Greek Texts & Translations

Very true.

Of choristry we have already discussed the one part, and we shall next endeavor to discuss the other part.

By all means.

But, if you both agree, let us first put the finishing stroke 673eto our discourse on the use of drink.

What, or what kind of, finish do you mean?

If a State shall make use of the institution now mentioned in a lawful and orderly manner, regarding it in a serious light and practising it with a view to temperance, and if in like manner and with a like object, aiming at the mastery of them, it shall allow indulgence in all other pleasures,—then they must all be made use of in the manner described. But if, on the other hand, this institution is regarded in the light of play, and if anyone that likes is to be allowed to drink whenever he likes 674aand with any companions he likes, and that in conjunction with all sorts of other institutions,—then I would refuse to vote for allowing such a State or such an individual ever to indulge in drink, and I would go even beyond the practice of the Cretans and Lacedaemonians ^note; and to the Carthaginian law, which ordains that no soldier on the march should ever taste of this potion, but confine himself for the whole of the time to water-drinking only, I would add this, that in the city also no bondsman or bondsmaid should ever taste of it; and that magistrates 674bduring their year of office, and pilots and judges while on duty, should taste no wine at all; nor should any councillor, while attending any important council; nor should anyone whatever taste of it at all, except for reasons of bodily training or health, in the daytime; nor should anyone do so by night—be he man or woman—when proposing to procreate children. Many other occasions, also, might be mentioned when wine should not be drunk by men who are swayed by right reason and law. 674cHence, according to this argument, there would be no need for any State to have a large number of vineyards; and while all the other agricultural products, and all the foodstuffs, would be controlled, the production of wine especially would be kept within the smallest and most modest dimensions. Let this, then, Strangers, if you agree, be the finishing stroke which we put to our discourse concerning wine.

Very good; we quite agree.

So much for that, then! Now, what are we to say about the origin of government? Would not the best and easiest way of discerning it be from this standpoint?

What standpoint?

That from which one should always observe the progress of States as they move towards either goodness or badness.

What point is that?

The observation, as I suppose, of an infinitely long period of time 676band of the variations therein occurring.

Explain your meaning.

Tell me now: do you think you could ever ascertain the space of time that has passed since cities came into existence and men lived under civic rule?

Certainly it would be no easy task.

But you can easily see that it is vast and immeasurable?

That I most certainly can do.

During this time, have not thousands upon thousands of States come into existence, and, on a similar computation, just as many perished? 676cAnd have they not in each case exhibited all kinds of constitutions over and over again? And have they not changed at one time from small to great, at another from great to small, and changed also from good to bad and from bad to good?

Necessarily.

Of this process of change let us discover, if we can, the cause; for this, perhaps, would show us what is the primary origin of constitutions, as well as their transformation.

You are right; and we must all exert ourselves,—you to expound your view about them, and we to keep pace with you. 677a

Do you consider that there is any truth in the ancient tales?

What tales?

That the world of men has often been destroyed by floods, plagues, and many other things, in such a way that only a small portion of the human race has survived.

Everyone would regard such accounts as perfectly credible.

Come now, let us picture to ourselves one of the many catastrophes,—namely, that which occurred once upon a time through the Deluge. ^note

And what are we to imagine about it? 677b

That the men who then escaped destruction must have been mostly herdsmen of the hills, scanty embers of the human race preserved somewhere on the mountain-tops.

Evidently.

Moreover, men of this kind must necessarily have been unskilled in the arts generally, and especially in such contrivances as men use against one another in cities for purposes of greed and rivalry and all the other villainies which they devise one against another.