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greatness； or the one had greatness and the others smallness…whichever
kind had greatness would be greater； and whichever had smallness would
be smaller？
Certainly。
Then there are two such ideas as greatness and smallness； for if
they were not they could not be opposed to each other and be present
in that which is。
How could they？
If； then； smallness is present in the one it will be present
either in the whole or in a part of the whole？
Certainly。
Suppose the first； it will be either co…equal and co…extensive
with the whole one； or will contain the one？
Clearly。
If it be co…extensive with the one it will be coequal with the
one； or if containing the one it will be greater than the one？
Of course。
But can smallness be equal to anything or greater than anything； and
have the functions of greatness and equality and not its own
functions？
Impossible。
Then smallness cannot be in the whole of one； but； if at all； in a
part only？
Yes。
And surely not in all of a part； for then the difficulty of the
whole will recur； it will be equal to or greater than any part in
which it is。
Certainly。
Then smallness will not be in anything； whether in a whole or in a
part； nor will there be anything small but actual smallness。
True。
Neither will greatness be in the one； for if greatness be in
anything there will be something greater other and besides greatness
itself； namely； that in which greatness is； and this too when the
small itself is not there； which the one； if it is great； must exceed；
this； however； is impossible； seeing that smallness is wholly absent。
True。
But absolute greatness is only greater than absolute smallness；
and smallness is only smaller than absolute greatness。
Very true。
Then other things not greater or less than the one； if they have
neither greatness nor smallness； nor have greatness or smallness any
power of exceeding or being exceeded in relation to the one； but
only in relation to one another； nor will the one be greater or less
than them or others； if it has neither greatness nor smallness。
Clearly not。
Then if the one is neither greater nor less than the others； it
cannot either exceed or be exceeded by them？
Certainly not。
And that which neither exceeds nor is exceeded； must be on an
equality； and being on an equality； must be equal。
Of course。
And this will be true also of the relation of the one to itself；
having neither greatness nor smallness in itself； it will neither
exceed nor be exceeded by itself； but will be on an equality with
and equal to itself。
Certainly。
Then the one will be equal to both itself and the others？
Clearly so。
And yet the one； being itself in itself； will also surround and be
without itself； and； as containing itself； will be greater than
itself； and； as contained in itself； will be less； and will thus be
greater and less than itself。
It will。
Now there cannot possibly be anything which is not included in the
one and the others？
Of course not。
But； surely； that which is must always be somewhere？
Yes。
But that which is in anything will be less； and that in which it
is will be greater； in no other way can one thing be in another。
True。
And since there is nothing other or besides the one and the
others； and they must be in something； must they not be in one
another； the one in the others and the others in the one； if they
are to be anywhere？
That is clear。
But inasmuch as the one is in the others； the others will be greater
than the one； because they contain the one； which will be less than
the others； because it is contained in them； and inasmuch as the
others are in the one； the one on the same principle will be greater
than the others； and the others less than the one。
True。
The one； then； will be equal to and greater and less than itself and
the others？
Clearly。
And if it be greater and less and equal； it will be of equal and
more and less measures or divisions than itself and the others； and if
of measures； also of parts？
Of course。
And if of equal and more and less measures or divisions； it will
be in number more or less than itself and the others； and likewise
equal in number to itself and to the others？
How is that？
It will be of more measures than those things which it exceeds；
and of as many parts as measures； and so with that to which it is
equal； and that than which it is less。
True。
And being greater and less than itself； and equal to itself； it will
be of equal measures with itself and of more and fewer measures than
itself； and if of measures then also of parts？
It will。
And being of equal parts with itself； it will be numerically equal
to itself； and being of more parts； more； and being of less； less than
itself？
Certainly。
And the same will hold of its relation to other things； inasmuch
as it is greater than them； it will be more in number than them； and
inasmuch as it is smaller； it will be less in number； and inasmuch
as it is equal in size to other things； it will be equal to them in
number。
Certainly。
Once more then； as would appear； the one will be in number both
equal to and more and less than both itself and all other things。
It will。
Does the one also partake of time？ And is it and does it become
older and younger than itself and others； and again； neither younger
nor older than itself and others； by virtue of participation in time？
How do you mean？
If one is； being must be predicated of it？
Yes。
But to be （einai） is only participation of being in present time；
and to have been is the participation of being at a past time； and
to be about to be is the participation of being at a future time？
Very true。
Then the one； since it partakes of being； partakes of time？
Certainly。
And is not time always moving forward？
Yes。
Then the one is always becoming older than itself； since it moves
forward in time？
Certainly。
And do you remember that the older becomes older than that which
becomes younger？
I remember。
Then since the one becomes older than itself； it becomes younger
at the same time？
Certainly。
Thus； then； the one becomes older as well as younger than itself？
Yes。
And it is older （is it not？） when in becoming； it gets to the
point of time。 between 〃was〃 and 〃will be；〃 which is 〃now〃： for surely
in going from the past to the future； it cannot skip the present？
No。
And when it arrives at the present it stops from becoming older； and
no longer becomes； but is older； for if it went on it would never be
reached by the present； for it is the nature of that which goes on； to
touch both the present and the future； letting go the present and
seizing the future； while in process of becoming between them。
True。
But that which is becoming cannot skip the present； when it
reaches the present it ceases to become； and is then whatever it may
happen to be becoming。
Clearly。
And so the one； when in becoming older it reaches the present；
ceases to become； and is then older。
Certainly。
And it is older than that than which it was becoming older； and it
was becoming older than itself。
Yes。
And that which is older is older than that which is younger？
True。
Then the one is younger than itself； when in becoming older it
reaches the present？
Certainly。
But the present is always present with the one during all its being；
for whenever it is it is always now。
Certainly。
Then the one always both is and becomes older and younger than
itself？
Truly。
And is it or does it become a longer time than itself or an equal
time with itself？
An equal time。
But if it becomes or is for an equal time with itself； it is of
the same age with itself？
Of course。
And that which is of the same age； is neither older nor younger？
No。
The one； then； becoming and being the same time with itself； neither
is nor becomes older or younger than itself？
I should say not。
And what are its relations to other things？ Is it or does it
become older or younger than they？
I cannot tell you。
You can at least tell me that others than the one are more than
the one…other would have been one； but the others have multitude；
and are more than one？
They will have multitude。
And a multitude implies a number larger than one？
Of course。
And shall we say that the lesser or the greater is the first