ut I am busy, and have really no more time to
waste upon you and your dialectics."

"Farewell, then, Philogeorgos," I said; "but please do not be angry with
me for being so stupid. And if I were you," I continued, "I do not think
I would be angry with the wine-seller either; for perhaps the draughts of
wine will make the citizens drunk, especially when they need not be paid
for; and when a citizen is drunk he will run the risk of voting for you
rather than for Misogeorgos. Do you not think so?"

But Philogeorgos was already out of hearing.

PHILELEUTHEROS; OR, CONCERNING THE PEOPLE'S WILL

"Is not this a dreadful thing, Socrates, that Balphurios has been lately
doing about what he calls a Referendum?"

"What thing?" I said. "I have heard indeed lately that he has said
this--that if he and his friends should be elected to sit in the
Ecclesia, he will not propose a law taxing Megarian imports without first
consulting the citizens; and he has invited Askoithios to do the same
thing, and not to give autonomy to the Samians without first consulting
the citizens. Is that the dreadful thing?"

"So dreadful, Socrates, that even now I can scarcely believe it: for it
aims at the destruction of the democracy. But I can tell him that
Askoithios will certainly not do what he is invited to do."

"Why will he not do it?" I asked.

"Because Askoithios knows very well already that all the citizens are in
favour of giving autonomy to the Samians."

"Well, Phileleutheros," I said, "in that case he will do no harm by
having consulted them. And does Balphurios also know what the citizens
think about taxing Megarian imports?"

"Certainly: he knows that all men (except himself and his friends) abhor
such a plan."

"Then," I said, "no harm will be done there either; for the citizens,
being consulted, will say what they wish."

"But, Socrates, it is always harmful that the citizens should be
consulted. And that is why Askoithios will not consult them."

"Why, Phileleutheros," I said, "are you not a democrat?"

"Of course I am."

"And in a democracy do not the people rule?"

"I suppose so."

"By saying what they wish to have done, or otherwise?"

"By saying so, I suppose."

"And if they are not allowed to say what they wish, they are not ruling,
and it is not a democracy?"

"Perhaps."

"Then Balphurios, who asks the people what they wish, is a democratic
man; and Askoithios, who does not ask them, is not