occasion, Euthydemus being present, though, as was plain
to see, somewhat disposed to withdraw from the friendly concourse, (8)
as if he would choose anything rather than appear to admire Socrates on
the score of wisdom, the latter made the following remarks.

(8) {sunedrias}, "the council."

Soc. It is clear from his customary pursuits, is it not, sirs, that when
our friend Euthydemus here is of full age, and the state propounds some
question for solution, he will not abstain from offering the benefit
of his advice? One can imagine the pretty exordium to his parliamentary
speeches which, in his anxiety not to be thought to have learnt anything
from anybody, he has ready for the occasion. (9) Clearly at the outset
he will deliver himself thus: "Men of Athens, I have never at any time
learnt anything from anybody; nor, if I have ever heard of any one as
being an able statesman, well versed in speech and capable of action,
have I sought to come across him individually. I have not so much as
been at pains to provide muself with a teacher from amongst those who
have knowledge; (10) on the contrary, I have persistently avoided, I
will not say learning from others, but the very faintest suspicion of
so doing. However, anything that occurs to me by the light of nature I
shall be glad to place at your disposal."... How appropriate (11) would
such a preface sound on the lips of any one seeking, say, the office of
state physician, (12) would it not? How advantageously he might begin
an address on this wise: "Men of Athens, I have never learnt the art of
healing by help of anybody, nor have I sought to provide myself with any
teacher among medical men. Indeed, to put it briefly, I have been ever
on my guard not only against learning anything from the profession, but
against the very notion of having studied medicine at all. If, however,
you will be so good as to confer on me this post, I promise I will do
my best to acquire skill by experimenting on your persons." Every one
present laughed at the exordium (and there the matter dropped).

(9) Or, "the pretty exordium... now in course of composition. He
must at all hazards avoid the suspicion of having picked up any
crumb of learning from anybody; how can he help therefore
beginning his speech thus?"

(10) Or, "scientific experts."

(11) Al. "Just as if one seeking the office of state physician were to
begin with a like exordium." {armoseie} = "it would be c