Book 9
572
and when he has in like manner tamed his passionate part, and does not after a quarrel fall asleepCf. Ephesians iv. 26 Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. with anger still awake within him, but if he has thus quieted the two elements in his soul and quickened the third, in which reason resides, and so goes to his rest, you are aware that in such case ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ: cf. 382 B, 465 A, 470 C, 492 C, 590 A, Lysis 212 C, Laws 625 D. he is most likely to apprehend truth, and the visions of his dreams are least likely to be lawless.This sentence contains 129 words. George Moore says, Pater’s complaint that Plato’s sentences are long may be regarded as Pater’s single excursion into humor. But Pater is in fact justifying his own long sentences by Plato’s example. He calls this passage Plato’s evening prayer. I certainly think so, he said. This description has carried us too far,Plato always returns to the point after a digression. Cf. 543 C, 471 C, 544 B, 568 D, 588 B, Phaedo 78 B, Theaet. 177 C, Protag. 359 A, Crat. 438 A, Polit. 287 A-B, 263 C, 302 B, Laws 682 E, 697 C, 864 C, and many other passages. Cf. also Lysias ii. 61 ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν ἐξήχθην, Demosth. De cor. 211, Aristot. De an. 403 b 16, also p. 193, note i, and Plato’s carefulness in keeping to the point under discussion in 353 C, Theaet. 182 C, 206 C, Meno 93 A-B, Gorg. 479 D-E, 459 C-D, etc. but the point that we have to notice is this, that in fact there exists in every one of us, even in some reputed most respectable,For the irony of the expression Cf. Laws 693 D, Aesch. Eumen. 373. a terrible, fierce and lawless brood of desires, which it seems are revealed in our sleep. Consider, then, whether there is anything in what I say, and whether you admit it. Well, I do. Now recallCf. 559 D f. our characterization of the democratic man. His development was determined by his education from youth under a thrifty father who approved only the acquisitive appetites and disapproved the unnecessary ones whose object is entertainment and display. Is not that so? Yes. And by association with more sophisticated men, teeming with the appetites we have just described, he is impelled towards every form of insolence and outrage, and to the adoption of their way of life by his hatred of his father’s niggardliness. But since his nature is better than that of his corrupters, being drawn both ways he settles down in a compromise εἰς μέσον: cf. p. 249, note f. between the two tendencies, and indulging and enjoying each in moderation, forsooth,Ironical. δή. See p. 300, note a. Cf. modern satire on moderate drinking and moderate preparedness. as he supposes, ὡς ᾤετο is another ironical formula like ἵνα δή, ὡς ἄρα, etc. he lives what he deems a life that is neither illiberal nor lawless, now transformed from an oligarch to a democrat. That was and is our belief about this type. Assume, θές: Cf. Theaet. 191 C, Phileb. 33 D. then, again, said I, that such a man when he is older has a son bred in turnThis is the αὖ of the succession of the generations. Cf. p. 247, note f. in his ways of life. I so assume. And suppose the experience of his father to be repeated in his case. He is drawn toward utter lawlessness, which is called by his seducers complete freedom. His father and his other kin lend support toCf. 559 E. these compromise appetites while the others lend theirs to the opposite group.
