[588d]
“It is the task of a cunning artist,1” he said,
“but nevertheless, since speech is more plastic than wax2 and
other such media, assume that it has been so fashioned.”
“Then fashion one other form of a lion and one of a man and let
the first be far the largest3 and the second second in size.” “That is
easier,” he said, “and is done.”
“Join the three in one, then, so as in some sort to grow
together.” “They are so united,” he said.
“Then mould about them outside the likeness of one, that of the
man, so that to anyone who is unable
1 Cf. 596 C.
2 Cf. Cic.De or. iii. 45 “sicut mollissimam ceram . . . fingimus.” Otto, 80, says it is a proverb. For the development of this figure cf. Pliny, Epist. vii. 9 “ut laus est cerae, mollis cedensque sequatur.” For the idea that word is more precise or easy than deed Cf. 473 A, Phaedo 99 E, Laws 636 A, 736 B, Tim. 19 E.
3 Cf. 442 A.
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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