seem to be conclusive--but what are we to make of this? Some
people . . ."

[17] Lit. "the right kinds of knowledge and the right starting-
points."

Soc. Ah! I see, Critobulus, you wish to direct the discussion to the
topic of slaves?

Crit. No indeed, I have no such intention--quite the reverse. I want
to talk about persons of high degree, of right noble family[18] some
of them, to do them justice. These are the people I have in my mind's
eye, gifted with, it may be, martial or, it may be, civil
accomplishments, which, however, they refuse to exercise, for the very
reason, as I take it, that they have no masters over them.

[18] "Eupatrids."

Soc. No masters over them! but how can that be if, in spite of their
prayers for prosperity and their desire to do what will bring them
good, they are still so sorely hindered in the exercise of their wills
by those that lord it over them?

Crit. And who, pray, are these lords that rule them and yet remain
unseen?

Soc. Nay, not unseen; on the contrary, they are very visible. And what
is more, they are the basest of the base, as you can hardly fail to
note, if at least you believe idleness and effeminacy and reckless
negligence to be baseness. Then, too, there are other treacherous