translatedbyBenjaminJowett
  TIMAEUSPERSONSOFTHEDIALOGUE:SOCRATES;CRITIAS;TIMAEUS;HERMOCRATES
  Socrates。One,two,three;butwhere,mydearTimaeus,isthefourth
  ofthosewhowereyesterdaymyguestsandaretobemyentertainers
  to—day?
  Timaeus。Hehasbeentakenill,Socrates;forhewouldnotwillingly
  havebeenabsentfromthisgathering。
  Soc。Then,ifheisnotcoming,youandthetwoothersmustsupply
  hisplace。
  Tim。Certainly,andwewilldoallthatwecan;havingbeen
  handsomelyentertainedbyyouyesterday,thoseofuswhoremainshould
  beonlytoogladtoreturnyourhospitality。
  Soc。DoyourememberwhatwerethepointsofwhichIrequiredyouto
  speak?
  Tim。Weremembersomeofthem,andyouwillbeheretoremindus
  ofanythingwhichwehaveforgotten:orrather,ifwearenot
  troublingyou,willyoubrieflyrecapitulatethewhole,andthenthe
  particularswillbemorefirmlyfixedinourmemories?
  Soc。TobesureIwill:thechiefthemeofmyyesterday’s
  discoursewastheState—howconstitutedandofwhatcitizens
  composeditwouldseemlikelytobemostperfect。
  Tim。Yes,Socrates;andwhatyousaidofitwasverymuchtoour
  mind。
  Soc。Didwenotbeginbyseparatingthehusbandmenandthe
  artisansfromtheclassofdefendersoftheState?
  Tim。Yes。
  Soc。Andwhenwehadgiventoeachonethatsingleemploymentand
  particularartwhichwassuitedtohisnature,wespokeofthosewho
  wereintendedtobeourwarriors,andsaidthattheyweretobe
  guardiansofthecityagainstattacksfromwithinaswellasfrom
  without,andtohavenootheremployment;theyweretobemerciful
  injudgingtheirsubjects,ofwhomtheywerebynaturefriends,but
  fiercetotheirenemies,whentheycameacrosstheminbattle。
  Tim。Exactly。
  Soc。Wesaid,ifIamnotmistaken,thattheguardiansshouldbe
  giftedwithatemperamentinahighdegreebothpassionateand
  philosophical;andthatthentheywouldbeastheyoughttobe,gentle
  totheirfriendsandfiercewiththeirenemies。
  Tim。Certainly。
  Soc。Andwhatdidwesayoftheireducation?Weretheynottobe
  trainedingymnastic,andmusic,andallothersortsofknowledge
  whichwereproperforthem?
  Tim。Verytrue。
  Soc。Andbeingthustrainedtheywerenottoconsidergoldorsilver
  oranythingelsetobetheirownprivateproperty;theyweretobe
  likehiredtroops,receivingpayforkeepingguardfromthosewhowere
  protectedbythem—thepaywastobenomorethanwouldsufficeformen
  ofsimplelife;andtheyweretospendincommon,andtolivetogether
  inthecontinualpracticeofvirtue,whichwastobetheirsole
  pursuit。
  Tim。Thatwasalsosaid。
  Soc。Neitherdidweforgetthewomen;ofwhomwedeclared,that
  theirnaturesshouldbeassimilatedandbroughtintoharmonywith
  thoseofthemen,andthatcommonpursuitsshouldbeassignedto
  thembothintimeofwarandintheirordinarylife。
  Tim。That,again,wasasyousay。
  Soc。Andwhatabouttheprocreationofchildren?Orrathernotthe
  proposaltoosingulartobeforgotten?forallwivesandchildrenwere
  tobeincommon,totheintentthatnooneshouldeverknowhisown
  child,buttheyweretoimaginethattheywereallonefamily;those
  whowerewithinasuitablelimitofageweretobebrothersand
  sisters,thosewhowereofaneldergenerationparentsand
  grandparents,andthoseofayoungerchildrenandgrandchildren。
  Tim。Yes,andtheproposaliseasytoremember,asyousay。
  Soc。Anddoyoualsorememberhow,withaviewofsecuringasfaras
  wecouldthebestbreed,wesaidthatthechiefmagistrates,male
  andfemale,shouldcontrivesecretly,bytheuseofcertainlots,so
  toarrangethenuptialmeeting,thatthebadofeithersexandthe
  goodofeithersexmightpairwiththeirlike;andtherewastobe
  noquarrellingonthisaccount,fortheywouldimaginethatthe
  unionwasamereaccident,andwastobeattributedtothelot?
  Tim。Iremember。
  Soc。Andyourememberhowwesaidthatthechildrenofthegood
  parentsweretobeeducated,andthechildrenofthebadsecretly
  dispersedamongtheinferiorcitizens;andwhiletheywereallgrowing
  uptherulersweretobeonthelook—out,andtobringupfrombelow
  intheirturnthosewhowereworthy,andthoseamongthemselveswho
  wereunworthyweretotaketheplacesofthosewhocameup?
  Tim。True。
  Soc。ThenhaveInowgivenyoualltheheadsofouryesterday’s
  discussion?Oristhereanythingmore,mydearTimaeus,whichhasbeen
  omitted?
  Tim。Nothing,Socrates;itwasjustasyouhavesaid。
  Soc。Ishouldlike,beforeproceedingfurther,totellyouhowI
  feelabouttheStatewhichwehavedescribed。Imightcomparemyself
  toapersonwho,onbeholdingbeautifulanimalseithercreatedby
  thepainter’sart,or,betterstill,alivebutatrest,isseizedwith
  adesireofseeingtheminmotionorengagedinsomestruggleor
  conflicttowhichtheirformsappearsuited;thisismyfeeling
  abouttheStatewhichwehavebeendescribing。Thereareconflicts
  whichallcitiesundergo,andIshouldliketohearsomeonetellof
  ourowncitycarryingonastruggleagainstherneighbours,andhow
  shewentouttowarinabecomingmanner,andwhenatwarshowedby
  thegreatnessofheractionsandthemagnanimityofherwordsin
  dealingwithothercitiesaresultworthyofhertrainingand
  education。NowI,CritiasandHermocrates,amconsciousthatI
  myselfshouldneverbeabletocelebratethecityandhercitizens
  inabefittingmanner,andIamnotsurprisedatmyownincapacity;to
  methewonderisratherthatthepoetspresentaswellaspastare
  nobetter—notthatImeantodepreciatethem;buteveryonecansee
  thattheyareatribeofimitators,andwillimitatebestandmost
  easilythelifeinwhichtheyhavebeenbroughtup;whilethatwhich
  isbeyondtherangeofaman’seducationhefindshardtocarryoutin
  action,andstillharderadequatelytorepresentinlanguage。Iam
  awarethattheSophistshaveplentyofbravewordsandfair
  conceits,butIamafraidthatbeingonlywanderersfromonecityto
  another,andhavingneverhadhabitationsoftheirown,theymay
  failintheirconceptionofphilosophersandstatesmen,andmaynot
  knowwhattheydoandsayintimeofwar,whentheyarefightingor
  holdingparleywiththeirenemies。Andthuspeopleofyourclassare
  theonlyonesremainingwhoarefittedbynatureandeducationtotake
  partatoncebothinpoliticsandphilosophy。HereisTimaeus,of
  LocrisinItaly,acitywhichhasadmirablelaws,andwhoishimself
  inwealthandranktheequalofanyofhisfellow—citizens;hehas
  heldthemostimportantandhonourableofficesinhisownstate,
  and,asIbelieve,hasscaledtheheightsofallphilosophy;and
  hereisCritias,whomeveryAthenianknowstobenonoviceinthe
  mattersofwhichwearespeaking;andasto,Hermocrates,Iamassured
  bymanywitnessesthathisgeniusandeducationqualifyhimtotake
  partinanyspeculationofthekind。AndthereforeyesterdaywhenI
  sawthatyouwantedmetodescribetheformationoftheState,I
  readilyassented,beingverywellaware,that,ifyouonlywould,none
  werebetterqualifiedtocarrythediscussionfurther,andthatwhen
  youhadengagedourcityinasuitablewar,youofallmenliving
  couldbestexhibitherplayingafittingpart。WhenIhadcompletedmy
  task,Iinreturnimposedthisothertaskuponyou。Youconferred
  togetherandagreedtoentertainmeto—day,asIhadentertained
  you,withafeastofdiscourse。HereamIinfestivearray,andnoman
  canbemorereadyforthepromisedbanquet。
  Her。Andwetoo,Socrates,asTimaeussays,willnotbewantingin
  enthusiasm;andthereisnoexcusefornotcomplyingwithyour
  request。Assoonaswearrivedyesterdayattheguest—chamberof
  Critias,withwhomwearestaying,orratheronourwaythither,we
  talkedthematterover,andhetoldusanancienttradition,whichI
  wish,Critias,thatyouwouldrepeattoSocrates,sothathemay
  helpustojudgewhetheritwillsatisfyhisrequirementsornot。
  Crit。Iwill,ifTimaeus,whoisourotherpartner,approves。
  Tim。Iquiteapprove。
  Crit。Thenlisten,Socrates,toatalewhich,thoughstrange,is
  certainlytrue,havingbeenattestedbySolon,whowasthewisestof
  thesevensages。Hewasarelativeandadearfriendofmy
  great—grandfather,Dropides,ashehimselfsaysinmanypassagesof
  hispoems;andhetoldthestorytoCritias,mygrandfather,who
  rememberedandrepeatedittous。Therewereofold,hesaid,great
  andmarvellousactionsoftheAtheniancity,whichhavepassedinto
  oblivionthroughlapseoftimeandthedestructionofmankind,andone
  inparticular,greaterthanalltherest。Thiswewillnowrehearse。
  Itwillbeafittingmonumentofourgratitudetoyou,andahymnof
  praisetrueandworthyofthegoddess,onthisherdayoffestival。
  Soc。Verygood。Andwhatisthisancientfamousactionofthe
  Athenians,whichCritiasdeclared,ontheauthorityofSolon,tobe
  notamerelegend,butanactualfact?
  Crit。Iwilltellanold—worldstorywhichIheardfromanagedman;
  forCritias,atthetimeoftellingit,wasashesaid,nearly
  ninetyyearsofage,andIwasaboutten。Nowthedaywasthatday
  oftheApaturiawhichiscalledtheRegistrationofYouth,atwhich,
  accordingtocustom,ourparentsgaveprizesforrecitations,and
  thepoemsofseveralpoetswererecitedbyusboys,andmanyofus
  sangthepoemsofSolon,whichatthattimehadnotgoneoutof
  fashion。Oneofourtribe,eitherbecausehethoughtsoortoplease
  Critias,saidthatinhisjudgmentSolonwasnotonlythewisestof
  men,butalsothenoblestofpoets。Theoldman,asIverywell
  remember,brightenedupathearingthisandsaid,smiling:Yes,
  Amynander,ifSolonhadonly,likeotherpoets,madepoetrythe
  businessofhislife,andhadcompletedthetalewhichhebroughtwith
  himfromEgypt,andhadnotbeencompelled,byreasonofthe
  factionsandtroubleswhichhefoundstirringinhisowncountry
  whenhecamehome,toattendtoothermatters,inmyopinionhe
  wouldhavebeenasfamousasHomerorHesiod,oranypoet。
  Andwhatwasthetaleabout,Critias?saidAmynander。
  AboutthegreatestactionwhichtheAthenianseverdid,andwhich
  oughttohavebeenthemostfamous,but,throughthelapseoftimeand
  thedestructionoftheactors,ithasnotcomedowntous。
  Tellus,saidtheother,thewholestory,andhowandfromwhom
  Solonheardthisveritabletradition。
  Hereplied:—IntheEgyptianDelta,attheheadofwhichtheriver
  Niledivides,thereisacertaindistrictwhichiscalledthedistrict
  ofSais,andthegreatcityofthedistrictisalsocalledSais,and
  isthecityfromwhichKingAmasiscame。Thecitizenshaveadeityfor
  theirfoundress;sheiscalledintheEgyptiantongueNeith,andis
  assertedbythemtobethesamewhomtheHellenescallAthene;they
  aregreatloversoftheAthenians,andsaythattheyareinsomeway
  relatedtothem。TothiscitycameSolon,andwasreceivedthere
  withgreathonour;heaskedthepriestswhoweremostskilfulin
  suchmatters,aboutantiquity,andmadethediscoverythatneither
  henoranyotherHelleneknewanythingworthmentioningaboutthe
  timesofold。Ononeoccasion,wishingtodrawthemontospeakof
  antiquity,hebegantotellaboutthemostancientthingsinour
  partoftheworld—aboutPhoroneus,whoiscalled"thefirstman,"
  andaboutNiobe;andaftertheDeluge,ofthesurvivalofDeucalion
  andPyrrha;andhetracedthegenealogyoftheirdescendants,and
  reckoningupthedates,triedtocomputehowmanyyearsagotheevents
  ofwhichhewasspeakinghappened。Thereupononeofthepriests,who
  wasofaverygreatage,said:OSolon,Solon,youHellenesare
  neveranythingbutchildren,andthereisnotanoldmanamongyou。
  Soloninreturnaskedhimwhathemeant。Imeantosay,hereplied,
  thatinmindyouareallyoung;thereisnooldopinionhandeddown
  amongyoubyancienttradition,noranysciencewhichishoarywith
  age。AndIwilltellyouwhy。Therehavebeen,andwillbeagain,many
  destructionsofmankindarisingoutofmanycauses;thegreatest
  havebeenbroughtaboutbytheagenciesoffireandwater,andother
  lesseronesbyinnumerableothercauses。Thereisastory,which
  evenyouhavepreserved,thatonceuponatimePaethon,thesonof
  Helios,havingyokedthesteedsinhisfather’schariot,becausehe
  wasnotabletodrivetheminthepathofhisfather,burntupall
  thatwasupontheearth,andwashimselfdestroyedbyathunderbolt。
  Nowthishastheformofamyth,butreallysignifiesadeclinationof
  thebodiesmovingintheheavensaroundtheearth,andagreat
  conflagrationofthingsupontheearth,whichrecursafterlong
  intervals;atsuchtimesthosewholiveuponthemountainsandin
  dryandloftyplacesaremoreliabletodestructionthanthosewho
  dwellbyriversorontheseashore。AndfromthiscalamitytheNile,
  whoisournever—failingsaviour,deliversandpreservesus。When,
  ontheotherhand,thegodspurgetheearthwithadelugeofwater,
  thesurvivorsinyourcountryareherdsmenandshepherdswhodwell
  onthemountains,butthosewho,likeyou,liveincitiesare
  carriedbytheriversintothesea。Whereasinthisland,neitherthen
  noratanyothertime,doesthewatercomedownfromaboveonthe
  fields,havingalwaysatendencytocomeupfrombelow;forwhich
  reasonthetraditionspreservedherearethemostancient。
  Thefactis,thatwherevertheextremityofwinterfrostorof
  summerdoesnotprevent,mankindexist,sometimesingreater,
  sometimesinlessernumbers。Andwhateverhappenedeitherinyour
  countryorinours,orinanyotherregionofwhichweareinformed—if
  therewereanyactionsnobleorgreatorinanyotherway
  remarkable,theyhaveallbeenwrittendownbyusofold,andare
  preservedinourtemples。Whereasjustwhenyouandothernations
  arebeginningtobeprovidedwithlettersandtheotherrequisites
  ofcivilizedlife,aftertheusualinterval,thestreamfromheaven,
  likeapestilence,comespouringdown,andleavesonlythoseofyou
  whoaredestituteoflettersandeducation;andsoyouhavetobegin
  alloveragainlikechildren,andknownothingofwhathappenedin
  ancienttimes,eitheramongusoramongyourselves。Asforthose
  genealogiesofyourswhichyoujustnowrecountedtous,Solon,they
  arenobetterthanthetalesofchildren。Inthefirstplaceyou
  rememberasingledelugeonly,butthereweremanypreviousones;in
  thenextplace,youdonotknowthatthereformerlydweltinyourland
  thefairestandnoblestraceofmenwhicheverlived,andthatyouand
  yourwholecityaredescendedfromasmallseedorremnantofthem
  whichsurvived。Andthiswasunknowntoyou,because,formany
  generations,thesurvivorsofthatdestructiondied,leavingno
  writtenword。Fortherewasatime,Solon,beforethegreatdeluge
  ofall,whenthecitywhichnowisAthenswasfirstinwarandin
  everywaythebestgovernedofallcities,issaidtohaveperformed
  thenoblestdeedsandtohavehadthefairestconstitutionofanyof
  whichtraditiontells,underthefaceofheaven。
  Solonmarvelledathiswords,andearnestlyrequestedtheprieststo
  informhimexactlyandinorderabouttheseformercitizens。Youare
  welcometohearaboutthem,Solon,saidthepriest,bothforyour
  ownsakeandforthatofyourcity,andaboveall,forthesakeofthe
  goddesswhoisthecommonpatronandparentandeducatorofbothour
  cities。Shefoundedyourcityathousandyearsbeforeours,
  receivingfromtheEarthandHephaestustheseedofyourrace,and
  afterwardsshefoundedours,ofwhichtheconstitutionisrecorded
  inoursacredregisterstobeeightthousandyearsold。Astouching
  yourcitizensofninethousandyearsago,Iwillbrieflyinformyouof
  theirlawsandoftheirmostfamousaction;theexactparticularsof
  thewholewewillhereaftergothroughatourleisureinthesacred
  registersthemselves。Ifyoucomparetheseverylawswithoursyou
  willfindthatmanyofoursarethecounterpartofyoursasthey
  wereintheoldentime。Inthefirstplace,thereisthecasteof
  priests,whichisseparatedfromalltheothers;next,therearethe
  artificers,whoplytheirseveralcraftsbythemselvesanddonot
  intermix;andalsothereistheclassofshepherdsandofhunters,
  aswellasthatofhusbandmen;andyouwillobserve,too,thatthe
  warriorsinEgyptaredistinctfromalltheotherclasses,andare
  commandedbythelawtodevotethemselvessolelytomilitarypursuits;
  moreover,theweaponswhichtheycarryareshieldsandspears,astyle
  ofequipmentwhichthegoddesstaughtofAsiaticsfirsttous,asin
  yourpartoftheworldfirsttoyou。Thenastowisdom,doyouobserve
  howourlawfromtheveryfirstmadeastudyofthewholeorderof
  things,extendingeventoprophecyandmedicinewhichgiveshealth,
  outofthesedivineelementsderivingwhatwasneedfulforhumanlife,
  andaddingeverysortofknowledgewhichwasakintothem。Allthis
  orderandarrangementthegoddessfirstimpartedtoyouwhen
  establishingyourcity;andshechosethespotofearthinwhichyou
  wereborn,becauseshesawthatthehappytemperamentoftheseasons
  inthatlandwouldproducethewisestofmen。Whereforethegoddess,
  whowasaloverbothofwarandofwisdom,selectedandfirstofall
  settledthatspotwhichwasthemostlikelytoproducemenlikest
  herself。Andthereyoudwelt,havingsuchlawsastheseandstill
  betterones,andexcelledallmankindinallvirtue,asbecamethe
  childrenanddisciplesofthegods。
  Manygreatandwonderfuldeedsarerecordedofyourstateinour
  histories。Butoneofthemexceedsalltherestingreatnessand
  valour。Forthesehistoriestellofamightypowerwhichunprovoked
  madeanexpeditionagainstthewholeofEuropeandAsia,andto
  whichyourcityputanend。Thispowercameforthoutofthe
  AtlanticOcean,forinthosedaystheAtlanticwasnavigable;and
  therewasanislandsituatedinfrontofthestraitswhichareby
  youcalledthePillarsofHeracles;theislandwaslargerthanLibya
  andAsiaputtogether,andwasthewaytootherislands,andfrom
  theseyoumightpasstothewholeoftheoppositecontinentwhich
  surroundedthetrueocean;forthisseawhichiswithintheStraitsof
  Heraclesisonlyaharbour,havinganarrowentrance,butthatother
  isarealsea,andthesurroundinglandmaybemosttrulycalleda
  boundlesscontinent。NowinthisislandofAtlantistherewasa
  greatandwonderfulempirewhichhadruleoverthewholeislandand
  severalothers,andoverpartsofthecontinent,and,furthermore,the
  menofAtlantishadsubjectedthepartsofLibyawithinthecolumnsof
  HeraclesasfarasEgypt,andofEuropeasfarasTyrrhenia。Thisvast
  power,gatheredintoone,endeavouredtosubdueatablowour
  countryandyoursandthewholeoftheregionwithinthestraits;
  andthen,Solon,yourcountryshoneforth,intheexcellenceofher
  virtueandstrength,amongallmankind。Shewaspre—eminentincourage
  andmilitaryskill,andwastheleaderoftheHellenes。Andwhenthe
  restfellofffromher,beingcompelledtostandalone,afterhaving
  undergonetheveryextremityofdanger,shedefeatedandtriumphed
  overtheinvaders,andpreservedfromslaverythosewhowerenotyet
  subjugated,andgenerouslyliberatedalltherestofuswhodwell
  withinthepillars。Butafterwardsthereoccurredviolent
  earthquakesandfloods;andinasingledayandnightofmisfortune
  allyourwarlikemeninabodysankintotheearth,andtheisland
  ofAtlantisinlikemannerdisappearedinthedepthsofthesea。For
  whichreasontheseainthosepartsisimpassableandimpenetrable,
  becausethereisashoalofmudintheway;andthiswascausedbythe
  subsidenceoftheisland。
  Ihavetoldyoubriefly,Socrates,whattheagedCritiasheard
  fromSolonandrelatedtous。Andwhenyouwerespeakingyesterday
  aboutyourcityandcitizens,thetalewhichIhavejustbeen
  repeatingtoyoucameintomymind,andIremarkedwithastonishment
  how,bysomemysteriouscoincidence,youagreedinalmostevery
  particularwiththenarrativeofSolon;butIdidnotliketospeakat
  themoment。Foralongtimehadelapsed,andIhadforgottentoomuch;
  IthoughtthatImustfirstofallrunoverthenarrativeinmyown
  mind,andthenIwouldspeak。AndsoIreadilyassentedtoyour
  requestyesterday,consideringthatinallsuchcasesthechief
  difficultyistofindatalesuitabletoourpurpose,andthatwith
  suchataleweshouldbefairlywellprovided。
  Andtherefore,asHermocrateshastoldyou,onmywayhomeyesterday
  IatoncecommunicatedthetaletomycompanionsasIrememberedit;
  andafterIleftthem,duringthenightbythinkingIrecoverednearly
  thewholeit。Truly,asisoftensaid,thelessonsofourchildhood
  makewonderfulimpressiononourmemories;forIamnotsurethatI
  couldrememberallthediscourseofyesterday,butIshouldbemuch
  surprisedifIforgotanyofthesethingswhichIhaveheardverylong
  ago。Ilistenedatthetimewithchildlikeinteresttotheoldman’s
  narrative;hewasveryreadytoteachme,andIaskedhimagainand
  againtorepeathiswords,sothatlikeanindeliblepicturetheywere
  brandedintomymind。Assoonasthedaybroke,Irehearsedthemashe
  spokethemtomycompanions,thatthey,aswellasmyself,might
  havesomethingtosay。Andnow,Socrates,tomakeanendmypreface,I
  amreadytotellyouthewholetale。Iwillgiveyounotonlythe
  generalheads,buttheparticulars,astheyweretoldtome。The
  cityandcitizens,whichyouyesterdaydescribedtousinfiction,
  wewillnowtransfertotheworldofreality。Itshallbethe
  ancientcityofAthens,andwewillsupposethatthecitizenswhomyou
  imagined,wereourveritableancestors,ofwhomthepriestspoke;they
  willperfectlyharmonise,andtherewillbenoinconsistencyinsaying
  thatthecitizensofyourrepublicaretheseancientAthenians。Letus
  dividethesubjectamongus,andallendeavouraccordingtoour
  abilitygracefullytoexecutethetaskwhichyouhaveimposeduponus。
  Considerthen,Socrates,ifthisnarrativeissuitedtothepurpose,
  orwhetherweshouldseekforsomeotherinstead。
  Soc。Andwhatother,Critias,canwefindthatwillbebetterthan
  this,whichisnaturalandsuitabletothefestivalofthegoddess,
  andhastheverygreatadvantageofbeingafactandnotafiction?
  Howorwhereshallwefindanotherifweabandonthis?Wecannot,
  andthereforeyoumusttellthetale,andgoodlucktoyou;andIin
  returnformyyesterday’sdiscoursewillnowrestandbealistener。
  Crit。Letmeproceedtoexplaintoyou,Socrates,theorderinwhich
  wehavearrangedourentertainment。Ourintentionis,thatTimaeus,
  whoisthemostofanastronomeramongstus,andhasmadethenature
  oftheuniversehisspecialstudy,shouldspeakfirst,beginning
  withthegenerationoftheworldandgoingdowntothecreationof
  man;next,Iamtoreceivethemenwhomhehascreatedofwhomsome
  willhaveprofitedbytheexcellenteducationwhichyouhavegiven
  them;andthen,inaccordancewiththetaleofSolon,andequallywith
  hislaw,wewillbringthemintocourtandmakethemcitizens,asif
  theywerethoseveryAthenianswhomthesacredEgyptianrecordhas
  recoveredfromoblivion,andthenceforwardwewillspeakofthemas
  Atheniansandfellow—citizens。
  Soc。IseethatIshallreceiveinmyturnaperfectandsplendid
  feastofreason。Andnow,Timaeus,you,Isuppose,shouldspeak
  next,afterdulycallingupontheGods。
  Tim。Allmen,Socrates,whohaveanydegreeofrightfeeling,atthe
  beginningofeveryenterprise,whethersmallorgreat,alwayscall
  uponGod。Andwe,too,whoaregoingtodiscourseofthenatureofthe
  universe,howcreatedorhowexistingwithoutcreation,ifwebenot
  altogetheroutofourwits,mustinvoketheaidofGodsand
  Goddessesandpraythatourwordsmaybeacceptabletothemand
  consistentwiththemselves。Letthis,then,beourinvocationofthe
  Gods,towhichIaddanexhortationofmyselftospeakinsuch
  manneraswillbemostintelligibletoyou,andwillmostaccord
  withmyownintent。
  Firstthen,inmyjudgment,wemustmakeadistinctionandask,What
  isthatwhichalwaysisandhasnobecoming;andwhatisthatwhichis
  alwaysbecomingandneveris?Thatwhichisapprehendedby
  intelligenceandreasonisalwaysinthesamestate;butthatwhichis
  conceivedbyopinionwiththehelpofsensationandwithoutreason,is
  alwaysinaprocessofbecomingandperishingandneverreallyis。Now
  everythingthatbecomesoriscreatedmustofnecessitybecreated
  bysomecause,forwithoutacausenothingcanbecreated。Theworkof
  thecreator,wheneverhelookstotheunchangeableandfashionsthe
  formandnatureofhisworkafteranunchangeablepattern,must
  necessarilybemadefairandperfect;butwhenhelookstothecreated
  only,andusesacreatedpattern,itisnotfairorperfect。Wasthe
  heaventhenortheworld,whethercalledbythisorbyanyother
  moreappropriatename—assumingthename,Iamaskingaquestion
  whichhastobeaskedatthebeginningofanenquiryabout
  anything—wastheworld,Isay,alwaysinexistenceandwithout
  beginning?orcreated,andhaditabeginning?Created,Ireply,being
  visibleandtangibleandhavingabody,andthereforesensible;and
  allsensiblethingsareapprehendedbyopinionandsenseandarein
  aprocessofcreationandcreated。Nowthatwhichiscreatedmust,
  asweaffirm,ofnecessitybecreatedbyacause。Butthefatherand
  makerofallthisuniverseispastfindingout;andevenifwefound
  him,totellofhimtoallmenwouldbeimpossible。Andthereisstill
  aquestiontobeaskedabouthim:Whichofthepatternshadthe
  artificerinviewwhenhemadetheworld—thepatternofthe
  unchangeable,orofthatwhichiscreated?Iftheworldbeindeedfair
  andtheartificergood,itismanifestthathemusthavelookedto
  thatwhichiseternal;butifwhatcannotbesaidwithoutblasphemyis
  true,thentothecreatedpattern。Everyonewillseethathemust
  havelookedto,theeternal;fortheworldisthefairestofcreations
  andheisthebestofcauses。Andhavingbeencreatedinthisway,the
  worldhasbeenframedinthelikenessofthatwhichisapprehended
  byreasonandmindandisunchangeable,andmustthereforeof
  necessity,ifthisisadmitted,beacopyofsomething。Nowitis
  all—importantthatthebeginningofeverythingshouldbeaccording
  tonature。Andinspeakingofthecopyandtheoriginalwemay
  assumethatwordsareakintothematterwhichtheydescribe;when
  theyrelatetothelastingandpermanentandintelligible,they
  oughttobelastingandunalterable,and,asfarastheirnature
  allows,irrefutableandimmovable—nothingless。Butwhenthey
  expressonlythecopyorlikenessandnottheeternalthings
  themselves,theyneedonlybelikelyandanalogoustothereal
  words。Asbeingistobecoming,soistruthtobelief。Ifthen,
  Socrates,amidthemanyopinionsaboutthegodsandthegeneration
  oftheuniverse,wearenotabletogivenotionswhichare
  altogetherandineveryrespectexactandconsistentwithoneanother,
  donotbesurprised。Enough,ifweadduceprobabilitiesaslikelyas
  anyothers;forwemustrememberthatIwhoamthespeaker,andyou
  whoarethejudges,areonlymortalmen,andweoughttoacceptthe
  talewhichisprobableandenquirenofurther。
  Soc。Excellent,Timaeus;andwewilldopreciselyasyoubidus。The
  preludeischarming,andisalreadyacceptedbyus—maywebegofyou
  toproceedtothestrain?
  Tim。Letmetellyouthenwhythecreatormadethisworldof
  generation。Hewasgood,andthegoodcanneverhaveanyjealousyof
  anything。Andbeingfreefromjealousy,hedesiredthatallthings
  shouldbeaslikehimselfastheycouldbe。Thisisinthetruest
  sensetheoriginofcreationandoftheworld,asweshalldowell
  inbelievingonthetestimonyofwisemen:Goddesiredthatallthings
  shouldbegoodandnothingbad,sofarasthiswasattainable。
  Whereforealsofindingthewholevisiblespherenotatrest,but
  movinginanirregularanddisorderlyfashion,outofdisorderhe
  broughtorder,consideringthatthiswasineverywaybetterthan
  theother。Nowthedeedsofthebestcouldneverbeorhavebeenother
  thanthefairest;andthecreator,reflectingonthethingswhich
  arebynaturevisible,foundthatnounintelligentcreaturetakenasa
  wholewasfairerthantheintelligenttakenasawhole;andthat
  intelligencecouldnotbepresentinanythingwhichwasdevoidof
  soul。Forwhichreason,whenhewasframingtheuniverse,heput
  intelligenceinsoul,andsoulinbody,thathemightbethecreator
  ofaworkwhichwasbynaturefairestandbest。Wherefore,usingthe
  languageofprobability,wemaysaythattheworldbecamealiving
  creaturetrulyendowedwithsoulandintelligencebytheprovidenceof
  God。
  Thisbeingsupposed,letusproceedtothenextstage:Inthe
  likenessofwhatanimaldidtheCreatormaketheworld?Itwouldbean
  unworthythingtolikenittoanynaturewhichexistsasapart
  only;fornothingcanbebeautifulwhichislikeanyimperfect
  thing;butletussupposetheworldtobetheveryimageofthatwhole
  ofwhichallotheranimalsbothindividuallyandintheirtribesare
  portions。Fortheoriginaloftheuniversecontainsinitselfall
  intelligiblebeings,justasthisworldcomprehendsusandallother
  visiblecreatures。FortheDeity,intendingtomakethisworldlike
  thefairestandmostperfectofintelligiblebeings,framedone
  visibleanimalcomprehendingwithinitselfallotheranimalsofa
  kindrednature。Arewerightinsayingthatthereisoneworld,or
  thattheyaremanyandinfinite?Theremustbeoneonly,ifthe
  createdcopyistoaccordwiththeoriginal。Forthatwhichincludes
  allotherintelligiblecreaturescannothaveasecondorcompanion;in
  thatcasetherewouldbeneedofanotherlivingbeingwhichwould
  includeboth,andofwhichtheywouldbeparts,andthelikenesswould
  bemoretrulysaidtoresemblenotthem,butthatotherwhichincluded
  them。Inorderthenthattheworldmightbesolitary,liketheperfect
  animal,thecreatormadenottwoworldsoraninfinitenumberofthem;
  butthereisandeverwillbeoneonly—begottenandcreatedheaven。
  Nowthatwhichiscreatedisofnecessitycorporeal,andalso
  visibleandtangible。Andnothingisvisiblewherethereisnofire,
  ortangiblewhichhasnosolidity,andnothingissolidwithoutearth。
  WhereforealsoGodinthebeginningofcreationmadethebodyofthe
  universetoconsistoffireandearth。Buttwothingscannotbe
  rightlyputtogetherwithoutathird;theremustbesomebondofunion
  betweenthem。Andthefairestbondisthatwhichmakesthemost
  completefusionofitselfandthethingswhichitcombines;and
  proportionisbestadaptedtoeffectsuchaunion。Forwheneverinany
  threenumbers,whethercubeorsquare,thereisamean,whichisto
  thelasttermwhatthefirsttermistoit;andagain,whenthemean
  istothefirsttermasthelasttermistothemean—thenthemean
  becomingfirstandlast,andthefirstandlastbothbecomingmeans,
  theywillallofthemofnecessitycometobethesame,andhaving
  becomethesamewithoneanotherwillbeallone。Iftheuniversal
  framehadbeencreatedasurfaceonlyandhavingnodepth,asingle
  meanwouldhavesufficedtobindtogetheritselfandtheother
  terms;butnow,astheworldmustbesolid,andsolidbodiesare
  alwayscompactednotbyonemeanbutbytwo,Godplacedwaterand
  airinthemeanbetweenfireandearth,andmadethemtohavethesame
  proportionsofaraswaspossible(asfireistoairsoisairto
  water,andasairistowatersoiswatertoearth);andthushebound
  andputtogetheravisibleandtangibleheaven。Andforthesereasons,
  andoutofsuchelementswhichareinnumberfour,thebodyofthe
  worldwascreated,anditwasharmonisedbyproportion,and
  thereforehasthespiritoffriendship;andhavingbeenreconciled
  toitself,itwasindissolublebythehandofanyotherthanthe
  framer。
  Nowthecreationtookupthewholeofeachofthefourelements;for
  theCreatorcompoundedtheworldoutofallthefireandallthewater
  andalltheairandalltheearth,leavingnopartofanyofthem
  noranypowerofthemoutside。Hisintentionwas,inthefirst
  place,thattheanimalshouldbeasfaraspossibleaperfectwhole
  andofperfectparts:secondly,thatitshouldbeone,leavingno
  remnantsoutofwhichanothersuchworldmightbecreated:andalso
  thatitshouldbefreefromoldageandunaffectedbydisease。
  Consideringthatifheatandcoldandotherpowerfulforceswhich
  unitebodiessurroundandattackthemfromwithoutwhentheyare
  unprepared,theydecomposethem,andbybringingdiseasesandold
  ageuponthem,makethemwasteaway—forthiscauseandonthese
  groundshemadetheworldonewhole,havingeverypartentire,and
  beingthereforeperfectandnotliabletooldageanddisease。And
  hegavetotheworldthefigurewhichwassuitableandalsonatural。
  Nowtotheanimalwhichwastocomprehendallanimals,thatfigurewas
  suitablewhichcomprehendswithinitselfallotherfigures。
  Whereforehemadetheworldintheformofaglobe,roundasfroma
  lathe,havingitsextremesineverydirectionequidistantfromthe
  centre,themostperfectandthemostlikeitselfofallfigures;
  forheconsideredthatthelikeisinfinitelyfairerthanthe
  unlike。Thishefinishedoff,makingthesurfacesmoothallaroundfor
  manyreasons;inthefirstplace,becausethelivingbeinghadnoneed
  ofeyeswhentherewasnothingremainingoutsidehimtobeseen;nor
  ofearswhentherewasnothingtobeheard;andtherewasno
  surroundingatmospheretobebreathed;norwouldtherehavebeenany
  useoforgansbythehelpofwhichhemightreceivehisfoodorget
  ridofwhathehadalreadydigested,sincetherewasnothingwhich
  wentfromhimorcameintohim:fortherewasnothingbesidehim。Of
  designhewascreatedthus,hisownwasteprovidinghisownfood,
  andallthathedidorsufferedtakingplaceinandbyhimself。For
  theCreatorconceivedthatabeingwhichwasself—sufficientwould
  befarmoreexcellentthanonewhichlackedanything;and,ashehad
  noneedtotakeanythingordefendhimselfagainstanyone,the
  Creatordidnotthinkitnecessarytobestowuponhimhands:norhad
  heanyneedoffeet,norofthewholeapparatusofwalking;butthe
  movementsuitedtohissphericalformwasassignedtohim,beingof
  alltheseventhatwhichismostappropriatetomindandintelligence;
  andhewasmadetomoveinthesamemannerandonthesamespot,
  withinhisownlimitsrevolvinginacircle。Alltheothersixmotions
  weretakenawayfromhim,andhewasmadenottopartakeoftheir
  deviations。Andasthiscircularmovementrequirednofeet,the
  universewascreatedwithoutlegsandwithoutfeet。
  SuchwasthewholeplanoftheeternalGodaboutthegodthatwasto
  be,towhomforthisreasonhegaveabody,smoothandeven,having
  asurfaceineverydirectionequidistantfromthecentre,abody
  entireandperfect,andformedoutofperfectbodies。Andinthe
  centreheputthesoul,whichhediffusedthroughoutthebody,
  makingitalsotobetheexteriorenvironmentofit;andhemadethe
  universeacirclemovinginacircle,oneandsolitary,yetby
  reasonofitsexcellenceabletoconversewithitself,andneeding
  nootherfriendshiporacquaintance。Havingthesepurposesinview
  hecreatedtheworldablessedgod。
  NowGoddidnotmakethesoulafterthebody,althoughweare
  speakingoftheminthisorder;forhavingbroughtthemtogetherhe
  wouldneverhaveallowedthattheeldershouldberuledbythe
  younger;butthisisarandommannerofspeakingwhichwehave,
  becausesomehowweourselvestooareverymuchunderthedominionof
  chance。Whereashemadethesoulinoriginandexcellencepriortoand
  olderthanthebody,tobetherulerandmistress,ofwhomthebody
  wastobethesubject。Andhemadeheroutofthefollowingelements
  andonthiswise:Outoftheindivisibleandunchangeable,andalso
  outofthatwhichisdivisibleandhastodowithmaterialbodies,
  hecompoundedathirdandintermediatekindofessence,partakingof
  thenatureofthesameandoftheother,andthiscompoundheplaced
  accordinglyinameanbetweentheindivisible,andthedivisibleand
  material。Hetookthethreeelementsofthesame,theother,andthe
  essence,andmingledthemintooneform,compressingbyforcethe
  reluctantandunsociablenatureoftheotherintothesame。Whenhe
  hadmingledthemwiththeessenceandoutofthreemadeone,he
  againdividedthiswholeintoasmanyportionsaswasfitting,each
  portionbeingacompoundofthesame,theother,andtheessence。
  Andheproceededtodivideafterthismanner:—Firstofall,hetook
  awayonepartofthewhole[1],andthenheseparatedasecondpart
  whichwasdoublethefirst[2],andthenhetookawayathirdpart
  whichwashalfasmuchagainasthesecondandthreetimesasmuch
  asthefirst[3],andthenhetookafourthpartwhichwastwiceas
  muchasthesecond[4],andafifthpartwhichwasthreetimesthe
  third[9],andasixthpartwhichwaseighttimesthefirst[8],anda
  seventhpartwhichwastwenty—seventimesthefirst[27]。Afterthis
  hefilledupthedoubleintervals[i。e。between1,2,4,8]andthe
  triple[i。e。between1,3,9,27]cuttingoffyetotherportions
  fromthemixtureandplacingthemintheintervals,sothatineach
  intervalthereweretwokindsofmeans,theoneexceedingandexceeded
  byequalpartsofitsextremes[asforexample1,4/3,2,inwhichthe
  mean4/3isone—thirdof1morethan1,andone—thirdof2lessthan
  2],theotherbeingthatkindofmeanwhichexceedsandisexceededby
  anequalnumber。Wheretherewereintervalsof3/2andof4/3andof
  9/8,madebytheconnectingtermsintheformerintervals,hefilled
  upalltheintervalsof4/3withtheintervalof9/8,leavinga
  fractionover;andtheintervalwhichthisfractionexpressedwasin
  theratioof256to243。Andthusthewholemixtureoutofwhichhe
  cuttheseportionswasallexhaustedbyhim。Thisentirecompoundhe
  dividedlengthwaysintotwoparts,whichhejoinedtooneanotherat
  thecentreliketheletterX,andbentthemintoacircularform,
  connectingthemwiththemselvesandeachotheratthepointopposite
  totheiroriginalmeeting—point;and,comprehendingthemina
  uniformrevolutionuponthesameaxis,hemadetheonetheouterand
  theothertheinnercircle。Nowthemotionoftheoutercirclehe
  calledthemotionofthesame,andthemotionoftheinnercircle
  themotionoftheotherordiverse。Themotionofthesamehe
  carriedroundbythesidetotheright,andthemotionofthe
  diversediagonallytotheleft。Andhegavedominiontothemotion
  ofthesameandlike,forthatheleftsingleandundivided;butthe
  innermotionhedividedinsixplacesandmadesevenunequalcircles
  havingtheirintervalsinratiosoftwo—andthree,threeofeach,
  andbadetheorbitsproceedinadirectionoppositetooneanother;
  andthree[Sun,Mercury,Venus]hemadetomovewithequal
  swiftness,andtheremainingfour[Moon,Saturn,Mars,Jupiter]to
  movewithunequalswiftnesstothethreeandtooneanother,butin
  dueproportion。
  NowwhentheCreatorhadframedthesoulaccordingtohiswill,he
  formedwithinherthecorporealuniverse,andbroughtthetwo
  together,andunitedthemcentretocentre。Thesoul,interfused
  everywherefromthecentretothecircumferenceofheaven,ofwhich
  alsosheistheexternalenvelopment,herselfturninginherself,
  beganadivinebeginningofneverceasingandrationallifeenduring
  throughoutalltime。Thebodyofheavenisvisible,butthesoulis
  invisible,andpartakesofreasonandharmony,andbeingmadebythe
  bestofintellectualandeverlastingnatures,isthebestofthings
  created。Andbecausesheiscomposedofthesameandoftheother
  andoftheessence,thesethree,andisdividedandunitedindue
  proportion,andinherrevolutionsreturnsuponherself,thesoul,
  whentouchinganythingwhichhasessence,whetherdispersedinparts
  orundivided,isstirredthroughallherpowers,todeclarethe
  samenessordifferenceofthatthingandsomeother;andtowhat
  individualsarerelated,andbywhataffected,andinwhatwayandhow
  andwhen,bothintheworldofgenerationandintheworldof
  immutablebeing。Andwhenreason,whichworkswithequaltruth,
  whethershebeinthecircleofthediverseorofthesame—in
  voicelesssilenceholdingheronwardcourseinthesphereofthe
  self—moved—whenreason,Isay,ishoveringaroundthesensibleworld
  andwhenthecircleofthediversealsomovingtrulyimpartsthe
  intimationsofsensetothewholesoul,thenariseopinionsand
  beliefssureandcertain。Butwhenreasonisconcernedwiththe
  rational,andthecircleofthesamemovingsmoothlydeclaresit,then
  intelligenceandknowledgearenecessarilyperfected。Andifanyone
  affirmsthatinwhichthesetwoarefoundtobeotherthanthesoul,
  hewillsaytheveryoppositeofthetruth。
  Whenthefathercreatorsawthecreaturewhichhehadmademoving
  andliving,thecreatedimageoftheeternalgods,herejoiced,andin
  hisjoydeterminedtomakethecopystillmoreliketheoriginal;
  andasthiswaseternal,hesoughttomaketheuniverseeternal,so
  farasmightbe。Nowthenatureoftheidealbeingwaseverlasting,
  buttobestowthisattributeinitsfulnessuponacreaturewas
  impossible。Whereforeheresolvedtohaveamovingimageof
  eternity,andwhenhesetinordertheheaven,hemadethisimage
  eternalbutmovingaccordingtonumber,whileeternityitselfrestsin
  unity;andthisimagewecalltime。Fortherewerenodaysand
  nightsandmonthsandyearsbeforetheheavenwascreated,butwhenhe
  constructedtheheavenhecreatedthemalso。Theyareallpartsof
  time,andthepastandfuturearecreatedspeciesoftime,whichwe
  unconsciouslybutwronglytransfertotheeternalessence;forwe
  saythathe"was,"he"is,"he"willbe,"butthetruthisthat"is"
  aloneisproperlyattributedtohim,andthat"was"and"willbe"only
  tobespokenofbecomingintime,fortheyaremotions,butthatwhich
  isimmovablythesamecannotbecomeolderoryoungerbytime,norever
  didorhasbecome,orhereafterwillbe,olderoryounger,noris
  subjectatalltoanyofthosestateswhichaffectmovingandsensible
  thingsandofwhichgenerationisthecause。Thesearetheformsof
  time,whichimitateseternityandrevolvesaccordingtoalawof
  number。Moreover,whenwesaythatwhathasbecomeisbecomeand
  whatbecomesisbecoming,andthatwhatwillbecomeisabouttobecome
  andthatthenon—existentisnon—existent—alltheseareinaccurate
  modesofexpression。Butperhapsthiswholesubjectwillbemore
  suitablydiscussedonsomeotheroccasion。