HERMOGENES：Verylikely。
SOCRATES：Yes，verylikely。Butstilltheenquirydemandsourearnestattentionandwemustnotflinch。Forweshouldremember，thatifapersongoonanalysingnamesintowords，andenquiringalsointotheelementsoutofwhichthewordsareformed，andkeepsonalwaysrepeatingthisprocess，hewhohastoanswerhimmustatlastgiveuptheenquiryindespair。
HERMOGENES：Verytrue。
SOCRATES：Andatwhatpointoughthetoloseheartandgiveuptheenquiry？Musthenotstopwhenhecomestothenameswhicharetheelementsofallothernamesandsentences；forthesecannotbesupposedtobemadeupofothernames？Thewordagathon（good），forexample，is，asweweresaying，acompoundofagastos（admirable）andthoos（swift）。Andprobablythoosismadeupofotherelements，andtheseagainofothers。
Butifwetakeawordwhichisincapableoffurtherresolution，thenweshallberightinsayingthatwehaveatlastreachedaprimaryelement，whichneednotberesolvedanyfurther。
HERMOGENES：Ibelieveyoutobeintheright。
SOCRATES：Andsupposethenamesaboutwhichyouarenowaskingshouldturnouttobeprimaryelements，mustnottheirtruthorlawbeexaminedaccordingtosomenewmethod？
HERMOGENES：Verylikely。
SOCRATES：Quiteso，Hermogenes；allthathasprecededwouldleadtothisconclusion。Andif，asIthink，theconclusionistrue，thenIshallagainsaytoyou，comeandhelpme，thatImaynotfallintosomeabsurdityinstatingtheprincipleofprimarynames。
HERMOGENES：Letmehear，andIwilldomybesttoassistyou。
SOCRATES：Ithinkthatyouwillacknowledgewithme，thatoneprincipleisapplicabletoallnames，primaryaswellassecondary——whentheyareregardedsimplyasnames，thereisnodifferenceinthem。
HERMOGENES：Certainlynot。
SOCRATES：Allthenamesthatwehavebeenexplainingwereintendedtoindicatethenatureofthings。
HERMOGENES：Ofcourse。
SOCRATES：Andthatthisistrueoftheprimaryquiteasmuchasofthesecondarynames，isimpliedintheirbeingnames。
HERMOGENES：Surely。
SOCRATES：Butthesecondary，asIconceive，derivetheirsignificancefromtheprimary。
HERMOGENES：Thatisevident。
SOCRATES：Verygood；butthenhowdotheprimarynameswhichprecedeanalysisshowthenaturesofthings，asfarastheycanbeshown；whichtheymustdo，iftheyaretoberealnames？AndhereIwillaskyouaquestion：Supposethatwehadnovoiceortongue，andwantedtocommunicatewithoneanother，shouldwenot，likethedeafanddumb，makesignswiththehandsandheadandtherestofthebody？
HERMOGENES：Therewouldbenochoice，Socrates。
SOCRATES：Weshouldimitatethenatureofthething；theelevationofourhandstoheavenwouldmeanlightnessandupwardness；heavinessanddownwardnesswouldbeexpressedbylettingthemdroptotheground；ifweweredescribingtherunningofahorse，oranyotheranimal，weshouldmakeourbodiesandtheirgesturesaslikeaswecouldtothem。
HERMOGENES：Idonotseethatwecoulddoanythingelse。
SOCRATES：Wecouldnot；forbybodilyimitationonlycanthebodyeverexpressanything。
HERMOGENES：Verytrue。
SOCRATES：Andwhenwewanttoexpressourselves，eitherwiththevoice，ortongue，ormouth，theexpressionissimplytheirimitationofthatwhichwewanttoexpress。
HERMOGENES：Itmustbeso，Ithink。
SOCRATES：Thenanameisavocalimitationofthatwhichthevocalimitatornamesorimitates？
HERMOGENES：Ithinkso。
SOCRATES：Nay，myfriend，Iamdisposedtothinkthatwehavenotreachedthetruthasyet。
HERMOGENES：Whynot？
SOCRATES：Becauseifwehaveweshallbeobligedtoadmitthatthepeoplewhoimitatesheep，orcocks，orotheranimals，namethatwhichtheyimitate。
HERMOGENES：Quitetrue。
SOCRATES：ThencouldIhavebeenrightinwhatIwassaying？
HERMOGENES：Inmyopinion，no。ButIwishthatyouwouldtellme，Socrates，whatsortofanimitationisaname？
SOCRATES：Inthefirstplace，Ishouldreply，notamusicalimitation，althoughthatisalsovocal；nor，again，animitationofwhatmusicimitates；these，inmyjudgment，wouldnotbenaming。Letmeputthematterasfollows：Allobjectshavesoundandfigure，andmanyhavecolour？
HERMOGENES：Certainly。
SOCRATES：Buttheartofnamingappearsnottobeconcernedwithimitationsofthiskind；theartswhichhavetodowiththemaremusicanddrawing？
HERMOGENES：True。
SOCRATES：Again，istherenotanessenceofeachthing，justasthereisacolour，orsound？Andistherenotanessenceofcolourandsoundaswellasofanythingelsewhichmaybesaidtohaveanessence？
HERMOGENES：Ishouldthinkso。
SOCRATES：Well，andifanyonecouldexpresstheessenceofeachthinginlettersandsyllables，wouldhenotexpressthenatureofeachthing？
HERMOGENES：Quiteso。
SOCRATES：Themusicianandthepainterwerethetwonameswhichyougavetothetwootherimitators。Whatwillthisimitatorbecalled？
HERMOGENES：Iimagine，Socrates，thathemustbethenamer，orname-giver，ofwhomweareinsearch。
SOCRATES：Ifthisistrue，thenIthinkthatweareinaconditiontoconsiderthenamesron（stream），ienai（togo），schesis（retention），aboutwhichyouwereasking；andwemayseewhetherthenamerhasgraspedthenatureoftheminlettersandsyllablesinsuchamannerastoimitatetheessenceornot。
HERMOGENES：Verygood。
SOCRATES：Butarethesetheonlyprimarynames，orarethereothers？
HERMOGENES：Theremustbeothers。
SOCRATES：SoIshouldexpect。Buthowshallwefurtheranalysethem，andwheredoestheimitatorbegin？Imitationoftheessenceismadebysyllablesandletters；oughtwenot，therefore，firsttoseparatetheletters，justasthosewhoarebeginningrhythmfirstdistinguishthepowersofelementary，andthenofcompoundsounds，andwhentheyhavedoneso，butnotbefore，theyproceedtotheconsiderationofrhythms？
HERMOGENES：Yes。
SOCRATES：Mustwenotbegininthesamewaywithletters；firstseparatingthevowels，andthentheconsonantsandmutes（letterswhichareneithervowelsnorsemivowels），intoclasses，accordingtothereceiveddistinctionsofthelearned；alsothesemivowels，whichareneithervowels，noryetmutes；anddistinguishingintoclassesthevowelsthemselves？Andwhenwehaveperfectedtheclassificationofthings，weshallgivethemnames，andseewhether，asinthecaseofletters，thereareanyclassestowhichtheymaybeallreferred（cf。Phaedrus）；andhenceweshallseetheirnatures，andsee，too，whethertheyhaveinthemclassesasthereareintheletters；andwhenwehavewellconsideredallthis，weshallknowhowtoapplythemtowhattheyresemble——whetheroneletterisusedtodenoteonething，orwhetherthereistobeanadmixtureofseveralofthem；just，asinpainting，thepainterwhowantstodepictanythingsometimesusespurpleonly，oranyothercolour，andsometimesmixesupseveralcolours，ashismethodiswhenhehastopaintfleshcolouroranythingofthatkind——heuseshiscoloursashisfiguresappeartorequirethem；andso，too，weshallapplyletterstotheexpressionofobjects，eithersingleletterswhenrequired，orseveralletters；andsoweshallformsyllables，astheyarecalled，andfromsyllablesmakenounsandverbs；andthus，atlast，fromthecombinationsofnounsandverbsarriveatlanguage，largeandfairandwhole；andasthepaintermadeafigure，evensoshallwemakespeechbytheartofthenamerortherhetorician，orbysomeotherart。
NotthatIamliterallyspeakingofourselves，butIwascarriedaway——
meaningtosaythatthiswasthewayinwhich（notwebut）theancientsformedlanguage，andwhattheyputtogetherwemusttaketopiecesinlikemanner，ifwearetoattainascientificviewofthewholesubject，andwemustseewhethertheprimary，andalsowhetherthesecondaryelementsarerightlygivenornot，foriftheyarenot，thecompositionofthem，mydearHermogenes，willbeasorrypieceofwork，andinthewrongdirection。
HERMOGENES：That，Socrates，Icanquitebelieve。
SOCRATES：Well，butdoyousupposethatyouwillbeabletoanalysetheminthisway？forIamcertainthatIshouldnot。
HERMOGENES：MuchlessamIlikelytobeable。
SOCRATES：Shallweleavethem，then？orshallweseektodiscover，ifwecan，somethingaboutthem，accordingtothemeasureofourability，sayingbywayofpreface，asIsaidbeforeoftheGods，thatofthetruthaboutthemweknownothing，anddobutentertainhumannotionsofthem。Andinthispresentenquiry，letussaytoourselves，beforeweproceed，thatthehighermethodistheonewhichweorotherswhowouldanalyselanguagetoanygoodpurposemustfollow；butunderthecircumstances，asmensay，wemustdoaswellaswecan。Whatdoyouthink？
HERMOGENES：Iverymuchapprove。
SOCRATES：Thatobjectsshouldbeimitatedinlettersandsyllables，andsofindexpression，mayappearridiculous，Hermogenes，butitcannotbeavoided——thereisnobetterprincipletowhichwecanlookforthetruthoffirstnames。Deprivedofthis，wemusthaverecoursetodivinehelp，likethetragicpoets，whoinanyperplexityhavetheirgodswaitingintheair；
andmustgetoutofourdifficultyinlikefashion，bysayingthat’theGodsgavethefirstnames，andthereforetheyareright。’Thiswillbethebestcontrivance，orperhapsthatothernotionmaybeevenbetterstill，ofderivingthemfromsomebarbarouspeople，forthebarbariansareolderthanweare；orwemaysaythatantiquityhascastaveiloverthem，whichisthesamesortofexcuseasthelast；forallthesearenotreasonsbutonlyingeniousexcusesforhavingnoreasonsconcerningthetruthofwords。Andyetanysortofignoranceoffirstorprimitivenamesinvolvesanignoranceofsecondarywords；fortheycanonlybeexplainedbytheprimary。Clearlythentheprofessoroflanguagesshouldbeabletogiveaverylucidexplanationoffirstnames，orlethimbeassuredhewillonlytalknonsenseabouttherest。Doyounotsupposethistobetrue？
HERMOGENES：Certainly，Socrates。
SOCRATES：Myfirstnotionsoforiginalnamesaretrulywildandridiculous，thoughIhavenoobjectiontoimpartthemtoyouifyoudesire，andIhopethatyouwillcommunicatetomeinreturnanythingbetterwhichyoumayhave。
HERMOGENES：Fearnot；Iwilldomybest。
SOCRATES：Inthefirstplace，theletterrhoappearstometobethegeneralinstrumentexpressingallmotion（kinesis）。ButIhavenotyetexplainedthemeaningofthislatterword，whichisjustiesis（going）；fortheletteretawasnotinuseamongtheancients，whoonlyemployedepsilon；andtherootiskiein，whichisaforeignform，thesameasienai。
Andtheoldwordkinesiswillbecorrectlygivenasiesisincorrespondingmodernletters。Assumingthisforeignrootkiein，andallowingforthechangeoftheetaandtheinsertionofthenu，wehavekinesis，whichshouldhavebeenkieinsisoreisis；andstasisisthenegativeofienai（oreisis），andhasbeenimprovedintostasis。Nowtheletterrho，asIwassaying，appearedtotheimposerofnamesanexcellentinstrumentfortheexpressionofmotion；andhefrequentlyusestheletterforthispurpose：
forexample，intheactualwordsreinandroeherepresentsmotionbyrho；
alsointhewordstromos（trembling），trachus（rugged）；andagain，inwordssuchaskrouein（strike），thrauein（crush），ereikein（bruise），thruptein（break），kermatixein（crumble），rumbein（whirl）：ofallthesesortsofmovementshegenerallyfindsanexpressionintheletterR，because，asI
imagine，hehadobservedthatthetonguewasmostagitatedandleastatrestinthepronunciationofthisletter，whichhethereforeusedinordertoexpressmotion，justasbytheletteriotaheexpressesthesubtleelementswhichpassthroughallthings。Thisiswhyheusestheletteriotaasimitativeofmotion，ienai，iesthai。Andthereisanotherclassofletters，phi，psi，sigma，andxi，ofwhichthepronunciationisaccompaniedbygreatexpenditureofbreath；theseareusedintheimitationofsuchnotionsaspsuchron（shivering），xeon（seething），seiesthai，（tobeshaken），seismos（shock），andarealwaysintroducedbythegiverofnameswhenhewantstoimitatewhatisphusodes（windy）。Heseemstohavethoughtthattheclosingandpressureofthetongueintheutteranceofdeltaandtauwasexpressiveofbindingandrestinaplace：hefurtherobservedtheliquidmovementoflambda，inthepronunciationofwhichthetongueslips，andinthishefoundtheexpressionofsmoothness，asinleios（level），andinthewordoliothanein（toslip）itself，liparon（sleek），inthewordkollodes（gluey），andthelike：theheaviersoundofgammadetainedtheslippingtongue，andtheunionofthetwogavethenotionofaglutinousclammynature，asinglischros，glukus，gloiodes。
Thenuheobservedtobesoundedfromwithin，andthereforetohaveanotionofinwardness；henceheintroducedthesoundinendosandentos：
alphaheassignedtotheexpressionofsize，andnuoflength，becausetheyaregreatletters：omicronwasthesignofroundness，andthereforethereisplentyofomicronmixedupinthewordgoggulon（round）。Thusdidthelegislator，reducingallthingsintolettersandsyllables，andimpressingonthemnamesandsigns，andoutofthembyimitationcompoundingothersigns。Thatismyview，Hermogenes，ofthetruthofnames；butIshouldliketohearwhatCratylushasmoretosay。
HERMOGENES：But，Socrates，asIwastellingyoubefore，Cratylusmystifiesme；hesaysthatthereisafitnessofnames，butheneverexplainswhatisthisfitness，sothatIcannottellwhetherhisobscurityisintendedornot。Tellmenow，Cratylus，hereinthepresenceofSocrates，doyouagreeinwhatSocrateshasbeensayingaboutnames，orhaveyousomethingbetterofyourown？andifyouhave，tellmewhatyourviewis，andthenyouwilleitherlearnofSocrates，orSocratesandIwilllearnofyou。
CRATYLUS：Well，butsurely，Hermogenes，youdonotsupposethatyoucanlearn，orIexplain，anysubjectofimportanceallinamoment；atanyrate，notsuchasubjectaslanguage，whichis，perhaps，theverygreatestofall。
HERMOGENES：No，indeed；but，asHesiodsays，andIagreewithhim，’toaddlittletolittle’isworthwhile。And，therefore，ifyouthinkthatyoucanaddanythingatall，howeversmall，toourknowledge，takealittletroubleandobligeSocrates，andmetoo，whocertainlyhaveaclaimuponyou。
SOCRATES：Iambynomeanspositive，Cratylus，intheviewwhichHermogenesandmyselfhaveworkedout；andthereforedonothesitatetosaywhatyouthink，whichifitbebetterthanmyownviewIshallgladlyaccept。AndIshouldnotbeatallsurprizedtofindthatyouhavefoundsomebetternotion。Foryouhaveevidentlyreflectedonthesemattersandhavehadteachers，andifyouhavereallyabettertheoryofthetruthofnames，youmaycountmeinthenumberofyourdisciples。
CRATYLUS：Youareright，Socrates，insayingthatIhavemadeastudyofthesematters，andImightpossiblyconvertyouintoadisciple。ButI
fearthattheoppositeismoreprobable，andIalreadyfindmyselfmovedtosaytoyouwhatAchillesinthe’Prayers’saystoAjax，——
’IllustriousAjax，sonofTelamon，lordofthepeople，Youappeartohavespokeninallthingsmuchtomymind。’
Andyou，Socrates，appeartometobeanoracle，andtogiveanswersmuchtomymind，whetheryouareinspiredbyEuthyphro，orwhethersomeMusemayhavelongbeenaninhabitantofyourbreast，unconsciouslytoyourself。
SOCRATES：ExcellentCratylus，Ihavelongbeenwonderingatmyownwisdom；
Icannottrustmyself。AndIthinkthatIoughttostopandaskmyselfWhatamIsaying？forthereisnothingworsethanself-deception——whenthedeceiverisalwaysathomeandalwayswithyou——itisquiteterrible，andthereforeIoughtoftentoretracemystepsandendeavourto’lookforeandaft，’inthewordsoftheaforesaidHomer。Andnowletmesee；wherearewe？Havewenotbeensayingthatthecorrectnameindicatesthenatureofthething：——hasthispropositionbeensufficientlyproven？
CRATYLUS：Yes，Socrates，whatyousay，asIamdisposedtothink，isquitetrue。
SOCRATES：Names，then，aregiveninordertoinstruct？
CRATYLUS：Certainly。
SOCRATES：Andnamingisanart，andhasartificers？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Andwhoarethey？
CRATYLUS：Thelegislators，ofwhomyouspokeatfirst。
SOCRATES：Anddoesthisartgrowupamongmenlikeotherarts？LetmeexplainwhatImean：ofpainters，somearebetterandsomeworse？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Thebetterpaintersexecutetheirworks，Imeantheirfigures，better，andtheworseexecutethemworse；andofbuildersalso，thebettersortbuildfairerhouses，andtheworsebuildthemworse。
CRATYLUS：True。
SOCRATES：Andamonglegislators，therearesomewhodotheirworkbetterandsomeworse？
CRATYLUS：No；thereIdonotagreewithyou。
SOCRATES：Thenyoudonotthinkthatsomelawsarebetterandothersworse？
CRATYLUS：No，indeed。
SOCRATES：Orthatonenameisbetterthananother？
CRATYLUS：Certainlynot。
SOCRATES：Thenallnamesarerightlyimposed？
CRATYLUS：Yes，iftheyarenamesatall。
SOCRATES：Well，whatdoyousaytothenameofourfriendHermogenes，whichwasmentionedbefore：——assumingthathehasnothingofthenatureofHermesinhim，shallwesaythatthisisawrongname，ornothisnameatall？
CRATYLUS：IshouldreplythatHermogenesisnothisnameatall，butonlyappearstobehis，andisreallythenameofsomebodyelse，whohasthenaturewhichcorrespondstoit。
SOCRATES：AndifamanweretocallhimHermogenes，wouldhenotbeevenspeakingfalsely？FortheremaybeadoubtwhetheryoucancallhimHermogenes，ifheisnot。
CRATYLUS：Whatdoyoumean？
SOCRATES：Areyoumaintainingthatfalsehoodisimpossible？ForifthisisyourmeaningIshouldanswer，thattherehavebeenplentyofliarsinallages。
CRATYLUS：Why，Socrates，howcanamansaythatwhichisnot？——saysomethingandyetsaynothing？Forisnotfalsehoodsayingthethingwhichisnot？
SOCRATES：Yourargument，friend，istoosubtleforamanofmyage。ButI
shouldliketoknowwhetheryouareoneofthosephilosopherswhothinkthatfalsehoodmaybespokenbutnotsaid？
CRATYLUS：Neitherspokennorsaid。
SOCRATES：Norutterednoraddressed？Forexample：Ifaperson，salutingyouinaforeigncountry，weretotakeyourhandandsay：’Hail，Athenianstranger，Hermogenes，sonofSmicrion’——thesewords，whetherspoken，said，uttered，oraddressed，wouldhavenoapplicationtoyoubutonlytoourfriendHermogenes，orperhapstonobodyatall？
CRATYLUS：Inmyopinion，Socrates，thespeakerwouldonlybetalkingnonsense。
SOCRATES：Well，butthatwillbequiteenoughforme，ifyouwilltellmewhetherthenonsensewouldbetrueorfalse，orpartlytrueandpartlyfalse：——whichisallthatIwanttoknow。
CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaythathewouldbeputtinghimselfinmotiontonopurpose；andthathiswordswouldbeanunmeaningsoundlikethenoiseofhammeringatabrazenpot。
SOCRATES：Butletussee，Cratylus，whetherwecannotfindameeting-
point，foryouwouldadmitthatthenameisnotthesamewiththethingnamed？
CRATYLUS：Ishould。
SOCRATES：Andwouldyoufurtheracknowledgethatthenameisanimitationofthething？
CRATYLUS：Certainly。
SOCRATES：Andyouwouldsaythatpicturesarealsoimitationsofthings，butinanotherway？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Ibelieveyoumayberight，butIdonotrightlyunderstandyou。
Pleasetosay，then，whetherbothsortsofimitation（Imeanbothpicturesorwords）arenotequallyattributableandapplicabletothethingsofwhichtheyaretheimitation。
CRATYLUS：Theyare。
SOCRATES：Firstlookatthematterthus：youmayattributethelikenessofthemantotheman，andofthewomantothewoman；andsoon？
CRATYLUS：Certainly。
SOCRATES：Andconverselyyoumayattributethelikenessofthemantothewoman，andofthewomantotheman？
CRATYLUS：Verytrue。
SOCRATES：Andarebothmodesofassigningthemright，oronlythefirst？
CRATYLUS：Onlythefirst。
SOCRATES：Thatistosay，themodeofassignmentwhichattributestoeachthatwhichbelongstothemandislikethem？
CRATYLUS：Thatismyview。
SOCRATES：Nowthen，asIamdesirousthatwebeingfriendsshouldhaveagoodunderstandingabouttheargument，letmestatemyviewtoyou：thefirstmodeofassignment，whetherappliedtofiguresortonames，Icallright，andwhenappliedtonamesonly，trueaswellasright；andtheothermodeofgivingandassigningthenamewhichisunlike，Icallwrong，andinthecaseofnames，falseaswellaswrong。
CRATYLUS：Thatmaybetrue，Socrates，inthecaseofpictures；theymaybewronglyassigned；butnotinthecaseofnames——theymustbealwaysright。
SOCRATES：Why，whatisthedifference？MayInotgotoamanandsaytohim，’Thisisyourpicture，’showinghimhisownlikeness，orperhapsthelikenessofawoman；andwhenIsay’show，’Imeanbringbeforethesenseofsight。
CRATYLUS：Certainly。
SOCRATES：AndmayInotgotohimagain，andsay，’Thisisyourname’？——
forthename，likethepicture，isanimitation。MayInotsaytohim——
’Thisisyourname’？andmayInotthenbringtohissenseofhearingtheimitationofhimself，whenIsay，’Thisisaman’；orofafemaleofthehumanspecies，whenIsay，’Thisisawoman，’asthecasemaybe？Isnotallthatquitepossible？
CRATYLUS：Iwouldfainagreewithyou，Socrates；andthereforeIsay，Granted。
SOCRATES：Thatisverygoodofyou，ifIamright，whichneedhardlybedisputedatpresent。ButifIcanassignnamesaswellaspicturestoobjects，therightassignmentofthemwemaycalltruth，andthewrongassignmentofthemfalsehood。Nowiftherebesuchawrongassignmentofnames，theremayalsobeawrongorinappropriateassignmentofverbs；andifofnamesandverbsthenofthesentences，whicharemadeupofthem。
Whatdoyousay，Cratylus？
CRATYLUS：Iagree；andthinkthatwhatyousayisverytrue。
SOCRATES：Andfurther，primitivenounsmaybecomparedtopictures，andinpicturesyoumayeithergivealltheappropriatecoloursandfigures，oryoumaynotgivethemall——somemaybewanting；ortheremaybetoomanyortoomuchofthem——maytherenot？
CRATYLUS：Verytrue。
SOCRATES：Andhewhogivesallgivesaperfectpictureorfigure；andhewhotakesawayoraddsalsogivesapictureorfigure，butnotagoodone。
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Inlikemanner，hewhobysyllablesandlettersimitatesthenatureofthings，ifhegivesallthatisappropriatewillproduceagoodimage，orinotherwordsaname；butifhesubtractsorperhapsaddsalittle，hewillmakeanimagebutnotagoodone；whenceIinferthatsomenamesarewellandothersillmade。
CRATYLUS：Thatistrue。
SOCRATES：Thentheartistofnamesmaybesometimesgood，orhemaybebad？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Andthisartistofnamesiscalledthelegislator？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Thenlikeotherartiststhelegislatormaybegoodorhemaybebad；itmustsurelybesoifourformeradmissionsholdgood？
CRATYLUS：Verytrue，Socrates；butthecaseoflanguage，yousee，isdifferent；forwhenbythehelpofgrammarweassignthelettersalphaorbeta，oranyotherletterstoacertainname，then，ifweadd，orsubtract，ormisplacealetter，thenamewhichiswrittenisnotonlywrittenwrongly，butnotwrittenatall；andinanyofthesecasesbecomesotherthananame。
SOCRATES：ButIdoubtwhetheryourviewisaltogethercorrect，Cratylus。
CRATYLUS：Howso？
SOCRATES：Ibelievethatwhatyousaymaybetrueaboutnumbers，whichmustbejustwhattheyare，ornotbeatall；forexample，thenumbertenatoncebecomesotherthantenifaunitbeaddedorsubtracted，andsoofanyothernumber：butthisdoesnotapplytothatwhichisqualitativeortoanythingwhichisrepresentedunderanimage。Ishouldsayratherthattheimage，ifexpressingineverypointtheentirereality，wouldnolongerbeanimage。Letussupposetheexistenceoftwoobjects：oneofthemshallbeCratylus，andtheothertheimageofCratylus；andwewillsuppose，further，thatsomeGodmakesnotonlyarepresentationsuchasapainterwouldmakeofyouroutwardformandcolour，butalsocreatesaninwardorganizationlikeyours，havingthesamewarmthandsoftness；andintothisinfusesmotion，andsoul，andmind，suchasyouhave，andinawordcopiesallyourqualities，andplacesthembyyouinanotherform；
wouldyousaythatthiswasCratylusandtheimageofCratylus，orthatthereweretwoCratyluses？
CRATYLUS：IshouldsaythatthereweretwoCratyluses。
SOCRATES：Thenyousee，myfriend，thatwemustfindsomeotherprincipleoftruthinimages，andalsoinnames；andnotinsistthatanimageisnolongeranimagewhensomethingisaddedorsubtracted。Doyounotperceivethatimagesareveryfarfromhavingqualitieswhicharetheexactcounterpartoftherealitieswhichtheyrepresent？
CRATYLUS：Yes，Isee。
SOCRATES：Butthenhowridiculouswouldbetheeffectofnamesonthings，iftheywereexactlythesamewiththem！Fortheywouldbethedoublesofthem，andnoonewouldbeabletodeterminewhichwerethenamesandwhichweretherealities。
CRATYLUS：Quitetrue。
SOCRATES：Thenfearnot，buthavethecouragetoadmitthatonenamemaybecorrectlyandanotherincorrectlygiven；anddonotinsistthatthenameshallbeexactlythesamewiththething；butallowtheoccasionalsubstitutionofawrongletter，andifofaletteralsoofanouninasentence，andifofanouninasentencealsoofasentencewhichisnotappropriatetothematter，andacknowledgethatthethingmaybenamed，anddescribed，solongasthegeneralcharacterofthethingwhichyouaredescribingisretained；andthis，asyouwillremember，wasremarkedbyHermogenesandmyselfintheparticularinstanceofthenamesoftheletters。
CRATYLUS：Yes，Iremember。
SOCRATES：Good；andwhenthegeneralcharacterispreserved，evenifsomeoftheproperlettersarewanting，stillthethingissignified；——well，ifallthelettersaregiven；notwell，whenonlyafewofthemaregiven。I
thinkthatwehadbetteradmitthis，lestwebepunishedliketravellersinAeginawhowanderaboutthestreetlateatnight：andbelikewisetoldbytruthherselfthatwehavearrivedtoolate；orifnot，youmustfindoutsomenewnotionofcorrectnessofnames，andnolongermaintainthatanameistheexpressionofathinginlettersorsyllables；forifyousayboth，youwillbeinconsistentwithyourself。
CRATYLUS：Iquiteacknowledge，Socrates，whatyousaytobeveryreasonable。
SOCRATES：Thenasweareagreedthusfar，letusaskourselveswhetheranamerightlyimposedoughtnottohavetheproperletters。
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Andtheproperlettersarethosewhicharelikethethings？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Enoughthenofnameswhicharerightlygiven。Andinnameswhichareincorrectlygiven，thegreaterpartmaybesupposedtobemadeupofproperandsimilarletters，ortherewouldbenolikeness；buttherewillbelikewiseapartwhichisimproperandspoilsthebeautyandformationoftheword：youwouldadmitthat？
CRATYLUS：Therewouldbenouse，Socrates，inmyquarrellingwithyou，sinceIcannotbesatisfiedthatanamewhichisincorrectlygivenisanameatall。
SOCRATES：Doyouadmitanametobetherepresentationofathing？
CRATYLUS：Yes，Ido。
SOCRATES：Butdoyounotallowthatsomenounsareprimitive，andsomederived？
CRATYLUS：Yes，Ido。
SOCRATES：Thenifyouadmitthatprimitiveorfirstnounsarerepresentationsofthings，isthereanybetterwayofframingrepresentationsthanbyassimilatingthemtotheobjectsasmuchasyoucan；ordoyoupreferthenotionofHermogenesandofmanyothers，whosaythatnamesareconventional，andhaveameaningtothosewhohaveagreedaboutthem，andwhohavepreviousknowledgeofthethingsintendedbythem，andthatconventionistheonlyprinciple；andwhetheryouabidebyourpresentconvention，ormakeanewandoppositeone，accordingtowhichyoucallsmallgreatandgreatsmall——that，theywouldsay，makesnodifference，ifyouareonlyagreed。Whichofthesetwonotionsdoyouprefer？
CRATYLUS：Representationbylikeness，Socrates，isinfinitelybetterthanrepresentationbyanychancesign。
SOCRATES：Verygood：butifthenameistobelikethething，thelettersoutofwhichthefirstnamesarecomposedmustalsobelikethings。
Returningtotheimageofthepicture，Iwouldask，Howcouldanyoneevercomposeapicturewhichwouldbelikeanythingatall，iftherewerenotpigmentsinnaturewhichresembledthethingsimitated，andoutofwhichthepictureiscomposed？
CRATYLUS：Impossible。
SOCRATES：Nomorecouldnameseverresembleanyactuallyexistingthing，unlesstheoriginalelementsofwhichtheyarecompoundedboresomedegreeofresemblancetotheobjectsofwhichthenamesaretheimitation：Andtheoriginalelementsareletters？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：LetmenowinviteyoutoconsiderwhatHermogenesandIweresayingaboutsounds。Doyouagreewithmethattheletterrhoisexpressiveofrapidity，motion，andhardness？Werewerightorwronginsayingso？
CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaythatyouwereright。
SOCRATES：Andthatlamdawasexpressiveofsmoothness，andsoftness，andthelike？
CRATYLUS：Thereagainyouwereright。
SOCRATES：Andyet，asyouareaware，thatwhichiscalledbyussklerotes，isbytheEretrianscalledskleroter。
CRATYLUS：Verytrue。
SOCRATES：Butarethelettersrhoandsigmaequivalents；andistherethesamesignificancetothemintheterminationrho，whichthereistousinsigma，oristherenosignificancetooneofus？
CRATYLUS：Nay，surelythereisasignificancetobothofus。
SOCRATES：Inasfarastheyarelike，orinasfarastheyareunlike？
CRATYLUS：Inasfarastheyarelike。
SOCRATES：Aretheyaltogetheralike？
CRATYLUS：Yes；forthepurposeofexpressingmotion。
SOCRATES：Andwhatdoyousayoftheinsertionofthelamda？forthatisexpressivenotofhardnessbutofsoftness。
CRATYLUS：Why，perhapstheletterlamdaiswronglyinserted，Socrates，andshouldbealteredintorho，asyouweresayingtoHermogenesandinmyopinionrightly，whenyouspokeofaddingandsubtractinglettersuponoccasion。
SOCRATES：Good。Butstillthewordisintelligibletobothofus；whenI
sayskleros（hard），youknowwhatImean。
CRATYLUS：Yes，mydearfriend，andtheexplanationofthatiscustom。
SOCRATES：Andwhatiscustombutconvention？IutterasoundwhichI
understand，andyouknowthatIunderstandthemeaningofthesound：thisiswhatyouaresaying？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：AndifwhenIspeakyouknowmymeaning，thereisanindicationgivenbymetoyou？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Thisindicationofmymeaningmayproceedfromunlikeaswellasfromlike，forexampleinthelamdaofsklerotes。Butifthisistrue，thenyouhavemadeaconventionwithyourself，andthecorrectnessofanameturnsouttobeconvention，sinceletterswhichareunlikeareindicativeequallywiththosewhicharelike，iftheyaresanctionedbycustomandconvention。Andevensupposingthatyoudistinguishcustomfromconventioneversomuch，stillyoumustsaythatthesignificationofwordsisgivenbycustomandnotbylikeness，forcustommayindicatebytheunlikeaswellasbythelike。Butasweareagreedthusfar，Cratylus（forIshallassumethatyoursilencegivesconsent），thencustomandconventionmustbesupposedtocontributetotheindicationofourthoughts；forsupposewetaketheinstanceofnumber，howcanyoueverimagine，mygoodfriend，thatyouwillfindnamesresemblingeveryindividualnumber，unlessyouallowthatwhichyoutermconventionandagreementtohaveauthorityindeterminingthecorrectnessofnames？I
quiteagreewithyouthatwordsshouldasfaraspossibleresemblethings；
butIfearthatthisdragginginofresemblance，asHermogenessays，isashabbything，whichhastobesupplementedbythemechanicalaidofconventionwithaviewtocorrectness；forIbelievethatifwecouldalways，oralmostalways，uselikenesses，whichareperfectlyappropriate，thiswouldbethemostperfectstateoflanguage；astheoppositeisthemostimperfect。Butletmeaskyou，whatistheforceofnames，andwhatistheuseofthem？
CRATYLUS：Theuseofnames，Socrates，asIshouldimagine，istoinform：
thesimpletruthis，thathewhoknowsnamesknowsalsothethingswhichareexpressedbythem。
SOCRATES：Isupposeyoumeantosay，Cratylus，thatasthenameis，soalsoisthething；andthathewhoknowstheonewillalsoknowtheother，becausetheyaresimilars，andallsimilarsfallunderthesameartorscience；andthereforeyouwouldsaythathewhoknowsnameswillalsoknowthings。
CRATYLUS：ThatispreciselywhatImean。
SOCRATES：Butletusconsiderwhatisthenatureofthisinformationaboutthingswhich，accordingtoyou，isgivenusbynames。Isitthebestsortofinformation？oristhereanyother？Whatdoyousay？
CRATYLUS：Ibelievethattobeboththeonlyandthebestsortofinformationaboutthem；therecanbenoother。
SOCRATES：Butdoyoubelievethatinthediscoveryofthem，hewhodiscoversthenamesdiscoversalsothethings；oristhisonlythemethodofinstruction，andistheresomeothermethodofenquiryanddiscovery。
CRATYLUS：Icertainlybelievethatthemethodsofenquiryanddiscoveryareofthesamenatureasinstruction。
SOCRATES：Well，butdoyounotsee，Cratylus，thathewhofollowsnamesinthesearchafterthings，andanalysestheirmeaning，isingreatdangerofbeingdeceived？
CRATYLUS：Howso？
SOCRATES：Whyclearlyhewhofirstgavenamesgavethemaccordingtohisconceptionofthethingswhichtheysignified——didhenot？
CRATYLUS：True。
SOCRATES：Andifhisconceptionwaserroneous，andhegavenamesaccordingtohisconception，inwhatpositionshallwewhoarehisfollowersfindourselves？Shallwenotbedeceivedbyhim？
CRATYLUS：But，Socrates，amInotrightinthinkingthathemustsurelyhaveknown；orelse，asIwassaying，hisnameswouldnotbenamesatall？
Andyouhaveaclearproofthathehasnotmissedthetruth，andtheproofis——thatheisperfectlyconsistent。Didyoueverobserveinspeakingthatallthewordswhichyouutterhaveacommoncharacterandpurpose？
SOCRATES：Butthat，friendCratylus，isnoanswer。Forifhedidbegininerror，hemayhaveforcedtheremainderintoagreementwiththeoriginalerrorandwithhimself；therewouldbenothingstrangeinthis，anymorethaningeometricaldiagrams，whichhaveoftenaslightandinvisibleflawinthefirstpartoftheprocess，andareconsistentlymistakeninthelongdeductionswhichfollow。Andthisisthereasonwhyeverymanshouldexpendhischiefthoughtandattentionontheconsiderationofhisfirstprinciples：——aretheyoraretheynotrightlylaiddown？andwhenhehasdulysiftedthem，alltherestwillfollow。NowIshouldbeastonishedtofindthatnamesarereallyconsistent。Andhereletusreverttoourformerdiscussion：Werewenotsayingthatallthingsareinmotionandprogressandflux，andthatthisideaofmotionisexpressedbynames？Doyounotconceivethattobethemeaningofthem？
CRATYLUS：Yes；thatisassuredlytheirmeaning，andthetruemeaning。
SOCRATES：Letusreverttoepisteme（knowledge）andobservehowambiguousthiswordis，seemingrathertosignifystoppingthesoulatthingsthangoingroundwiththem；andthereforeweshouldleavethebeginningasatpresent，andnotrejecttheepsilon，butmakeaninsertionofaniotainsteadofanepsilon（notpioteme，butepiisteme）。Takeanotherexample：
bebaion（sure）isclearlytheexpressionofstationandposition，andnotofmotion。Again，thewordistoria（enquiry）bearsuponthefaceofitthestopping（istanai）ofthestream；andthewordpiston（faithful）certainlyindicatescessationofmotion；then，again，mneme（memory），asanyonemaysee，expressesrestinthesoul，andnotmotion。Moreover，wordssuchasamartiaandsumphora，whichhaveabadsense，viewedinthelightoftheiretymologieswillbethesameassunesisandepistemeandotherwordswhichhaveagoodsense（compareomartein，sunienai，epesthai，sumpheresthai）；
andmuchthesamemaybesaidofamathiaandakolasia，foramathiamaybeexplainedaseamatheoiontosporeia，andakolasiaaseakolouthiatoispragmasin。Thusthenameswhichintheseinstanceswefindtohavetheworstsense，willturnouttobeframedonthesameprincipleasthosewhichhavethebest。AndanyoneIbelievewhowouldtakethetroublemightfindmanyotherexamplesinwhichthegiverofnamesindicates，notthatthingsareinmotionorprogress，butthattheyareatrest；whichistheoppositeofmotion。
CRATYLUS：Yes，Socrates，butobserve；thegreaternumberexpressmotion。
SOCRATES：Whatofthat，Cratylus？Arewetocountthemlikevotes？andiscorrectnessofnamesthevoiceofthemajority？Arewetosayofwhicheversorttherearemost，thosearethetrueones？
CRATYLUS：No；thatisnotreasonable。
SOCRATES：Certainlynot。Butletushavedonewiththisquestionandproceedtoanother，aboutwhichIshouldliketoknowwhetheryouthinkwithme。Werewenotlatelyacknowledgingthatthefirstgiversofnamesinstates，bothHellenicandbarbarous，werethelegislators，andthattheartwhichgavenameswastheartofthelegislator？
CRATYLUS：Quitetrue。
SOCRATES：Tellme，then，didthefirstlegislators，whowerethegiversofthefirstnames，knowornotknowthethingswhichtheynamed？
CRATYLUS：Theymusthaveknown，Socrates。
SOCRATES：Why，yes，friendCratylus，theycouldhardlyhavebeenignorant。
CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaynot。
SOCRATES：Letusreturntothepointfromwhichwedigressed。Youweresaying，ifyouremember，thathewhogavenamesmusthaveknownthethingswhichhenamed；areyoustillofthatopinion？
CRATYLUS：Iam。
SOCRATES：Andwouldyousaythatthegiverofthefirstnameshadalsoaknowledgeofthethingswhichhenamed？
CRATYLUS：Ishould。
SOCRATES：Buthowcouldhehavelearnedordiscoveredthingsfromnamesiftheprimitivenameswerenotyetgiven？For，ifwearecorrectinourview，theonlywayoflearninganddiscoveringthings，iseithertodiscovernamesforourselvesortolearnthemfromothers。
CRATYLUS：Ithinkthatthereisagooddealinwhatyousay，Socrates。
SOCRATES：Butifthingsareonlytobeknownthroughnames，howcanwesupposethatthegiversofnameshadknowledge，orwerelegislatorsbeforetherewerenamesatall，andthereforebeforetheycouldhaveknownthem？
CRATYLUS：Ibelieve，Socrates，thetrueaccountofthemattertobe，thatapowermorethanhumangavethingstheirfirstnames，andthatthenameswhicharethusgivenarenecessarilytheirtruenames。
SOCRATES：Thenhowcamethegiverofthenames，ifhewasaninspiredbeingorGod，tocontradicthimself？Forwerewenotsayingjustnowthathemadesomenamesexpressiveofrestandothersofmotion？Werewemistaken？
CRATYLUS：ButIsupposeoneofthetwonottobenamesatall。
SOCRATES：Andwhich，then，didhemake，mygoodfriend；thosewhichareexpressiveofrest，orthosewhichareexpressiveofmotion？Thisisapointwhich，asIsaidbefore，cannotbedeterminedbycountingthem。
CRATYLUS：No；notinthatway，Socrates。
SOCRATES：Butifthisisabattleofnames，someofthemassertingthattheyarelikethetruth，otherscontendingthatTHEYare，howorbywhatcriterionarewetodecidebetweenthem？Fortherearenoothernamestowhichappealcanbemade，butobviouslyrecoursemustbehadtoanotherstandardwhich，withoutemployingnames，willmakeclearwhichofthetwoareright；andthismustbeastandardwhichshowsthetruthofthings。
CRATYLUS：Iagree。
SOCRATES：Butifthatistrue，Cratylus，thenIsupposethatthingsmaybeknownwithoutnames？
CRATYLUS：Clearly。
SOCRATES：Buthowwouldyouexpecttoknowthem？Whatotherwaycantherebeofknowingthem，exceptthetrueandnaturalway，throughtheiraffinities，whentheyareakintoeachother，andthroughthemselves？Forthatwhichisotheranddifferentfromthemmustsignifysomethingotheranddifferentfromthem。
CRATYLUS：Whatyouaresayingis，Ithink，true。
SOCRATES：Well，butreflect；havewenotseveraltimesacknowledgedthatnamesrightlygivenarethelikenessesandimagesofthethingswhichtheyname？
CRATYLUS：Yes。
SOCRATES：Letussupposethattoanyextentyoupleaseyoucanlearnthingsthroughthemediumofnames，andsupposealsothatyoucanlearnthemfromthethingsthemselves——whichislikelytobethenoblerandclearerway；tolearnoftheimage，whethertheimageandthetruthofwhichtheimageistheexpressionhavebeenrightlyconceived，ortolearnofthetruthwhetherthetruthandtheimageofithavebeendulyexecuted？
CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaythatwemustlearnofthetruth。
SOCRATES：Howrealexistenceistobestudiedordiscoveredis，Isuspect，beyondyouandme。Butwemayadmitsomuch，thattheknowledgeofthingsisnottobederivedfromnames。No；theymustbestudiedandinvestigatedinthemselves。
CRATYLUS：Clearly，Socrates。
SOCRATES：Thereisanotherpoint。Ishouldnotlikeustobeimposeduponbytheappearanceofsuchamultitudeofnames，alltendinginthesamedirection。Imyselfdonotdenythatthegiversofnamesdidreallygivethemundertheideathatallthingswereinmotionandflux；whichwastheirsincerebut，Ithink，mistakenopinion。Andhavingfallenintoakindofwhirlpoolthemselves，theyarecarriedround，andwanttodragusinafterthem。Thereisamatter，masterCratylus，aboutwhichIoftendream，andshouldliketoaskyouropinion：Tellme，whetherthereisorisnotanyabsolutebeautyorgood，oranyotherabsoluteexistence？
CRATYLUS：Certainly，Socrates，Ithinkso。
SOCRATES：Thenletusseekthetruebeauty：notaskingwhetherafaceisfair，oranythingofthatsort，forallsuchthingsappeartobeinaflux；
butletusaskwhetherthetruebeautyisnotalwaysbeautiful。
CRATYLUS：Certainly。
SOCRATES：Andcanwerightlyspeakofabeautywhichisalwayspassingaway，andisfirstthisandthenthat；mustnotthesamethingbebornandretireandvanishwhilethewordisinourmouths？
CRATYLUS：Undoubtedly。
SOCRATES：Thenhowcanthatbearealthingwhichisneverinthesamestate？forobviouslythingswhicharethesamecannotchangewhiletheyremainthesame；andiftheyarealwaysthesameandinthesamestate，andneverdepartfromtheiroriginalform，theycanneverchangeorbemoved。
CRATYLUS：Certainlytheycannot。
SOCRATES：Noryetcantheybeknownbyanyone；foratthemomentthattheobserverapproaches，thentheybecomeotherandofanothernature，sothatyoucannotgetanyfurtherinknowingtheirnatureorstate，foryoucannotknowthatwhichhasnostate。
CRATYLUS：True。
SOCRATES：Norcanwereasonablysay，Cratylus，thatthereisknowledgeatall，ifeverythingisinastateoftransitionandthereisnothingabiding；forknowledgetoocannotcontinuetobeknowledgeunlesscontinuingalwaystoabideandexist。Butiftheverynatureofknowledgechanges，atthetimewhenthechangeoccurstherewillbenoknowledge；andifthetransitionisalwaysgoingon，therewillalwaysbenoknowledge，and，accordingtothisview，therewillbenoonetoknowandnothingtobeknown：butifthatwhichknowsandthatwhichisknownexistsever，andthebeautifulandthegoodandeveryotherthingalsoexist，thenIdonotthinkthattheycanresembleaprocessorflux，aswewerejustnowsupposing。Whetherthereisthiseternalnatureinthings，orwhetherthetruthiswhatHeracleitusandhisfollowersandmanyotherssay，isaquestionhardtodetermine；andnomanofsensewillliketoputhimselfortheeducationofhismindinthepowerofnames：neitherwillhesofartrustnamesorthegiversofnamesastobeconfidentinanyknowledgewhichcondemnshimselfandotherexistencestoanunhealthystateofunreality；hewillnotbelievethatallthingsleaklikeapot，orimaginethattheworldisamanwhohasarunningatthenose。Thismaybetrue，Cratylus，butisalsoverylikelytobeuntrue；andthereforeIwouldnothaveyoubetooeasilypersuadedofit。Reflectwellandlikeaman，anddonoteasilyacceptsuchadoctrine；foryouareyoungandofanagetolearn。Andwhenyouhavefoundthetruth，comeandtellme。
CRATYLUS：Iwilldoasyousay，thoughIcanassureyou，Socrates，thatI
havebeenconsideringthematteralready，andtheresultofagreatdealoftroubleandconsiderationisthatIinclinetoHeracleitus。
SOCRATES：Then，anotherday，myfriend，whenyoucomeback，youshallgivemealesson；butatpresent，gointothecountry，asyouareintending，andHermogenesshallsetyouonyourway。
CRATYLUS：Verygood，Socrates；Ihope，however，thatyouwillcontinuetothinkaboutthesethingsyourself。