Since，then，thepleasuresofeachclassandthelifeofeachareindispute，andthequestionisnotwhichlifeismoreorlesshonourable，orbetterorworse，butwhichisthemorepleasantorpainless——howshallweknowwhospeakstruly？
　　Icannotmyselftell，hesaid。
　　Well，butwhatoughttobethecriterion？Isanybetterthanexperienceandwisdomandreason？
　　Therecannotbeabetter，hesaid。
　　Then，Isaid，reflect。Ofthethreeindividuals，whichhasthegreatestexperienceofallthepleasureswhichweenumerated？Hastheloverofgain，inlearningthenatureofessentialtruth，greaterexperienceofthepleasureofknowledgethanthephilosopherhasofthepleasureofgain？
　　Thephilosopher，hereplied，hasgreatlytheadvantage；forhehasofnecessityalwaysknownthetasteoftheotherpleasuresfromhischildhoodupwards：buttheloverofgaininallhisexperiencehasnotofnecessitytasted——or，Ishouldrathersay，evenhadhedesired，couldhardlyhavetasted——thesweetnessoflearningandknowingtruth。
　　Thentheloverofwisdomhasagreatadvantageovertheloverofgain，forhehasadoubleexperience？
　　Yes，verygreat。
　　Again，hashegreaterexperienceofthepleasuresofhonour，ortheloverofhonourofthepleasuresofwisdom？
　　Nay，hesaid，allthreearehonouredinproportionastheyattaintheirobject；fortherichmanandthebravemanandthewisemanalikehavetheircrowdofadmirers，andastheyallreceivehonourtheyallhaveexperienceofthepleasuresofhonour；butthedelightwhichistobefoundintheknowledgeoftruebeingisknowntothephilosopheronly。
　　Hisexperience，then，willenablehimtojudgebetterthananyone？
　　Farbetter。
　　Andheistheonlyonewhohaswisdomaswellasexperience？
　　Certainly。
　　Further，theveryfacultywhichistheinstrumentofjudgmentisnotpossessedbythecovetousorambitiousman，butonlybythephilosopher？
　　Whatfaculty？
　　Reason，withwhom，asweweresaying，thedecisionoughttorest。
　　Yes。
　　Andreasoningispeculiarlyhisinstrument？
　　Certainly。
　　Ifwealthandgainwerethecriterion，thenthepraiseorblameoftheloverofgainwouldsurelybethemosttrustworthy？
　　Assuredly。
　　Orifhonourorvictoryorcourage，inthatcasethejudgementoftheambitiousorpugnaciouswouldbethetruest？
　　Clearly。
　　Butsinceexperienceandwisdomandreasonarethejudges——
　　Theonlyinferencepossible，hereplied，isthatpleasureswhichareapprovedbytheloverofwisdomandreasonarethetruest。
　　Andsowearriveattheresult，thatthepleasureoftheintelligentpartofthesoulisthepleasantestofthethree，andthatheofusinwhomthisistherulingprinciplehasthepleasantestlife。
　　Unquestionably，hesaid，thewisemanspeakswithauthoritywhenheapprovesofhisownlife。
　　Andwhatdoesthejudgeaffirmtobethelifewhichisnext，andthepleasurewhichisnext？
　　Clearlythatofthesoldierandloverofhonour；whoisnearertohimselfthanthemoney—maker。
　　Lastcomestheloverofgain？
　　Verytrue，hesaid。
　　Twiceinsuccession，then，hasthejustmanoverthrowntheunjustinthisconflict；andnowcomesthethirdtrial，whichisdedicatedtoOlympianZeusthesaviour：asagewhispersinmyearthatnopleasureexceptthatofthewiseisquitetrueandpure——allothersareashadowonly；andsurelythiswillprovethegreatestandmostdecisiveoffalls？
　　Yes，thegreatest；butwillyouexplainyourself？
　　Iwillworkoutthesubjectandyoushallanswermyquestions。
　　Proceed。
　　Say，then，isnotpleasureopposedtopain？
　　True。
　　Andthereisaneutralstatewhichisneitherpleasurenorpain？
　　Thereis。
　　Astatewhichisintermediate，andasortofreposeofthesoulabouteither——thatiswhatyoumean？
　　Yes。
　　Yourememberwhatpeoplesaywhentheyaresick？
　　Whatdotheysay？
　　Thatafterallnothingispleasanterthanhealth。Butthentheyneverknewthistobethegreatestofpleasuresuntiltheywereill。
　　Yes，Iknow，hesaid。
　　Andwhenpersonsaresufferingfromacutepain，youmust。haveheardthemsaythatthereisnothingpleasanterthantogetridoftheirpain？
　　Ihave。
　　Andtherearemanyothercasesofsufferinginwhichthemererestandcessationofpain，andnotanypositiveenjoyment，isextolledbythemasthegreatestpleasure？
　　Yes，hesaid；atthetimetheyarepleasedandwellcontenttobeatrest。
　　Again，whenpleasureceases，thatsortofrestorcessationwillbepainful？
　　Doubtless，hesaid。
　　Thentheintermediatestateofrestwillbepleasureandwillalsobepain？
　　Soitwouldseem。
　　Butcanthatwhichisneitherbecomeboth？
　　Ishouldsaynot。
　　Andbothpleasureandpainaremotionsofthesoul，aretheynot？
　　Yes。
　　Butthatwhichisneitherwasjustnowshowntoberestandnotmotion，andinameanbetweenthem？
　　Yes。
　　How，then，canweberightinsupposingthattheabsenceofpainispleasure，orthattheabsenceofpleasureispain？
　　Impossible。
　　Thisthenisanappearanceonlyandnotareality；thatistcsay，therestispleasureatthemomentandincomparisonofwhatispainful，andpainfulincomparisonofwhatispleasant；butalltheserepresentations，whentriedbythetestoftruepleasure，arenotrealbutasortofimposition？
　　Thatistheinference。
　　Lookattheotherclassofpleasureswhichhavenoantecedentpainsandyouwillnolongersuppose，asyouperhapsmayatpresent，thatpleasureisonlythecessationofpain，orpainofpleasure。
　　Whatarethey，hesaid，andwhereshallIfindthem？
　　Therearemanyofthem：takeasanexamplethepleasures，ofsmell，whichareverygreatandhavenoantecedentpains；theycomeinamoment，andwhentheydepartleavenopainbehindthem。
　　Mosttrue，hesaid。
　　Letusnot，then，beinducedtobelievethatpurepleasureisthecessationofpain，orpainofpleasure。
　　No。
　　Still，themorenumerousandviolentpleasureswhichreachthesoulthroughthebodyaregenerallyofthissort——theyarereliefsofpain。
　　Thatistrue。
　　Andtheanticipationsoffuturepleasuresandpainsareofalikenature？
　　Yes。
　　ShallIgiveyouanillustrationofthem？
　　Letmehear。
　　Youwouldallow，Isaid，thatthereisinnatureanupperandlowerandmiddleregion？
　　Ishould。
　　Andifapersonweretogofromthelowertothemiddleregion，wouldhenotimaginethatheisgoingup；andhewhoisstandinginthemiddleandseeswhencehehascome，wouldimaginethatheisalreadyintheupperregion，ifhehasneverseenthetrueupperworld？
　　Tobesure，hesaid；howcanhethinkotherwise？
　　Butifheweretakenbackagainhewouldimagine，andtrulyimagine，thathewasdescending？
　　Nodoubt。
　　Allthatwouldariseoutofhisignoranceofthetrueupperandmiddleandlowerregions？
　　Yes。
　　Thencanyouwonderthatpersonswhoareinexperiencedinthetruth，astheyhavewrongideasaboutmanyotherthings，shouldalsohavewrongideasaboutpleasureandpainandtheintermediatestate；sothatwhentheyareonlybeingdrawntowardsthepainfultheyfeelpainandthinkthepainwhichtheyexperiencetobereal，andinlikemanner，whendrawnawayfrompaintotheneutralorintermediatestate，theyfirmlybelievethattheyhavereachedthegoalofsatietyandpleasure；they，notknowingpleasure，errincontrastingpainwiththeabsenceofpain。whichislikecontrastingblackwithgreyinsteadofwhite——canyouwonder，Isay，atthis？
　　No，indeed；Ishouldbemuchmoredisposedtowonderattheopposite。
　　Lookatthematterthus：——Hunger，thirst，andthelike，areinanitionsofthebodilystate？
　　Yes。
　　Andignoranceandfollyareinanitionsofthesoul？
　　True。
　　Andfoodandwisdomarethecorrespondingsatisfactionsofeither？
　　Certainly。
　　Andisthesatisfactionderivedfromthatwhichhaslessorfromthatwhichhasmoreexistencethetruer？
　　Clearly，fromthatwhichhasmore。
　　Whatclassesofthingshaveagreatershareofpureexistenceinyourjudgment——thoseofwhichfoodanddrinkandcondimentsandallkindsofsustenanceareexamples，ortheclasswhichcontainstrueopinionandknowledgeandmindandallthedifferentkindsofvirtue？Putthequestioninthisway：——Whichhasamorepurebeing——thatwhichisconcernedwiththeinvariable，theimmortal，andthetrue，andisofsuchanature，andisfoundinsuchnatures；orthatwhichisconcernedwithandfoundinthevariableandmortal，andisitselfvariableandmortal？
　　Farpurer，hereplied，isthebeingofthatwhichisconcernedwiththeinvariable。
　　Anddoestheessenceoftheinvariablepartakeofknowledgeinthesamedegreeasofessence？
　　Yes，ofknowledgeinthesamedegree。
　　Andoftruthinthesamedegree？
　　Yes。
　　And，conversely，thatwhichhaslessoftruthwillalsohavelessofessence？
　　Necessarily。
　　Then，ingeneral，thosekindsofthingswhichareintheserviceofthebodyhavelessoftruthandessencethanthosewhichareintheserviceofthesoul？
　　Farless。
　　Andhasnotthebodyitselflessoftruthandessencethanthesoul？
　　Yes。
　　Whatisfilledwithmorerealexistence，andactuallyhasamorerealexistence，ismorereallyfilledthanthatwhichisfilledwithlessrealexistenceandislessreal？
　　Ofcourse。
　　Andiftherebeapleasureinbeingfilledwiththatwhichisaccordingtonature，thatwhichismorereallyfilledwithmorerealbeingwillmorereallyandtrulyenjoytruepleasure；whereasthatwhichparticipatesinlessrealbeingwillbelesstrulyandsurelysatisfied，andwillparticipateinanillusoryandlessrealpleasure？
　　Unquestionably。
　　Thosethenwhoknownotwisdomandvirtue，andarealwaysbusywithgluttonyandsensuality，godownandupagainasfarasthemean；
　　andinthisregiontheymoveatrandomthroughoutlife，buttheyneverpassintothetrueupperworld；thithertheyneitherlook，nordotheyeverfindtheirway，neitheraretheytrulyfilledwithtruebeing，nordotheytasteofpureandabidingpleasure。Likecattle，withtheireyesalwayslookingdownandtheirheadsstoopingtotheearth，thatis，tothedining—table，theyfattenandfeedandbreed，and，intheirexcessiveloveofthesedelights，theykickandbuttatoneanotherwithhornsandhoofswhicharemadeofiron；andtheykilloneanotherbyreasonoftheirinsatiablelust。Fortheyfillthemselveswiththatwhichisnotsubstantial，andthepartofthemselveswhichtheyfillisalsounsubstantialandincontinent。
　　Verily，Socrates，saidGlaucon，youdescribethelifeofthemanylikeanoracle。
　　Theirpleasuresaremixedwithpains——howcantheybeotherwise？
　　Fortheyaremereshadowsandpicturesofthetrue，andarecolouredbycontrast，whichexaggeratesbothlightandshade，andsotheyimplantinthemindsoffoolsinsanedesiresofthemselves；andtheyarefoughtaboutasStesichorussaysthattheGreeksfoughtabouttheshadowofHelenatTroyinignoranceofthetruth。
　　Somethingofthatsortmustinevitablyhappen。
　　Andmustnotthelikehappenwiththespiritedorpassionateelementofthesoul？Willnotthepassionatemanwhocarrieshispassionintoaction，beinthelikecase，whetherheisenviousandambitious，orviolentandcontentious，orangryanddiscontented，ifhebeseekingtoattainhonourandvictoryandthesatisfactionofhisangerwithoutreasonorsense？
　　Yes，hesaid，thesamewillhappenwiththespiritedelementalso。
　　Thenmaywenotconfidentlyassertthattheloversofmoneyandhonour，whentheyseektheirpleasuresundertheguidanceandinthecompanyofreasonandknowledge，andpursueafterandwinthepleasureswhichwisdomshowsthem，willalsohavethetruestpleasuresinthehighestdegreewhichisattainabletothem，inasmuchastheyfollowtruth；andtheywillhavethepleasureswhicharenaturaltothem，ifthatwhichisbestforeachoneisalsomostnaturaltohim？
　　Yes，certainly；thebestisthemostnatural。
　　Andwhenthewholesoulfollowsthephilosophicalprinciple，andthereisnodivision，theseveralpartsarejust，anddoeachofthemtheirownbusiness，andenjoyseverallythebestandtruestpleasuresofwhichtheyarecapable？
　　Exactly。
　　Butwheneitherofthetwootherprinciplesprevails，itfailsinattainingitsownpleasure，andcompelstheresttopursueafterapleasurewhichisashadowonlyandwhichisnottheirown？
　　True。
　　Andthegreatertheintervalwhichseparatesthemfromphilosophyandreason，themorestrangeandillusivewillbethepleasure？
　　Yes。
　　Andisnotthatfarthestfromreasonwhichisatthegreatestdistancefromlawandorder？
　　Clearly。
　　Andthelustfulandtyrannicaldesiresare，aswesaw，atthegreatestdistance？Yes。
　　Andtheroyalandorderlydesiresarenearest？
　　Yes。
　　Thenthetyrantwillliveatthegreatestdistancefromtrueornaturalpleasure，andthekingattheleast？
　　Certainly。
　　Butifso，thetyrantwilllivemostunpleasantly，andthekingmostpleasantly？
　　Inevitably。
　　Wouldyouknowthemeasureoftheintervalwhichseparatesthem？
　　Willyoutellme？
　　Thereappeartobethreepleasures，onegenuineandtwospurious：
　　nowthetransgressionofthetyrantreachesapointbeyondthespurious；hehasrunawayfromtheregionoflawandreason，andtakenuphisabodewithcertainslavepleasureswhicharehissatellites，andthemeasureofhisinferioritycanonlybeexpressedinafigure。
　　Howdoyoumean？
　　Iassume，Isaid，thatthetyrantisinthethirdplacefromtheoligarch；thedemocratwasinthemiddle？
　　Yes。
　　Andifthereistruthinwhathaspreceded，hewillbeweddedtoanimageofpleasurewhichisthriceremovedastotruthfromthepleasureoftheoligarch？
　　Hewill。
　　Andtheoligarchisthirdfromtheroyal；sincewecountasoneroyalandaristocratical？
　　Yes，heisthird。
　　Thenthetyrantisremovedfromtruepleasurebythespaceofanumberwhichisthreetimesthree？
　　Manifestly。
　　Theshadowthenoftyrannicalpleasuredeterminedbythenumberoflengthwillbeaplanefigure。
　　Certainly。
　　Andifyouraisethepowerandmaketheplaneasolid，thereisnodifficultyinseeinghowvastistheintervalbywhichthetyrantispartedfromtheking。
　　Yes；thearithmeticianwilleasilydothesum。
　　Orifsomepersonbeginsattheotherendandmeasurestheintervalbywhichthekingispartedfromthetyrantintruthofpleasure，hewillfindhim，whenthemultiplicationiscomplete，living729timesmorepleasantly，andthetyrantmorepainfullybythissameinterval。
　　Whatawonderfulcalculation！Andhowenormousisthedistancewhichseparatesthejustfromtheunjustinregardtopleasureandpain！
　　Yetatruecalculation，Isaid，andanumberwhichnearlyconcernshumanlife，ifhumanbeingsareconcernedwithdaysandnightsandmonthsandyears。
　　Yes，hesaid，humanlifeiscertainlyconcernedwiththem。
　　Thenifthegoodandjustmanbethussuperiorinpleasuretotheevilandunjust，hissuperioritywillbeinfinitelygreaterinproprietyoflifeandinbeautyandvirtue？
　　Immeasurablygreater。
　　Well，Isaid，andnowhavingarrivedatthisstageoftheargument，wemayreverttothewordswhichbroughtushither：Wasnotsomeonesayingthatinjusticewasagaintotheperfectlyunjustwhowasreputedtobejust？
　　Yes，thatwassaid。
　　Nowthen，havingdeterminedthepowerandqualityofjusticeandinjustice，letushavealittleconversationwithhim。
　　Whatshallwesaytohim？
　　Letusmakeanimageofthesoul，thathemayhavehisownwordspresentedbeforehiseyes。
　　Ofwhatsort？
　　Anidealimageofthesoul，likethecompositecreationsofancientmythology，suchastheChimeraorScyllaorCerberus，andtherearemanyothersinwhichtwoormoredifferentnaturesaresaidtogrowintoone。
　　Therearesaidofhavebeensuchunions。
　　Thendoyounowmodeltheformofamultitudinous，many—headedmonster，havingaringofheadsofallmannerofbeasts，tameandwild，whichheisabletogenerateandmetamorphoseatwill。
　　Yousupposemarvellouspowersintheartist；but，aslanguageismorepliablethanwaxoranysimilarsubstance，lettherebesuchamodelasyoupropose。
　　Supposenowthatyoumakeasecondformasofalion，andathirdofaman，thesecondsmallerthanthefirst，andthethirdsmallerthanthesecond。
　　That，hesaid，isaneasiertask；andIhavemadethemasyousay。
　　Andnowjointhem，andletthethreegrowintoone。
　　Thathasbeenaccomplished。
　　Nextfashiontheoutsideofthemintoasingleimage，asofaman，sothathewhoisnotabletolookwithin，andseesonlytheouterhull，maybelievethebeasttobeasinglehumancreature。Ihavedoneso，hesaid。
　　Andnow，tohimwhomaintainsthatitisprofitableforthehumancreaturetobeunjust，andunprofitabletobejust，letusreplythat，ifheberight，itisprofitableforthiscreaturetofeastthemultitudinousmonsterandstrengthenthelionandthelion—likequalities，buttostarveandweakentheman，whoisconsequentlyliabletobedraggedaboutatthemercyofeitheroftheothertwo；
　　andheisnottoattempttofamiliarizeorharmonizethemwithoneanother——heoughtrathertosufferthemtofightandbiteanddevouroneanother。
　　Certainly，hesaid；thatiswhattheapproverofinjusticesays。
　　Tohimthesupporterofjusticemakesanswerthatheshouldeversospeakandactastogivethemanwithinhiminsomewayorotherthemostcompletemasteryovertheentirehumancreature。
　　Heshouldwatchoverthemany—headedmonsterlikeagoodhusbandman，fosteringandcultivatingthegentlequalities，andpreventingthewildonesfromgrowing；heshouldbemakingthelion—hearthisally，andincommoncareofthemallshouldbeunitingtheseveralpartswithoneanotherandwithhimself。
　　Yes，hesaid，thatisquitewhatthemaintainerofjusticesay。
　　Andsofromeverypointofview，whetherofpleasure，honour，oradvantage，theapproverofjusticeisrightandspeaksthetruth，andthedisapproveriswrongandfalseandignorant。
　　Yes，fromeverypointofview。
　　Come，now，andletusgentlyreasonwiththeunjust，whoisnotintentionallyinerror。’SweetSir，’wewillsaytohim，whatthinkyouofthingsesteemednobleandignoble？Isnotthenoblethatwhichsubjectsthebeasttotheman，orrathertothegodinman；
　　andtheignoblethatwhichsubjectsthemantothebeast？’Hecanhardlyavoidsayingyes——canhenow？
　　Notifhehasanyregardformyopinion。
　　But，ifheagreesofar，wemayaskhimtoansweranotherquestion：’Thenhowwouldamanprofitifhereceivedgoldandsilverontheconditionthathewastoenslavethenoblestpartofhimtotheworst？Whocanimaginethatamanwhosoldhissonordaughterintoslaveryformoney，especiallyifhesoldthemintothehandsoffierceandevilmen，wouldbethegainer，howeverlargemightbethesumwhichhereceived？Andwillanyonesaythatheisnotamiserablecaitiffwhoremorselesslysellshisowndivinebeingtothatwhichismostgodlessanddetestable？Eriphyletookthenecklaceasthepriceofherhusband’slife，butheistakingabribeinordertocompassaworseruin。’
　　Yes，saidGlaucon，farworse——Iwillanswerforhim。
　　Hasnottheintemperatebeencensuredofold，becauseinhimthehugemultiformmonsterisallowedtobetoomuchatlarge？
　　Clearly。
　　Andmenareblamedforprideandbadtemperwhenthelionandserpentelementinthemdisproportionatelygrowsandgainsstrength？
　　Yes。
　　Andluxuryandsoftnessareblamed，becausetheyrelaxandweakenthissamecreature，andmakeacowardofhim？
　　Verytrue。