Book 5
449
To such a city, then, or constitution I apply the terms goodCf. on 427 E, and Newman, Introduction to Aristotle Politics p. 14; for ὀρθή, normal, see p. 423. and right—and to the corresponding kind of man; but the others I describe as bad and mistaken, if this one is right, in respect both to the administration of states and to the formation κατασκευήν: a highly general word not to be pressed in this periphrasis. Cf. Gorgias 455 E, 477 B. of the character of the individual soul, they falling under four forms of badness. What are these, he said. And I was going onCf. 562 C, Theaetetus 180 C, Stein on Herodotus i. 5. For the transition here to the digression of books V., VI., and VII. cf. Introduction p. xvii, Phaedo 84 C. Digression need not imply that these books were not a part of the original design. to enumerate them in what seemed to me the order of their evolutionμεταβαίνειν: the word is half technical. Cf. 547 C, 550 D, Laws 676 A, 736 D-E, 894 A. from one another, when Polemarchus—he sat at some little distanceἀπωτέρω absolutely. Cf. Cratinus 229 Kock ὄνοι κάθηνται τῆς λύρας ἀπωτέρω. from Adeimantus—stretched forth his hand, and, taking hold of his garmentCf. 327 B. from above by the shoulder, drew the other toward him and, leaning forward himself, spoke a few words in his ear, of which we overheard nothingCf. 359 E. else save only this, Shall we let him off,Cf. on 327 C. then, he said, or what shall we do? By no means, said Adeimantus, now raising his voice. What, pray,Cf. 337 D, 343 B, 421 C, 612 C, Laches 188 E, Meno 80 B. There is a play on the double meaning, What, pray? and Why, pray? said I, is it that you are not letting off? You, said he. And for what reason, pray? said I. We think you are a slacker, he said, and are trying to cheatCf. Sophocles Trach. 437. us out of a whole division,So Isocrates xv. 74 ὅλοις εἴδεσι. and that not the least, of the argument to avoid the trouble of expounding it, and expect to get away with it by observing thus lightly that, of course, in respect to women and children it is obvious to everybody that the possessions of friends will be in common.Cf. 424 A, Laws 739 C. Aristotle says that the possessions of friends should be separate in ownership but common in use, as at Sparta. Cf. Newman, Introduction to Aristotle Politics p. 201, Epicurus in Diogenes Laertius x. 11, Aristotle Politics 1263 a 30 ff., Euripides Andromache 270. Well, isn’t that right, Adeimantus? I said. Yes, said he, but this word right,Cf. 459 D, Laws 668 D, Aristotle Politics 1269 b 13, Shakespeare Tro. and Cre. I. i. 23 But here’s yet in the word hereafter the kneading, the making of the cake, etc. like other things, requires definingCf. Laws 665 B 7. as to the wayCf. Aristotle Politics 1264 a 12. and manner of such a community. There might be many ways. Don’t, then, pass over the one that youEmphatic. Cf. 427 E. have in mind. For we have long been lying in wait for you, expecting that you would say something both of the procreation of children and their bringing up, γενομένους: a noun is supplied from the preceding verb. Cf. on 598 C, and on 341 D. and would explain the whole matter of the community of women and children of which you speak. We think that the right or wrong management of this makes a great difference, all the difference in the world, μέγα . . . καὶ ὅλον: cf. 469 C, 527 C, Phaedo 79 E, Laws 779 B, 944 C, Symposium 188 D, Demosthenes ii. 22, Aeschylus Prom. 961. in the constitution of a state;
