VI

Your words (Critobulus answered) command my entire sympathy, when you
bid us endeavour to begin each work with heaven's help,[1] seeing that
the gods hold in their hands the issues alike of peace and war. So at
any rate will we endeavour to act at all times; but will you now
endeavour on your side to continue the discussion of economy from the
point at which you broke off, and bring it point by point to its
conclusion? What you have said so far has not been thrown away on me.
I seem to discern already more clearly, what sort of behaviour is
necessary to anything like real living.[2]

[1] Lit. "with the gods," and for the sentiment see below, x. 10;
"Cyrop." III. i. 15; "Hipparch," ix. 3.

[2] For {bioteuein} cf. Pind. "Nem." iv. 11, and see Holden ad loc.

Socrates replied: What say you then? Shall we first survey the ground
already traversed, and retrace the steps on which we were agreed, so
that, if possible we may conduct the remaining portion of the argument
to its issue with like unanimity?[3]

[3] Lit. "try whether we can go through the remaining steps with
like . . ."

Crit. Why, yes! If it is agreeable for two partners in a business to
run through their accounts without dispute, so now as partners in an
argument it will be no less agreeable to sum up the points under
discussion, as you say, with unanimity.