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The epithet is very appropriate, for there is something truly

divine in being able to argue as you have done for the

superiority of injustice, and remaining unconvinced by your own

arguments. And I do believe that you are not convinced-this I

infer from your general character, for had I judged only from

your speeches I should have mistrusted you. But now, the greater

my confidence in you, the greater is my difficulty in knowing

what to say. For I am in a strait between two; on the one hand I

feel that I am unequal to the task; and my inability is brought

home to me by the fact that you were not satisfied with the

answer which I made to Thrasymachus, proving, as I thought, the

superiority which justice has over injustice. And yet I cannot

refuse to help, while breath and speech remain to me; I am afraid

that there would be an impiety in being present when justice is

evil spoken of and not lifting up a hand in her defence. And

therefore I had best give such help as I can.