Stranger: Let me note that here appear in view two ways to that part or class which the argument aims at reaching—the one a speedier way, which cuts off a small portion and leaves a large; the other agrees better with the principle which we were laying down, that as far as we can we should divide in the middle; but it is longer. We can take either of them, whichever we please.
Young Socrates: Cannot we have both ways?
Stranger: Together? What a thing to ask! but, if you take them in turn, you clearly may.
Young Socrates: Then I should like to have them in turn.
Stranger: There will be no difficulty, as we are near the end; if we had been at the beginning, or in the middle, I should have demurred to your request; but now, in accordance with your desire, let us begin with the longer way; while we are fresh, we shall get on better. And now attend to the division.
Young Socrates: Let me hear.
Stranger: The tame walking herding animals are distributed by nature into two classes.
Young Socrates: Upon what principle?
Stranger: The one grows horns; and the other is without horns.
Young Socrates: Clearly.
Stranger: Suppose that you divide the science which manages pedestrian animals into two corresponding parts, and define them; for if you try to invent names for them, you will find the intricacy too great.
Young Socrates: How must I speak of them, then?
Stranger: In this way: let the science of managing pedestrian animals be divided into two parts, and one part assigned to the horned herd, and the other to the herd that has no horns.
Young Socrates: All that you say has been abundantly proved, and may therefore be assumed.
Stranger: The king is clearly the shepherd of a polled herd, who have no horns.
Young Socrates: That is evident.
Stranger: Shall we break up this hornless herd into sections, and endeavour to assign to him what is his?
Young Socrates: By all means.
Stranger: Shall we distinguish them by their having or not having cloven feet, or by their mixing or not mixing the breed? You know what I mean.
Young Socrates: What?
Stranger: I mean that horses and asses naturally breed from one another.
Young Socrates: Yes.
Stranger: But the remainder of the hornless herd of tame animals will not mix the breed.
Young Socrates: Very true.
Stranger: And of which has the Statesman charge—of the mixed or of the unmixed race?