Soc. And you, like him, invite any one to ask you about anything which he pleases, and you will know how to answer him ?
Pol. To be sure.
Soc. And now, which will you do, ask or answer ?
Pol. I will ask ; and do you answer me, Socrates, the same question which Gorgias, as you suppose, is unable to answer : What is rhetoric ?
Soc. Do you mean what sort of an art ?
Pol. Yes.
Soc. To say the truth, Polus, it is not an art at all, in my opinion.
Pol. Then what, in your opinion, is rhetoric ?
Soc. A thing which, as I was lately reading in a book of yours, you say that you have made an art.
Pol. What thing ?
Soc. I should say a sort of experience.
Pol. Does rhetoric seem to you to be an experience ?
Soc. That is my view, but you may be of another mind.
Pol. An experience in what ?
Soc. An experience in producing a sort of delight and gratification.
Pol. And if able to gratify others, must not rhetoric be a fine thing ?
Soc. What are you saying, Polus ? Why do you ask me whether rhetoric is a fine thing or not, when I have not as yet told you what rhetoric is ?
Pol. Did I not hear you say that rhetoric was a sort of experience ?
Soc. Will you, who are so desirous to gratify others, afford a slight gratification to me ?
Pol. I will.
Soc. Will you ask me, what sort of an art is cookery ?
Pol. What sort of an art is cookery ?
Soc. Not an art at all, Polus.
Pol. What then ?
Soc. I should say an experience.
Pol. In what ? I wish that you would explain to me.
Soc. An experience in producing a sort of delight and gratification, Polus.
Pol. Then are cookery and rhetoric the same ?
Soc. No, they are only different parts of the same profession.
Pol. Of what profession ?