106. The case stands thus (let me philosophize to thee in a more exalted and refined manner): If there are certain sounds issuing from the vocal organs, diffusing themselves through the air, and penetrating into the ears, superior to our own, and more expressive; for I laugh at your majestic terms, the "Moly," the "Xanthus," and the "Chalces," ⁸⁹ or whether they (the gods) converse with one another by means of bare thoughts and ideas, it is not our part to determine; but what is our part is this----that a language is not the property of those that invented it, but of those who share in the same; neither is there any art or occupation, of whatsoever sort thou mayest think of, which is not subject to this rule; but just as in a skilfully-composed and musical harmony there is a different sound of each different string, either high or low,⁹⁰ yet all belong to one tuner and performer, contributing together to the single beauty of the tune, in the same way, also, the artist and creator, Speech, has appointed a different word for the inventor of each different art or occupation, and has exposed them all alike for public use, coupling together human society by the ties of mutual communication and kindness, and rendering it more gentle.

Ρ#2ʹ. Ἔχει γὰρ οὕτως, ἵνα σοι φιλοσοφήσω περὶ τούτων, ὑψηλότερόν τε καὶ τελεώτερον: Εἰ μὲν καὶ θεῖαί τινές εἰσι φωναὶ φωνητικοῖς ὀργάνοις ἐκπορευόμεναι, καὶ διὰ τοῦ ἀέρος χεόμεναί τε καὶ ἀκοαῖς εἰσρέουσαι, τῶν ἡμετέρων κρείττους καὶ εὐσημότεραι (γελῶ γὰρ ὑμῶν τῶν σεμνῶν τὸ Μῶλυ, καὶ τὸν Ξάνθον, καὶ τὴν Χαλκίδα), ἢ διὰ γυμνῶν ἀλλήλοις συγγίνονται τῶν ἐννοιῶν καὶ τῶν τυπωμάτων, οὐχ ἡμέτερον λέγειν: τὸ δ' οὖν ἡμέτερον τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν: Οὔτε φωνὴ τῶν εὑρομένων μόνον ἐστὶν, ἀλλὰ πάντων τῶν μετεχόντων: οὔτε τέχνη τις ἢ ἐπιτήδευσις, ἣν ἂν ἐνθυμηθῆναι θελήσῃς: ἀλλ' ὥσπερ ἐν ἁρμονίᾳ τεχνικῇ τε καὶ μουσικῇ ἄλλος μὲν ἦχος ἄλλης τινὸς τῶν νευρῶν συντεταμένος, ἢ ἀνειμένος, πάντα δὲ τοῦ ἑνὸς ἁρμοστοῦ καὶ τεχνίτου, πρὸς ἕν τι κάλλος ἁρμονίας συντείνοντα: οὕτω κἀν τούτοις ὁ τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς Λόγος ἄλλον μὲν ἄλλης τινὸς ἐπιτηδεύσεως ἢ τέχνης εὑρετὴν προὐστήσατο, πάντα δὲ εἰς μέσον προὔθηκε πᾶσι τοῖς βουλομένοις, τῷ κοινωνικῷ καὶ φιλανθρώπῳ συνδέων τὸν βίον ἡμῖν, καὶ ποιῶν ἡμερώτερον.