FIRST EUCLIDES, AND TERPSION,
THEN SOCRATES, THEODORUS, AND THEÆTETUS.
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_Euc._ Are you just now, Terpsion, or long since come from the country?
_Ter._ A considerable time since, and I have been seeking for you in the
forum, and wondered that I could not find you.
_Euc._ I was not in the city.
_Ter._ Where then?
_Euc._ As I was going down to the port, I met with Theætetus, who was
being carried from the camp at Corinth to Athens.
_Ter._ Alive or dead?
_Euc._ Alive, though scarcely so; for he is in a bad state from several
wounds, though he suffers more from the disease that is prevalent in the
army.
_Ter._ Is it dysentery?
_Euc._ Yes.
_Ter._ What a man you speak of as being in danger!
_Euc._ An honourable and good man, Terpsion, and I just now heard some
persons highly extolling his conduct in the battle.
_Ter._ Nor is that surprising, but it would be much more wonderful if he
had not behaved so. But why did he not stop here at Megara?
_Euc._ He was hastening home; although I begged and advised him, yet he
would not. And after I had attended him on his journey, on my return
hither I recollected, and was filled with admiration of Socrates, who
often spoke prophetically about other things, and especially about him.
2. For if I remember rightly, a little before his death, he met with
Theætetus who was then a youth, and being in company and discoursing
with him, he very much admired his natural disposition. And when I went
to Athens, he related to me the conversation he had had with him, which
was very well worth hearing, and he said that he must necessarily
distinguish himself, if he lived to a mature age.
_Ter._ And he spoke truly as it seems. But what was the conversation?
are you able to relate it?
_Euc._ No, by Jupiter, not by heart; but as soon as I returned home, I
made notes of it, and afterwards at my leisure calling it to mind I
wrote it down, and as often as I came to Athens, I asked Socrates to
repeat what I did not remember, and, on my return hither, corrected it;
so that I have nearly the whole conversation written out.
3. _Ter._ True: I have heard you say so before, and though I always
meant to beg you to shew it me, I have hitherto delayed doing so. But
what should hinder us from now going through it? For I am in great need
of rest, having just come from the country.
_Euc._ I too accompanied Theætetus as far as Erinion, so that I should
not be at all sorry to rest myself. Let us go, then, and while we rest
the boy shall read to us.
_Ter._ You say well.
_Euc._ This then is the book, Terpsion. But I wrote the conversation
thus, not as if Socrates related it to me, as he did, but as if he was
conversing with the persons with whom he said he did converse. But
these, he said, were Theodorus the geometrician, and Theætetus. 4. In
order, then, that phrases interposed in the discourse might not give us
trouble in the writing, when Socrates spoke of himself, as “I said,” or
“Thereupon I replied,” and again when he spoke of the person who gave
the answer, “He assented,” or “He denied,” for this reason I have
introduced Socrates himself as conversing with them, and have done away
with all such expressions.
_Ter._ And that is not at all improper, Euclides.
_Euc._ Here then, boy, take the book and read.
_Socr._ If I took more interest in the people at Cyrene, Theodorus, I
should enquire of you what is going on there, and of the people, whether
there are any young men there who devote their attention to geometry, or
any other liberal study. But now, for I love them less than these, I am
more anxious to know who of our young men promise to become eminent. For
I myself examine into this as far as I am able, and enquire of others,
with whom I see the young men willingly associating. But no small number
attach themselves to you, and justly; for you deserve it, both in other
respects, and on account of your geometry. If, therefore, you have met
with any one worth mentioning, I should be glad to be informed of it.
5. _Theo._ And indeed, Socrates, it is very well worth while both for me
to tell and you to hear, what a youth I have met with among your
fellow-citizens. And if he were beautiful, I should be very much afraid
to mention him, lest I should appear to any one to be enamoured with
him; but now, and don’t be angry with me, he is not handsome, for he
resembles you in the flatness of his nose and the prominence of his
eyes: but he has these in a less degree than you. You see I speak
without reserve. Be assured then, that of all I ever met with, and I
have been in company with very many, I never yet knew one of such an
admirable disposition. For a man to be apt to learn, as it is at all
times difficult, and at the same time remarkably mild, and added to this
brave beyond compare, I, for my part, thought could never happen, nor do
I see any who are so. But those who are acute, as this one, sagacious,
and of a good memory, are for the most part easily roused to anger, and
are hurried violently along like ships without ballast, and are
naturally rather furious than brave; on the other hand those who are
more sedate commonly set about their studies more sluggishly and are
forgetful. 6. But he so calmly, steadily, and effectually applies
himself to his studies and investigations, with so much gentleness, like
oil flowing noiselessly, that one wonders how one at his age can manage
to do this.
_Socr._ You bring good news. But whose son is he of our citizens?
_Theo._ I have heard the name, but do not remember it. However he is the
middle one of those who are now approaching. For both he and these who
are some of his companions were just now anointing themselves in the
outer course; and now they appear to me to be coming here after having
anointed themselves. Observe, however, if you know him.
_Socr._ I do know him. He is the son of Euphronius of Sunium, who, my
friend, was just such a man as you describe the son to be, and who was
otherwise a person of consideration, and besides left behind him a very
large fortune.
7. _Theo._ Theætetus is his name, Socrates. But I think his guardians
have squandered his fortune. However notwithstanding this, he is
wonderfully liberal with his money, Socrates.
_Socr._ You describe a noble man. Bid him come here, and sit down by us.
_Theo._ I will. Theætetus, come hither to Socrates.
_Socr._ By all means come, Theætetus, that I may look at myself, and see
what sort of a face I have. For Theodorus says I am like you. But if we
had each of us a lyre, and he should say that they were modulated alike,
should we believe him at once, or consider first whether he speaks as a
musician?
_Theæ._ We should consider that first.
_Socr._ Should we not, then, on finding that he was so, believe him,
but, if he was ignorant of music, disbelieve him?
_Theæ._ True.
_Socr._ Now, then, I think, if we care at all about the resemblance of
our faces, we should consider whether he speaks as a painter, or not.
_Theæ._ It appears so to me.
_Socr._ Is Theodorus a painter then?
_Theæ._ Not that I know of.
_Socr._ And is he not a geometrician either?
_Theæ._ Most assuredly he is, Socrates.
8. _Socr._ Is he also an astronomer, a reasoner, and a musician, and
acquainted with all such things as are requisite for a good education?
_Theæ._ He appears so to me.
_Socr._ If, then, he says that we resemble each other in some part of
our body, praising or blaming it, it is not very well worth while to pay
any attention to him.
_Theæ._ Perhaps not.
_Socr._ But what if he should praise the soul of either of us for virtue
or wisdom? would it not be worth while for the one who heard him to take
pains to examine him that was praised, and for the latter to discover
himself willingly?
_Theæ._ Certainly, Socrates.
_Socr._ It is time then, my dear Theætetus, for you to discover
yourself, and for me to examine you; for be assured that Theodorus,
though he has ere now praised many both strangers and citizens to me,
has never praised any one so much as he praised you just now.
_Theæ._ May it be well, Socrates; but beware that he did not speak in
jest.
_Socr._ That is not Theodorus’s habit. But do not retract what you have
granted, under the pretence that he spoke in jest, lest he should be
compelled to bear witness. For no one assuredly will accuse him of
giving false evidence. Therefore adhere firmly to your agreement.
_Theæ._ It is proper to do so, if you think fit.