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when I listen to your words； I waver； and am disposed to think that
there must be something in what you say； because I know that you
have great experience； and learning； and invention。 And I wish that
you would； if possible； show me a little more clearly that virtue
can be taught。 Will you be so good？
That I will； Socrates； and gladly。 But what would you like？ Shall I；
as an elder； speak to you as younger men in an apologue or myth； or
shall I argue out the question？
To this several of the company answered that he should choose for
himself。
Well； then； he said； I think that the myth will be more interesting。
Once upon a time there were gods only； and no mortal creatures。
But when the time came that these also should be created； the gods
fashioned them out of earth and fire and various mixtures of both
elements in the interior of the earth； and when they were about to
bring them into the light of day； they ordered Prometheus and
Epimetheus to equip them； and to distribute to them severally their
proper qualities。 Epimetheus said to Prometheus： 〃Let me distribute；
and do you inspect。〃 This was agreed； and Epimetheus made the
distribution。 There were some to whom he gave strength without
swiftness； while he equipped the weaker with swiftness； some he armed；
and others he left unarmed； and devised for the latter some other
means of preservation； making some large； and having their size as a
protection； and others small； whose nature was to fly in the air or
burrow in the ground； this was to be their way of escape。 Thus did
he compensate them with the view of preventing any race from
becoming extinct。 And when he had provided against their destruction
by one another； he contrived also a means of protecting them against
the seasons of heaven； clothing them with close hair and thick skins
sufficient to defend them against the winter cold and able to resist
the summer heat； so that they might have a natural bed of their own
when they wanted to rest； also he furnished them with hoofs and hair
and hard and callous skins under their feet。 Then he gave them
varieties of food…herb of the soil to some； to others fruits of trees；
and to others roots； and to some again he gave other animals as
food。 And some he made to have few young ones； while those who were
their prey were very prolific； and in this manner the race was
preserved。 Thus did Epimetheus； who； not being very wise； forgot
that he had distributed among the brute animals all the qualities
which he had to give…and when he came to man； who was still
unprovided； he was terribly perplexed。 Now while he was in this
perplexity； Prometheus came to inspect the distribution； and he
found that the other animals were suitably furnished； but that man
alone was naked and shoeless； and had neither bed nor arms of defence。
The appointed hour was approaching when man in his turn was to go
forth into the light of day； and Prometheus； not knowing how he
could devise his salvation； stole the mechanical arts of Hephaestus
and Athene； and fire with them （they could neither have been
acquired nor used without fire）； and gave them to man。 Thus man had
the wisdom necessary to the support of life； but political wisdom he
had not； for that was in the keeping of Zeus； and the power of
Prometheus did not extend to entering into the citadel of heaven；
where Zeus dwelt； who moreover had terrible sentinels； but he did
enter by stealth into the common workshop of Athene and Hephaestus； in
which they used to practise their favourite arts； and carried off
Hephaestus' art of working by fire； and also the art of Athene； and
gave them to man。 And in this way man was supplied with the means of
life。 But Prometheus is said to have been afterwards prosecuted for
theft； owing to the blunder of Epimetheus。
Now man； having a share of the divine attributes； was at first the
only one of the animals who had any gods； because he alone was of
their kindred； and he would raise altars and images of them。 He was
not long in inventing articulate speech and names； and he also
constructed houses and clothes and shoes and beds； and drew sustenance
from the earth。 Thus provided； mankind at first lived dispersed； and
there were no cities。 But the consequence was that they were destroyed
by the wild beasts； for they were utterly weak in comparison of
them； and their art was only sufficient to provide them with the means
of life； and did not enable them to carry on war against the
animals： food they had； but not as yet the art of government； of which
the art of war is a part。 After a while the desire of
self…preservation gathered them into cities； but when they were
gathered together； having no art of government； they evil intreated
one another； and were again in process of dispersion and
destruction。 Zeus feared that the entire race would be exterminated；
and so he sent Hermes to them； bearing reverence and justice to be the
ordering principles of cities and the bonds of friendship and
conciliation。 Hermes asked Zeus how he should impart justice and
reverence among men：…Should he distribute them as the arts are
distributed； that is to say； to a favoured few only； one skilled
individual having enough of medicine or of any other art for many
unskilled ones？ 〃Shall this be the manner in which I am to
distribute justice and reverence among men； or shall I give them to
all？〃 〃To all；〃 said Zeus； 〃I should like them all to have a share；
for cities cannot exist； if a few only share in the virtues； as in the
arts。 And further； make a law by my order； that he who has no part
in reverence and justice shall be put to death； for he is a plague
of the state。〃
And this is the reason； Socrates； why the Athenians and mankind in
general； when the question relates to carpentering or any other
mechanical art； allow but a few to share in their deliberations； and
when any one else interferes； then； as you say； they object； if he
be not of the favoured few； which； as I reply； is very natural。 But
when they meet to deliberate about political virtue； which proceeds
only by way of justice and wisdom； they are patient enough of any
man who speaks of them； as is also natural； because they think that
every man ought to share in this sort of virtue； and that states could
not exist if this were otherwise。 I have explained to you； Socrates；
the reason of this phenomenon。
And that you may not suppose yourself to be deceived in thinking
that all men regard every man as having a share of justice or
honesty and of every other political virtue； let me give you a further
proof； which is this。 In other cases； as you are aware； if a man
says that he is a good flute…player； or skilful in any other art in
which he has no skill； people either laugh at him