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certain freshness and a suitable 'entourage。' It is strange to observe
that the most effective use of Scripture phraseology arises out of the
application of it in a sense not intended by the author。 （c） Another
caution： metaphors differ in different languages； and the translator will
often be compelled to substitute one for another； or to paraphrase them；
not giving word for word； but diffusing over several words the more
concentrated thought of the original。 The Greek of Plato often goes beyond
the English in its imagery： compare Laws； （Greek）； Rep。； etc。 Or again the
modern word； which in substance is the nearest equivalent to the Greek； may
be found to include associations alien to Greek life： e。g。 （Greek）；
'jurymen；' （Greek）； 'the bourgeoisie。' （d） The translator has also to
provide expressions for philosophical terms of very indefinite meaning in
the more definite language of modern philosophy。 And he must not allow
discordant elements to enter into the work。 For example； in translating
Plato； it would equally be an anachronism to intrude on him the feeling and
spirit of the Jewish or Christian Scriptures or the technical terms of the
Hegelian or Darwinian philosophy。
（7） As no two words are precise equivalents （just as no two leaves of the
forest are exactly similar）； it is a mistaken attempt at precision always
to translate the same Greek word by the same English word。 There is no
reason why in the New Testament （Greek） should always be rendered
'righteousness；' or （Greek） 'covenant。' In such cases the translator may
be allowed to employ two wordssometimes when the two meanings occur in
the same passage； varying them by an 'or'e。g。 （Greek）； 'science' or
'knowledge；' （Greek）； 'idea' or 'class；' （Greek）； 'temperance' or
'prudence；'at the point where the change of meaning occurs。 If
translations are intended not for the Greek scholar but for the general
reader； their worst fault will be that they sacrifice the general effect
and meaning to the over…precise rendering of words and forms of speech。
（8） There is no kind of literature in English which corresponds to the
Greek Dialogue； nor is the English language easily adapted to it。 The
rapidity and abruptness of question and answer； the constant repetition of
（Greek）； etc。； which Cicero avoided in Latin （de Amicit）； the frequent
occurrence of expletives； would； if reproduced in a translation； give
offence to the reader。 Greek has a freer and more frequent use of the
Interrogative； and is of a more passionate and emotional character； and
therefore lends itself with greater readiness to the dialogue form。 Most
of the so…called English Dialogues are but poor imitations of Plato； which
fall very far short of the original。 The breath of conversation； the
subtle adjustment of question and answer； the lively play of fancy； the
power of drawing characters； are wanting in them。 But the Platonic
dialogue is a drama as well as a dialogue； of which Socrates is the central
figure； and there are lesser performers as well：the insolence of
Thrasymachus； the anger of Callicles and Anytus； the patronizing style of
Protagoras； the self…consciousness of Prodicus and Hippias； are all part of
the entertainment。 To reproduce this living image the same sort of effort
is required as in translating poetry。 The language； too； is of a finer
quality； the mere prose English is slow in lending itself to the form of
question and answer； and so the ease of conversation is lost； and at the
same time the dialectical precision with which the steps of the argument
are drawn out is apt to be impaired。
II。 In the Introductions to the Dialogues there have been added some
essays on modern philosophy； and on political and social life。 The chief
subjects discussed in these are Utility； Communism； the Kantian and
Hegelian philosophies； Psychology； and the Origin of Language。 （There have
been added also in the Third Edition remarks on other subjects。 A list of
the most important of these additions is given at the end of this Preface。）
Ancient and modern philosophy throw a light upon one another： but they
should be compared； not confounded。 Although the connexion between them is
sometimes accidental； it is often real。 The same questions are discussed
by them under different conditions of language and civilization； but in
some cases a mere word has survived； while nothing or hardly anything of
the pre…Socratic； Platonic； or Aristotelian meaning is retained。 There are
other questions familiar to the moderns； which have no place in ancient
philosophy。 The world has grown older in two thousand years； and has
enlarged its stock of ideas and methods of reasoning。 Yet the germ of
modern thought is found in ancient； and we may claim to have inherited；
notwithstanding many accidents of time and place； the spirit of Greek
philosophy。 There is； however； no continuous growth of the one into the
other； but a new beginning； partly artificial； partly arising out of the
questionings of the mind itself； and also receiving a stimulus from the
study of ancient writings。
Considering the great and fundamental differences which exist in ancient
and modern philosophy； it seems best that we should at first study them
separately； and seek for the interpretation of either； especially of the
ancient； from itself only； comparing the same author with himself and with
his contemporaries； and with the general state of thought and feeling
prevalent in his age。 Afterwards comes the remoter light which they cast
on one another。 We begin to feel that the ancients had the same thoughts
as ourselves； the same difficulties which characterize all periods of
transition； almost the same opposition between science and religion。
Although we cannot maintain that ancient and modern philosophy are one and
continuous （as has been affirmed with more truth respecting ancient and
modern history）； for they are separated by an interval of a thousand years；
yet they seem to recur in a sort of cycle； and we are surprised to find
that the new is ever old； and that the teaching of the past has still a
meaning for us。
III。 In the preface to the first edition I expressed a strong opinion at
variance with Mr。 Grote's； that the so…called Epistles of Plato were
spurious。 His friend and editor； Professor Bain； thinks that I ought to
give the reasons why I differ from so eminent an authority。 Reserving the
fuller discussion of the question for another place； I will shortly defend
my opinion by the following arguments：
（a） Because almost all epistles purporting to be of the classical age of
Greek literature are forgeries。 （Compare Bentley's Works （Dyce's
Edition）。） Of all documents this class are the least likely to be
preserved and the most likely to be invented。 The ancient world swarmed
with them； the great libraries stimulated the demand for them； and at a
time when there was no regular publication of books； they easily crept into
the world。
（b） When one epistle out of a number is spurious； the remainder of the
series cannot be admitted to be genuine； unless there be some independent
ground for thinking them so： when all but one are spurious； overwhelming
evidence is required of the genuineness of the one： when they are all
similar in style or motive； like witnesses who agree in the same tale； they
stand or fall together。 But no one； not even Mr。 Grote； would maintain
that all the Epistles of Plato are genuine； and very few critics think that
more than one of them is so。 And they are clearly all written from the
same motive； whether serious or only literary。 Nor is there an example in
Greek antiquity of a series of Epistles； continuous and yet coinciding with
a succession of events extending over a great number of years。
The external probability therefore against them is enormous； and the
internal probability is not less： for they are trivial and unmeaning；
devoid of delicacy and subtlety； wanting in a single fine expression。 And
even if this be matter of dispute； there can be no dispute that there are
found in them many plagiarisms； inappropriately borrowed； which is a common
note of forgery。 They imitate Plato； who never imitates either himself or
any one else； reminiscences of the Republic and the Laws are continually
recurring in them； they are too like him and also too unlike him； to be
genuine （see especially Karsten； Commentio Critica de Platoni