Σωκράτης
ἵνα σε ἀντεικάσω. ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦτο οἶδα περὶ πάντων τῶν καλῶν, ὅτι χαίρουσιν εἰκαζόμενοι—λυσιτελεῖ γὰρ αὐτοῖς: καλαὶ γὰρ οἶμαι τῶν καλῶν καὶ αἱ εἰκόνες—ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἀντεικάσομαί σε.
ἐγὼ δέ, εἰ μὲν ἡ νάρκη αὐτὴ ναρκῶσα οὕτω καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ποιεῖ ναρκᾶν, ἔοικα αὐτῇ: εἰ δὲ μή, οὔ.
οὐ γὰρ εὐπορῶν αὐτὸς τοὺς ἄλλους ποιῶ ἀπορεῖν, ἀλλὰ παντὸς μᾶλλον αὐτὸς ἀπορῶν οὕτως καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ποιῶ (80d) ἀπορεῖν.
καὶ νῦν περὶ ἀρετῆς ὃ ἔστιν ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα, σὺ μέντοι ἴσως πρότερον μὲν ᾔδησθα πρὶν ἐμοῦ ἅψασθαι, νῦν μέντοι ὅμοιος εἶ οὐκ εἰδότι. ὅμως δὲ ἐθέλω μετὰ σοῦ σκέψασθαι καὶ συζητῆσαι ὅτι ποτέ ἐστιν.
SOCRATES. Quatenus te recomparem. Ego nimirum hoc novi de omnibus bonis, quoniam gratulantur comparati - expedit enim eis: bone nimirum autumo bonorum etiam ymagines - sed neque comparabo te.
Ego vero si narca ipsa narcissans ita et alios facit narcissare, similis sum ei; sin autem, minime.
Non enim scientia habundans ipse alios facio hesitare, sed universis magis ipse ambigens, ita et ceteros facio dubitare.
Et nunc quidem de virtute quid est ego quidem non novi, tu sane forsitan prius nosti, antequam me convenisses, nunc autem similis es ignoranti. Verumptamen volo tecum considerate ac simul vestigare quid est.
nisi ut ipse quoque te contra depingam? Viri enim honesto habitu præditi cum effinguntur, delectari solent. illud quippe conducit. honestorum honestæ sunt et imagines. At ego personam tuam minime effingam.
Equidem si piscis ille stupidus ipse alios reddit stupidos, ei sum persimilis, secus autem minime.
Neque enim sæcundus ipse, cæteros titubare compello, sed maxime omnium dubitans ego, dubitare alios quoque facio.
Etenim in præsentia, quid virtus fit, haud certe novi, tu tamen forte priusquam mihi occurrbas, noveras, nunc vero stupido mihi similis evasisti. Verumtamen una tecum rem discutere hanc institui, quid ue sit virtus investigare.
SOCRATES: In order that I might make another simile about you. For I know that all pretty young gentlemen like to have pretty similes made about them--as well they may--but I shall not return the compliment.
As to my being a torpedo, if the torpedo is torpid as well as the cause of torpidity in others, then indeed I am a torpedo, but not otherwise;
for I perplex others, not because I am clear, but because I am utterly perplexed myself.
And now I know not what virtue is, and you seem to be in the same case, although you did once perhaps know before you touched me. However, I have no objection to join with you in the enquiry.