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Socrates
Socrates. It sounds absurd, but I think there is some probability in it.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. What is this probability?
Socrates
Socrates. I seem to have a vision of Heracleitus saying some ancient words of wisdom as old as the reign of Cronus and Rhea, which Homer said too.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. What do you mean by that?
Socrates
Socrates. Heracleitus says, you know, that all things move and nothing remains still, and he likens the universe to the current of a river, saying that you cannot step twice into the same stream.
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Hermogenes
Hermogenes. True.
Socrates
Socrates. Well, don’t you think he who gave to the ancestors of the other gods the names Rhea and Cronus had the same thought as Heracleitus? Do you think he gave both of them the names of streams merely by chance? Just so Homer, too, says—Ocean the origin of the gods, and their mother Tethys;Hom. Il. 14.201, 302 and I believe Hesiod says that also. Orpheus, too, says—Fair-flowing Ocean was the first to marry, and he wedded his sister Tethys, daughter of his mother.Orpheus FrSee how they agree with each other and all tend towards the doctrine of Heracleitus.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. I think there is something in what you say, Socrates; but I do not know what the name of Tethys means.
Socrates
Socrates. Why, the name itself almost tells that it is the name of a spring somewhat disguised; for that which is strained (διαττώμενον) and filtered (ἠθούμενον) represents a spring, and the name Tethys is compounded of those two words.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. That is very neat, Socrates.
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