λέγεται τοίνυν, ἔφη, ὦ ἑταῖρε, πρῶτον μὲν εἶναι τοιαύτη ἡ γῆ αὐτὴ ἰδεῖν, εἴ τις ἄνωθεν θεῷτο, ὥσπερ αἱ δωδεκάσκυτοι σφαῖραι, ποικίλη, χρώμασιν διειλημμένη, ὧν καὶ τὰ ἐνθάδε εἶναι χρώματα ὥσπερ δείγματα, οἷς δὴ οἱ γραφῆς (110c) καταχρῶνται.
ἐκεῖ δὲ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐκ τοιούτων εἶναι, καὶ πολὺ ἔτι ἐκ λαμπροτέρων καὶ καθαρωτέρων ἢ τούτων·
τὴν μὲν γὰρ ἁλουργῆ εἶναι [καὶ] θαυμαστὴν τὸ κάλλος, τὴν δὲ χρυσοειδῆ, τὴν δὲ ὅση λευκὴ γύψου ἢ χιόνος λευκοτέραν,
καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων χρωμάτων συγκειμένην ὡσαύτως, καὶ ἔτι πλειόνων καὶ καλλιόνων ἢ ὅσα ἡμεῖς ἑωράκαμεν.
καὶ γὰρ αὐτὰ ταῦτα τὰ κοῖλα αὐτῆς, ὕδατός τε καὶ ἀέρος ἔκπλεα (110d) ὄντα, χρώματός τι εἶδος παρέχεσθαι στίλβοντα ἐν τῇ τῶν ἄλλων χρωμάτων ποικιλίᾳ, ὥστε ἕν τι αὐτῆς εἶδος συνεχὲς ποικίλον φαντάζεσθαι.
ἐν δὲ ταύτῃ οὔσῃ τοιαύτῃ ἀνὰ λόγον τὰ φυόμενα φύεσθαι, δένδρα τε καὶ ἄνθη καὶ τοὺς καρπούς·
καὶ αὖ τὰ ὄρη ὡσαύτως καὶ τοὺς λίθους ἔχειν ἀνὰ τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον τήν τε λειότητα καὶ τὴν διαφάνειαν καὶ τὰ χρώματα καλλίω·
ὧν καὶ τὰ ἐνθάδε λιθίδια εἶναι ταῦτα τὰ ἀγαπώμενα μόρια, σάρδιά τε καὶ ἰάσπιδας καὶ σμαράγδους (110e) καὶ πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτα·
ἐκεῖ δὲ οὐδὲν ὅτι οὐ τοιοῦτον εἶναι καὶ ἔτι τούτων καλλίω.
τὸ δ᾽ αἴτιον τούτου εἶναι ὅτι ἐκεῖνοι οἱ λίθοι εἰσὶ καθαροὶ καὶ οὐ κατεδηδεσμένοι οὐδὲ διεφθαρμένοι ὥσπερ οἱ ἐνθάδε ὑπὸ σηπεδόνος καὶ ἅλμης ὑπὸ τῶν δεῦρο συνερρυηκότων, ἃ καὶ λίθοις καὶ γῇ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ζῴοις τε καὶ φυτοῖς αἴσχη τε καὶ νόσους παρέχει.
τὴν δὲ γῆν αὐτὴν κεκοσμῆσθαι τούτοις τε ἅπασι καὶ ἔτι χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ καὶ (111a) τοῖς ἄλλοις αὖ τοῖς τοιούτοις.
ἐκφανῆ γὰρ αὐτὰ πεφυκέναι, ὄντα πολλὰ πλήθει καὶ μεγάλα καὶ πανταχοῦ τῆς γῆς, ὥστε αὐτὴν ἰδεῖν εἶναι θέαμα εὐδαιμόνων θεατῶν.
ζῷα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ εἶναι ἄλλα τε πολλὰ καὶ ἀνθρώπους, τοὺς μὲν ἐν μεσογαίᾳ οἰκοῦντας, τοὺς δὲ περὶ τὸν ἀέρα ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς περὶ τὴν θάλατταν, τοὺς δ᾽ ἐν νήσοις ἃς περιρρεῖν τὸν ἀέρα πρὸς τῇ ἠπείρῳ οὔσας·
καὶ ἑνὶ λόγῳ, ὅπερ ἡμῖν τὸ ὕδωρ τε καὶ ἡ θάλαττά ἐστι πρὸς τὴν ἡμετέραν χρείαν, τοῦτο ἐκεῖ (111b) τὸν ἀέρα, ὃ δὲ ἡμῖν ἀήρ, ἐκείνοις τὸν αἰθέρα.
τὰς δὲ ὥρας αὐτοῖς κρᾶσιν ἔχειν τοιαύτην ὥστε ἐκείνους ἀνόσους εἶναι καὶ χρόνον τε ζῆν πολὺ πλείω τῶν ἐνθάδε,
καὶ ὄψει καὶ ἀκοῇ καὶ φρονήσει καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τοιούτοις ἡμῶν ἀφεστάναι τῇ αὐτῇ ἀποστάσει ᾗπερ ἀήρ τε ὕδατος ἀφέστηκεν καὶ αἰθὴρ ἀέρος πρὸς καθαρότητα.
καὶ δὴ καὶ θεῶν ἄλση τε καὶ ἱερὰ αὐτοῖς εἶναι, ἐν οἷς τῷ ὄντι οἰκητὰς θεοὺς εἶναι, καὶ φήμας τε καὶ μαντείας καὶ αἰσθήσεις τῶν θεῶν καὶ τοιαύτας συνουσίας (111c) γίγνεσθαι αὐτοῖς πρὸς αὐτούς·
καὶ τόν γε ἥλιον καὶ σελήνην καὶ ἄστρα ὁρᾶσθαι ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν οἷα τυγχάνει ὄντα, καὶ τὴν ἄλλην εὐδαιμονίαν τούτων ἀκόλουθον εἶναι.
SOCRATE. “Primum utique esse talis terra ipsa perspici, si quis desuper consideret eam quemadmodum dodekaskite spere, variis colorum accionibus circumvolute, quorum et qui hic sunt colores tamquam exempla quibus scriptores utuntur,
ibi quoque universam terram ex huiuscemodi esse et multo adhuc ex nitidioribus atque sincerioribus quam hiis;
hanc quippe purpuream esse et admirandam nitore, hanc profecto auriformem, illam sane quecumque alba gipso seu nive candidiorem
atque aliis coloribus infectam eodem modo, et adhuc plurium et formosiorum quam quecumque nos conspeximus.
Et enim ipsa hec concava telluris, aqua quidem et aere plena, coloris quamdam speciem prestare radiancia in aliorum colorum varietate, unde unam quamdam ipsius speciem continuam variam admirari.
In hac nimirum existente tall proporcionale est oriencia nasci, arboresque et lucos [atque fructus;
et iterum montes eodem modo] atque fructus, et item montes similiter et lapides habere iuxta eamdem proporcionem, perfectionem et perspicuitatem atque colores mage decoros;
de quibus et qui hic lapides sunt hec a deo dilecta frustula, sardiaque et iaspidas et smaragdos et cuncta huiuscemodi;
ibi vera nichil quod non tale sit, et adhuc hiis formosiora.
Causam sane huius esse, quoniam illi lapilli puri sunt et non obesi neque corrupti tamquam qui hic a putredine et salsugine ab hue confluentibus, que et lapidibus et telluri et aliis animalibus atque plantis deformitates ac morbos prebent.
Terram vera ipsam ornari talibus universis et adhuc auroque et argento atque aliis huiusmodi.
Fulgencia enim ipsa oriri cum sint plurima multitudine et magna et ubi que terre, unde ipsam sciendum est spectaculum beatorum spectatorum.
Animalia vera in ea esse alia quidem multa et homines, hos utique in mesogea habitantes, illos vera circa aera tamquam circa mare, istosque in insulis quas circumfluere aera ad tellurem existentes;
atque uno verbo quicquid nobis aqua vel pontus est ad nostrum usum, hoc illic aera, quod certe nobis aer, illis ethera.
Atque horas ipsius complexionem habere talem quatinus ipsi salubres sint et tempus degere multum plus quam qui hic,
et visu et auditu et prudencia et cunctis talibus a nobis distare ea discrepancia qua nempe aerque ab aqua differt et ether ab aere in sinceritate.
Et utique deorum nemoraque et sacraria ipsis esse, in quibus revera habitatores deos esse, et responsaque atque mantias et sensus deorum atque tales coessencias fieri ipsis ad ipsos;
necnon solem et lunam atque stellas conspici ab eis qualia contingunt esse, et aliam felicitatem horum consequentem esse.
[marg: Fabula de terra pura, et quae in ea sunt] “Ferunt igitur, o amice,” inquit, “primum quidem talem (32) videri terrae illius faciem siquis superne despiciat, quales sunt hae pilae quae ex corijs duode(33)cim contextae sunt, varijs scilicet distinctam coloribus, quorum hi nostri colores quibus pi(34)ctores utuntur similitudinem quandam retinent.
Illic vero universam terram ex talibus mul(35)toque etiam nitidioribus ac purioribus esse,
partimque quidem purpuream mira pulchritudine (36) praeditam, partim vero coloris aurei, partim gypso et nive candidiorem.
Praeterea ex colo(37)ribus alijs similiter exornatam ac etiam pluribus pulchrioribusque quam in nostram notiti(38)am pervenerunt.
Enimvero has ipsas ipsius concavitates aqua aereque repletas speciem quan(39)dam coloris splendidam in primis afferre inter caeterorum colorum varietatem ut una quae(40)dam species eius varia semper appareat.
In huiusmodi vero terra convenienti ratione simi(41)les nasci arbores et flores et fructus.
Praeterea montes et lapides ibidem simili ratione ha(42)bere perfectionem atque perspicuitatem coloresque admodum pulchriores.
Quorum quidem (43) particula quaedam sint lapilli qui apud nos habentur in precio, Sardia, Iaspides, Smaragdi, (44) caeterique eiusmodi.
Illic vero nihil esse quod non tale sit aut etiam pulchrius.
Cuius quidem rei (45) causa sit, quoniam lapides illi puri sint neque quemadmodum nostri a putredine salsugineque (46) attriti atque corrupti, quibus in hunc locum confluentibus lapides et tellus animaliaque et plan(47)tae inficiuntur atque aegrotare coguntur.
Terram vero ipsam his omnibus exornari, atque au(48)ro etiam et argento caeterisque similibus.
Praefulgentia quidem haec ibi nasci et multa et ma(49)gna perque omnem terram ut eam videre spectatorum felicium sit spectaculum.
Proinde ibi es(50)se animalia multa et homines partim regionem mediterraneam incolentes, partim circa ae(51)rem quemadmodum nos circa maris littora, partim etiam insulas quae haud procul a conti(52)nenti positae aere circundantur.
Sed ut summatim dicam, quod nobis aqua est et mare ad (53) usum nostrum, idem illic esse aerem, quod vero nobis aer, id illis aetherem esse.
Tempora (54) vero apud illos tantam habere temperiem, ut illi et sine morbo continue et longe diutius (518, 1) quam nostri vivant.
Item visu, auditu, prudentia caeterisque talibus nobis tantum praestare, (2) quantum et aer aquae et aether aeri puritate praestate.
Praeterea illic esse deorum templa (3) et lucos in quibus revera dij familiariter habitent, et responsa et divinationes deorumque (4) sensus familiaritatesque eiusmodi hominibus ad deos esse.
Solem quoque et lunam stellas(5)que alias quales revera sunt apud eos videri, caeteris in rebus beatitudinem eos his rebus con(6)gruam possidere.
The tale, my friend, he said, is as follows:--In the first place, the earth, when looked at from above, is in appearance streaked like one of those balls which have leather coverings in twelve pieces, and is decked with various colours, of which the colours used by painters on earth are in a manner samples.
But there the whole earth is made up of them, and they are brighter far and clearer than ours;
there is a purple of wonderful lustre, also the radiance of gold, and the white which is in the earth is whiter than any chalk or snow.
Of these and other colours the earth is made up, and they are more in number and fairer than the eye of man has ever seen;
the very hollows (of which I was speaking) filled with air and water have a colour of their own, and are seen like light gleaming amid the diversity of the other colours, so that the whole presents a single and continuous appearance of variety in unity.
And in this fair region everything that grows--trees, and flowers, and fruits--are in a like degree fairer than any here;
and there are hills, having stones in them in a like degree smoother, and more transparent, and fairer in colour
than our highly-valued emeralds and sardonyxes and jaspers, and other gems, which are but minute fragments of them:
for there all the stones are like our precious stones, and fairer still (compare Republic).
The reason is, that they are pure, and not, like our precious stones, infected or corroded by the corrupt briny elements which coagulate among us, and which breed foulness and disease both in earth and stones, as well as in animals and plants.
They are the jewels of the upper earth, which also shines with gold and silver and the like,
and they are set in the light of day and are large and abundant and in all places, making the earth a sight to gladden the beholder's eye.
And there are animals and men, some in a middle region, others dwelling about the air as we dwell about the sea; others in islands which the air flows round, near the continent:
and in a word, the air is used by them as the water and the sea are by us, and the ether is to them what the air is to us.
Moreover, the temperament of their seasons is such that they have no disease, and live much longer than we do,
and have sight and hearing and smell, and all the other senses, in far greater perfection, in the same proportion that air is purer than water or the ether than air.
Also they have temples and sacred places in which the gods really dwell, and they hear their voices and receive their answers, and are conscious of them and hold converse with them,
and they see the sun, moon, and stars as they truly are, and their other blessedness is of a piece with this.
καὶ ὅλην μὲν δὴ τὴν γῆν οὕτω πεφυκέναι καὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν γῆν·
τόπους δ᾽ ἐν αὐτῇ εἶναι κατὰ τὰ ἔγκοιλα αὐτῆς κύκλῳ περὶ ὅλην πολλούς, τοὺς μὲν βαθυτέρους καὶ ἀναπεπταμένους μᾶλλον ἢ ἐν ᾧ ἡμεῖς οἰκοῦμεν, τοὺς δὲ βαθυτέρους ὄντας τὸ χάσμα αὐτοὺς ἔλαττον ἔχειν τοῦ παρ᾽ ἡμῖν (111d) τόπου, ἔστι δ᾽ οὓς καὶ βραχυτέρους τῷ βάθει τοῦ ἐνθάδε εἶναι καὶ πλατυτέρους.
τούτους δὲ πάντας ὑπὸ γῆν εἰς ἀλλήλους συντετρῆσθαί τε πολλαχῇ καὶ κατὰ στενότερα καὶ εὐρύτερα καὶ διεξόδους ἔχειν,
ᾗ πολὺ μὲν ὕδωρ ῥεῖν ἐξ ἀλλήλων εἰς ἀλλήλους ὥσπερ εἰς κρατῆρας, καὶ ἀενάων ποταμῶν ἀμήχανα μεγέθη ὑπὸ τὴν γῆν καὶ θερμῶν ὑδάτων καὶ ψυχρῶν,
πολὺ δὲ πῦρ καὶ πυρὸς μεγάλους ποταμούς, πολλοὺς δὲ ὑγροῦ πηλοῦ καὶ καθαρωτέρου καὶ βορβορωδεστέρου, (111e) ὥσπερ ἐν Σικελίᾳ οἱ πρὸ τοῦ ῥύακος πηλοῦ ῥέοντες ποταμοὶ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ ῥύαξ·
ὧν δὴ καὶ ἑκάστους τοὺς τόπους πληροῦσθαι, ὡς ἂν ἑκάστοις τύχῃ ἑκάστοτε ἡ περιρροὴ γιγνομένη.
ταῦτα δὲ πάντα κινεῖν ἄνω καὶ κάτω ὥσπερ αἰώραν τινὰ ἐνοῦσαν ἐν τῇ γῇ·
ἔστι δὲ ἄρα αὕτη ἡ αἰώρα διὰ φύσιν τοιάνδε τινά.
ἕν τι τῶν χασμάτων τῆς γῆς ἄλλως τε (112a) μέγιστον τυγχάνει ὂν καὶ διαμπερὲς τετρημένον δι᾽ ὅλης τῆς γῆς, τοῦτο ὅπερ Ὅμηρος εἶπε, λέγων αὐτό
Atque totam profecto terram ita natam esse et ea que circa terram;
loca autem in ea esse secundum concavitates ipsius decusate circa totam plurima, hec equidem profundiora et expansa magis quam in quo nos habitamus, illa vera profundiora existencia eo quod chasma ipsa minus habeant eo quod penes nos loco, est autem quos et breviores profunditate eo quod hic est et laciores.
Hec equidem omnia sub terra alternatim forari in multis partibus et iuxta arciora et laciora et transmeaciones habere,
qua multam quidem aquam fluere ex alternis in alterna ve1uti in crateras et iugiter fluencium fluviorum immensas magnitudines sub terra et fervidarum aquarum et gelidarum,
multum vero ignem et ignis magna Rumina nonnullos liquidi uti et purioris et lutulencioris, seu in Sicilia ante torrentem luti decurrentes fluvii, atque ipse torrens;
de quibus utique singula loca repleri, quorum singulis contingat undique decusata defluxio facta.
Ista vero universa movere sursum et deorsum quasi eoram quamdam inherentem in terra;
est autem hec eora per naturam talem quamdam.
Unum quoddam chasmatum telluris aliter quidem maximum contingit esse et per ulterius perforatum per totam aridam, illud quod Omerus dicens ait ipsum
Itaque universam terram sic natura institutam et quae circa eam sunt (7) similiter tradunt.
Esse praeterea in ipsa per eius concavitates loca in circulum multa, par(8)tim quidem profundiora atque ampliora quam sit regio a nobis culta, partim vero pro(9)fundiora quidem, sed hiatum angustiorem habentia nostra hac regione, esse et alicubi mi(10)nus profunda, sed ampliora quam nostra.
Haec autem omnia sub terra sibi invicem obvia(11)re atque irrumpere multis undique modis, tum per angustiora, tum per ampliora, discur(12)susque habere
et exitus quibus magna aquarum copia ex alijs in alia velut in crateres con(13)fluat. Item perpetuorum fluminum sub terra incredibiles magnitudines aquarum, tum ca(14)lidarum, tum etiam frigidarum,
plurimumque ignem, et ignis ingentes amnes, multos quo(15)que lutulenti humoris partim quidem purioris partim vero sordidioris, ceu torrens luti (16) qui in Sicilia est, et iuxta ipsum amnes lutei inde fluentes.
Quibus singula compleri loca (17) quaecunque eos contigit perfluere.
Haec autem omnia sursum deorsumque ferri veluti va(18)se pensili quodam sub terram posito atque ita librato ut utrinque vicissim inclinet atque at(19)tollat.
Est autem id vas pensile ob naturam quandam eiusmodi.
Vnus aliquis ex terrae hi(20)atibus est profecto quam maximus perque universam terram traiectus et patens, de quo (21) Homerus:
Such is the nature of the whole earth, and of the things which are around the earth;
and there are divers regions in the hollows on the face of the globe everywhere, some of them deeper and more extended than that which we inhabit, others deeper but with a narrower opening than ours, and some are shallower and also wider.
All have numerous perforations, and there are passages broad and narrow in the interior of the earth, connecting them with one another;
and there flows out of and into them, as into basins, a vast tide of water, and huge subterranean streams of perennial rivers, and springs hot and cold,
and a great fire, and great rivers of fire, and streams of liquid mud, thin or thick (like the rivers of mud in Sicily, and the lava streams which follow them),
and the regions about which they happen to flow are filled up with them.
And there is a swinging or see-saw in the interior of the earth
which moves all this up and down, and is due to the following cause:
--There is a chasm which is the vastest of them all, and pierces right through the whole earth; this is that chasm which Homer describes in the words,--
ὃ καὶ ἄλλοθι καὶ ἐκεῖνος καὶ ἄλλοι πολλοὶ τῶν ποιητῶν Τάρταρον κεκλήκασιν.
εἰς γὰρ τοῦτο τὸ χάσμα συρρέουσί τε πάντες οἱ ποταμοὶ καὶ ἐκ τούτου πάλιν ἐκρέουσιν·
γίγνονται δὲ ἕκαστοι τοιοῦτοι δι᾽ οἵας ἂν καὶ τῆς γῆς ῥέωσιν.
ἡ δὲ (112b) αἰτία ἐστὶν τοῦ ἐκρεῖν τε ἐντεῦθεν καὶ εἰσρεῖν πάντα τὰ ῥεύματα, ὅτι πυθμένα οὐκ ἔχει οὐδὲ βάσιν τὸ ὑγρὸν τοῦτο.
αἰωρεῖται δὴ καὶ κυμαίνει ἄνω καὶ κάτω, καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ περὶ αὐτὸ ταὐτὸν ποιεῖ·
συνέπεται γὰρ αὐτῷ καὶ ὅταν εἰς τὸ ἐπ᾽ ἐκεῖνα τῆς γῆς ὁρμήσῃ καὶ ὅταν εἰς τὸ ἐπὶ τάδε, καὶ ὥσπερ τῶν ἀναπνεόντων ἀεὶ ἐκπνεῖ τε καὶ ἀναπνεῖ ῥέον τὸ πνεῦμα, οὕτω καὶ ἐκεῖ συναιωρούμενον τῷ ὑγρῷ τὸ πνεῦμα δεινούς τινας ἀνέμους καὶ ἀμηχάνους παρέχεται καὶ (112c) εἰσιὸν καὶ ἐξιόν.
ὅταν τε οὖν ὑποχωρήσῃ τὸ ὕδωρ εἰς τὸν τόπον τὸν δὴ κάτω καλούμενον, τοῖς κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνα τὰ ῥεύματα [διὰ] τῆς γῆς εἰσρεῖ τε καὶ πληροῖ αὐτὰ ὥσπερ οἱ ἐπαντλοῦντες·
ὅταν τε αὖ ἐκεῖθεν μὲν ἀπολίπῃ, δεῦρο δὲ ὁρμήσῃ, τὰ ἐνθάδε πληροῖ αὖθις, τὰ δὲ πληρωθέντα ῥεῖ διὰ τῶν ὀχετῶν καὶ διὰ τῆς γῆς, καὶ εἰς τοὺς τόπους ἕκαστα ἀφικνούμενα, εἰς οὓς ἑκάστοις ὡδοποίηται, θαλάττας τε καὶ λίμνας καὶ ποταμοὺς καὶ κρήνας ποιεῖ·
ἐντεῦθεν δὲ πάλιν δυόμενα (112d) κατὰ τῆς γῆς, τὰ μὲν μακροτέρους τόπους περιελθόντα καὶ πλείους, τὰ δὲ ἐλάττους καὶ βραχυτέρους,
πάλιν εἰς τὸν Τάρταρον ἐμβάλλει, τὰ μὲν πολὺ κατωτέρω <ἢ> ᾗ ἐπηντλεῖτο, τὰ δὲ ὀλίγον·
πάντα δὲ ὑποκάτω εἰσρεῖ τῆς ἐκροῆς, καὶ ἔνια μὲν καταντικρὺ <ἢ> ᾗ [εἰσρεῖ] ἐξέπεσεν, ἔνια δὲ κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ μέρος·
ἔστι δὲ ἃ παντάπασιν κύκλῳ περιελθόντα, ἢ ἅπαξ ἢ καὶ πλεονάκις περιελιχθέντα περὶ τὴν γῆν ὥσπερ οἱ ὄφεις, εἰς τὸ δυνατὸν κάτω καθέντα πάλιν ἐμβάλλει.
(112e) δυνατὸν δέ ἐστιν ἑκατέρωσε μέχρι τοῦ μέσου καθιέναι, πέρα δ᾽ οὔ·
ἄναντες γὰρ ἀμφοτέροις τοῖς ῥεύμασι τὸ ἑκατέρωθεν γίγνεται μέρος.
quod et alibi ille et alii nonnulli poetarum Tartarum vocaverunt.
In hoc siquidem chasma confluunt universi fluvii et ex hoc item effluunt;
fiuntque singuli tales per qualem utique terram fluunt.
Causa sane est effluendique hinc et influendi hec fluenta, quia fundum non habent neque basim liquidum istud.
Suspendetur quoque et fluctuat sursum ac deorsum, et aer atque spiritus qui circa ipsum hoc efficit;
sequitur enim ipsum et quociens in ulteriora telluris impetum faciet et quociens in ea que hic, atque sicuti respirancium semper expirat et respirat currens spiritus; similiter eciam ibi una suspensus cum liquido spiritus graves quosdam ventos et immensos prebet ingrediens et egrediens.
Cumque igitur impetum faciens recedet aqua in locum qui iusum vocatur, eis qui iuxta illos fluenta per terram influit et replet ea tamquam haurientes;
cum vero item inde defecerit, huc certe impetuabit, ea que hic replet iterum, ceterum repleta fluunt per meatus terre atque in loca singula veniencia, in que singulum iter facit, mariaque et lacus et flumina atque fontes facit;
at istinc denuo introeuncia per terram, hec quoque remociora loca pertranseuncia et plura, illa nempe pauciora et breviora,
iterato in Tartarum immittuntur, hec quidem valde inferius quam hauriebantur, illa quoque parum;
cuncta nimirum inferius influunt quam effluxerint, et quedam certe ex opposito quo influunt exciderunt, quedam profecto secundum eamdem partem;
sunt sane que omnifariam in giro circumveniencia, vel semel vel eciam pluries circumvoluta circa tellurem quasi serpentes, quo possunt deorsum descendencia rursum illabuntur.
Ceterum possibile ab undique usque medium descendere, ulteriusque minime;
nam ad ambos decursus que utrimque fit pars.
Quod et ipse alibi et mul(22)ti poetarum Tartarum appellarunt.
In hoc utique receptaculum omnia confluunt flumi(23)na atque inde rursus effluunt.
Talia vero sunt singula per quales labuntur terras.
Quod au(24)tem hinc effluant omnia rursusque refluant, haec est causa, quod hic humor nec fundamen(25)tum habet nec firmamentum.
Itaque elevatur et sursum deorsumque redundat. Idemque facit (26) aer et spiritus qui circa ipsum versatur.
Sequitur enim ipsum, et quando ad superiora ter(27)rae et quando ad haec nostra perlabitur. Et quemadmodum in respirantem flatus conti(28)nue expirat atque respirat, sic et ibi spiritus una cum humore elatus vehementes quosdam (29) ventos et incredibiles commovet, sive effluat.
Quapropter cum aqua in locum (30) inferiorem delabitur per meatus terrae iuxta eiusmodi rivos influit passimque per eos ex(31)undat et implet velut hi qui hauriunt.
Cum vero illinc huc erumpit, haec quoque iterum lo(32)ca conplet. Plena vero cum sint, per rivos terraeque meatus exuberat. Et cum humores singu(33)li illuc profluxerint quo quisque profluit opportunius, maria, lacus, flumina, fontes effici(34)unt.
Proinde rursus hinc relabentes per terram, partim quidem per longiores pluresque an(35)fractus,
partim vero per pauciores atque breviores rursus in Tartarum confluunt. Alij certe (36) multo profundius quam hausti fuerint, alij vero paulo,
omnes autem inferius influunt quam (37) effluxerint, et alij per contrariam partem elabuntur quam elapsi fuerint, alij vero per partem e(38)andem.
At quidem passim circunfluentes aut semel aut saepius spirasque circa orbem terra(39)rum instar anguium replicantes, quantum fieri potest infra relapsi iterum commiscentur.
Li(40)cet autem utrinque ad medium usque defluere, ultra vero nequaquam.
Vlterior enim prolap(41)sus utrinque foret ascensus.
and which he in other places, and many other poets, have called Tartarus.
And the see-saw is caused by the streams flowing into and out of this chasm,
and they each have the nature of the soil through which they flow.
And the reason why the streams are always flowing in and out, is that the watery element has no bed or bottom,
but is swinging and surging up and down, and the surrounding wind and air do the same;
they follow the water up and down, hither and thither, over the earth--just as in the act of respiration the air is always in process of inhalation and exhalation;--and the wind swinging with the water in and out produces fearful and irresistible blasts:
when the waters retire with a rush into the lower parts of the earth, as they are called, they flow through the earth in those regions, and fill them up like water raised by a pump,
and then when they leave those regions and rush back hither, they again fill the hollows here, and when these are filled, flow through subterranean channels and find their way to their several places, forming seas, and lakes, and rivers, and springs.
Thence they again enter the earth, some of them making a long circuit into many lands, others going to a few places and not so distant;
and again fall into Tartarus, some at a point a good deal lower than that at which they rose, and others not much lower,
but all in some degree lower than the point from which they came.
And some burst forth again on the opposite side, and some on the same side, and some wind round the earth with one or many folds like the coils of a serpent, and descend as far as they can, but always return and fall into the chasm.
The rivers flowing in either direction can descend only to the centre and no further,
for opposite to the rivers is a precipice.
τὰ μὲν οὖν δὴ ἄλλα πολλά τε καὶ μεγάλα καὶ παντοδαπὰ ῥεύματά ἐστι·
τυγχάνει δ᾽ ἄρα ὄντα ἐν τούτοις τοῖς πολλοῖς τέτταρ᾽ ἄττα ῥεύματα, ὧν τὸ μὲν μέγιστον καὶ ἐξωτάτω ῥέον περὶ κύκλῳ ὁ καλούμενος Ὠκεανός ἐστιν,
τούτου δὲ καταντικρὺ καὶ ἐναντίως ῥέων Ἀχέρων, ὃς δι᾽ ἐρήμων τε τόπων (113a) ῥεῖ ἄλλων καὶ δὴ καὶ ὑπὸ γῆν ῥέων εἰς τὴν λίμνην ἀφικνεῖται τὴν Ἀχερουσιάδα,
οὗ αἱ τῶν τετελευτηκότων ψυχαὶ τῶν πολλῶν ἀφικνοῦνται καί τινας εἱμαρμένους χρόνους μείνασαι, αἱ μὲν μακροτέρους, αἱ δὲ βραχυτέρους, πάλιν ἐκπέμπονται εἰς τὰς τῶν ζῴων γενέσεις.
τρίτος δὲ ποταμὸς τούτων κατὰ μέσον ἐκβάλλει, καὶ ἐγγὺς τῆς ἐκβολῆς ἐκπίπτει εἰς τόπον μέγαν πυρὶ πολλῷ καόμενον, καὶ λίμνην ποιεῖ μείζω τῆς παρ᾽ ἡμῖν θαλάττης, ζέουσαν ὕδατος καὶ πηλοῦ·
ἐντεῦθεν δὲ (113b) χωρεῖ κύκλῳ θολερὸς καὶ πηλώδης, περιελιττόμενος δὲ τῇ γῇ ἄλλοσέ τε ἀφικνεῖται καὶ παρ᾽ ἔσχατα τῆς Ἀχερουσιάδος λίμνης, οὐ συμμειγνύμενος τῷ ὕδατι· περιελιχθεὶς δὲ πολλάκις ὑπὸ γῆς ἐμβάλλει κατωτέρω τοῦ Ταρτάρου·
οὗτος δ᾽ ἐστὶν ὃν ἐπονομάζουσιν Πυριφλεγέθοντα, οὗ καὶ οἱ ῥύακες ἀποσπάσματα ἀναφυσῶσιν ὅπῃ ἂν τύχωσι τῆς γῆς.
τούτου δὲ αὖ καταντικρὺ ὁ τέταρτος ἐκπίπτει εἰς τόπον πρῶτον δεινόν τε καὶ ἄγριον, ὡς λέγεται, χρῶμα δ᾽ ἔχοντα ὅλον οἷον ὁ (113c) κυανός,
ὃν δὴ ἐπονομάζουσι Στύγιον, καὶ τὴν λίμνην ἣν ποιεῖ ὁ ποταμὸς ἐμβάλλων, Στύγα·
ὁ δ᾽ ἐμπεσὼν ἐνταῦθα καὶ δεινὰς δυνάμεις λαβὼν ἐν τῷ ὕδατι, δὺς κατὰ τῆς γῆς, περιελιττόμενος χωρεῖ ἐναντίος τῷ Πυριφλεγέθοντι καὶ ἀπαντᾷ ἐν τῇ Ἀχερουσιάδι λίμνῃ ἐξ ἐναντίας·
καὶ οὐδὲ τὸ τούτου ὕδωρ οὐδενὶ μείγνυται, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτος κύκλῳ περιελθὼν ἐμβάλλει εἰς τὸν Τάρταρον ἐναντίος τῷ Πυριφλεγέθοντι·
ὄνομα δὲ τούτῳ ἐστίν, ὡς οἱ ποιηταὶ λέγουσιν, κωκυτός.
“Itaque alia multaque et magna atque omnifaria fluenta sunt;
continguntque igitur in hiis multis quatuor quedam fluenta, quorum quidem maximum et exterius fluens per amfractum nuncupatus Occeanus est;
huic vera ex opposito et contrarius fluens Acheron, qui per erimosque locos currit alios et sub terram fluens in paludem venit Acherusiada,
quo defunctorum anime plurimorum perveniunt et quedam fato previsa tempora manentes, hee quidem producciora, ille vera breviora, denuo emittuntur in animalium generaciones.
Tercium quoque flumen per hoc secundum medium erumpit, et prope erupcionem excidit in locum magnum igne multo combustum, et lacum efficit maiorem quod penes nos mari, ferventem aqua et luto;
hinc vero cedit circulariter turbidum et lutulentum, circumvolurumque telluri aliunde quidem venit et iuxta extrema Acherusiados lacus, non commixtum aque; circumvolutumque frequenter sub terram intrat inferius Tartaro;
hoc autem est quod agnominant Piriflegetonta, cuius eciam defluxiones apospasmata exalant ubicumque contingant terre.
Huic autem ex adverso quartum excidit in locum primum gravemque et agrestem, ut fertur, coloremque habens totum qualem Occeanus,
quem uti que agnominant Stigium, et lacum facit flumen ingrediens stiga;
hoc autem illapsum illic et vires robustas sumens in aqua bis per terram circumvolutum cedit ex adverso Piriflegetonti, atque obviat in Acherusia palude ex contrario;
et minime huius aqua alicui miscetur, verum eciam hoc decusate circumveniens immittit se in Tartarum oppositum Piriflegetonti;
nomenque huic est, ceu poete aiunt, Cocitos.
Proinde sunt et alia multa et magna variaque fluenta,
sed praeci(42)pua quatuor, quorum quidem maximum atque extimum terram circundans Oceanus (43) appellatur.
Econtraria vero huius regione fluit Acheron qui per deserta alia fluens loca (44) atque per subterranea in paludem defluit Acherusiam.
Quo plerique defunctorum deveni(45)unt animi ibique per fatalia quaedam temporum curricula commorati, partim quidem lon(46)giora, partim vero breviora, rursus in generationes animalium relabuntur.
Tertius vero (47) fluvius horum medius duorum interfluit. Nec admodum lnoge [longe] progressus in locum cadit (48) vastum multo igne flagrantem efficitque paludem nostro mari maiorem aqua lutoque ferventem.
(49) Hinc vero turbidus lutulentusque terraque circundata, et alibi, et ad extrema palu(50)dis Acherusiae pervenit, nec tamen illius aquae miscetur, sed sub terra saepius revolutus absor(51)ptusque defluit infra tartarum.
Hunc fluvium Pyriphlegethontem nominant, cuius rivi quidam (52) inde velut evulsi quacunque terrarum contigerit manant.
E contraria vero huius regione fluvi(53)us quartus primum in locum erumpit ferum et asperum ut ferunt. Colorem vero locus ta(54)lem habet totus, qualis est Cyneus,
quem Stygium nominant. Hic autem fluvius prolapsus (519, 1) paludem efficit Stygem.
In hunc vero incidens locum viresque vehementes in aqua assu(2)mens sub terram se condit, circunvolutus atque adversus Pyriphlegethontem labitur et in Ache(3)rusia palude e contraria parte illi fit obviam.
Nec ulli huius aqua miscetur, sed revolutus (4) in gyrum contra Pyriphlegethontem irrumpit in tartarum.
Poetae vero hunc appellant (5) Cocytum.
Now these rivers are many, and mighty, and diverse,
and there are four principal ones, of which the greatest and outermost is that called Oceanus, which flows round the earth in a circle;
and in the opposite direction flows Acheron, which passes under the earth through desert places into the Acherusian lake:
this is the lake to the shores of which the souls of the many go when they are dead, and after waiting an appointed time, which is to some a longer and to some a shorter time, they are sent back to be born again as animals.
The third river passes out between the two, and near the place of outlet pours into a vast region of fire, and forms a lake larger than the Mediterranean Sea, boiling with water and mud;
and proceeding muddy and turbid, and winding about the earth, comes, among other places, to the extremities of the Acherusian Lake, but mingles not with the waters of the lake, and after making many coils about the earth plunges into Tartarus at a deeper level.
This is that Pyriphlegethon, as the stream is called, which throws up jets of fire in different parts of the earth.
The fourth river goes out on the opposite side, and falls first of all into a wild and savage region, which is all of a dark-blue colour, like lapis lazuli;
and this is that river which is called the Stygian river, and falls into and forms the Lake Styx,
and after falling into the lake and receiving strange powers in the waters, passes under the earth, winding round in the opposite direction, and comes near the Acherusian lake from the opposite side to Pyriphlegethon.
And the water of this river too mingles with no other, but flows round in a circle and falls into Tartarus over against Pyriphlegethon;
and the name of the river, as the poets say, is Cocytus.
(113d) τούτων δὲ οὕτως πεφυκότων, ἐπειδὰν ἀφίκωνται οἱ τετελευτηκότες εἰς τὸν τόπον οἷ ὁ δαίμων ἕκαστον κομίζει, πρῶτον μὲν διεδικάσαντο οἵ τε καλῶς καὶ ὁσίως βιώσαντες καὶ οἱ μή.
καὶ οἳ μὲν ἂν δόξωσι μέσως βεβιωκέναι, πορευθέντες ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀχέροντα, ἀναβάντες ἃ δὴ αὐτοῖς ὀχήματά ἐστιν, ἐπὶ τούτων ἀφικνοῦνται εἰς τὴν λίμνην, καὶ ἐκεῖ οἰκοῦσί τε καὶ καθαιρόμενοι τῶν τε ἀδικημάτων διδόντες δίκας ἀπολύονται, εἴ τίς τι ἠδίκηκεν, τῶν τε εὐεργεσιῶν (113e) τιμὰς φέρονται κατὰ τὴν ἀξίαν ἕκαστος·
οἳ δ᾽ ἂν δόξωσιν ἀνιάτως ἔχειν διὰ τὰ μεγέθη τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων, ἢ ἱεροσυλίας πολλὰς καὶ μεγάλας ἢ φόνους ἀδίκους καὶ παρανόμους πολλοὺς ἐξειργασμένοι ἢ ἄλλα ὅσα τοιαῦτα τυγχάνει ὄντα, τούτους δὲ ἡ προσήκουσα μοῖρα ῥίπτει εἰς τὸν Τάρταρον, ὅθεν οὔποτε ἐκβαίνουσιν.
οἳ δ᾽ ἂν ἰάσιμα μὲν μεγάλα δὲ δόξωσιν ἡμαρτηκέναι ἁμαρτήματα,
οἷον πρὸς πατέρα ἢ μητέρα (114a) ὑπ᾽ ὀργῆς βίαιόν τι πράξαντες, καὶ μεταμέλον αὐτοῖς τὸν ἄλλον βίον βιῶσιν, ἢ ἀνδροφόνοι τοιούτῳ τινὶ ἄλλῳ τρόπῳ γένωνται,
τούτους δὲ ἐμπεσεῖν μὲν εἰς τὸν Τάρταρον ἀνάγκη, ἐμπεσόντας δὲ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐκεῖ γενομένους ἐκβάλλει τὸ κῦμα, τοὺς μὲν ἀνδροφόνους κατὰ τὸν Κωκυτόν, τοὺς δὲ πατραλοίας καὶ μητραλοίας κατὰ τὸν Πυριφλεγέθοντα·
ἐπειδὰν δὲ φερόμενοι γένωνται κατὰ τὴν λίμνην τὴν Ἀχερουσιάδα, ἐνταῦθα βοῶσί τε καὶ καλοῦσιν, οἱ μὲν οὓς ἀπέκτειναν, οἱ δὲ οὓς ὕβρισαν, καλέσαντες δ᾽ ἱκετεύουσι (114b) καὶ δέονται ἐᾶσαι σφᾶς ἐκβῆναι εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ δέξασθαι,
καὶ ἐὰν μὲν πείσωσιν, ἐκβαίνουσί τε καὶ λήγουσι τῶν κακῶν, εἰ δὲ μή, φέρονται αὖθις εἰς τὸν Τάρταρον καὶ ἐκεῖθεν πάλιν εἰς τοὺς ποταμούς, καὶ ταῦτα πάσχοντες οὐ πρότερον παύονται πρὶν ἂν πείσωσιν οὓς ἠδίκησαν·
αὕτη γὰρ ἡ δίκη ὑπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν αὐτοῖς ἐτάχθη.
οἳ δὲ δὴ ἂν δόξωσι διαφερόντως πρὸς τὸ ὁσίως βιῶναι, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ τῶνδε μὲν τῶν τόπων τῶν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐλευθερούμενοί τε καὶ ἀπαλλαττόμενοι (114c) ὥσπερ δεσμωτηρίων, ἄνω δὲ εἰς τὴν καθαρὰν οἴκησιν ἀφικνούμενοι καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς οἰκιζόμενοι.
τούτων δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ φιλοσοφίᾳ ἱκανῶς καθηράμενοι ἄνευ τε σωμάτων ζῶσι τὸ παράπαν εἰς τὸν ἔπειτα χρόνον, καὶ εἰς οἰκήσεις ἔτι τούτων καλλίους ἀφικνοῦνται, ἃς οὔτε ῥᾴδιον δηλῶσαι οὔτε ὁ χρόνος ἱκανὸς ἐν τῷ παρόντι.
Hiis autem hactenus naris, quociens abeunt defuncti in locum quo demon unumquemque deportat, primum quidem in causam ducuntur quique bene et sanae degerunt et qui minime.
Necnon quicumque videbuntur mediocriter vitam transegisse abeuntes in Acheronta, ascendentes que quidem vehicula ipsis sunt, in hiis perveniunt in lacum, et ibi habitant, atque expiati ab iniusticiis dantes penas absolvuntur, si quis quid iniuste egit, necnon beneficiorum honores ferunt iuxta quod dignum est unusquisque.
Sane quicumque videbuntur incurabiliter se habere ob magnitudines piaculorum, sacrilegia multa et magna sive cedes iniustas et exleges plurimas patrantes vel alia quecumque contingunt esse talia, hos competens equidem parca iacit in Tartarum unde numquam egrediuntur.
Certe quicumque curabilia quidem ingenciaque videbuntur commisisse scelera,
velut ad genitorem seu genitricem ob iram violentum quid patrantes, atque penituit eos aliam vitam degent quam viricide,
tali quodam alio modo fient hos equidem irruere in Tartarum necesse, lapsosque ipsos et annum ibi complentes eicit unda, viricidas quidem ad Cocitum, atque patricidas et matricidas in Piriflegetonta;
quando vero lati erunt ad paludem Acherusiada, hic boantque et vocant, hii quidem quos interemerunt, illi vero quos contumeliis affecerunt, vocantesque supplicant et obsecrant permittere eos exire in lacum et recipi,
et si quidem persuaserint egrediunturque et terminant mala, sin autem, feruntur item in Tartarum et inde iterato in flumina, et ipsa hec perpessi haut prius requiem consequuntur ante quam placaverint quos leserunt;
hic enim cruciatus a iudicibus ipsis ordinatus est.
Quicumque sane videbuntur differenter quam religiose vixisse, isti sunt qui a locis qui in terra sunt liberati et absoluti tamquam a vinculorum loco, superiusque in sinceram habitacionem venientes et in terra mansitantes.
Horumque ipsorum quicumque philosophia satis expurgati sine corporibus degunt prorsus in deinceps tempus, et in mansiones adhuc meliores hiis perveniunt, quas neque facile exequi neque tempus sufficiens impresenciarum.
Cum vero haec ita natura disposita sint, quando in eum locum defuncti perve(6)nerint quo daemon unum quenque perducit, primo illic iudicantur, et qui honeste sancteque (7) et qui aliter vixerint.
Itaque quicunque in vita quodammodo tenuisse medium quoddam conpe(8)riuntur, ad Acherontem profecti vehiculis quae unicuique adsunt in paludem perveniunt (9) Acherusiam, ibique habitant purganturque poenas dantes iniuriarum. Et cum purificati sunt (10) absolvuntur rursusque pro merito singuli benefactorum praemia reportant.
Qui vero ob (11) scelerum magnitudinem insanabiles esse videntur, qui videlicet sacrilegia multa et ma(12)gna, vel caedes iniquas vel alia horum similia perpetraverint, hos omnes conveniens sors (13) mergit in tartarum, unde nunquam egrediuntur.
Qui autem sanabilia quidem peccata sed (14) ingentia commiserunt,
veluti siqui contra patrem vel matrem irati per vim aliquid fece(15)rint, sed poenitentia ducti eos in caetera vita coluerint, vel qui simili quodam pacto fue(16)rint homicidae,
eos in tartarum quidem necesse est cadere, sed ibi per annum commorati a (17) fluctu eijciuntur, homicidae quidem per Cocytum, parentum vero violatores per Pyri(18)phlegethontem.
Postquam vero ab his delati fluminibus ad paludem Acherusiam perve(19)nerunt, clamant illic vocitantque eos quos vel necaverunt vel iniurijs affecerunt, supplici(20)terque rogant atque deprecantur, ut eos permittant progredi per paludem ibique absolvi,
ac si (21) impetraverint, penetrant illuc finemque malorum accipiunt. Sin minus queant persuade(22)re, referuntur in tartarum atque inde rursus in flumina neque per haec mala deferri prius cel(23)sant quam ab his quos affecerunt iniurijs impetraverint.
Haec enim poena illis a iudici(24)bus est imposita.
Qui autem pie prae caeteris vixisse inveniuntur, hi sunt qui ex his terre(25)nis locis tanquam e carcere soluti atque liberati ad altiora transcendunt puramque supra ter(26)ram habitant regionem.
Inter has autem quicunque satis per philosophiam purgati sunt, (27) absque corporibus omnino totum per tempus vivunt habitationesque his etiam pulchrio(28)res nanciscuntur. Quarum pulchritudo neque facilis dictu est neque praesens tempus ad (29) dicendum sufficeret.
Such is the nature of the other world; and when the dead arrive at the place to which the genius of each severally guides them, first of all, they have sentence passed upon them, as they have lived well and piously or not.
And those who appear to have lived neither well nor ill, go to the river Acheron, and embarking in any vessels which they may find, are carried in them to the lake, and there they dwell and are purified of their evil deeds, and having suffered the penalty of the wrongs which they have done to others, they are absolved, and receive the rewards of their good deeds, each of them according to his deserts.
But those who appear to be incurable by reason of the greatness of their crimes--who have committed many and terrible deeds of sacrilege, murders foul and violent, or the like--such are hurled into Tartarus which is their suitable destiny, and they never come out.
Those again who have committed crimes, which, although great, are not irremediable
--who in a moment of anger, for example, have done violence to a father or a mother, and have repented for the remainder of their lives, or, who have taken the life of another under the like extenuating circumstances--
these are plunged into Tartarus, the pains of which they are compelled to undergo for a year, but at the end of the year the wave casts them forth--mere homicides by way of Cocytus, parricides and matricides by Pyriphlegethon--
and they are borne to the Acherusian lake, and there they lift up their voices and call upon the victims whom they have slain or wronged, to have pity on them, and to be kind to them, and let them come out into the lake.
And if they prevail, then they come forth and cease from their troubles; but if not, they are carried back again into Tartarus and from thence into the rivers unceasingly, until they obtain mercy from those whom they have wronged:
for that is the sentence inflicted upon them by their judges.
Those too who have been pre-eminent for holiness of life are released from this earthly prison, and go to their pure home which is above, and dwell in the purer earth;
and of these, such as have duly purified themselves with philosophy live henceforth altogether without the body, in mansions fairer still which may not be described, and of which the time would fail me to tell.
ἀλλὰ τούτων δὴ ἕνεκα χρὴ ὧν διεληλύθαμεν, ὦ Σιμμία, πᾶν ποιεῖν ὥστε ἀρετῆς καὶ φρονήσεως ἐν τῷ βίῳ μετασχεῖν·
καλὸν γὰρ τὸ ἆθλον καὶ ἡ ἐλπὶς μεγάλη.
Verum horum gracia oportet que pertransivimus, O Simmia, cuncta facere quatinus virtute et discrecione in vita participemus;
bonum quippe bravium atque spes ingens.
Sed horum quae narrata sunt gratia, o Simmia, omni studio est adni(30)tendum ut in hac vita virtutem et prudentiam sapientiamque consequamur.
Praemium (31) nanque pulchrum est, et spes est ingens.
Wherefore, Simmias, seeing all these things, what ought not we to do that we may obtain virtue and wisdom in this life?
Fair is the prize, and the hope great!
