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would have held good of fire and heat and any other thing。
Very true。
And the same may be said of the immortal： if the immortal is also
imperishable； then the soul will be imperishable as well as
immortal； but if not； some other proof of her imperishableness will
have to be given。
No other proof is needed； he said； for if the immortal； being
eternal； is liable to perish； then nothing is imperishable。
Yes； replied Socrates； all men will agree that God； and the
essential form of life； and the immortal in general； will never
perish。
Yes； all men； he said…that is true； and what is more； gods； if I
am not mistaken； as well as men。
Seeing then that the immortal is indestructible； must not the
soul； if she is immortal； be also imperishable？
Most certainly。
Then when death attacks a man； the mortal portion of him may be
supposed to die； but the immortal goes out of the way of death and
is preserved safe and sound？
True。
Then； Cebes； beyond question the soul is immortal and
imperishable； and our souls will truly exist in another world！
I am convinced； Socrates； said Cebes； and have nothing more to
object； but if my friend Simmias； or anyone else； has any further
objection； he had better speak out； and not keep silence； since I do
not know how there can ever be a more fitting time to which he can
defer the discussion； if there is anything which he wants to say or
have said。
But I have nothing more to say； replied Simmias； nor do I see any
room for uncertainty； except that which arises necessarily out of
the greatness of the subject and the feebleness of man； and which I
cannot help feeling。
Yes； Simmias； replied Socrates； that is well said： and more than
that； first principles； even if they appear certain； should be
carefully considered； and when they are satisfactorily ascertained；
then； with a sort of hesitating confidence in human reason； you may； I
think； follow the course of the argument； and if this is clear；
there will be no need for any further inquiry。
That； he said； is true。
But then； O my friends； he said； if the soul is really immortal；
what care should be taken of her； not only in respect of the portion
of time which is called life； but of eternity！ And the danger of
neglecting her from this point of view does indeed appear to be awful。
If death had only been the end of all； the wicked would have had a
good bargain in dying； for they would have been happily quit not
only of their body； but of their own evil together with their souls。
But now； as the soul plainly appears to be immortal； there is no
release or salvation from evil except the attainment of the highest
virtue and wisdom。 For the soul when on her progress to the world
below takes nothing with her but nurture and education； which are
indeed said greatly to benefit or greatly to injure the departed； at
the very beginning of its pilgrimage in the other world。
For after death； as they say； the genius of each individual； to whom
he belonged in life； leads him to a certain place in which the dead
are gathered together for judgment； whence they go into the world
below； following the guide who is appointed to conduct them from
this world to the other： and when they have there received their due
and remained their time； another guide brings them back again after
many revolutions of ages。 Now this journey to the other world is
not； as Aeschylus says in the 〃Telephus；〃 a single and straight
path…no guide would be wanted for that； and no one could miss a single
path； but there are many partings of the road； and windings； as I must
infer from the rites and sacrifices which are offered to the gods
below in places where three ways meet on earth。 The wise and orderly
soul is conscious of her situation and follows in the path； but the
soul which desires the body； and which； as I was relating before；
has long been fluttering about the lifeless frame and the world of
sight； is after many struggles and many sufferings hardly and with
violence carried away by her attendant genius； and when she arrives at
the place where the other souls are gathered； if she be impure and
have done impure deeds； or been concerned in foul murders or other
crimes which are the brothers of these； and the works of brothers in
crime…from that soul everyone flees and turns away； no one will be her
companion； no one her guide； but alone she wanders in extremity of
evil until certain times are fulfilled； and when they are fulfilled；
she is borne irresistibly to her own fitting habitation； as every pure
and just soul which has passed through life in the company and under
the guidance of the gods has also her own proper home。
Now the earth has divers wonderful regions； and is indeed in
nature and extent very unlike the notions of geographers； as I believe
on the authority of one who shall be nameless。
What do you mean； Socrates？ said Simmias。 I have myself heard many
descriptions of the earth； but I do not know in what you are putting
your faith； and I should like to know。
Well； Simmias； replied Socrates； the recital of a tale does not； I
think； require the art of Glaucus； and I know not that the art of
Glaucus could prove the truth of my tale； which I myself should
never be able to prove； and even if I could； I fear； Simmias； that
my life would come to an end before the argument was completed。 I
may describe to you； however； the form and regions of the earth
according to my conception of them。
That； said Simmias； will be enough。
Well； then； he said； my conviction is that the earth is a round body
in the center of the heavens； and therefore has no need of air or
any similar force as a support； but is kept there and hindered from
falling or inclining any way by the equability of the surrounding
heaven and by her own equipoise。 For that which； being in equipoise；
is in the center of that which is equably diffused； will not incline
any way in any degree； but will always remain in the same state and
not deviate。 And this is my first notion。
Which is surely a correct one； said Simmias。
Also I believe that the earth is very vast； and that we who dwell in
the region extending from the river Phasis to the Pillars of Heracles；
along the borders of the sea； are just like ants or frogs about a
marsh； and inhabit a small portion only； and that many others dwell in
many like places。 For I should say that in all parts of the earth
there are hollows of various forms and sizes； into which the water and
the mist and the air collect； and that the true earth is pure and in
the pure heaven； in which also are the stars…that is the heaven
which is commonly spoken of as the ether； of which this is but the
sediment collecting in the hollows of the earth。 But we who live in
these hollows are deceived into the notion that we are dwelling
above on the surface of the earth； which is just as if a creature
who was at the bottom of the sea were to fancy that he was on the
surface of the water； and that the sea was the heaven through which he
saw the sun and the other stars…he having never come to the surface by
reason of his feebleness and sluggishness； and having never lifted
up his head and seen； nor ever heard from one who had seen； this
region which is so much purer and fairer than his own。 Now this is
exactly our case： for we are dwelling in a hollow of the earth； and
fancy that we are on the surface； and the air we call the heaven；
and in this we imagine that the stars move。 But this is also owing
to our feebleness and sluggishness； which prevent our reaching the
surface of the air： for if any man could arrive at the exterior limit；
or take the wings of a bird and fly upward； like a fish who puts his
head out and sees this world； he would see a world beyond； and； if the
nature of man could sustain the sight； he would acknowledge that
this was the place of the true heaven and the true light and the
true stars。 For this earth； and the stones； and the entire region
which surrounds us； are spoilt and corroded； like the things in the
sea which are corroded by the brine； for in the sea too there is
hardly any noble or perfect growth； but clefts only； and sand； and
an endless slough of mud： and even the shore is not to be compared
to the fairer sights of this world。 And greater far is the superiority
of the other。 Now of that upper earth which is under the heaven； I can
tell you a charming tale； Simmias； which is well worth hearing。
And we； Socrates； replied Simmias； shall be charmed to listen。
The tale； my friend； he said； is as follows： In the first place； the
earth； when looked at from above； is like one of those balls whic