And if your father and mother love you, and desire that you should
be happy, no one can doubt that they are very ready to promote your
happiness.
Certainly, he replied.
And do they then permit you to do what you like, and never rebuke
you or hinder you from doing what you desire?
Yes, indeed, Socrates; there are a great many things which they
hinder me from doing.
What do you mean? I said. Do they want you to be happy, and yet
hinder you from doing what you like? For example, if you want to mount
one of your father's chariots, and take the reins at a race, they will
not allow you to do so-they will prevent you?
Certainly, he said, they will not allow me to do so.
Whom then will they allow?
There is a charioteer, whom my father pays for driving.
And do they trust a hireling more than you? and may he do what he
likes with the horses? and do they pay him for this?
They do.
But I dare say that you may take the whip and guide the mule-cart if
you like;-they will permit that?
Permit me! indeed they will not.
Then, I said, may no one use the whip to the mules?
Yes, he said, the muleteer.
And is he a slave or a free man?
A slave, he said.
And do they esteem a slave of more value than you who are their son?
And do they entrust their property to him rather than to you? and
allow him to do what he likes, when they prohibit you? Answer me
now: Are you your own master, or do they not even allow that?
Nay, he said; of course they do not allow it.
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