Well then, you speak of a surface, and also of a solid—the terms employed in geometrical problems?
Men.I do.
Soc.So now you are able to comprehend from all this what I mean by figure. In every instance of figure I call that figure in which the solid ends; and I may put that more succinctly by saying that figure is limit of solid.
And what do you say of color, Socrates?
Soc.How overbearing of you, Meno, to press an old man with demands for answers, when you will not trouble yourself to recollect and tell me what account Gorgias gives of virtue!
Men.When you have answered my question, Socrates, I will answer yours.
Soc.One might tell even blindfolded, Meno, by the way you discuss, that you are handsome and still have lovers.
Men.Why so?
Soc.Because you invariably speak in a peremptory tone, after the fashion of spoilt beauties, holding as they do a despotic power so long as their bloom is on them. You have also, I daresay, made a note of my weakness for handsome people. So I will indulge you, and answer.
Men.You must certainly indulge me.
Soc.Then would you like me to answer you in the manner of Gorgias, Footnote 1There is something of Gorgias’ stately style in the definition that follows; but the implication seems mainly to be that the substance of it will be familiar to Meno because he was a pupil of Gorgias, who had learnt his science from Empedocles. which you would find easiest to follow?
Men.I should like that, of course.
Soc.Do not both of you say there are certain effluences Footnote 2Empedocles taught that material objects are known to us by means of effluences or films given off by them and suited in various ways to our sense-organs. of existent things, as Empedocles held?
Men.Certainly.
Soc.And passages into which and through which the effluences pass?
Men.To be sure.
Soc.And some of the effluences fit into various passages, while some are too small or too large?
Men.That is so.
Soc.And further, there is what you call sight?
Men.Yes.
Soc.So now conceive my meaning,
as Pindar Footnote 3Fr. 82 (Bergk); cf. Aristoph. Birds 939. says: color is an effluence of figures, commensurate with sight and sensible.
Your answer, Socrates, seems to me excellently put.
Soc.Yes, for I expect you find its terms familiar; and at the same time I fancy you observe that it enables you to tell what sound and smell are, and numerous other things of the kind.
Men.Certainly.
Soc.It is an answer in the high poetic style, Meno, and so more agreeable to you than that about figure.
Men.Yes, it is.
Soc.But yet, son of Alexidemus, I am inclined to think the other was the better of the two; and I believe you also would prefer it, if you were not compelled, as you were saying yesterday, to go away before the mysteries, and could stay awhile and be initiated.