The Timaeus of Plato

TIMAIOS.
6r
provision for the contraction of marriages by some secret mode
of allotment, that to the good and bad separately might be
allotted mates of their own kind, and so no ill-feeling should
arise among them, supposing as they would that chance governed
the allotment ?
Timaeus. We remember that.
Sokrates. And the offspring of the good we said must be
reared, while that of the bad was to be secretly dispersed among
the other classes of the state ;
and continually observing them
as they grew up, the rulers were to restore to their rank such as
were worthy, and in the places of those so promoted substitute
the unworthy in their own rank.
Timaeus. Quite so.
Sokrates. Have we now said enough for a summary recapitulation
of yesterday's discourse ? or do we feel that anything
is lacking, my dear Timaeus, to our account ?
Timaeus. Not at all :-
you have exactly described what was
said, Sokrates.
II. Sokrates. Listen then and I will tell
you in the next
place what I feel about the constitution which we described.
My feeling is something like this :
suppose a man, on beholding
beautiful creatures, whether the work of the painter or really
alive but at rest, should conceive a desire to see them in motion
and putting into active exercise the qualities which seemed to
belong to their form this is just what I feel about our city
which we described : I would fain listen to one who depicted
her engaged in a becoming manner with other countries in those
struggles which cities must undergo, and going to war, and
when at war showing a result worthy of her training and educa-
19 B 21 A, c. ii. Sokrates now ex- on them to gratify his wish. Hermopresses
his desire to see his pictured city krates readily assents, but first begs
called as it were into life and action ;
he Kritias to narrate a forgotten legend of
would have a representation of her actual ancient Athens, which he thinks is appodoings
and dealings with other cities. site to the matter in hand : to this Kritias
He distrusts his own power to do this consents.
worthily, nor has he any greater confi- 17. olov t TIS] This passage is redence
in poets or sophists. But he de- ferred to by Athenaeus xi 507 D in supclares
that his three companions are of all port of the truly remarkable charge of
men the best fitted by genius and training 0i\o5oi'o which he brings against Plato,
to accomplish it ;
and he therefore calls