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'No, indeed; and Creophylus (Flesh-child) was even more

unfortunate in his breeding than he was in his name, if, as

tradition says, Homer in his lifetime was allowed by him and his

other friends to starve.' Yes, but could this ever have happened

if Homer had really been the educator of Hellas? Would he not

have had many devoted followers? If Protagoras and Prodicus can

persuade their contemporaries that no one can manage house or

State without them, is it likely that Homer and Hesiod would have

been allowed to go about as beggars-I mean if they had really

been able to do the world any good?-would not men have compelled

them to stay where they were, or have followed them about in

order to get education? But they did not; and therefore we may

infer that Homer and all the poets are only imitators, who do but

imitate the appearances of things.