Persons of the dialogue Socrates Critias Timaeus Hermocrates Socrates. One two three but where my dear Timaeus is the fourth of those who were yesterday my guests and are to be my entertainers to-day? Timaeus. He has been taken ill Socrates for he would not willingly have been absent from this gathering. Soc. Then if he is not coming you and the two others must supply his place. Tim. Certainly and we will do all that we can having been handsomely entertained by you yesterday those of us who remain should be only too glad to return your hospitality. Soc. Do you remember what were the points of which I required you to speak? Tim. We remember some of them and you will be here to remind us of anything which we have forgotten or rather if we are not troubling you will you briefly recapitulate the whole and then the particulars will be more firmly fixed in our memories? Soc. To be sure I will the chief theme of my yesterday s discourse was the State-how constituted and of what citizens composed it would seem likely to be most perfect. Tim. Yes Socrates and what you said of it was very much to our mind. Soc. Did we not begin by separating the husbandmen and the artisans from the class of defenders of the State? Tim. Yes.
