Phaedr.Nay, not exactly that; I should say rather that I have heard the art confined to speaking and writing in lawsuits, and to speaking in public assemblies-not extended farther.
Soc.Then I suppose that you have only heard of the rhetoric of Nestor and Odysseus, which they composed in their leisure hours when at Troy, and never of the rhetoric of Palamedes?
Phaedr.No more than of Nestor and Odysseus, unless Gorgias is your Nestor, and Thrasymachus or Theodorus your Odysseus.
Soc.Perhaps that is my meaning.But let us leave them.And do you tell me, instead, what are plaintiff and defendant doing in a law court-are they not contending?
Phaedr.Exactly so.
Soc.About the just and unjust-that is the matter in dispute?
Phaedr.Yes.
Soc.And a professor of the art will make the same thing appear to the same persons to be at one time just, at another time, if he is so inclined, to be unjust?
Phaedr.Exactly.
Soc.And when he speaks in the assembly, he will make the same things seem good to the city at one time, and at another time the reverse of good?
Phaedr.That is true.
Soc.Have we not heard of the Eleatic Palamedes (Zeno), who has an art of speaking by which he makes the same things appear to his hearers like and unlike, one and many, at rest and in motion?
Phaedr.Very true.
Soc.The art of disputation, then, is not confined to the courts and the assembly, but is one and the same in every use of language; this is the art, if there be such an art, which is able to find a likeness of everything to which a likeness can be found, and draws into the light of day the likenesses and disguises which are used by others?
Phaedr.How do you mean?
Soc.Let me put the matter thus: When will there be more chance of deception-when the difference is large or small?
Phaedr.When the difference is small.
Soc.And you will be less likely to be discovered in passing by degrees into the other extreme than when you go all at once?
Phaedr.Of course.
Soc.He, then, who would.deceive others, and not be deceived, must exactly know the real likenesses and differences of things?
Phaedr.He must.
Soc.And if he is ignorant of the true nature of any subject, how can he detect the greater or less degree of likeness in other things to that of which by the hypothesis he is ignorant?
Phaedr.He cannot.
Soc.And when men are deceived and their notions are at variance with realities, it is clear that the error slips in through resemblances?
Phaedr.Yes, that is the way.
Soc.Then he who would be a master of the art must understand the real nature of everything; or he will never know either how to make the gradual departure from truth into the opposite of truth which is effected by the help of resemblances, or how to avoid it?
Phaedr.He will not.
Soc.He then, who being ignorant of the truth aims at appearances, will only attain an art of rhetoric which is ridiculous and is not an art at all?
Phaedr.That may be expected.
Soc.Shall I propose that we look for examples of art and want of art, according to our notion of them, in the speech of Lysias which you have in your hand, and in my own speech?
Phaedr.Nothing could be better; and indeed I think that our previous argument has been too abstract and-wanting in illustrations.
Soc.Yes; and the two speeches happen to afford a very good example of the way in which the speaker who knows the truth may, without any serious purpose, steal away the hearts of his hearers.
This piece of good-fortune I attribute to the local deities; and perhaps, the prophets of the Muses who are singing over our heads may have imparted their inspiration to me.For I do not imagine that Ihave any rhetorical art of my own.
Phaedr.Granted; if you will only please to get on.
Soc.Suppose that you read me the first words of Lysias' speech.
Phaedr."You know how matters stand with me, and how, as I conceive, they might be arranged for our common interest; and I maintain that I ought not to fail in my suit, because I am not your lover.For lovers repent-"Soc.Enough:-Now, shall I point out the rhetorical error of those words?
Phaedr.Yes.
Soc.Every one is aware that about some things we are agreed, whereas about other things we differ.
Phaedr.I think that I understand you; but will you explain yourself?
Soc.When any one speaks of iron and silver, is not the same thing present in the minds of all?
Phaedr.Certainly.
Soc.But when any one speaks of justice and goodness we part company and are at odds with one another and with ourselves?
Phaedr.Precisely.
Soc.Then in some things we agree, but not in others?
Phaedr.That is true.
Soc.In which are we more likely to be deceived, and in which has rhetoric the greater power?
Phaedr.Clearly, in the uncertain class.
Soc.Then the rhetorician ought to make a regular division, and acquire a distinct notion of both classes, as well of that in which the many err, as of that in which they do not err?
Phaedr.He who made such a distinction would have an excellent principle.
Soc.Yes; and in the next place he must have a keen eye for the observation of particulars in speaking, and not make a mistake about the class to which they are to be referred.
Phaedr.Certainly.
Soc.Now to which class does love belong-to the debatable or to the undisputed class?
Phaedr.To the debatable, clearly; for if not, do you think that love would have allowed you to say as you did, that he is an evil both to the lover and the beloved, and also the greatest possible good?
Soc.Capital.But will you tell me whether I defined love at the beginning of my speech? for, having been in an ecstasy, I cannot well remember.
Phaedr.Yes, indeed; that you did, and no mistake.