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I turned round, and asked him where his master was.

There he is, said the youth, coming after you, if you will only

wait.

Certainly we will, said Glaucon; and in a few minutes Polemarchus

appeared, and with him Adeimantus, Glaucon's brother, Niceratus

the son of Nicias, and several others who had been at the

procession.

Polemarchus said to me: I perceive, Socrates, that you and your

companion are already on your way to the city.

You are not far wrong, I said.

But do you see, he rejoined, how many we are?

Of course.

And are you stronger than all these? for if not, you will have to

remain where you are.

May there not be the alternative, I said, that we may persuade

you to let us go?

But can you persuade us, if we refuse to listen to you? he said.

Certainly not, replied Glaucon.

Then we are not going to listen; of that you may be assured.

Adeimantus added: Has no one told you of the torch-race on

horseback in honour of the goddess which will take place in the

evening?