_Cal._ I don’t know what you mean, Socrates: ask some one else. _Socr._ This man will not submit to be benefited and to suffer the very thing of which we are speaking, viz., punishment. _Cal._ I don’t at all heed what you say; I only answered you thus far for the sake of Gorgias. 131. _Socr._ Be it so. What shall we do then? Shall we break off the discussion in the midst? _Cal._ You shall determine. _Socr._ But they say it is not right to leave even fables in the midst, but a head should be placed on them, that they may not wander without a head. Answer, therefore, to what remains, that our discussion may have a head to it. _Cal._ How importunate you are, Socrates! But, if you will be persuaded by me, you will give up this discussion, or carry it on with some one else. _Socr._ Who else is willing? for we must not leave the discussion unfinished. _Cal._ Cannot you go through with it yourself, either speaking by yourself or answering yourself? _Socr._ That the saying of Epicharmus may be verified in me, “what two men said before, I alone am able to say.” But it appears to be very necessary. If, however, we shall do so, I think we ought all of us to strive heartily that we may understand what is true and what false with respect to the subject we are treating of: for it is for the common interest of all that this should become clear. 132. I will, therefore, go through the matter under discussion, as it appears to me to be: but, if I shall seem to any of you to grant myself what is not true, he must take me up and confute me. For I do not say what I say as knowing it, but I am enquiring in common with you, so that, if he who disputes with me should appear to say any thing to the purpose, I shall be the first to give in to him. I say this, however, in case you think the discussion ought to be finished; but if you do not wish it, let us give it up and depart. _Gorg._ But it appears to me, Socrates, that we should not depart yet, but that you should pursue the argument: and it is evident that the others think so. And I, for my part, wish to hear you go through the remainder of the subject. _Socr._ But indeed, Gorgias, I would gladly have continued to carry on the discussion with Callicles here, until I had given him back the saying of Amphion for that of Zethus[74]: but since you are not willing, Callicles, to finish the discussion with me, yet listen to me at least, and take me up if I appear to you to say any thing incorrectly. And if you shall confute me, I shall not be angry with you, as you are with me, but you shall be recorded by me as my greatest benefactor. ----- Footnote 74: See before, § 90. ----- _Cal._ Speak then yourself, my good friend, and finish the argument.