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Dem. It does rather look, in fact, as though our best way would be thus, as you suggest.
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Soc. Then tell me, what is the young person’s goodly name: how are we to address him?
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Dem. Theages is his name, Socrates.
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Soc. Goodly is the name, Demodocus, and holy-sounding, Theages means god-guided. that you have bestowed on your son. Tell me, then, Theages, do you say you desire to become wise, and do you require your father here to find out a school of some man who is qualified to make you wise?
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The. Yes.
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Soc. And which sort of man do you call wise, those who have knowledge of such and such a thing, whatever it may be, or those who have not?
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The. Those who have knowledge, I say.
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Soc. Well now, has not your father taught and educated you in the subjects which form the education of everyone else here—all the sons of noble and honorable fathers—in letters, I mean, and harping and wrestling and the other sorts of contest?
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The. Yes, he has.
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Soc. And you think you are still lacking in some knowledge which it behoves your father to provide for you?
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The. I do
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Soc. What knowledge is it? Tell us on our side, that we may oblige you.
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The. He knows it, as well as I, Socrates, since I have often told him; only he says this to you of set purpose, making as if he did not know what I desire. For he assails me too with other statements of the same sort, and refuses to place me with any instructor.
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Soc. Well, what you said to him before was spoken, as it were, without witnesses; but now you shall take me as a witness, and declare before me what is this wisdom that you desire. Come now; suppose you desired the wisdom whereby men steer a ship, and I happened to put this further question to you: Theages, what wisdom is it that you lack, when you blame your father for refusing to place you with people who would enable you to become wise? What answer would you have given me? What wisdom would you name? The steersman’s art, would you not?
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The. Yes.
