Thesoul，Isaid，being，asisnowproven，immortal，mustbethefairestofcompositionsandcannotbecompoundedofmanyelements？
Certainlynot。
Herimmortalityisdemonstratedbythepreviousargument，andtherearemanyotherproofs；buttoseeherasshereallyis，notaswenowbeholdher，marredbycommunionwiththebodyandothermiseries，youmustcontemplateherwiththeeyeofreason，inheroriginalpurity；andthenherbeautywillberevealed，andjusticeandinjusticeandallthethingswhichwehavedescribedwillbemanifestedmoreclearly。Thusfar，wehavespokenthetruthconcerningherassheappearsatpresent，butwemustrememberalsothatwehaveseenheronlyinaconditionwhichmaybecomparedtothatofthesea—godGlaucus，whoseoriginalimagecanhardlybediscernedbecausehisnaturalmembersarebrokenoffandcrushedanddamagedbythewavesinallsortsofways，andincrustationshavegrownoverthemofseaweedandshellsandstones，sothatheismorelikesomemonsterthanheistohisownnaturalform。Andthesoulwhichwebeholdisinasimilarcondition，disfiguredbytenthousandills。Butnotthere，Glaucon，nottheremustwelook。
Wherethen？
Atherloveofwisdom。Letusseewhomsheaffects，andwhatsocietyandconversesheseeksinvirtueofhernearkindredwiththeimmortalandeternalanddivine；alsohowdifferentshewouldbecomeifwhollyfollowingthissuperiorprinciple，andbornebyadivineimpulseoutoftheoceaninwhichshenowis，anddisengagedfromthestonesandshellsandthingsofearthandrockwhichinwildvarietyspringuparoundherbecauseshefeedsuponearth，andisovergrownbythegoodthingsofthislifeastheyaretermed：thenyouwouldseeherassheis，andknowwhethershehasoneshapeonlyormany，orwhathernatureis。OfheraffectionsandoftheformswhichshetakesinthispresentlifeIthinkthatwehavenowsaidenough。
True，hereplied。
Andthus，Isaid，wehavefulfilledtheconditionsoftheargument；wehavenotintroducedtherewardsandgloriesofjustice，which，asyouweresaying，aretobefoundinHomerandHesiod；butjusticeinherownnaturehasbeenshowntobebestforthesoulinherownnature。Letamandowhatisjust，whetherhehavetheringofGygesornot，andevenifinadditiontotheringofGygesheputonthehelmetofHades。
Verytrue。
Andnow，Glaucon，therewillbenoharminfurtherenumeratinghowmanyandhowgreataretherewardswhichjusticeandtheothervirtuesprocuretothesoulfromgodsandmen，bothinlifeandafterdeath。
Certainlynot，hesaid。
Willyourepayme，then，whatyouborrowedintheargument？
WhatdidIborrow？
Theassumptionthatthejustmanshouldappearunjustandtheunjustjust：foryouwereofopinionthatevenifthetruestateofthecasecouldnotpossiblyescapetheeyesofgodsandmen，stillthisadmissionoughttobemadeforthesakeoftheargument，inorderthatpurejusticemightbeweighedagainstpureinjustice。Doyouremember？
IshouldbemuchtoblameifIhadforgotten。
Then，asthecauseisdecided，Idemandonbehalfofjusticethattheestimationinwhichsheisheldbygodsandmenandwhichweacknowledgetobeherdueshouldnowberestoredtoherbyus；sinceshehasbeenshowntoconferreality，andnottodeceivethosewhotrulypossessher，letwhathasbeentakenfromherbegivenback，thatsoshemaywinthatpalmofappearancewhichishersalso，andwhichshegivestoherown。
Thedemand，hesaid，isjust。
Inthefirstplace，Isaid——andthisisthefirstthingwhichyouwillhavetogiveback——thenaturebothofthejustandunjustistrulyknowntothegods。
Granted。
Andiftheyarebothknowntothem，onemustbethefriendandtheothertheenemyofthegods，asweadmittedfromthebeginning？
True。
Andthefriendofthegodsmaybesupposedtoreceivefromthemallthingsattheirbest，exceptingonlysuchevilasisthenecessaryconsequenceofformersins？
Certainly。
Thenthismustbeournotionofthejustman，thatevenwhenheisinpovertyorsickness，oranyotherseemingmisfortune，allthingswillintheendworktogetherforgoodtohiminlifeanddeath：forthegodshaveacareofanyonewhosedesireistobecomejustandtobelikeGod，asfarasmancanattainthedivinelikeness，bythepursuitofvirtue？
Yes，hesaid；ifheislikeGodhewillsurelynotbeneglectedbyhim。
Andoftheunjustmaynottheoppositebesupposed？
Certainly。
Such，then，arethepalmsofvictorywhichthegodsgivethejust？
Thatismyconviction。
Andwhatdotheyreceiveofmen？Lookatthingsastheyreallyare，andyouwillseethatthecleverunjustareinthecaseofrunners，whorunwellfromthestarting—placetothegoalbutnotbackagainfromthegoal：theygooffatagreatpace，butintheendonlylookfoolish，slinkingawaywiththeirearsdragglingontheirshoulders，andwithoutacrown；butthetruerunnercomestothefinishandreceivestheprizeandiscrowned。Andthisisthewaywiththejust；hewhoendurestotheendofeveryactionandoccasionofhisentirelifehasagoodreportandcarriesofftheprizewhichmenhavetobestow。
True。
Andnowyoumustallowmetorepeatofthejusttheblessingswhichyouwereattributingtothefortunateunjust。Ishallsayofthem，whatyouweresayingoftheothers，thatastheygrowolder，theybecomerulersintheirowncityiftheycaretobe；theymarrywhomtheylikeandgiveinmarriagetowhomtheywill；allthatyousaidoftheothersInowsayofthese。And，ontheotherhand，oftheunjustIsaythatthegreaternumber，eventhoughtheyescapeintheiryouth，arefoundoutatlastandlookfoolishattheendoftheircourse，andwhentheycometobeoldandmiserablearefloutedalikebystrangerandcitizen；theyarebeatenandthencomethosethingsunfitforearspolite，asyoutrulytermthem；theywillberackedandhavetheireyesburnedout，asyouweresaying。AndyoumaysupposethatIhaverepeatedtheremainderofyourtaleofhorrors。
Butwillyouletmeassume，withoutrecitingthem，thatthesethingsaretrue？
Certainly，hesaid，whatyousayistrue。
These，then，aretheprizesandrewardsandgiftswhicharebestoweduponthejustbygodsandmeninthispresentlife，inadditiontotheothergoodthingswhichjusticeofherselfprovides。
Yes，hesaid；andtheyarefairandlasting。
Andyet，Isaid，alltheseareasnothing，eitherinnumberorgreatnessincomparisonwiththoseotherrecompenseswhichawaitbothjustandunjustafterdeath。Andyououghttohearthem，andthenbothjustandunjustwillhavereceivedfromusafullpaymentofthedebtwhichtheargumentowestothem。
Speak，hesaid；therearefewthingswhichIwouldmoregladlyhear。
SOCRATES
Well，Isaid，Iwilltellyouatale；notoneofthetaleswhichOdysseustellstotheheroAlcinous，yetthistooisataleofahero，ErthesonofArmenius，aPamphylianbybirth。Hewasslaininbattle，andtendaysafterwards，whenthebodiesofthedeadweretakenupalreadyinastateofcorruption，hisbodywasfoundunaffectedbydecay，andcarriedawayhometobeburied。Andonthetwelfthday，ashewaslyingonthefuneralpile，hereturnedtolifeandtoldthemwhathehadseenintheotherworld。Hesaidthatwhenhissoulleftthebodyhewentonajourneywithagreatcompany，andthattheycametoamysteriousplaceatwhichthereweretwoopeningsintheearth；
theywereneartogether，andoveragainstthemweretwootheropeningsintheheavenabove。Intheintermediatespacetherewerejudgesseated，whocommandedthejust，aftertheyhadgivenjudgmentonthemandhadboundtheirsentencesinfrontofthem，toascendbytheheavenlywayontherighthand；andinlikemannertheunjustwerebiddenbythemtodescendbythelowerwayonthelefthand；thesealsoborethesymbolsoftheirdeeds，butfastenedontheirbacks。
Hedrewnear，andtheytoldhimthathewastobethemessengerwhowouldcarrythereportoftheotherworldtomen，andtheybadehimhearandseeallthatwastobeheardandseeninthatplace。Thenhebeheldandsawononesidethesoulsdepartingateitheropeningofheavenandearthwhensentencehadbeengivenonthem；andatthetwootheropeningsothersouls，someascendingoutoftheearthdustyandwornwithtravel，somedescendingoutofheavencleanandbright。Andarrivingeverandanontheyseemedtohavecomefromalongjourney，andtheywentforthwithgladnessintothemeadow，wheretheyencampedasatafestival；andthosewhoknewoneanotherembracedandconversed，thesoulswhichcamefromearthcuriouslyenquiringaboutthethingsabove，andthesoulswhichcamefromheavenaboutthethingsbeneath。Andtheytoldoneanotherofwhathadhappenedbytheway，thosefrombelowweepingandsorrowingattheremembranceofthethingswhichtheyhadenduredandseenintheirjourneybeneaththeearth（nowthejourneylastedathousandyears），whilethosefromaboveweredescribingheavenlydelightsandvisionsofinconceivablebeauty。TheStory，Glaucon，wouldtaketoolongtotell；butthesumwasthis：——Hesaidthatforeverywrongwhichtheyhaddonetoanyonetheysufferedtenfold；oronceinahundredyears——suchbeingreckonedtobethelengthofman’slife，andthepenaltybeingthuspaidtentimesinathousandyears。If，forexample，therewereanywhohadbeenthecauseofmanydeaths，orhadbetrayedorenslavedcitiesorarmies，orbeenguiltyofanyotherevilbehaviour，foreachandalloftheiroffencestheyreceivedpunishmenttentimesover，andtherewardsofbeneficenceandjusticeandholinesswereinthesameproportion。Ineedhardlyrepeatwhathesaidconcerningyoungchildrendyingalmostassoonastheywereborn。Ofpietyandimpietytogodsandparents，andofmurderers，therewereretributionsotherandgreaterfarwhichhedescribed。Hementionedthathewaspresentwhenoneofthespiritsaskedanother，’WhereisArdiaeustheGreat？’（NowthisArdiaeuslivedathousandyearsbeforethetimeofEr：hehadbeenthetyrantofsomecityofPamphylia，andhadmurderedhisagedfatherandhiselderbrother，andwassaidtohavecommittedmanyotherabominablecrimes。）Theansweroftheotherspiritwas：’Hecomesnothitherandwillnevercome。Andthis，’saidhe，’wasoneofthedreadfulsightswhichweourselveswitnessed。Wewereatthemouthofthecavern，and，havingcompletedallourexperiences，wereabouttoreascend，whenofasuddenArdiaeusappearedandseveralothers，mostofwhomweretyrants；andtherewerealsobesidesthetyrantsprivateindividualswhohadbeengreatcriminals：theywerejust，astheyfancied，abouttoreturnintotheupperworld，butthemouth，insteadofadmittingthem，gavearoar，wheneveranyoftheseincurablesinnersorsomeonewhohadnotbeensufficientlypunishedtriedtoascend；andthenwildmenoffieryaspect，whowerestandingbyandheardthesound，seizedandcarriedthemoff；andArdiaeusandotherstheyboundheadandfootandhand，andthrewthemdownandflayedthemwithscourges，anddraggedthemalongtheroadattheside，cardingthemonthornslikewool，anddeclaringtothepassers—bywhatweretheircrimes，andthattheywerebeingtakenawaytobecastintohell。’Andofallthemanyterrorswhichtheyhadendured，hesaidthattherewasnoneliketheterrorwhicheachofthemfeltatthatmoment，lesttheyshouldhearthevoice；andwhentherewassilence，onebyonetheyascendedwithexceedingjoy。These，saidEr，werethepenaltiesandretributions，andtherewereblessingsasgreat。
Nowwhenthespiritswhichwereinthemeadowhadtarriedsevendays，ontheeighththeywereobligedtoproceedontheirjourney，and，onthefourthdayafter，hesaidthattheycametoaplacewheretheycouldseefromabovealineoflight，straightasacolumn，extendingrightthroughthewholeheavenandthroughtheearth，incolourresemblingtherainbow，onlybrighterandpurer；anotherday’sjourneybroughtthemtotheplace，andthere，inthemidstofthelight，theysawtheendsofthechainsofheavenletdownfromabove：forthislightisthebeltofheaven，andholdstogetherthecircleoftheuniverse，liketheunder—girdersofatrireme。FromtheseendsisextendedthespindleofNecessity，onwhichalltherevolutionsturn。Theshaftandhookofthisspindlearemadeofsteel，andthewhorlismadepartlyofsteelandalsopartlyofothermaterials。Nowthewhorlisinformlikethewhorlusedonearth；andthedescriptionofitimpliedthatthereisonelargehollowwhorlwhichisquitescoopedout，andintothisisfittedanotherlesserone，andanother，andanother，andfourothers，makingeightinall，likevesselswhichfitintooneanother；thewhorlsshowtheiredgesontheupperside，andontheirlowersidealltogetherformonecontinuouswhorl。Thisispiercedbythespindle，whichisdrivenhomethroughthecentreoftheeighth。Thefirstandoutermostwhorlhastherimbroadest，andtheseveninnerwhorlsarenarrower，inthefollowingproportions——thesixthisnexttothefirstinsize，thefourthnexttothesixth；thencomestheeighth；
theseventhisfifth，thefifthissixth，thethirdisseventh，lastandeighthcomesthesecond。Thelargest（offixedstars）isspangled，andtheseventh（orsun）isbrightest；theeighth（ormoon）colouredbythereflectedlightoftheseventh；thesecondandfifth（SaturnandMercury）areincolourlikeoneanother，andyellowerthanthepreceding；thethird（Venus）hasthewhitestlight；thefourth（Mars）isreddish；thesixth（Jupiter）isinwhitenesssecond。Nowthewholespindlehasthesamemotion；but，asthewholerevolvesinonedirection，theseveninnercirclesmoveslowlyintheother，andofthesetheswiftestistheeighth；nextinswiftnessaretheseventh，sixth，andfifth，whichmovetogether；thirdinswiftnessappearedtomoveaccordingtothelawofthisreversedmotionthefourth；thethirdappearedfourthandthesecondfifth。ThespindleturnsonthekneesofNecessity；andontheuppersurfaceofeachcircleisasiren，whogoesroundwiththem，hymningasingletoneornote。Theeighttogetherformoneharmony；androundabout，atequalintervals，thereisanotherband，threeinnumber，eachsittinguponherthrone：thesearetheFates，daughtersofNecessity，whoareclothedinwhiterobesandhavechapletsupontheirheads，LachesisandClothoandAtropos，whoaccompanywiththeirvoicestheharmonyofthesirens——Lachesissingingofthepast，Clothoofthepresent，Atroposofthefuture；Clothofromtimetotimeassistingwithatouchofherrighthandtherevolutionoftheoutercircleofthewhorlorspindle，andAtroposwithherlefthandtouchingandguidingtheinnerones，andLachesislayingholdofeitherinturn，firstwithonehandandthenwiththeother。
WhenErandthespiritsarrived，theirdutywastogoatoncetoLachesis；butfirstofalltherecameaprophetwhoarrangedtheminorder；thenhetookfromthekneesofLachesislotsandsamplesoflives，andhavingmountedahighpulpit，spokeasfollows：’HearthewordofLachesis，thedaughterofNecessity。Mortalsouls，beholdanewcycleoflifeandmortality。Yourgeniuswillnotbeallottedtoyou，butyouchooseyourgenius；andlethimwhodrawsthefirstlothavethefirstchoice，andthelifewhichhechoosesshallbehisdestiny。Virtueisfree，andasamanhonoursordishonoursherhewillhavemoreorlessofher；theresponsibilityiswiththechooser——Godisjustified。’WhentheInterpreterhadthusspokenhescatteredlotsindifferentlyamongthemall，andeachofthemtookupthelotwhichfellnearhim，allbutErhimself（hewasnotallowed），andeachashetookhislotperceivedthenumberwhichhehadobtained。ThentheInterpreterplacedonthegroundbeforethemthesamplesoflives；andthereweremanymorelivesthanthesoulspresent，andtheywereofallsorts。Therewerelivesofeveryanimalandofmanineverycondition。Andthereweretyranniesamongthem，somelastingoutthetyrant’slife，otherswhichbrokeoffinthemiddleandcametoanendinpovertyandexileandbeggary；andtherewerelivesoffamousmen，somewhowerefamousfortheirformandbeautyaswellasfortheirstrengthandsuccessingames，or，again，fortheirbirthandthequalitiesoftheirancestors；andsomewhowerethereverseoffamousfortheoppositequalities。Andofwomenlikewise；therewasnot，however，anydefinitecharacterthem，becausethesoul，whenchoosinganewlife，mustofnecessitybecomedifferent。Buttherewaseveryotherquality，andtheallmingledwithoneanother，andalsowithelementsofwealthandpoverty，anddiseaseandhealth；andthereweremeanstatesalso。Andhere，mydearGlaucon，isthesupremeperilofourhumanstate；andthereforetheutmostcareshouldbetaken。Leteachoneofusleaveeveryotherkindofknowledgeandseekandfollowonethingonly，ifperadventurehemaybeabletolearnandmayfindsomeonewhowillmakehimabletolearnanddiscernbetweengoodandevil，andsotochoosealwaysandeverywherethebetterlifeashehasopportunity。Heshouldconsiderthebearingofallthesethingswhichhavebeenmentionedseverallyandcollectivelyuponvirtue；heshouldknowwhattheeffectofbeautyiswhencombinedwithpovertyorwealthinaparticularsoul，andwhatarethegoodandevilconsequencesofnobleandhumblebirth，ofprivateandpublicstation，ofstrengthandweakness，ofclevernessanddullness，andofallthesoul，andtheoperationofthemwhenconjoined；hewillthenlookatthenatureofthesoul，andfromtheconsiderationofallthesequalitieshewillbeabletodeterminewhichisthebetterandwhichistheworse；andsohewillchoose，givingthenameofeviltothelifewhichwillmakehissoulmoreunjust，andgoodtothelifewhichwillmakehissoulmorejust；allelsehewilldisregard。Forwehaveseenandknowthatthisisthebestchoicebothinlifeandafterdeath。Amanmusttakewithhimintotheworldbelowanadamantinefaithintruthandright，thattheretoohemaybeundazzledbythedesireofwealthortheotherallurementsofevil，lest，comingupontyranniesandsimilarvillainies，hedoirremediablewrongstoothersandsufferyetworsehimself；butlethimknowhowtochoosethemeanandavoidtheextremesoneitherside，asfaraspossible，notonlyinthislifebutinallthatwhichistocome。Forthisisthewayofhappiness。
Andaccordingtothereportofthemessengerfromtheotherworldthiswaswhattheprophetsaidatthetime：’Evenforthelastcomer，ifhechooseswiselyandwilllivediligently，thereisappointedahappyandnotundesirableexistence。Letnothimwhochoosesfirstbecareless，andletnotthelastdespair。’Andwhenhehadspoken，hewhohadthefirstchoicecameforwardandinamomentchosethegreatesttyranny；hismindhavingbeendarkenedbyfollyandsensuality，hehadnotthoughtoutthewholematterbeforehechose，anddidnotatfirstsightperceivethathewasfated，amongotherevils，todevourhisownchildren。Butwhenhehadtimetoreflect，andsawwhatwasinthelot，hebegantobeathisbreastandlamentoverhischoice，forgettingtheproclamationoftheprophet；for，insteadofthrowingtheblameofhismisfortuneonhimself，heaccusedchanceandthegods，andeverythingratherthanhimself。Nowhewasoneofthosewhocamefromheaven，andinaformerlifehaddweltinawell—orderedState，buthisvirtuewasamatterofhabitonly，andhehadnophilosophy。Anditwastrueofotherswhoweresimilarlyovertaken，thatthegreaternumberofthemcamefromheavenandthereforetheyhadneverbeenschooledbytrial，whereasthepilgrimswhocamefromearth，havingthemselvessufferedandseenotherssuffer，werenotinahurrytochoose。Andowingtothisinexperienceoftheirs，andalsobecausethelotwasachance，manyofthesoulsexchangedagooddestinyforaneviloranevilforagood。Forifamanhadalwaysonhisarrivalinthisworlddedicatedhimselffromthefirsttosoundphilosophy，andhadbeenmoderatelyfortunateinthenumberofthelot，hemight，asthemessengerreported，behappyhere，andalsohisjourneytoanotherlifeandreturntothis，insteadofbeingroughandunderground，wouldbesmoothandheavenly。Mostcurious，hesaid，wasthespectacle——sadandlaughableandstrange；forthechoiceofthesoulswasinmostcasesbasedontheirexperienceofapreviouslife。TherehesawthesoulwhichhadoncebeenOrpheuschoosingthelifeofaswanoutofenmitytotheraceofwomen，hatingtobebornofawomanbecausetheyhadbeenhismurderers；hebeheldalsothesoulofThamyraschoosingthelifeofanightingale；birds，ontheotherhand，liketheswanandothermusicians，wantingtobemen。Thesoulwhichobtainedthetwentiethlotchosethelifeofalion，andthiswasthesoulofAjaxthesonofTelamon，whowouldnotbeaman，rememberingtheinjusticewhichwasdonehimthejudgmentaboutthearms。ThenextwasAgamemnon，whotookthelifeofaneagle，because，likeAjax，hehatedhumannaturebyreasonofhissufferings。AboutthemiddlecamethelotofAtalanta；she，seeingthegreatfameofanathlete，wasunabletoresistthetemptation：andafterhertherefollowedthesoulofEpeusthesonofPanopeuspassingintothenatureofawomancunninginthearts；andfarawayamongthelastwhochose，thesoulofthejesterThersiteswasputtingontheformofamonkey。TherecamealsothesoulofOdysseushavingyettomakeachoice，andhislothappenedtobethelastofthemall。Nowtherecollectionofformertollshaddisenchantedhimofambition，andhewentaboutforaconsiderabletimeinsearchofthelifeofaprivatemanwhohadnocares；hehadsomedifficultyinfindingthis，whichwaslyingaboutandhadbeenneglectedbyeverybodyelse；andwhenhesawit，hesaidthathewouldhavedonethehadhislotbeenfirstinsteadoflast，andthathewasdelightedtohaveit。Andnotonlydidmenpassintoanimals，butImustalsomentionthattherewereanimalstameandwildwhochangedintooneanotherandintocorrespondinghumannatures——thegoodintothegentleandtheevilintothesavage，inallsortsofcombinations。
Allthesoulshadnowchosentheirlives，andtheywentintheorderoftheirchoicetoLachesis，whosentwiththemthegeniuswhomtheyhadseverallychosen，tobetheguardianoftheirlivesandthefulfillerofthechoice：thisgeniusledthesoulsfirsttoClotho，anddrewthemwithintherevolutionofthespindleimpelledbyherhand，thusratifyingthedestinyofeach；andthen，whentheywerefastenedtothis，carriedthemtoAtropos，whospunthethreadsandmadethemirreversible，whencewithoutturningroundtheypassedbeneaththethroneofNecessity；andwhentheyhadallpassed，theymarchedoninascorchingheattotheplainofForgetfulness，whichwasabarrenwastedestituteoftreesandverdure；andthentowardseveningtheyencampedbytheriverofUnmindfulness，whosewaternovesselcanhold；ofthistheywereallobligedtodrinkacertainquantity，andthosewhowerenotsavedbywisdomdrankmorethanwasnecessary；andeachoneashedrankforgotallthings。Nowaftertheyhadgonetorest，aboutthemiddleofthenighttherewasathunderstormandearthquake，andtheninaninstanttheyweredrivenupwardsinallmannerofwaystotheirbirth，likestarsshooting。
Hehimselfwashinderedfromdrinkingthewater。Butinwhatmannerorbywhatmeanshereturnedtothebodyhecouldnotsay；only，inthemorning，awakingsuddenly，hefoundhimselflyingonthepyre。
Andthus，Glaucon，thetalehasbeensavedandhasnotperished，andwillsaveusifweareobedienttothewordspoken；andweshallpasssafelyovertheriverofForgetfulnessandoursoulwillnotbedefiled。Whereforemycounselisthatweholdfastevertotheheavenlywayandfollowafterjusticeandvirtuealways，consideringthatthesoulisimmortalandabletoendureeverysortofgoodandeverysortofevil。Thusshallwelivedeartooneanotherandtothegods，bothwhileremaininghereandwhen，likeconquerorsinthegameswhogoroundtogathergifts，wereceiveourreward。Anditshallbewellwithusbothinthislifeandinthepilgrimageofathousandyearswhichwehavebeendescribing。
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