Book 3
676
Ath. 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?
676
Clin. What standpoint?
676
Ath. That from which one should always observe the progress of States as they move towards either goodness or badness.
676
Clin. What point is that?
676
Ath. The observation, as I suppose, of an infinitely long period of time and of the variations therein occurring.
676
Clin. Explain your meaning.
676
Ath. 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?
676
Clin. Certainly it would be no easy task.
676
Ath. But you can easily see that it is vast and immeasurable?
676
Clin. That I most certainly can do.
676
Ath. During this time, have not thousands upon thousands of States come into existence, and, on a similar computation, just as many perished? And 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?
676
Clin. Necessarily.
676
Ath. 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.
676
Clin. You are right; and we must all exert ourselves,—you to expound your view about them, and we to keep pace with you.
677
Ath. Do you consider that there is any truth in the ancient tales?
677
Clin. What tales?
677
Ath. 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.
677
Clin. Everyone would regard such accounts as perfectly credible.
677
Ath. Come now, let us picture to ourselves one of the many catastrophes,—namely, that which occurred once upon a time through the Deluge.Deucalion’s Flood: cp. Polit. 270 C.
677
Clin. And what are we to imagine about it?
