108–109
Alcibiades
Alc. Music, Music with the Greeks included poetry and dancing as well as our music. I suppose you mean.
Socrates
Soc. Yes, I do. And what is that which proceeds correctly by its rule? As in the other case I was correct in mentioning to you gymnastic as that which goes by the art, so I ask you, accordingly, what you say in this case. What manner of proceeding is required?
Alcibiades
Alc. A musical one, I suppose.
Socrates
Soc. You are right. Come then, what is it that you term better, in respect of what is better in waging war and being at peace? Just as in our other instances you said that the better implied the more musical and again, in the parallel case, the more gymnastical, try now if you can tell me what is the better in this case.
Alcibiades
Alc. But I am quite unable.
30
Socrates
Soc. But surely that is disgraceful; for if you should speak to somebody as his adviser on food, and say that one sort was better than another, at this time and in this quantity, and he then asked you—What do you mean by the better, Alcibiades?—in a matter like that you could tell him you meant the more wholesome, although you do not set up to be a physician; yet in a case where you set up to have knowledge and are ready to stand up and advise as though you knew, are you not ashamed to be unable, as appears, to answer a question upon it? Does it not seem disgraceful?
Socrates
Soc. Then consider and do your best to tell me the connection of better in being at peace or at war with those to whom we ought to be so disposed.
