SOCRATES: And will not Sophocles say to the ture of rhetoric, and consequently suppose that display of the would-be tragedian, that this is they have found the art in the preliminary con-not tragedy but the preliminaries of tragedy?
ditions of it, and when these have been taught and will not Acumenus say the same of medi-by them to others, fancy that the whole art of cine to the would-be physician?
rhetoric has been taught by them; but as to using the several instruments of the art effectively, PHAEDRUS: Quite true.
or making the composition a whole,—an application of it such as this is they regard as an easy SOCRATES: And if Adrastus the mellifluous or thing which their disciples may make for them-Pericles heard of these wonderful arts, selves.’
brachylogies and eikonologies and all the hard names which we have been endeavouring to PHAEDRUS: I quite admit, Socrates, that the art draw into the light of day, what would they say?
of rhetoric which these men teach and of which Instead of losing temper and applying uncom-they write is such as you describe—there I agree plimentary epithets, as you and I have been do-with you. But I still want to know where and ing, to the authors of such an imaginary art, their how the true art of rhetoric and persuasion is to superior wisdom would rather censure us, as well be acquired.
as them. ‘Have a little patience, Phaedrus and Socrates, they would say; you should not be in SOCRATES: The perfection which is required of such a passion with those who from some want the finished orator is, or rather must be, like the of dialectical skill are unable to define the na-perfection of anything else; partly given by na-107
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ture, but may also be assisted by art. If you have Anaxagoras whom he happened to know. He was the natural power and add to it knowledge and thus imbued with the higher philosophy, and practice, you will be a distinguished speaker; if attained the knowledge of Mind and the nega-you fall short in either of these, you will be to tive of Mind, which were favourite themes of that extent defective. But the art, as far as there Anaxagoras, and applied what suited his purpose is an art, of rhetoric does not lie in the direction to the art of speaking.
of Lysias or Thrasymachus.
PHAEDRUS: Explain.
PHAEDRUS: In what direction then?
SOCRATES: Rhetoric is like medicine.
SOCRATES: I conceive Pericles to have been the most accomplished of rhetoricians.
PHAEDRUS: How so?
PHAEDRUS: What of that?
SOCRATES: Why, because medicine has to define the nature of the body and rhetoric of the soul—
SOCRATES: All the great arts require discussion if we would proceed, not empirically but scien-and high speculation about the truths of nature; tifically, in the one case to impart health and hence come loftiness of thought and complete-strength by giving medicine and food, in the ness of execution. And this, as I conceive, was other to implant the conviction or virtue which the quality which, in addition to his natural gifts, you desire, by the right application of words and Pericles acquired from his intercourse with training.