Platos Gorgias
SOCRATES: I should wish to do so.
rician, and a maker of rhetoricians, let me ask you, with what is rhetoric concerned: I might ask with what is weav-GORGIAS: Then pray do.
ing concerned, and you would reply (would you not?), with the making of garments?
SOCRATES: And are we to say that you are able to make other men rhetoricians?
GORGIAS: Yes.
GORGIAS: Yes, that is exactly what I profess to make them, SOCRATES: And music is concerned with the composi-not only at Athens, but in all places.
tion of melodies?
SOCRATES: And will you continue to ask and answer GORGIAS: It is.
questions, Gorgias, as we are at present doing, and reserve for another occasion the longer mode of speech which Polus SOCRATES: By Here, Gorgias, I admire the surpassing was attempting? Will you keep your promise, and answer brevity of your answers.
shortly the questions which are asked of you?
GORGIAS: Yes, Socrates, I do think myself good at that.
GORGIAS: Some answers, Socrates, are of necessity longer; but I will do my best to make them as short as possible; for SOCRATES: I am glad to hear it; answer me in like mana part of my profession is that I can be as short as any one.
ner about rhetoric: with what is rhetoric concerned?
SOCRATES: That is what is wanted, Gorgias; exhibit the GORGIAS: With discourse.
shorter method now, and the longer one at some other time.
SOCRATES: What sort of discourse, Gorgias?such dis-GORGIAS: Well, I will; and you will certainly say, that you course as would teach the sick under what treatment they never heard a man use fewer words.
might get well?
SOCRATES: Very good then; as you profess to be a rheto-GORGIAS: No.