By these discourses, Socrates having prepared the mind of Euthydemus to hearken to what he intended to say to him, and to enter into conference with him, he came another time by himself into the same shop, and taking a seat next to this young man--"I have heard," said he to him, "that you have been curious in buying a great many good books." "I have," said Euthydemus, "and continue to do so every day, designing to have as many as I can get." "I commend you very much," said Socrates, "for choosing rather to hoard up a treasure of learning and knowledge than of money. For you testify by so doing that you are not of opinion that riches, or silver and gold, can render one more valuable, that is to say, a wiser or a better man; but that it is only the writings and precepts of the philosophers and other fine writers that are the true riches, because they enrich with virtue the minds of those that possess them." Euthydemus was pleased to hear him say this, believing that he approved his method; and Socrates, perceiving his satisfaction, went on: "But what is your design of making a collection of so many books? Do you intend to be a physician? There are many books in that science." "That is not my design," said Euthydemus. "Will you be an architect, then?" said Socrates, "for that art requires a learned man. Or do you study geometry or astrology?" "None of them." "Do you mean to be a reciter of heroic verses?" continued Socrates, "for I have been told that you have all Homer's works." "Not in the least," answered Euthydemus, "for I have observed that men of that profession know indeed a great many verses by heart, but for anything else they are for the most part very impertinent." "Perhaps you are in love with that noble science that makes politicians and economists, and that renders men capable to govern, and to be useful to others and to themselves?" "That is what I endeavour to learn," said Euthydemus, "and what I passionately desire to know." "It is a sublime science," replied Socrates; "it is that we call the royal science, because it truly is the science of kings. But have you weighed this point, whether a man can excel in that science without being an honest man?" "I have," said the young man, "and am even of opinion that none but honest men can be good citizens." "And are you an honest man?" said Socrates. "I hope I am," answered Euthydemus, "as honest a man as another." "Tell me," said Socrates, "can we know who are honest men by what they do, as we know what trade a man is of by his work?" "We may." "Then," said Socrates, "as architects show us their works, can honest men show us theirs likewise?" "No doubt of it," replied Euthydemus; "and it is no difficult task to show you which are the works of justice, and which those of injustice, that we so often hear mentioned." "Shall we," said Socrates, "make two characters, the one (J) to signify justice, the other (I) to denote injustice; and write under one of them all the works