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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 which
have leather coverings in twelve pieces； and is of divers colors； of
which the colors which painters use on earth are only a sample。 But
there the whole earth is made up of them； and they are brighter far
and clearer than ours； there is a purple of wonderful luster； also the
radiance of gold； and the white which is in the earth is whiter than
any chalk or snow。 Of these and other colors the earth is made up； and
they are more in number and fairer than the eye of man has ever
seen； and the very hollows （of which I was speaking） filled with air
and water are seen like light flashing amid the other colors； and have
a color of their own； which gives a sort of unity to the variety of
earth。 And in this fair region everything that grows…trees； and
flowers； and fruits…is in a like degree fairer than any here； and
there are hills； and stones in them in a like degree smoother； and
more transparent； and fairer in color than our highly valued
emeralds and sardonyxes and jaspers； and other gems； which are but
minute fragments of them： for there all the stones are like our
precious stones； and fairer still。 The reason of this is that they are
pure； and not； like our precious stones； infected or corroded by the
corrupt briny elements which coagulate among us； and which breed
foulness and disease both in earth and stones； as well as in animals
and plants。 They are the jewels of the upper earth； which also
shines with gold and silver and the like； and they are visible to
sight and large and abundant and found in every region of the earth；
and blessed is he who sees them。 And upon the earth are animals and
men； some in a middle region； others dwelling about the air as we
dwell about the sea； others in islands which the air flows round； near
the continent： and in a word； the air is used by them as the water and
the sea are by us； and the ether is to them what the air is to us。
Moreover； the temperament of their seasons is such that they have no
disease； and live much longer than we do； and have sight and hearing
and smell； and all the other senses； in far greater perfection； in the
same degree that air is purer than water or the ether than air。 Also
they have temples and sacred places in which the gods really dwell；
and they hear their voices and receive their answers； and are
conscious of them and hold converse with them； and they see the sun；
moon； and stars as they really are； and their other blessedness is
of a piece with this。
Such is the nature of the whole earth； and of the things which are
around the earth； and there are divers regions in the hollows on the
face of the globe everywhere； some of them deeper and also wider
than that which we inhabit； others deeper and with a narrower
opening than ours； and some are shallower and wider； all have numerous
perforations； and passages broad and narrow in the interior of the
earth； connecting them with one another； and there flows into and
out of them； as into basins； a vast tide of water； and huge
subterranean streams of perennial rivers； and springs hot and cold；
and a great fire； and great rivers of fire； and streams of liquid mud；
thin or thick （like the rivers of mud in Sicily； and the
lava…streams which follow them）； and the regions about which they
happen to flow are filled up with them。 And there is a sort of swing
in the interior of the earth which moves all this up and down。 Now the
swing is in this wise： There is a chasm which is the vastest of them
all； and pierces right through the whole earth； this is that which
Homer describes in the words；
〃Far off； where is the inmost depth beneath the earth〃；
and which he in other places； and many other poets； have called
Tartarus。 And the swing is caused by the streams flowing into and
out of this chasm； and they each have the nature of the soil through
which they flow。 And the reason why the streams are always flowing
in and out is that the watery element has no bed or bottom； and is
surging and swinging up and down； and the surrounding wind and air
do the same； they follow the water up and down； hither and thither；
over the earth…just as in respiring the air is always in process of
inhalation and exhalation； and the wind swinging with the water in and
out produces fearful and irresistible blasts： when the waters retire
with a rush into the lower parts of the earth； as they are called；
they flow through the earth into those regions； and fill them up as
with the alternate motion of a pump； and then when they leave those
regions and rush back hither； they again fill the hollows here； and
when these are filled； flow through subterranean channels and find
their way to their several places； forming seas； and lakes； and
rivers； and springs。 Thence they again enter the earth； some of them
making a long circuit into many lands； others going to few places
and those not distant； and again fall into Tartarus； some at a point a
good deal lower than that at which they rose； and others not much
lower； but all in some degree lower than the point of issue。 And
some burst forth again on the opposite side； and some on the same
side； and some wind round the earth with one or many folds； like the
coils of a serpent； and descend as far as they can； but always
return and fall into the lake。 The rivers on either side can descend
only to the center and no further； for to the rivers on both sides the
opposite side is a precipice。
Now these rivers are many； and mighty； and diverse； and there are
four principal ones； of which the greatest and outermost is that
called Oceanus； which flows round the earth in a circle； and in the
opposite direction flows Acheron； which passes under the earth through
desert places； into the Acherusian Lake： this is the lake to the
shores of which the souls of the many go when they are dead； and after
waiting an appointed time； which is to some a longer and to some a
shorter time； they are sent back again to be born as animals。 The
third river rises between the two； and near the place of rising
pours into a vast region of fire； and forms a lake larger than the
Mediterranean Sea； boiling with water and mud； and proceeding muddy
and turbid； and winding about the earth； comes； among other places； to
the extremities of the Acherusian Lake； but mingles not with the
waters of the lake； and after making many coils about the earth
plunges into Tartarus at a deeper level。 This is that
Pyriphlegethon； as the stream is called； which throws up jets of
fire in all sorts of places。 The fourth river goes out on the opposite
side； and falls first of all into a wild and savage region； which is
all of a dark…blue color； like lapis lazuli； and this is that river
which is called the Stygian River； and falls into and forms the Lake
Styx； and after falling into the lake and receiving strange powers
in the waters； passes under the earth； winding round in the opposite
direction to Pyriphlegethon； and meeting in the Acherusian Lake from
the opposite side。 And the water of this river too mingles with no
other； but flows round in a circle and falls into Tartarus over
against Pyriphlegethon； and the name of this river； as the poet
says； is Cocytus。
Such is the name of the other world； and when the dead arrive at the
place to which the genius of each severally conveys them； first of all
they have sentence passed upon them； as they have lived well and
piously or not。 And those who appear to have lived neither well nor
ill； go to the river Acheron； and mount such conveyances as they can
get； and are carried in them to the lake； and there they dwell and
are purified of their evil deeds； and suffer the penalty of the wrongs
which they have done to others； and are absolved； and receive the
rewards of their good deeds according to their deserts。 But those
who appear to be incurable by reason of the greatness of their
crimes…who have committed many and terrible deeds of sacrilege；
murders foul and violent； or the like…such are hurled into Tartarus；
which is their suitable destiny； and they never come out。 Those
again who have committed crimes； which； although great； are not
unpardonable…who in a moment of anger； for example； have done violence
to a father or mother； and have repented for the remainder of their
lives； or who have taken the life of another under like extenuating
circumstances…these are plunged into Tartarus； the pains of which they
are compelled to undergo for a year； but at the end of the year the
wave casts them forth…mere homicides by way of Cocytus； parricides and
m