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[408c]

Hermogenes
How is that?

Socrates
You know that speech makes all things (πᾶν) known and always makes them circulate and move about, and is twofold, true and false.

Hermogenes
Certainly.

Socrates
Well, the true part is smooth and divine and dwells aloft among the gods, but falsehood dwells below among common men, is rough and like the tragic goat1; for tales and falsehoods are most at home there, in the tragic life.

Hermogenes
Certainly.

Socrates
Then Pan, who declares and always moves (ἀεὶ πολῶν) all, is rightly called goat-herd (αἰπόλος),


1 The chorus of the primitive performances from which tragedy developed appeared as satyrs, clad in goat-skins. Hence the name τραγῳδία (goat-song). The adjective τραγικός may mean either “goat-like” or “tragic.” In this passage it has both meanings.

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