303
Str. Then those who participate in all those governments with the exception of the scientific one—are to be eliminated as not being statesmen, but partisans and since they preside over the greatest counterfeits, they are themselves counterfeits, and since they are the greatest of imitators and cheats, they are the greatest of all sophists.
303
Y. Soc. This term sophist seems to have come round quite rightly to the so-called statesmen.
303
Str. Well, this part has been exactly like a play. Just as we remarked a moment ago, 291 A. a festive troop of centaurs or satyrs was coming into view, which we had to separate from the art of statesmanship; and now we have succeeded in doing this, though it has been very difficult.
303
Y. Soc. So it seems.
303
Str. But another group remains, which is still more difficult to separate, because it is more closely akin to the kingly class and is also harder to recognize. I think we are in somewhat the same position as refiners of gold.
303
Y. Soc. How so?
303
Str. Why, the refiners first remove earth and stones and all that sort of thing; and after that there remain the precious substances which are mixed with the gold and akin to it and can be removed only by fire—copper and silver and sometimes adamant. Plat. Tim. 59 B, defines adamant as χρυσοῦ ὄζος a branch of gold. It was, then, a substance akin to gold. Platinum has been suggested. These are removed by the difficult processes of smelting and tests, leaving before our eyes what is called unalloyed gold in all its purity.
303
Y. Soc. Yes, that is said, at least, to be the process.
