sophist   

Str. Then, now, subdivide each of the two sections which we have
already.
Theaet. How do you mean?
Str. I mean to say that you should make a vertical division of
production or invention, as you have already made a lateral one.
Theaet. I have done so.
Str. Then, now, there are in all four parts or segments-two of
them have reference to us and are human, and two of them have
reference to the gods and are divine.
Theaet. True.
Str. And, again, in the division which was supposed to be made in
the other way, one part in each subdivision is the making of the
things themselves, but the two remaining parts may be called the
making of likenesses; and so the productive art is again divided
into two parts.
Theaet. Tell me the divisions once more.
Str. I suppose that we, and the other animals, and the elements
out of which things are made-fire, water, and the like-are
known by us
to be each and all the creation and work of God.
Theaet. True.
Str. And there are images of them, which are not them, but which
correspond to them; and these are also the creation of a wonderful
skill.
Theaet. What are they?
Str. The appearances which spring up of themselves in sleep or by
day, such as a shadow when darkness arises in a fire, or the
reflection which is produced when the light in bright and smooth
objects meets on their surface with an external light, and creates a
perception the opposite of our ordinary sight.
Theaet. Yes; and the images as well as the creation are equally
the work of a divine hand.
Str. And what shall we say of human art? Do we not make
one house by
the art of building, and another by the art of drawing, which is a
sort of dream created by man for those who are awake?
Theaet. Quite true.
Str. And other products of human creation are twofold and go in
pairs; there is the thing, with which the art of making the thing is
concerned, and the image, with which imitation is concerned.
Theaet. Now I begin to understand, and am ready to acknowledge
that there are two kinds of production, and each of them two fold;
in the lateral division there is both a divine and a human
production;
in the vertical there are realities and a creation of a kind of
similitudes.
Str. And let us not forget that of the imitative class the one
part to have been likeness making, and the other phantastic, if it
could be shown that falsehood is a reality and belongs to
the class of
real being.
Theaet. Yes.
Str. And this appeared to be the case; and therefore now, without
hesitation, we shall number the different kinds as two.
Theaet. True.
Str. Then, now, let us again divide the phantastic art.
Theaet. Where shall we make the division?
Str. There is one kind which is produced by an instrument, and
another in which the creator of the appearance is himself the
instrument.
Theaet. What do you mean?
Str. When any one makes himself appear like another in his
figure or
his voice, imitation is the name for this part of the phantastic art.