is the ruler of workmen?

  Y. Soc. Yes.

  Str. He contributes knowledge, not manual labour?

  Y. Soc. True.

  Str. And may therefore be justly said to share in theoretical
science?

  Y. Soc. Quite true.

  Str. But he ought not, like the calculator, to regard his
functions as at and when he has formed a judgment;-he must assign to
the individual workmen their appropriate task until they have
completed the work.

  Y. Soc. True.

  Str. Are not all such sciences, no less than arithmetic and the
like, subjects of pure knowledge; and is not the difference between
the two classes, that the one sort has the power of judging only,
and the other of ruling as well?

  Y. Soc. That is evident.

  Str. May we not very properly say, that of all knowledge, there
are there are two divisions-one which rules, and the other which
judges?

  Y. Soc. I should think so.

  Str. And when men have anything to do in common, that they should be
of one mind is surely a desirable thing?

  Y. Soc. Very true.

  Str. Then while we are at unity among ourselves, we need not mind
about the fancies of others?

  Y. Soc. Certainly not.

  Str. And now, in which of these divisions shall we place the
king?-Is he a judge and a kind of spectator? Or shall we assign to him
the art of command-for he is a ruler?

  Y. Soc. The latter, clearly.

  Str. Then we must see whether there is any mark of division in the
art of command too. I am inclined to think that there is a distinction
similar to that of manufacturer and retail dealer, which parts off the
king from the herald.

  Y. Soc. How is this?

  Str. Why, does not the retailer receive and sell over again the
productions of others, which have been sold before?

  Y. Soc. Certainly he does.

  Str. And is not the herald under command, and does he not receive
orders, and in his turn give them to others?

  Y. Soc. Very true.

  Str. Then shall we mingle the kingly art in the same class with
the art of the herald, the interpreter, the boatswain, the prophet,
and the numerous kindred arts which exercise command; or, as in the
preceding comparison we spoke of manufacturers, or sellers for
themselves, and of retailers,-seeing, too, that the class of supreme
rulers, or rulers for themselves, is almost nameless-shall we make a
word following the same analogy, and refer kings to a supreme or
ruling-for-self science, leaving the rest to receive a name from
some one else? For we are seeking the ruler; and our enquiry is not
concerned with him who is not a ruler.

  Y. Soc. Very good.

  Str. Thus a very fair distinction has been attained between the
man who gives his own commands, and him who gives another's. And now
let us see if the supreme power allows of any further division.

  Y. Soc. By all means.

  Str. I think that it does; and please to assist me in making the
division.

  Y. Soc. At what point?

  Str. May not all rulers be supposed to command for the sake of
producing something?

  Y. Soc. Certainly.

  Str. Nor is there any difficulty in dividing the things produced
into two classes.

  Y. Soc. How would you divide them?