768–769
Clinias
Clin. The previous subject, Stranger, you have treated to our entire satisfaction; but we welcome still more heartily the way you have linked up your past statements with your future statements—the end with the beginning.
Athenian
Ath. It seems, then, that up to now our ancients’ game of reasoni.e. the game of legislation, cp. Plat. Laws 685a, Plat. Laws 712b. has been finely played.
Clinias
Clin. You are showing, I think, how fine is the serious work of our citizens.
Athenian
Ath. Very probably: but let us see whether you agree with me about another point.
Clinias
Clin. What is it, and whom does it concern?
Athenian
Ath. You know how, for instance, the painter’s art in depicting each several subject seems never to get to an end, and in its embellishing it seems as if it would never stop laying on colors or taking them off—or whatever the professional painters term the process—and reach a point where the picture admits of no further improvement in respect of beauty and lucidity.
5
Clinias
Clin. I, too, remember hearing something of the fact you mention, although I am by no means practised in that kind of art.