agreeable to the eye; but if the excess be very great, all
symmetry is lost, and the nose at last ceases to be a nose at all
on account of some excess in one direction or defect in the other;
and this is true of every other part of the human body. The same
law of proportion holds in states."--Jowett.

Soc. For this good reason, that a snub nose does not discharge the
office of a barrier; (8) it allows the orbs of sight free range of
vision: whilst your towering nose looks like an insulting wall of
partition to shut off the two eyes. (9)

(8) Or, "the humble snub is not a screen or barricade."

(9) Cf. "Love's Labour Lost," v. 2. 568: Boyet. "Your nose says no,
you are not, for it stands too right"; also "The Song of Solomon,"
vii. 4: "Thy nose is the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward
Damascus."

As to the mouth (proceeded Critobulus), I give in at once; for, given
mouths are made for purposes of biting, you could doubtless bite off a
much larger mouthful with your mouth than I with mine.

Soc. Yes, and you will admit, perhaps, that I can give a softer kiss
than you can, thanks to my thick lips.

Crit. It seems I have an uglier mouth than any ass.

Soc. And here is a fact which you will have to reckon with, if further
evidence be needed to prove that I am handsomer than you. The naiads,
nymphs, divine, have as their progeny Sileni, who are much more like
myself, I take it, than like you. Is that conclusive?

Nay, I give it up (cried Critobulus), I have not a word to say in
answer. I am silenced. Let them record the votes. I fain would know at
once what I must suffer or must pay. (10) Only (he added) let them vote
in secret. (11) I am afraid your wealth and his (Antisthenes') combined
may overpower me.

(10) For this formula see "Dict. Ant." {timema}. Cf. "Econ." xi. 25;
Plat. "Apol." 36 B; "Statesm." 299 A; "Laws," freq.; Dem. 529. 23;
533. 2.

(11) And not as in the case described (Thuc. iv. 74), where the people
(at Megara) were compelled to give sentence on the political
opponents of the oligarchs by an open vote. Cf. Lysias, 133, 12,
{ten de psephon ouk eis kadiskous, alla phaneran epi tas trapezas
tautas dei tithenai}.

Accordingly the boy and girl began to register the votes in secret,
while Socrates directed the proceedings. He would have the lamp-stand
(12) this time brought close up to Critobulus; the judges must on no
account be taken in