Str. Plaything is the name.

  Y. Soc. Certainly.

  Str. That one name may be fitly predicated of all of them, for
none of these things have a serious purpose-amusement is their sole
aim.

  Y. Soc. That again I understand.

  Str. Then there is a class which provides materials for all these,
out of which and in which the arts already mentioned fabricate their
works;-this manifold class, I say, which is the creation and offspring
of many other arts, may I not rank sixth?

  Y. Soc. What do you mean?

  Str. I am referring to gold, silver, and other metals, and all
that wood-cutting and shearing of every sort provides for the art of
carpentry and plaiting; and there is the process of barking and
stripping the cuticle of plants, and the currier's art, which strips
off the skins of animals, and other similar arts which manufacture
corks and papyri and cords, and provide for the manufacture of
composite species out of simple kinds-the whole class may be termed
the primitive and simple possession of man, and with this the kingly
science has no concern at all.

  Y. Soc. True.

  Str. The provision of food and of all other things which mingle
their particles with the particles of the human body; and minister
to the body, will form a seventh class, which may be called by the
general term of nourishment, unless you have any better name to offer.
This, however, appertains rather to the husbandman, huntsman, trainer,
doctor, cook, and is not to be assigned to the Statesman's art.

  Y. Soc. Certainly not.

  Str. These seven classes include nearly every description of
property, with the exception of tame animals. Consider;-there was
the original material, which ought to have been placed first; next
come instruments, vessels, vehicles, defences, playthings,
nourishment; small things, which may be-included under one of these-as
for example, coins, seals and stamps, are omitted, for they have not
in them the character of any larger kind which includes them; but some
of them may, with a little forcing, be placed among ornaments, and
others may be made to harmonize with the class of implements. The
art of herding, which has been already divided into parts, will
include all property in tame animals except slaves.

  Y. Soc. Very true.

  Str. The class of slaves and ministers only remains, and I suspect
that in this the real aspirants for the throne, who are the rivals
of the king in the formation of the political web, will be discovered;
just as spinners, carders, and the rest of them, were the rivals of
the weaver. All the others, who were termed co-operators, have been
got rid of among the occupations already mentioned, and separated from
the royal and political science.

  Y. Soc. I agree.

  Str. Let us go a little nearer, in order that we may be more certain
of the complexion of this remaining class.

  Y. Soc. Let us do so.

  Str. We shall find from our present point of view that the
greatest servants are in a case and condition which is the reverse
of what we anticipated.

  Y. Soc. Who are they?

  Str. Those who have been purchased, and have so become
possessions; these are unmistakably slaves, and certainly do not claim
royal science.

  Y. Soc. Certainly not.

  Str. Again, freemen who of their own accord become the servants of
the other classes in a State, and who exchange and equalise the
products of husbandry and the other arts, some sitting in the
market-place, others going from city to city by land or sea, and
giving money in exchange for money or for other productions-the
money-changer, the merchant, the ship-owner, the retailer, will not
put in any claim to statecraft or politics?

  Y. Soc. No; unless, indeed, to the politics of commerce.

  Str. But surely men whom we see acting as hirelings and serfs, and
too happy to turn their hand to anything, will not profess to share in
royal science?

  Y. Soc. Certainly not.

  Str. But what would you say of some other serviceable officials?

  Y. Soc. Who are they, and what services do they perform?