Thesoul,Isaid,being,asisnowproven,immortal,mustbethefairestofcompositionsandcannotbecompoundedofmanyelements?
Certainlynot。
Herimmortalityisdemonstratedbythepreviousargument,andtherearemanyotherproofs;buttoseeherasshereallyis,notaswenowbeholdher,marredbycommunionwiththebodyandothermiseries,youmustcontemplateherwiththeeyeofreason,inheroriginalpurity;andthenherbeautywillberevealed,andjusticeandinjusticeandallthethingswhichwehavedescribedwillbemanifestedmoreclearly。Thusfar,wehavespokenthetruthconcerningherassheappearsatpresent,butwemustrememberalsothatwehaveseenheronlyinaconditionwhichmaybecomparedtothatofthesea—godGlaucus,whoseoriginalimagecanhardlybediscernedbecausehisnaturalmembersarebrokenoffandcrushedanddamagedbythewavesinallsortsofways,andincrustationshavegrownoverthemofseaweedandshellsandstones,sothatheismorelikesomemonsterthanheistohisownnaturalform。Andthesoulwhichwebeholdisinasimilarcondition,disfiguredbytenthousandills。Butnotthere,Glaucon,nottheremustwelook。
Wherethen?
Atherloveofwisdom。Letusseewhomsheaffects,andwhatsocietyandconversesheseeksinvirtueofhernearkindredwiththeimmortalandeternalanddivine;alsohowdifferentshewouldbecomeifwhollyfollowingthissuperiorprinciple,andbornebyadivineimpulseoutoftheoceaninwhichshenowis,anddisengagedfromthestonesandshellsandthingsofearthandrockwhichinwildvarietyspringuparoundherbecauseshefeedsuponearth,andisovergrownbythegoodthingsofthislifeastheyaretermed:thenyouwouldseeherassheis,andknowwhethershehasoneshapeonlyormany,orwhathernatureis。OfheraffectionsandoftheformswhichshetakesinthispresentlifeIthinkthatwehavenowsaidenough。
True,hereplied。
Andthus,Isaid,wehavefulfilledtheconditionsoftheargument;wehavenotintroducedtherewardsandgloriesofjustice,which,asyouweresaying,aretobefoundinHomerandHesiod;butjusticeinherownnaturehasbeenshowntobebestforthesoulinherownnature。Letamandowhatisjust,whetherhehavetheringofGygesornot,andevenifinadditiontotheringofGygesheputonthehelmetofHades。
Verytrue。
Andnow,Glaucon,therewillbenoharminfurtherenumeratinghowmanyandhowgreataretherewardswhichjusticeandtheothervirtuesprocuretothesoulfromgodsandmen,bothinlifeandafterdeath。
Certainlynot,hesaid。
Willyourepayme,then,whatyouborrowedintheargument?
WhatdidIborrow?
Theassumptionthatthejustmanshouldappearunjustandtheunjustjust:foryouwereofopinionthatevenifthetruestateofthecasecouldnotpossiblyescapetheeyesofgodsandmen,stillthisadmissionoughttobemadeforthesakeoftheargument,inorderthatpurejusticemightbeweighedagainstpureinjustice。Doyouremember?
IshouldbemuchtoblameifIhadforgotten。
Then,asthecauseisdecided,Idemandonbehalfofjusticethattheestimationinwhichsheisheldbygodsandmenandwhichweacknowledgetobeherdueshouldnowberestoredtoherbyus;sinceshehasbeenshowntoconferreality,andnottodeceivethosewhotrulypossessher,letwhathasbeentakenfromherbegivenback,thatsoshemaywinthatpalmofappearancewhichishersalso,andwhichshegivestoherown。
Thedemand,hesaid,isjust。
Inthefirstplace,Isaid——andthisisthefirstthingwhichyouwillhavetogiveback——thenaturebothofthejustandunjustistrulyknowntothegods。
Granted。
Andiftheyarebothknowntothem,onemustbethefriendandtheothertheenemyofthegods,asweadmittedfromthebeginning?
True。
Andthefriendofthegodsmaybesupposedtoreceivefromthemallthingsattheirbest,exceptingonlysuchevilasisthenecessaryconsequenceofformersins?
Certainly。
Thenthismustbeournotionofthejustman,thatevenwhenheisinpovertyorsickness,oranyotherseemingmisfortune,allthingswillintheendworktogetherforgoodtohiminlifeanddeath:forthegodshaveacareofanyonewhosedesireistobecomejustandtobelikeGod,asfarasmancanattainthedivinelikeness,bythepursuitofvirtue?
Yes,hesaid;ifheislikeGodhewillsurelynotbeneglectedbyhim。
Andoftheunjustmaynottheoppositebesupposed?
Certainly。
Such,then,arethepalmsofvictorywhichthegodsgivethejust?
Thatismyconviction。
Andwhatdotheyreceiveofmen?Lookatthingsastheyreallyare,andyouwillseethatthecleverunjustareinthecaseofrunners,whorunwellfromthestarting—placetothegoalbutnotbackagainfromthegoal:theygooffatagreatpace,butintheendonlylookfoolish,slinkingawaywiththeirearsdragglingontheirshoulders,andwithoutacrown;butthetruerunnercomestothefinishandreceivestheprizeandiscrowned。Andthisisthewaywiththejust;hewhoendurestotheendofeveryactionandoccasionofhisentirelifehasagoodreportandcarriesofftheprizewhichmenhavetobestow。
True。
Andnowyoumustallowmetorepeatofthejusttheblessingswhichyouwereattributingtothefortunateunjust。Ishallsayofthem,whatyouweresayingoftheothers,thatastheygrowolder,theybecomerulersintheirowncityiftheycaretobe;theymarrywhomtheylikeandgiveinmarriagetowhomtheywill;allthatyousaidoftheothersInowsayofthese。And,ontheotherhand,oftheunjustIsaythatthegreaternumber,eventhoughtheyescapeintheiryouth,arefoundoutatlastandlookfoolishattheendoftheircourse,andwhentheycometobeoldandmiserablearefloutedalikebystrangerandcitizen;theyarebeatenandthencomethosethingsunfitforearspolite,asyoutrulytermthem;theywillberackedandhavetheireyesburnedout,asyouweresaying。AndyoumaysupposethatIhaverepeatedtheremainderofyourtaleofhorrors。
Butwillyouletmeassume,withoutrecitingthem,thatthesethingsaretrue?
Certainly,hesaid,whatyousayistrue。
These,then,aretheprizesandrewardsandgiftswhicharebestoweduponthejustbygodsandmeninthispresentlife,inadditiontotheothergoodthingswhichjusticeofherselfprovides。
Yes,hesaid;andtheyarefairandlasting。
Andyet,Isaid,alltheseareasnothing,eitherinnumberorgreatnessincomparisonwiththoseotherrecompenseswhichawaitbothjustandunjustafterdeath。Andyououghttohearthem,andthenbothjustandunjustwillhavereceivedfromusafullpaymentofthedebtwhichtheargumentowestothem。
Speak,hesaid;therearefewthingswhichIwouldmoregladlyhear。
SOCRATES
Well,Isaid,Iwilltellyouatale;notoneofthetaleswhichOdysseustellstotheheroAlcinous,yetthistooisataleofahero,ErthesonofArmenius,aPamphylianbybirth。Hewasslaininbattle,andtendaysafterwards,whenthebodiesofthedeadweretakenupalreadyinastateofcorruption,hisbodywasfoundunaffectedbydecay,andcarriedawayhometobeburied。Andonthetwelfthday,ashewaslyingonthefuneralpile,hereturnedtolifeandtoldthemwhathehadseenintheotherworld。Hesaidthatwhenhissoulleftthebodyhewentonajourneywithagreatcompany,andthattheycametoamysteriousplaceatwhichthereweretwoopeningsintheearth;
theywereneartogether,andoveragainstthemweretwootheropeningsintheheavenabove。Intheintermediatespacetherewerejudgesseated,whocommandedthejust,aftertheyhadgivenjudgmentonthemandhadboundtheirsentencesinfrontofthem,toascendbytheheavenlywayontherighthand;andinlikemannertheunjustwerebiddenbythemtodescendbythelowerwayonthelefthand;thesealsoborethesymbolsoftheirdeeds,butfastenedontheirbacks。
Hedrewnear,andtheytoldhimthathewastobethemessengerwhowouldcarrythereportoftheotherworldtomen,andtheybadehimhearandseeallthatwastobeheardandseeninthatplace。Thenhebeheldandsawononesidethesoulsdepartingateitheropeningofheavenandearthwhensentencehadbeengivenonthem;andatthetwootheropeningsothersouls,someascendingoutoftheearthdustyandwornwithtravel,somedescendingoutofheavencleanandbright。Andarrivingeverandanontheyseemedtohavecomefromalongjourney,andtheywentforthwithgladnessintothemeadow,wheretheyencampedasatafestival;andthosewhoknewoneanotherembracedandconversed,thesoulswhichcamefromearthcuriouslyenquiringaboutthethingsabove,andthesoulswhichcamefromheavenaboutthethingsbeneath。Andtheytoldoneanotherofwhathadhappenedbytheway,thosefrombelowweepingandsorrowingattheremembranceofthethingswhichtheyhadenduredandseenintheirjourneybeneaththeearth(nowthejourneylastedathousandyears),whilethosefromaboveweredescribingheavenlydelightsandvisionsofinconceivablebeauty。TheStory,Glaucon,wouldtaketoolongtotell;butthesumwasthis:——Hesaidthatforeverywrongwhichtheyhaddonetoanyonetheysufferedtenfold;oronceinahundredyears——suchbeingreckonedtobethelengthofman’slife,andthepenaltybeingthuspaidtentimesinathousandyears。If,forexample,therewereanywhohadbeenthecauseofmanydeaths,orhadbetrayedorenslavedcitiesorarmies,orbeenguiltyofanyotherevilbehaviour,foreachandalloftheiroffencestheyreceivedpunishmenttentimesover,andtherewardsofbeneficenceandjusticeandholinesswereinthesameproportion。Ineedhardlyrepeatwhathesaidconcerningyoungchildrendyingalmostassoonastheywereborn。Ofpietyandimpietytogodsandparents,andofmurderers,therewereretributionsotherandgreaterfarwhichhedescribed。Hementionedthathewaspresentwhenoneofthespiritsaskedanother,’WhereisArdiaeustheGreat?’(NowthisArdiaeuslivedathousandyearsbeforethetimeofEr:hehadbeenthetyrantofsomecityofPamphylia,andhadmurderedhisagedfatherandhiselderbrother,andwassaidtohavecommittedmanyotherabominablecrimes。)Theansweroftheotherspiritwas:’Hecomesnothitherandwillnevercome。Andthis,’saidhe,’wasoneofthedreadfulsightswhichweourselveswitnessed。Wewereatthemouthofthecavern,and,havingcompletedallourexperiences,wereabouttoreascend,whenofasuddenArdiaeusappearedandseveralothers,mostofwhomweretyrants;andtherewerealsobesidesthetyrantsprivateindividualswhohadbeengreatcriminals:theywerejust,astheyfancied,abouttoreturnintotheupperworld,butthemouth,insteadofadmittingthem,gavearoar,wheneveranyoftheseincurablesinnersorsomeonewhohadnotbeensufficientlypunishedtriedtoascend;andthenwildmenoffieryaspect,whowerestandingbyandheardthesound,seizedandcarriedthemoff;andArdiaeusandotherstheyboundheadandfootandhand,andthrewthemdownandflayedthemwithscourges,anddraggedthemalongtheroadattheside,cardingthemonthornslikewool,anddeclaringtothepassers—bywhatweretheircrimes,andthattheywerebeingtakenawaytobecastintohell。’Andofallthemanyterrorswhichtheyhadendured,hesaidthattherewasnoneliketheterrorwhicheachofthemfeltatthatmoment,lesttheyshouldhearthevoice;andwhentherewassilence,onebyonetheyascendedwithexceedingjoy。These,saidEr,werethepenaltiesandretributions,andtherewereblessingsasgreat。
Nowwhenthespiritswhichwereinthemeadowhadtarriedsevendays,ontheeighththeywereobligedtoproceedontheirjourney,and,onthefourthdayafter,hesaidthattheycametoaplacewheretheycouldseefromabovealineoflight,straightasacolumn,extendingrightthroughthewholeheavenandthroughtheearth,incolourresemblingtherainbow,onlybrighterandpurer;anotherday’sjourneybroughtthemtotheplace,andthere,inthemidstofthelight,theysawtheendsofthechainsofheavenletdownfromabove:forthislightisthebeltofheaven,andholdstogetherthecircleoftheuniverse,liketheunder—girdersofatrireme。FromtheseendsisextendedthespindleofNecessity,onwhichalltherevolutionsturn。Theshaftandhookofthisspindlearemadeofsteel,andthewhorlismadepartlyofsteelandalsopartlyofothermaterials。Nowthewhorlisinformlikethewhorlusedonearth;andthedescriptionofitimpliedthatthereisonelargehollowwhorlwhichisquitescoopedout,andintothisisfittedanotherlesserone,andanother,andanother,andfourothers,makingeightinall,likevesselswhichfitintooneanother;thewhorlsshowtheiredgesontheupperside,andontheirlowersidealltogetherformonecontinuouswhorl。Thisispiercedbythespindle,whichisdrivenhomethroughthecentreoftheeighth。Thefirstandoutermostwhorlhastherimbroadest,andtheseveninnerwhorlsarenarrower,inthefollowingproportions——thesixthisnexttothefirstinsize,thefourthnexttothesixth;thencomestheeighth;
theseventhisfifth,thefifthissixth,thethirdisseventh,lastandeighthcomesthesecond。Thelargest(offixedstars)isspangled,andtheseventh(orsun)isbrightest;theeighth(ormoon)colouredbythereflectedlightoftheseventh;thesecondandfifth(SaturnandMercury)areincolourlikeoneanother,andyellowerthanthepreceding;thethird(Venus)hasthewhitestlight;thefourth(Mars)isreddish;thesixth(Jupiter)isinwhitenesssecond。Nowthewholespindlehasthesamemotion;but,asthewholerevolvesinonedirection,theseveninnercirclesmoveslowlyintheother,andofthesetheswiftestistheeighth;nextinswiftnessaretheseventh,sixth,andfifth,whichmovetogether;thirdinswiftnessappearedtomoveaccordingtothelawofthisreversedmotionthefourth;thethirdappearedfourthandthesecondfifth。ThespindleturnsonthekneesofNecessity;andontheuppersurfaceofeachcircleisasiren,whogoesroundwiththem,hymningasingletoneornote。Theeighttogetherformoneharmony;androundabout,atequalintervals,thereisanotherband,threeinnumber,eachsittinguponherthrone:thesearetheFates,daughtersofNecessity,whoareclothedinwhiterobesandhavechapletsupontheirheads,LachesisandClothoandAtropos,whoaccompanywiththeirvoicestheharmonyofthesirens——Lachesissingingofthepast,Clothoofthepresent,Atroposofthefuture;Clothofromtimetotimeassistingwithatouchofherrighthandtherevolutionoftheoutercircleofthewhorlorspindle,andAtroposwithherlefthandtouchingandguidingtheinnerones,andLachesislayingholdofeitherinturn,firstwithonehandandthenwiththeother。
WhenErandthespiritsarrived,theirdutywastogoatoncetoLachesis;butfirstofalltherecameaprophetwhoarrangedtheminorder;thenhetookfromthekneesofLachesislotsandsamplesoflives,andhavingmountedahighpulpit,spokeasfollows:’HearthewordofLachesis,thedaughterofNecessity。Mortalsouls,beholdanewcycleoflifeandmortality。Yourgeniuswillnotbeallottedtoyou,butyouchooseyourgenius;andlethimwhodrawsthefirstlothavethefirstchoice,andthelifewhichhechoosesshallbehisdestiny。Virtueisfree,andasamanhonoursordishonoursherhewillhavemoreorlessofher;theresponsibilityiswiththechooser——Godisjustified。’WhentheInterpreterhadthusspokenhescatteredlotsindifferentlyamongthemall,andeachofthemtookupthelotwhichfellnearhim,allbutErhimself(hewasnotallowed),andeachashetookhislotperceivedthenumberwhichhehadobtained。ThentheInterpreterplacedonthegroundbeforethemthesamplesoflives;andthereweremanymorelivesthanthesoulspresent,andtheywereofallsorts。Therewerelivesofeveryanimalandofmanineverycondition。Andthereweretyranniesamongthem,somelastingoutthetyrant’slife,otherswhichbrokeoffinthemiddleandcametoanendinpovertyandexileandbeggary;andtherewerelivesoffamousmen,somewhowerefamousfortheirformandbeautyaswellasfortheirstrengthandsuccessingames,or,again,fortheirbirthandthequalitiesoftheirancestors;andsomewhowerethereverseoffamousfortheoppositequalities。Andofwomenlikewise;therewasnot,however,anydefinitecharacterthem,becausethesoul,whenchoosinganewlife,mustofnecessitybecomedifferent。Buttherewaseveryotherquality,andtheallmingledwithoneanother,andalsowithelementsofwealthandpoverty,anddiseaseandhealth;andthereweremeanstatesalso。Andhere,mydearGlaucon,isthesupremeperilofourhumanstate;andthereforetheutmostcareshouldbetaken。Leteachoneofusleaveeveryotherkindofknowledgeandseekandfollowonethingonly,ifperadventurehemaybeabletolearnandmayfindsomeonewhowillmakehimabletolearnanddiscernbetweengoodandevil,andsotochoosealwaysandeverywherethebetterlifeashehasopportunity。Heshouldconsiderthebearingofallthesethingswhichhavebeenmentionedseverallyandcollectivelyuponvirtue;heshouldknowwhattheeffectofbeautyiswhencombinedwithpovertyorwealthinaparticularsoul,andwhatarethegoodandevilconsequencesofnobleandhumblebirth,ofprivateandpublicstation,ofstrengthandweakness,ofclevernessanddullness,andofallthesoul,andtheoperationofthemwhenconjoined;hewillthenlookatthenatureofthesoul,andfromtheconsiderationofallthesequalitieshewillbeabletodeterminewhichisthebetterandwhichistheworse;andsohewillchoose,givingthenameofeviltothelifewhichwillmakehissoulmoreunjust,andgoodtothelifewhichwillmakehissoulmorejust;allelsehewilldisregard。Forwehaveseenandknowthatthisisthebestchoicebothinlifeandafterdeath。Amanmusttakewithhimintotheworldbelowanadamantinefaithintruthandright,thattheretoohemaybeundazzledbythedesireofwealthortheotherallurementsofevil,lest,comingupontyranniesandsimilarvillainies,hedoirremediablewrongstoothersandsufferyetworsehimself;butlethimknowhowtochoosethemeanandavoidtheextremesoneitherside,asfaraspossible,notonlyinthislifebutinallthatwhichistocome。Forthisisthewayofhappiness。
Andaccordingtothereportofthemessengerfromtheotherworldthiswaswhattheprophetsaidatthetime:’Evenforthelastcomer,ifhechooseswiselyandwilllivediligently,thereisappointedahappyandnotundesirableexistence。Letnothimwhochoosesfirstbecareless,andletnotthelastdespair。’Andwhenhehadspoken,hewhohadthefirstchoicecameforwardandinamomentchosethegreatesttyranny;hismindhavingbeendarkenedbyfollyandsensuality,hehadnotthoughtoutthewholematterbeforehechose,anddidnotatfirstsightperceivethathewasfated,amongotherevils,todevourhisownchildren。Butwhenhehadtimetoreflect,andsawwhatwasinthelot,hebegantobeathisbreastandlamentoverhischoice,forgettingtheproclamationoftheprophet;for,insteadofthrowingtheblameofhismisfortuneonhimself,heaccusedchanceandthegods,andeverythingratherthanhimself。Nowhewasoneofthosewhocamefromheaven,andinaformerlifehaddweltinawell—orderedState,buthisvirtuewasamatterofhabitonly,andhehadnophilosophy。Anditwastrueofotherswhoweresimilarlyovertaken,thatthegreaternumberofthemcamefromheavenandthereforetheyhadneverbeenschooledbytrial,whereasthepilgrimswhocamefromearth,havingthemselvessufferedandseenotherssuffer,werenotinahurrytochoose。Andowingtothisinexperienceoftheirs,andalsobecausethelotwasachance,manyofthesoulsexchangedagooddestinyforaneviloranevilforagood。Forifamanhadalwaysonhisarrivalinthisworlddedicatedhimselffromthefirsttosoundphilosophy,andhadbeenmoderatelyfortunateinthenumberofthelot,hemight,asthemessengerreported,behappyhere,andalsohisjourneytoanotherlifeandreturntothis,insteadofbeingroughandunderground,wouldbesmoothandheavenly。Mostcurious,hesaid,wasthespectacle——sadandlaughableandstrange;forthechoiceofthesoulswasinmostcasesbasedontheirexperienceofapreviouslife。TherehesawthesoulwhichhadoncebeenOrpheuschoosingthelifeofaswanoutofenmitytotheraceofwomen,hatingtobebornofawomanbecausetheyhadbeenhismurderers;hebeheldalsothesoulofThamyraschoosingthelifeofanightingale;birds,ontheotherhand,liketheswanandothermusicians,wantingtobemen。Thesoulwhichobtainedthetwentiethlotchosethelifeofalion,andthiswasthesoulofAjaxthesonofTelamon,whowouldnotbeaman,rememberingtheinjusticewhichwasdonehimthejudgmentaboutthearms。ThenextwasAgamemnon,whotookthelifeofaneagle,because,likeAjax,hehatedhumannaturebyreasonofhissufferings。AboutthemiddlecamethelotofAtalanta;she,seeingthegreatfameofanathlete,wasunabletoresistthetemptation:andafterhertherefollowedthesoulofEpeusthesonofPanopeuspassingintothenatureofawomancunninginthearts;andfarawayamongthelastwhochose,thesoulofthejesterThersiteswasputtingontheformofamonkey。TherecamealsothesoulofOdysseushavingyettomakeachoice,andhislothappenedtobethelastofthemall。Nowtherecollectionofformertollshaddisenchantedhimofambition,andhewentaboutforaconsiderabletimeinsearchofthelifeofaprivatemanwhohadnocares;hehadsomedifficultyinfindingthis,whichwaslyingaboutandhadbeenneglectedbyeverybodyelse;andwhenhesawit,hesaidthathewouldhavedonethehadhislotbeenfirstinsteadoflast,andthathewasdelightedtohaveit。Andnotonlydidmenpassintoanimals,butImustalsomentionthattherewereanimalstameandwildwhochangedintooneanotherandintocorrespondinghumannatures——thegoodintothegentleandtheevilintothesavage,inallsortsofcombinations。
Allthesoulshadnowchosentheirlives,andtheywentintheorderoftheirchoicetoLachesis,whosentwiththemthegeniuswhomtheyhadseverallychosen,tobetheguardianoftheirlivesandthefulfillerofthechoice:thisgeniusledthesoulsfirsttoClotho,anddrewthemwithintherevolutionofthespindleimpelledbyherhand,thusratifyingthedestinyofeach;andthen,whentheywerefastenedtothis,carriedthemtoAtropos,whospunthethreadsandmadethemirreversible,whencewithoutturningroundtheypassedbeneaththethroneofNecessity;andwhentheyhadallpassed,theymarchedoninascorchingheattotheplainofForgetfulness,whichwasabarrenwastedestituteoftreesandverdure;andthentowardseveningtheyencampedbytheriverofUnmindfulness,whosewaternovesselcanhold;ofthistheywereallobligedtodrinkacertainquantity,andthosewhowerenotsavedbywisdomdrankmorethanwasnecessary;andeachoneashedrankforgotallthings。Nowaftertheyhadgonetorest,aboutthemiddleofthenighttherewasathunderstormandearthquake,andtheninaninstanttheyweredrivenupwardsinallmannerofwaystotheirbirth,likestarsshooting。
Hehimselfwashinderedfromdrinkingthewater。Butinwhatmannerorbywhatmeanshereturnedtothebodyhecouldnotsay;only,inthemorning,awakingsuddenly,hefoundhimselflyingonthepyre。
Andthus,Glaucon,thetalehasbeensavedandhasnotperished,andwillsaveusifweareobedienttothewordspoken;andweshallpasssafelyovertheriverofForgetfulnessandoursoulwillnotbedefiled。Whereforemycounselisthatweholdfastevertotheheavenlywayandfollowafterjusticeandvirtuealways,consideringthatthesoulisimmortalandabletoendureeverysortofgoodandeverysortofevil。Thusshallwelivedeartooneanotherandtothegods,bothwhileremaininghereandwhen,likeconquerorsinthegameswhogoroundtogathergifts,wereceiveourreward。Anditshallbewellwithusbothinthislifeandinthepilgrimageofathousandyearswhichwehavebeendescribing。
—THEEND—
第31章