Kitap 10
906
Clin. Certainly.
906
Ath. Such must necessarily be the account of the matter given by the man who says that the gods are always merciful to unjust men and those who act unjustly, provided that one gives them a share of one’s unjust gains; it is just as if wolves were to give small bits of their prey to watch-dogs, and they being mollified by the gifts were to allow them to go ravening among the flocks. Is not this the account given by the man who asserts that the gods are open to bribes?
906
Clin. It is.
906
Ath. To which of the guardians aforementioned might a man liken the gods without incurring ridicule? Is it to pilots, who, when warped themselves by wine’s flow and flavor,Hom. Il. 9.500 (quoted above, p. 371, n. 1). overturn both ships and sailors?
906
Clin. By no means.
906
Ath. And surely not to drivers ranged up for a race and seduced by a gift to lose it in favor of other teams?
906
Clin. If that was the account you gave of them, it would indeed be a horrible comparison.
906
Ath. Nor, surely, to generals or physicians or farmers or herdsmen; nor yet to dogs charmed by wolves?
907
Clin. Hush! That is quite impossible.
907
Ath. Are not all gods the greatest of all guardians, and over the greatest things?
907
Clin. Yes, by far.
907
Ath. Shall we say that those who watch over the fairest things, and who are themselves eminently good at keeping watch, are inferior to dogs and ordinary men, who would never betray justice for the sake of gifts impiously offered by unjust men?
907
Clin. By no means; it is an intolerable thing to say, and whoever embraces such an opinion would most justly be adjudged the worst and most impious of all the impious men who practice impiety in all its forms.
907
Ath. May we now say that we have fully proved our three propositions,—namely, that the gods exist, and that they are careful, and that they are wholly incapable of being seduced to transgress justice?
907
Clin. Certainly we may; and in these statements you have our support.
