Eucleides EU. Just in from the country, Terpsion, or did you come some time ago?

Terpsion TERP. Quite a while ago; and I was looking for you in the market-place and wondering that I could not find you.

Eucleides EU. Well, you see, I was not in the city.

Terpsion TERP. Where then?

Eucleides EU. As I was going down to the harbor I met Theaetetus being carried to Athens from the camp at Corinth.

Terpsion TERP. Alive or dead?

Eucleides EU. Just barely alive; for he is suffering severely from wounds, and, worse than that, he has been taken with the sickness that has broken out in the army.

Terpsion TERP. You mean the dysentery?

Eucleides EU. Yes.

Terpsion TERP. What a man he is who you say is in danger!

Eucleides EU. A noble man, Terpsion, and indeed just now I heard some people praising him highly for his conduct in the battle.

Terpsion TERP. That is not at all strange; it would have been much more remarkable if he had not so conducted himself. But why did he not 142c stop here in Megara?

Eucleides EU. He was in a hurry to get home; for I begged and advised him to stop, but he would not. So I went along with him, and as I was coming back I thought of Socrates and wondered at his prophetic gift, especially in what he said about him. For I think he met him a little before his own death, when Theaetetus was a mere boy, and as a result of acquaintance and conversation with him, he greatly admired his qualities. When I went to Athens he related to me the conversation 142d he had with him, which was well worth hearing, and he said he would surely become a notable man if he lived.

Terpsion TERP. And he was right, apparently. But what was the talk? Could you relate it?

Eucleides EU. No, by Zeus, at least not offhand. 143a But I made notes at the time as soon as I reached home, then afterwards at my leisure, as I recalled things, I wrote them down, and whenever I went to Athens I used to ask Socrates about what I could not remember, and then I came here and made corrections; so that I have pretty much the whole talk written down.

Terpsion TERP. That is true. I heard you say so before; and really I have been waiting about here all along intending to ask you to show it to me. What hinders us from reading it now? Certainly I need to rest, since I have come from the country.

Eucleides EU. And I myself went with Theaetetus as far as Erineum, ¹ so I also should not be sorry to take a rest. Come, let us go, and while we are resting, the boy shall read to us.

Terpsion TERP. Very well.

Eucleides EU. Here is the book, Terpsion. Now this is the way I wrote the conversation: I did not represent Socrates relating it to me, as he did, but conversing with those with whom he told me he conversed. And he told me they were the geometrician Theodorus and Theaetetus. Now in order that 143c the explanatory words between the speeches might not be annoying in the written account, such as “and I said” or “and I remarked,” whenever Socrates spoke, or “he agreed or he did not agree,” in the case of the interlocutor, I omitted all that sort of thing and represented Socrates himself as talking with them.

Terpsion TERP. That is quite fitting, Eucleides.

Eucleides EU. Come, boy, take the book and read.

Socrates SOC. If I cared more for Cyrene and its affairs, Theodorus, I should ask you about things there and about the people, whether any of the young men there are devoting themselves to geometry or any other form of philosophy; but as it is, since I care less for those people than for the people here, I am more eager to know which of our own young men are likely to gain reputation. These are the things I myself investigate, so far as I can, and about which I question those others with whom I see that the young men like to associate. Now a great many of them come to you, and rightly, 143e for you deserve it on account of your geometry, not to speak of other reasons. So if you have met with any young man who is worth mentioning, I should like to hear about him.

Theodorus THEO. Truly, Socrates, it is well worth while for me to talk and for you to hear about a splendid young fellow, one of your fellow-citizens, whom I have met. Now if he were handsome, I should be very much afraid to speak, lest someone should think I was in love with him. But the fact is—now don’t be angry with me—he is not handsome, but is like you in his snub nose and protruding eyes, only those features are less marked in him than in you. 144a You see I speak fearlessly. But I assure you that among all the young men I have ever met—and I have had to do with a great many—I never yet found one of such marvelously fine qualities. He is quick to learn, beyond almost anyone else, yet exceptionally gentle, and moreover brave beyond any other; I should not have supposed such a combination existed, and I do not see it elsewhere. On the contrary, those who, like him, have quick, sharp minds and good memories, have usually also quick tempers; they dart off and are swept away, 144b like ships without ballast; they are excitable rather than courageous; those, on the other hand, who are steadier are somewhat dull when brought face to face with learning, and are very forgetful. But this boy advances toward learning and investigation smoothly and surely and successfully, with perfect gentleness, like a stream of oil that flows without a sound, so that one marvels how he accomplishes all this at his age.

Socrates SOC. That is good news; but which of our citizens is his father?

Theodorus THEO. I have heard the name, but do not remember it. 144c However, it does not matter, for the youth is the middle one of those who are now coming toward us. He and those friends of his were anointing themselves in the outer course, ² and now they seem to have finished and to be coming here. See if you recognize him.

Socrates SOC. Yes, I do. He is the son of Euphronius of Sunium, who is a man of just the sort you describe, and of good repute in other respects; moreover he left a very large property. But the youth’s name I do not know.

Theodorus THEO. Theaetetus is his name, Socrates; but I believe the property was squandered by trustees. Nevertheless, Socrates, he is remarkably liberal with his money, too.

Socrates SOC. It is a noble man that you describe. Now please tell him to come here and sit by us.

Theodorus THEO. I will. Theaetetus, come here to Socrates.

Socrates SOC. Yes, do so, Theaetetus, that I may look at myself and see what sort of a face I have; 144e for Theodorus says it is like yours. Now if we each had a lyre, and he said we had tuned them to the same key, should we take his word for it without more ado, or should we inquire first whether he who said it was a musician?

Theaetetus THEAET. We should inquire.

Socrates SOC. Then if we found that he was a musician, we should believe him, but if not, we should refuse to take his word?

Theaetetus THEAET. Yes.

Socrates SOC. But now, if we are concerned about the likeness of our faces, 145a we must consider whether he who speaks is a painter, or not.

Theaetetus THEAET. I think we must.

Socrates SOC. Well, is Theodorus a painter?

Theaetetus THEAET. Not so far as I know.

Socrates SOC. Nor a geometrician, either?

Theaetetus THEAET. Oh yes, decidedly, Socrates.

Socrates SOC. And an astronomer, and an arithmetician, and a musician, and in general an educated man?

Theaetetus THEAET. I think so.

Socrates SOC. Well then, if he says, either in praise or blame, that we have some physical resemblance, it is not especially worth while to pay attention to him.

Theaetetus THEAET. Perhaps not.

Socrates SOC. But what if he should praise the soul of one of us for virtue and wisdom? Is it not worth while for the one who hears to examine eagerly the one who is praised, and for that one to exhibit his qualities with eagerness?

Theaetetus THEAET. Certainly, Socrates.

Socrates SOC. Then, my dear Theaetetus, this is just the time for you to exhibit your qualities and for me to examine them; for I assure you that Theodorus, though he has praised many foreigners and citizens to me, never praised anyone as he praised you just now.

Theaetetus THEAET. A good idea, Socrates; but make sure 145c that he was not speaking in jest.

Socrates SOC. That is not Theodorus’s way. But do not seek to draw back from your agreement on the pretext that he is jesting, or he will be forced to testify under oath; for certainly no one will accuse him of perjury. Come, be courageous and hold to the agreement.

Theaetetus THEAET. I suppose I must, if you say so.

Socrates SOC. Now tell me; I suppose you learn some geometry from Theodorus?

Theaetetus THEAET. Yes.

Socrates SOC. And astronomy and harmony and arithmetic?

Theaetetus THEAET. I try hard to do so.

Socrates SOC. And so do I, my boy, from him and from any others who I think know anything about these things. But nevertheless, although in other respects I get on fairly well in them, yet I am in doubt about one little matter, which should be investigated with your help and that of these others. Tell me, is not learning growing wiser about that which one learns?

Theaetetus THEAET. Of course.

Socrates SOC. And the wise, I suppose, are wise by wisdom.

Theaetetus THEAET. Yes.

Socrates SOC. And does this differ at all from knowledge?

Theaetetus THEAET. Does what differ?

Socrates SOC. Wisdom. Or are not people wise in that of which they have knowledge?

Theaetetus THEAET. Of course.

Socrates SOC. Then knowledge and wisdom are the same thing?

Theaetetus THEAET. Yes.