225–226
Socrates
Soc. Then who has knowledge of the worth of plants, and of the sort of season and soil in which they are worth planting—if we too may throw in one of those artful phrases The “artful phrase” here is the jingling ὥρᾳ καὶ χώρᾳ, characteristic of the rhetoric taught by Gorgias and his followers. which adroit pleaders use to trick out their speeches in the law courts?
Friend
Fr. For my part, I should say a farmer.
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Socrates
Soc. And by “think it worth while to make gain” do you mean aught but “thinking one ought to make gain”?
Socrates
Soc. Then do not attempt to deceive me, who am now quite an elderly person, and you so young, by making, as you did just now, an answer that is not even your own thought; but tell me in all truth, do you suppose that any man who was taking up farming and who knew it was a worthless plant that he was planting, could think to make gain from it?
Friend
Fr. Upon my word, I do not.
Socrates
Soc. Or again, take a horseman who knows that he is providing worthless food for his horse; do you suppose he is unaware that he is destroying his horse?
Socrates
Soc. So he does not think to make gain from that worthless food.
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Socrates
Soc. Or again, take a navigator who has furnished his ship with worthless spars and ropes; do you think he is unaware that he will suffer for it, and will be in danger of being lost himself, and of losing the ship and all her cargo?
Socrates
Soc. So he does not think to make gain from that worthless tackle?
Friend
Fr. No, indeed.
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