, such as forms and colours, either on account of some pleasure, or utility, or both? _Pol._ I do. _Socr._ And is not the case the same as to sounds, and every thing that relates to music? _Pol._ Yes.