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there is confusion and perspiration and the extremity of effort； and
many of them are lamed or have their wings broken through the
ill…driving of the charioteers； and all of them after a fruitless
toil； not having attained to the mysteries of true being； go away； and
feed upon opinion。 The reason why the souls exhibit this exceeding
eagerness to behold the plain of truth is that pasturage is found
there； which is suited to the highest part of the soul； and the wing
on which the soul soars is nourished with this。 And there is a law
of Destiny； that the soul which attains any vision of truth in company
with a god is preserved from harm until the next period； and if
attaining always is always unharmed。 But when she is unable to follow；
and fails to behold the truth； and through some ill…hap sinks
beneath the double load of forgetfulness and vice； and her wings
fall from her and she drops to the ground； then the law ordains that
this soul shall at her first birth pass； not into any other animal；
but only into man； and the soul which has seen most of truth shall
come to the birth as a philosopher； or artist； or some musical and
loving nature； that which has seen truth in the second degree shall be
some righteous king or warrior chief； the soul which is of the third
class shall be a politician； or economist； or trader； the fourth shall
be lover of gymnastic toils； or a physician； the fifth shall lead
the life of a prophet or hierophant； to the sixth the character of
poet or some other imitative artist will be assigned； to the seventh
the life of an artisan or husbandman； to the eighth that of a
sophist or demagogue； to the ninth that of a tyrant…all these are
states of probation； in which he who does righteously improves； and he
who does unrighteously； improves； and he who does unrighteously；
deteriorates his lot。
Ten thousand years must elapse before the soul of each one can
return to the place from whence she came； for she cannot grow her
wings in less； only the soul of a philosopher； guileless and true；
or the soul of a lover； who is not devoid of philosophy； may acquire
wings in the third of the recurring periods of a thousand years； he is
distinguished from the ordinary good man who gains wings in three
thousand years：…and they who choose this life three times in
succession have wings given them； and go away at the end of three
thousand years。 But the others receive judgment when they have
completed their first life； and after the judgment they go； some of
them to the houses of correction which are under the earth； and are
punished； others to some place in heaven whither they are lightly
borne by justice； and there they live in a manner worthy of the life
which they led here when in the form of men。 And at the end of the
first thousand years the good souls and also the evil souls both
come to draw lots and choose their second life； and they may take
any which they please。 The soul of a man may pass into the life of a
beast； or from the beast return again into the man。 But the soul which
has never seen the truth will not pass into the human form。 For a
man must have intelligence of universals； and be able to proceed
from the many particulars of sense to one conception of reason；…this
is the recollection of those things which our soul once saw while
following God…when regardless of that which we now call being she
raised her head up towards the true being。 And therefore the mind of
the philosopher alone has wings； and this is just； for he is always；
according to the measure of his abilities； clinging in recollection to
those things in which God abides； and in beholding which He is what He
is。 And he who employs aright these memories is ever being initiated
into perfect mysteries and alone becomes truly perfect。 But； as he
forgets earthly interests and is rapt in the divine； the vulgar deem
him mad； and rebuke him； they do not see that he is inspired。
Thus far I have been speaking of the fourth and last kind of
madness； which is imputed to him who； when he sees the beauty of
earth； is transported with the recollection of the true beauty； he
would like to fly away； but he cannot； he is like a bird fluttering
and looking upward and careless of the world below； and he is
therefore thought to be mad。 And I have shown this of all inspirations
to be the noblest and highest and the offspring of the highest to
him who has or shares in it； and that he who loves the beautiful is
called a lover because he partakes of it。 For； as has been already
said； every soul of man has in the way of nature beheld true being；
this was the condition of her passing into the form of man。 But all
souls do not easily recall the things of the other world； they may
have seen them for a short time only； or they may have been
unfortunate in their earthly lot； and； having had their hearts
turned to unrighteousness through some corrupting influence； they
may have lost the memory of the holy things which once they saw。 Few
only retain an adequate remembrance of them； and they； when they
behold here any image of that other world； are rapt in amazement；
but they are ignorant of what this rapture means； because they do
not clearly perceive。 For there is no light of justice or temperance
or any of the higher ideas which are precious to souls in the
earthly copies of them： they are seen through a glass dimly； and there
are few who； going to the images； behold in them the realities； and
these only with difficulty。 There was a time when with the rest of the
happy band they saw beauty shining in brightness…we philosophers
following in the train of Zeus； others in company with other gods； and
then we beheld the beatific vision and were initiated into a mystery
which may be truly called most blessed； celebrated by us in our
state of innocence； before we had any experience of evils to come；
when we were admitted to the sight of apparitions innocent and
simple and calm and happy； which we beheld shining impure light；
pure ourselves and not yet enshrined in that living tomb which we
carry about； now that we are imprisoned in the body； like an oyster in
his shell。 Let me linger over the memory of scenes which have passed
away。
But of beauty； I repeat again that we saw her there shining in
company with the celestial forms； and coming to earth we find her here
too； shining in clearness through the clearest aperture of sense。
For sight is the most piercing of our bodily senses； though not by
that is wisdom seen； her loveliness would have been transporting if
there had been a visible image of her； and the other ideas； if they
had visible counterparts； would be equally lovely。 But this is the
privilege of beauty； that being the loveliest she is also the most
palpable to sight。 Now he who is not newly initiated or who has become
corrupted； does not easily rise out of this world to the sight of true
beauty in the other； he looks only at her earthly namesake； and
instead of being awed at the sight of her； he is given over to
pleasure； and like a brutish beast he rushes on to enjoy and beget； he
consorts with wantonness； and is not afraid or ashamed of pursuing
pleasure in violation of nature。 But he whose initiation is recent；
and who has been the spectator of many glories in the other world；
is amazed when he sees any one having a godlike face or form； which is
the expression of divine beauty； and at first a shudder runs through
him； and again the old awe steals over him； then looking upon the face
of his beloved as of a god he reverences him； and if he were not
afraid of being thought a downright madman； he would sacrifice to
his beloved as to the image of a god； then while he gazes on him there
is a sort of reaction； and the shudder passes into an unusual heat and
perspiration； for； as he receives the effluence of beauty through
the eyes； the wing moistens and he warms。 And as he warms； the parts
out of which the wing grew； and which had been hitherto closed and
rigid； and had prevented the wing from shooting forth； are melted； and
as nourishment streams upon him； the lower end of the wings begins
to swell and grow from the root upwards； and the growth extends
under the whole soul…for once the whole was winged。
During this process the whole soul is all in a state of ebullition
and effervescence；…which may be compared to the irritation and
uneasiness in the gums at the time of cutting teeth；…bubbles up； and
has a