ern times。 The persons whom Plato ridicules in the epilogue to the Euthydemus are of this class。 They occupy a border…ground between philosophy and politics； they keep out of the dangers of politics； and at the same time use philosophy as a means of serving their own interests。 Plato quaintly describes them as making two good things； philosophy and politics； a little worse by perverting the objects of both。 Men like Antiphon or Lysias would be types of the class。 Out of a regard to the respectabilities of life； they are disposed to censure the interest which Socrates takes in the exhibition of the two brothers。 They do not understand； any more than Crito； that he is pursuing his vocation of detecting the follies of mankind； which he finds 'not unpleasant。' （Compare Apol。）
Education is the common subject of all Plato's earlier Dialogues。 The concluding remark of Crito； that he has a difficulty in educating his two sons； and the advice of Socrates to him that he should not give up philosophy because he has no faith in philosophers； seems to be a preparation for the more peremptory declaration of the Meno that 'Virtue cannot be taught because there are no teachers。'
The reasons for placing the Euthydemus early in the series are： （1） the similarity in plan and style to the Protagoras； Charmides； and Lysis；the relation of Socrates to the Sophists is still that of humorous antagonism； not； as in the later Dialogues of Plato； of embittered hatred； and the places and persons have a considerable family likeness； （2） the Euthydemus belongs to the Socratic period in which Socrates is represented as willing to learn； but unable to teach； and in the spirit of Xenophon's Memorabilia； philosophy is defined as 'the knowledge which will make us happy；' （3） we seem to have passed the stage arrived at in the Protagoras； for Socrates is no longer discussing whether virtue can be taughtfrom this question he is relieved by the ingenuous declaration of the youth Cleinias； and （4） not yet to have reached the point at which he asserts 'that there are no teachers。' Such grounds are precarious； as arguments from style and plan are apt to be （Greek）。 But no arguments equally strong can be urged in favour of assigning to the Euthydemus any other position in the series。
EUTHYDEMUS
by
Plato
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE： Socrates； who is the narrator of the Dialogue。 Crito； Cleinias； Euthydemus； Dionysodorus； Ctesippus。
SCENE： The Lyceum。
CRITO： Who was the person； Socrates； with whom you were talking yesterday at the Lyceum？ There was such a crowd around you that I could not get within hearing； but I caught a sight of him over their heads； and I made out； as I thought； that he was a stranger with whom you were talking： who was he？
SOCRATES： There were two； Crito； which of them do you mean？
CRITO： The one whom I mean was seated second from you on the right…hand side。 In the middle was Cleinias the young son of Axiochus； who has wonderfully grown； he is only about the age of my own Critobulus； but he is much forwarder and very good…looking： the other is thin and looks younger than he is。
SOCRATES： He whom you mean； Crito； is Euthydemus； and on my left hand there was his brother Dionysodorus； who also took part in the conversation。
CRITO： Neither of them are known to me； Socrates； they are a new importation of Sophists； as I should imagine。 Of what country are they； and what is their line of wisdom？
SOCRATES： As to their origin； I believe that they are natives of this part of the world； and have migrated from Chios to Thurii； they were driven out of Thurii； and have been living for many years past in these regions。 As to their wisdom； about which you ask； Crito； they are wonderful consummate！ I never knew what the true pancratiast was before； they are simply made up of fighting； not like the two Acarnanian brothers who fight with their bodies only； but this pair of heroes； besides being perfect in the use of their bodies； are invincible in every sort of warfare； for they are capital at fighting in armour； and will teach the art to any one who pays them； and also they are most skilful in legal warfare； they will plead themselves and teach others to speak and to compose speeches which will have an effect upon the courts。 And this was only the beginning of their wisdom； but they have at last carried out the pancratiastic art to the very end； and have mastered the only mode of fighting which had been hitherto neglected by them； and now no one dares even to stand up against them： such is their skill in the war of words； that they can refute any proposition whether true or false。 Now I am thinking； Crito； of placing myself in their hands； for they say that in a short time they can impart their skill to any one。
CRITO： But； Socrates； are you not too old？ there may be reason to fear that。
SOCRATES： Certainly not； Crito； as I will prove to you； for I have the consolation of knowing that they began this art of disputation which I covet； quite； as I may say； in old age； last year； or the year before； they had none of their new wisdom。 I am only apprehensive that I may bring the two strangers into disrepute； as I have done Connus the son of Metrobius； the harp…player； who is still my music…master； for when the boys who go to him see me going with them； they laugh at me and call him grandpapa's master。 Now I should not like the strangers to experience similar treatment； the fear of ridicule may make them unwilling to receive me； and therefore； Crito； I shall try and persuade some old men to accompany me to them； as I persuaded them to go with me to Connus； and I hope that you will make one： and perhaps we had better take your sons as a bait； they will want to have them as pupils； and for the sake of them willing to receive us。
CRITO： I see no objection； Socrates； if you like； but first I wish that you would give me a description of their wisdom； that I may know beforehand what we are going to learn。
SOCRATES： In less than no time you shall hear； for I cannot say that I did not attendI paid great attention to them； and I remember and will endeavour to repeat the whole story。 Providentially I was sitting alone in the dressing…room of the Lyceum where you saw me； and was about to depart； when I was getting up I recognized the familiar divine sign： so I sat down again； and in a little while the two brothers Euthydemus and Dionysodorus came in； and several others with them； whom I believe to be their disciples； and they walked about in the covered court； they had not taken more than two or three turns when Cleinias entered； who； as you truly say； is very much improved： he was followed by a host of lovers； one of whom was Ctesippus the Paeanian； a well…bred youth； but also having the wildness of youth。 Cleinias saw me from the entrance as I was sitting alone； and at once came and sat down on the right hand of me； as you describe； and Dionysodorus and Euthydemus； when they saw him； at first stopped and talked with one another； now and then glancing at us； for I particularly watched them； and then Euthydemus came and sat down by the youth； and the other by me on the left hand； the rest anywhere。 I saluted the brothers； whom I had not seen for a long time； and then I said to Cleinias： Here are two wise men； Euthydemus and Dionysodorus； Cleinias； wise not in a small but in a large way of wisdom； for they know all about war；all that a good general ought to know about the array and command of an army； and the whole art of fighting in armour： and they know about law too； and can teach a man how to use the weapons of the courts when he is injured。
They heard me say this； but only despised me。 I observed that they looked at one another； and both of them laughed； and then Euthydemus said： Those； Socrates； are matters which we no longer pursue seriously； to us they are secondary occupations。
Indeed； I said； if such occupations are regarded by you as secondary； what must the principal one be； tell me； I beseech you； what that noble study is？
The teaching of virtue； Socrates； he replied； is our principal occupation； and we believe that we can impart it better and quicker than any man。
My God！ I said； and where did you learn that？ I always thought； as I was saying just now； that your chief accomplishment was the art of fighting in armour； and I used to say as much of you； for I remember that you professed this when you were here before。 But now if you really have the other knowledge； O forgive me： I address you as I would superior beings； and ask you to pardon the impiety of my former expressions。 But are you quite sure about this； Dionysodorus and Euthydemus？ the promise is so vast； that a feeling of incredulity steals over me。
You may take our word； Socrates； for the fact。
Then I think you happier in having such a treasure than the great king is in the possession of his kingdom。 And please to tell me whether you intend to exhibit your wisdom； or what will you do？
That is why we have come hither； Socrates； and our purpose is not only to exhibit； but also to teach any one who likes to learn。
But I can promise you； I said； that every unvirtuous perso