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true and unimpeachable？ Were we right in selecting him out of ten
thousand other claimants to be the shepherd and rearer of the human
flock？
Y。 Soc。 Surely not。
Str。 Had we not reason just to now apprehend； that although we may
have described a sort of royal form； we have not as yet accurately
worked out the true image of the Statesman？ and that we cannot
reveal him as he truly is in his own nature； until we have
disengaged and separated him from those who bang about him and claim
to share in his prerogatives？
Y。 Soc。 Very true。
Str。 And that； Socrates； is what we must do； if we do not mean to
bring disgrace upon the argument at its close。
Y。 Soc。 We must certainly avoid that。
Str。 Then let us make a new beginning； and travel by a different
road。
Y。 Soc。 What road？
Str。 I think that we may have a little amusement； there is a
famous tale； of which a good portion may with advantage be
interwoven；
and then we may resume our series of divisions； and proceed
in the old
path until we arrive at the desired summit。 Shall we do as I say？
Y。 Soc。 By all means。
Str。 Listen； then； to a tale which a child would love to hear； and
you are not too old for childish amusement。
Y。 Soc。 Let me hear。
Str。 There did really happen； and will again happen； like
many other
events of which ancient tradition has preserved the record； the
portent which is traditionally said to have occurred in the
quarrel of
Atreus and Thyestes。 You have heard no doubt； and remember what they
say happened at that time？
Y。 Soc。 I suppose you to mean the token of the birth of the golden
lamb。
Str。 No； not that； but another part of the story； which tells how
the sun and the stars once rose in the west； and set in the east；
and that the god reversed their motion； and gave them that which
they now have as a testimony to the right of Atreus。
Y。 Soc。 Yes； there is that legend also。
Str。 Again； we have been often told of the reign of Cronos。
Y。 Soc。 Yes； very often。
Str。 Did you ever hear that the men of former times were
earthborn； and not begotten of one another？
Y。 Soc。 Yes； that is another old tradition。
Str。 All these stories； and ten thousand others which are
still more
wonderful； have a common origin； many of them have been lost in the
lapse of ages； or are repeated only in a disconnected form； but the
origin of them is what no one has told； and may as well be told now；
for the tale is suited to throw light on the nature of the king。
Y。 Soc。 Very good； and I hope that you will give the whole story；
and leave out nothing。
Str。 Listen； then。 There is a time when God himself guides
and helps
to roll the world in its course； and there is a time； on the
completion of a certain cycle； when he lets go； and the world being
a living creature； and having originally received intelligence from
its author and creator turns about and by an inherent necessity
revolves in the opposite direction。
Y。 Soc。 Why is that？
Str。 Why； because only the most divine things of all remain ever
unchanged and the same； and body is not included in this
class。 Heaven
and the universe； as we have termed them； although they have been
endowed by the Creator with many glories； partake of a bodily
nature； and therefore cannot be entirely free from perturbation。 But
their motion is； as far as possible； single and in the same
place； and
of the same kind； and is therefore only subject to a reversal； which
is the least alteration possible。 For the lord of all moving
things is
alone able to move of himself； and to think that he moves them at
one time in one direction and at another time in another is
blasphemy。
Hence we must not say that the world is either self…moved always； or
all made to go round by God in two opposite courses； or that
two Gods；
having opposite purposes； make it move round。 But as I have already
said （and this is the only remaining alternative） the world is
guided at one time by an external power which is divine and receives
fresh life and immortality from the renewing hand of the Creator；
and again； when let go； moves spontaneously； being set free at such
a time as to have； during infinite cycles of years； a reverse
movement： this is due to its perfect balance； to its vast
size； and to
the fact that it turns on the smallest pivot。
Y。 Soc。 Your account of the world seems to be very reasonable
indeed。
Str。 Let us now reflect and try to gather from what has been said
the nature of the phenomenon which we affirmed to be the cause of
all these wonders。 It is this。
Y。 Soc。 What？
Str。 The reversal which takes place from time to time of the
motion of the universe。
Y。 Soc。 How is that the cause？
Str。 Of all changes of the heavenly motions； we may
consider this to
be the greatest and most complete。
Y。 Soc。 I should imagine so。
Str。 And it may be supposed to result in the greatest
changes to the
human beings who are the inhabitants of the world at the time。
Y。 Soc。 Such changes would naturally occur。
Str。 And animals； as we know； survive with difficulty great and
serious changes of many different kinds when they come upon them at
once。
Y。 Soc。 Very true。
Str。 Hence there necessarily occurs a great destruction of them；
which extends also to…the life of man； few survivors of the race are
left； and those who remain become the subjects of several novel and
remarkable phenomena； and of one in particular； which takes place at
the time when the transition is made to the cycle opposite to that
in which we are now living。
Y。 Soc。 What is it？
Str。 The life of all animals first came to a standstill； and the
mortal nature ceased to be or look older； and was then reversed and
grew young and delicate； the white locks of the aged darkened again；
and the cheeks the bearded man became smooth； and recovered their
former bloom； the bodies of youths in their prime grew softer and
smaller； continually by day and night returning and becoming
assimilated to the nature of a newly…born child in mind as well as
body； in the succeeding stage they wasted away and wholly
disappeared。
And the bodies of those who died by violence at that time quickly
passed through the like changes； and in a few days were no more seen。
Y。 Soc。 Then how； Stranger； were the animals created in those
days； and in what way were they begotten of one another？
Str。 It is evident； Socrates； that there was no such thing in the
then order of nature as the procreation of animals from one another；
the earth…born race； of which we hear in story； was the one which
existed in those days…they rose again from the ground； and of this
tradition； which is now…a…days often unduly discredited； our
ancestors； who were nearest in point of time to the end of the last
period and came into being at the beginning of this； are to us the
heralds。 And mark how consistent the sequel of the tale is； after
the return of age to youth； follows the return of the dead； who are
lying in the earth； to life； simultaneously with the reversal of the
world the wheel of their generation has been turned back；
and they are
put together and rise and live in the opposite order； unless God has
carried any of them away to some other lot。 According to this
tradition they of necessity sprang from the earth and have
the name of
earth…born； and so the above legend clings to them。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly that is quite consistent with what has preceded；
but tell me； was the life which you said existed in the reign of
Cronos in that cycle of the world； or in this？ For the change in the
course of the stars and the sun must have occurred in both。
Str。 I see that you enter into my meaning；…no； that blessed and
spontaneous life does not belong to the present cycle of the world；
but to the previous one； in which God superintended the whole
revolution of the universe； and the several parts the universe were
distributed under the rule。 certain inferior deities； as is
the way in
some places still There were demigods； who were the shepherds of the
various species and herds of animals； and each one was in
all respects
sufficient for those of whom he was the shepherd； neither was there
any violence； or devouring of one another or war or quarrel among
them； and I might tell of ten thousand other blessings；
which belonged
to that dispensation。 The reason why the life of man was； as
tradition
says； spontaneous； is as follows： In those days God himself was
their shepherd； and ruled over them； just as man； over them；
who is by
comparison a divine being； still rules over the lower animals。 Under
him there were no forms of government or separate possession of
women and children； for all men rose again from the earth； having no
memory； of the past。 And although they had nothing of this sort； the
earth gave them fruits in abundance； which grew on trees and shrubs
unbidden； and were not planted by the hand of man。 And they dwelt
naked； and mostly in the open air； for the temperature of their
seasons； w