CRATYLUS by Plato - Complete text

Part 1 Page 12

Her. But how inconsistent should I be, if, whilst repudiating Protagoras and his Truth, I were to attach any value to what he and his book affirm!

Soc. Then if you despise him, you must learn of Homer and the poets. Her. And where does Homer say anything about names, and what does he say?

Soc. He often speaks of them; notably and nobly in the places where he distinguishes the different names which Gods and men give to the same things. Does he not in these passages make a remarkable statement about the correctness of names? For the Gods must clearly be supposed to call things by their right and natural names; do you not think so?

Her. Why, of course they call them rightly, if they call them at all. But to what are you referring?

Soc. Do you not know what he says about the river in Troy who had a single combat with Hephaestus? -

Whom the Gods call Xanthus, and men call Scamander. -

Her. I remember.

Soc. Well, and about this river - to know that he ought to be called Xanthus and not Scamander - is not that a solemn lesson? Or about the bird which, as he says, -

The Gods call Chalcis, and men Cymindis: - to be taught how much more correct the name Chalcis is than the name Cymindis - do you deem that a light matter? Or about Batieia and Myrina? And there are many other observations of the same kind in Homer and other poets. Now, I think that this is beyond the understanding of you and me; but the names of Scamandrius and Astyanax, which he affirms to have been the names of Hector's son, are more within the range of human faculties, as I am disposed to think; and what the poet means by correctness may be more readily apprehended in that instance: you will remember I dare say the lines to which I refer?

Her. I do.

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Plato : CRATYLUS

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