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Then we are going to pay our money to him in the character of a
Sophist？
Certainly。
But suppose a person were to ask this further question： And how
about yourself？ What will Protagoras make of you； if you go to see
him？
He answered； with a blush upon his face （for the day was just
beginning to dawn； so that I could see him）： Unless this differs in
some way from the former instances； I suppose that he will make a
Sophist of me。
By the gods； I said； and are you not ashamed at having to appear
before the Hellenes in the character of a Sophist？
Indeed； Socrates； to confess the truth； I am。
But you should not assume； Hippocrates； that the instruction of
Protagoras is of this nature： may you not learn of him in the same way
that you learned the arts of the grammarian； musician； or trainer； not
with the view of making any of them a profession； but only as a part
of education； and because a private gentleman and freeman ought to
know them？
Just so； he said； and that； in my opinion； is a far truer account of
the teaching of Protagoras。
I said： I wonder whether you know what you are doing？
And what am I doing？
You are going to commit your soul to the care of a man whom you call
a Sophist。 And yet I hardly think that you know what a Sophist is； and
if not； then you do not even know to whom you are committing your soul
and whether the thing to which you commit yourself be good or evil。
I certainly think that I do know； he replied。
Then tell me； what do you imagine that he is？
I take him to be one who knows wise things； he replied； as his
name implies。
And might you not； I said； affirm this of the painter and of the
carpenter also： Do not they； too； know wise things？ But suppose a
person were to ask us： In what are the painters wise？ We should
answer： In what relates to the making of likenesses； and similarly
of other things。 And if he were further to ask： What is the wisdom
of the Sophist； and what is the manufacture over which he
presides？…how should we answer him？
How should we answer him； Socrates？ What other answer could there be
but that he presides over the art which makes men eloquent？
Yes； I replied； that is very likely true； but not enough； for in the
answer a further question is involved： Of what does the Sophist make a
man talk eloquently？ The player on the lyre may be supposed to make
a man talk eloquently about that which he makes him understand； that
is about playing the lyre。 Is not that true？
Yes。
Then about what does the Sophist make him eloquent？ Must not he make
him eloquent in that which he understands？
Yes； that may be assumed。
And what is that which the Sophist knows and makes his disciple
know？
Indeed； he said； I cannot tell。
Then I proceeded to say： Well； but are you aware of the danger which
you are incurring？ If you were going to commit your body to some
one； who might do good or harm to it； would you not carefully consider
and ask the opinion of your friends and kindred； and deliberate many
days as to whether you should give him the care of your body？ But when
the soul is in question； which you hold to be of far more value than
the body； and upon the good or evil of which depends the well…being of
your all；…about this never consulted either with your father or with
your brother or with any one of us who are your companions。 But no
sooner does this foreigner appear； than you instantly commit your soul
to his keeping。 In the evening； as you say； you hear of him； and in
the morning you go to him； never deliberating or taking the opinion of
any one as to whether you ought to intrust yourself to him or not；…you
have quite made up your mind that you will at all hazards be a pupil
of Protagoras； and are prepared to expend all the property of yourself
and of your friends in carrying out at any price this determination；
although； as you admit； you do not know him； and have never spoken
with him： and you call him a Sophist； but are manifestly ignorant of
what a Sophist is； and yet you are going to commit yourself to his
keeping。
When he heard me say this； he replied： No other inference； Socrates；
can be drawn from your words。
I proceeded： Is not a Sophist； Hippocrates； one who deals
wholesale or retail in the food of the soul？ To me that appears to
be his nature。
And what； Socrates； is the food of the soul？
Surely； I said； knowledge is the food of the soul； and we must
take care； my friend； that the Sophist does not deceive us when he
praises what he sells； like the dealers wholesale or retail who sell
the food of the body； for they praise indiscriminately all their
goods； without knowing what are really beneficial or hurtful：
neither do their customers know； with the exception of any trainer
or physician who may happen to buy of them。 In like manner those who
carry about the wares of knowledge； and make the round of the
cities； and sell or retail them to any customer who is in want of
them； praise them all alike； though I should not wonder； O my
friend； if many of them were really ignorant of their effect upon
the soul； and their customers equally ignorant； unless he who buys
of them happens to be a physician of the soul。 If； therefore； you have
understanding of what is good and evil； you may safely buy knowledge
of Protagoras or of any one； but if not； then； O my friend； pause； and
do not hazard your dearest interests at a game of chance。 For there is
far greater peril in buying knowledge than in buying meat and drink：
the one you purchase of the wholesale or retail dealer； and carry them
away in other vessels； and before you receive them into the body as
food； you may deposit them at home and call in any experienced
friend who knows what is good to be eaten or drunken； and what not；
and how much； and when； and then the danger of purchasing them is
not so great。 But you cannot buy the wares of knowledge and carry them
away in another vessel； when you have paid for them you must receive
them into the soul and go your way； either greatly harmed or greatly
benefited； and therefore we should deliberate and take counsel with
our elders； for we are still young…too young to determine such a
matter。 And now let us go； as we were intending； and hear
Protagoras； and when we have heard what he has to say； we may take
counsel of others； for not only is Protagoras at the house of Callias；
but there is Hippias of Elis； and； if I am not mistaken； Prodicus of
Ceos； and several other wise men。
To this we agreed； and proceeded on our way until we reached the
vestibule of the house； and there we stopped in order to conclude a
discussion which had arisen between us as we were going along； and
we stood talking in the vestibule until