第27章

Thenyoumustfurtherimaginethesamethingtohappentothesonwhichhasalreadyhappenedtothefather：——heisdrawnintoaperfectlylawlesslife，whichbyhisseducersistermedperfectliberty；andhisfatherandfriendstakepartwithhismoderatedesires，andtheoppositepartyassisttheoppositeones。Assoonasthesediremagiciansandtyrant—makersfindthattheyarelosingtheirholdonhim，theycontrivetoimplantinhimamasterpassion，tobelordoverhisidleandspendthriftlusts——asortofmonstrouswingeddrone——thatistheonlyimagewhichwilladequatelydescribehim。 Yes，hesaid，thatistheonlyadequateimageofhim。 Andwhenhisotherlusts，amidcloudsofincenseandperfumesandgarlandsandwines，andallthepleasuresofadissolutelife，nowletloose，comebuzzingaroundhim，nourishingtotheutmostthestingofdesirewhichtheyimplantinhisdrone—likenature，thenatlastthislordofthesoul，havingMadnessforthecaptainofhisguard，breaksoutintoafrenzy：andifhefindsinhimselfanygoodopinionsorappetitesinprocessofformation，andthereisinhimanysenseofshameremaining，tothesebetterprinciplesheputsanend，andcaststhemforthuntilhehaspurgedawaytemperanceandbroughtinmadnesstothefull。 Yes，hesaid，thatisthewayinwhichthetyrannicalmanisgenerated。 Andisnotthisthereasonwhyofoldlovehasbeencalledatyrant？ Ishouldnotwonder。 Further，Isaid，hasnotadrunkenmanalsothespiritofatyrant？ Hehas。 Andyouknowthatamanwhoisderangedandnotrightinhismind，willfancythatheisabletorule，notonlyovermen，butalsooverthegods？ Thathewill。 Andthetyrannicalmaninthetruesenseofthewordcomesintobeingwhen，eitherundertheinfluenceofnature，orhabit，orboth，hebecomesdrunken，lustful，passionate？Omyfriend，isnotthatso？ Assuredly。 Suchisthemanandsuchishisorigin。Andnext，howdoeshelive？ Suppose，aspeoplefacetiouslysay，youweretotellme。 Iimagine，Isaid，atthenextstepinhisprogress，thattherewillbefeastsandcarousalsandrevellingsandcourtezans，andallthatsortofthing；Loveisthelordofthehousewithinhim，andordersalltheconcernsofhissoul。 Thatiscertain。 Yes；andeverydayandeverynightdesiresgrowupmanyandformidable，andtheirdemandsaremany。 Theyareindeed，hesaid。 Hisrevenues，ifhehasany，aresoonspent。 True。 Thencomesdebtandthecuttingdownofhisproperty。 Ofcourse。 Whenhehasnothingleft，mustnothisdesires，crowdinginthenestlikeyoungravens，becryingaloudforfood；andhe，goadedonbythem，andespeciallybylovehimself，whoisinamannerthecaptainofthem，isinafrenzy，andwouldfaindiscoverwhomhecandefraudordespoilofhisproperty，inorderthathemaygratifythem？ Yes，thatissuretobethecase。 Hemusthavemoney，nomatterhow，ifheistoescapehorridpainsandpangs。 Hemust。 Andasinhimselftherewasasuccessionofpleasures，andthenewgotthebetteroftheoldandtookawaytheirrights，sohebeingyoungerwillclaimtohavemorethanhisfatherandhismother，andifhehasspenthisownshareoftheproperty，hewilltakeasliceoftheirs。 Nodoubthewill。 Andifhisparentswillnotgiveway，thenhewilltryfirstofalltocheatanddeceivethem。 Verytrue。 Andifhefails，thenhewilluseforceandplunderthem。 Yes，probably。 Andiftheoldmanandwomanfightfortheirown，whatthen，myfriend？Willthecreaturefeelanycompunctionattyrannizingoverthem？ Nay，hesaid，Ishouldnotfeelatallcomfortableabouthisparents。 But，Oheavens！Adeimantus，onaccountofsomenewfangledloveofaharlot，whoisanythingbutanecessaryconnection，canyoubelievethathewouldstrikethemotherwhoishisancientfriendandnecessarytohisveryexistence，andwouldplaceherundertheauthorityoftheother，whensheisbroughtunderthesameroofwithher；orthat，underlikecircumstances，hewoulddothesametohiswitheredoldfather，firstandmostindispensableoffriends，forthesakeofsomenewlyfoundbloomingyouthwhoisthereverseofindispensable？ Yes，indeed，hesaid；Ibelievethathewould。 Truly，then，Isaid，atyrannicalsonisablessingtohisfatherandmother。 Heisindeed，hereplied。 Hefirsttakestheirproperty，andwhenthatfalls，andpleasuresarebeginningtoswarminthehiveofhissoul，thenhebreaksintoahouse，orstealsthegarmentsofsomenightlywayfarer；nextheproceedstoclearatemple。Meanwhiletheoldopinionswhichhehadwhenachild，andwhichgavejudgmentaboutgoodandevil，areoverthrownbythoseotherswhichhavejustbeenemancipated，andarenowthebodyguardofloveandsharehisempire。Theseinhisdemocraticdays，whenhewasstillsubjecttothelawsandtohisfather，wereonlyletlooseinthedreamsofsleep。Butnowthatheisunderthedominionoflove，hebecomesalwaysandinwakingrealitywhathewasthenveryrarelyandinadreamonly；hewillcommitthefoulestmurder，oreatforbiddenfood，orbeguiltyofanyotherhorridact。Loveishistyrant，andliveslordlyinhimandlawlessly，andbeinghimselfaking，leadshimon，asatyrantleadsaState，totheperformanceofanyrecklessdeedbywhichhecanmaintainhimselfandtherabbleofhisassociates，whetherthosewhomevilcommunicationshavebroughtinfromwithout，orthosewhomhehimselfhasallowedtobreakloosewithinhimbyreasonofasimilarevilnatureinhimself。Havewenothereapictureofhiswayoflife？ Yes，indeed，hesaid。 AndifthereareonlyafewofthemintheState，therestofthepeoplearewelldisposed，theygoawayandbecomethebodyguardormercenarysoldiersofsomeothertyrantwhomayprobablywantthemforawar；andifthereisnowar，theystayathomeanddomanylittlepiecesofmischiefinthecity。 Whatsortofmischief？ Forexample，theyarethethieves，burglars，cutpurses，footpads，robbersoftemples，man—stealersofthecommunity；oriftheyareabletospeaktheyturninformers，andbearfalsewitness，andtakebribes。 Asmallcatalogueofevils，eveniftheperpetratorsofthemarefewinnumber。 Yes，Isaid；butsmallandgreatarecomparativeterms，andallthesethings，inthemiseryandevilwhichtheyinflictuponaState，donotcomewithinathousandmilesofthetyrant；whenthisnoxiousclassandtheirfollowersgrownumerousandbecomeconsciousoftheirstrength，assistedbytheinfatuationofthepeople，theychoosefromamongthemselvestheonewhohasmostofthetyrantinhisownsoul，andhimtheycreatetheirtyrant。 Yes，hesaid，andhewillbethemostfittobeatyrant。 Ifthepeopleyield，wellandgood；butiftheyresisthim，ashebeganbybeatinghisownfatherandmother，sonow，ifhehasthepower，hebeatsthem，andwillkeephisdearoldfatherlandormotherland，astheCretanssay，insubjectiontohisyoungretainerswhomhehasintroducedtobetheirrulersandmasters。Thisistheendofhispassionsanddesires。 Exactly。 Whensuchmenareonlyprivateindividualsandbeforetheygetpower，thisistheircharacter；theyassociateentirelywiththeirownflatterersorreadytools；oriftheywantanythingfromanybody，theyintheirturnareequallyreadytobowdownbeforethem：theyprofesseverysortofaffectionforthem；butwhentheyhavegainedtheirpointtheyknowthemnomore。 Yes，truly。 Theyarealwayseitherthemastersorservantsandneverthefriendsofanybody；thetyrantnevertastesoftruefreedomorfriendship。 Certainlynot。 Andmaywenotrightlycallsuchmentreacherous？ Noquestion。 Alsotheyareutterlyunjust，ifwewererightinournotionofjustice？ Yes，hesaid，andwewereperfectlyright。 Letusthensumupinaword，Isaid，thecharacteroftheworstman：heisthewakingrealityofwhatwedreamed。 Mosttrue。 Andthisishewhobeingbynaturemostofatyrantbearsrule，andthelongerhelivesthemoreofatyranthebecomes。 SOCRATES—GLAUCON Thatiscertain，saidGlaucon，takinghisturntoanswer。 Andwillnothewhohasbeenshowntobethewickedest，bealsothemostmiserable？andhewhohastyrannizedlongestandmost，mostcontinuallyandtrulymiserable；althoughthismaynotbetheopinionofmeningeneral？ Yes，hesaid，inevitably。 Andmustnotthetyrannicalmanbelikethetyrannical，State，andthedemocraticalmanlikethedemocraticalState；andthesameoftheothers？ Certainly。 AndasStateistoStateinvirtueandhappiness，soismaninrelationtoman？ Tobesure。 Thencomparingouroriginalcity，whichwasunderaking，andthecitywhichisunderatyrant，howdotheystandastovirtue？ Theyaretheoppositeextremes，hesaid，foroneistheverybestandtheotheristheveryworst。 Therecanbenomistake，Isaid，astowhichiswhich，andthereforeIwillatonceenquirewhetheryouwouldarriveatasimilardecisionabouttheirrelativehappinessandmisery。Andherewemustnotallowourselvestobepanic—strickenattheapparitionofthetyrant，whoisonlyaunitandmayperhapshaveafewretainersabouthim；butletusgoasweoughtintoeverycornerofthecityandlookallabout，andthenwewillgiveouropinion。 Afairinvitation，hereplied；andIsee，aseveryonemust，thatatyrannyisthewretchedestformofgovernment，andtheruleofakingthehappiest。 Andinestimatingthementoo，mayInotfairlymakealikerequest，thatIshouldhaveajudgewhosemindcanenterintoandseethroughhumannature？Hemustnotbelikeachildwholooksattheoutsideandisdazzledatthepompousaspectwhichthetyrannicalnatureassumestothebeholder，butlethimbeonewhohasaclearinsight。MayI supposethatthejudgmentisgiveninthehearingofusallbyonewhoisabletojudge，andhasdweltinthesameplacewithhim，andbeenpresentathisdallylifeandknownhiminhisfamilyrelations，wherehemaybeseenstrippedofhistragedyattire，andagaininthehourofpublicdanger——heshalltellusaboutthehappinessandmiseryofthetyrantwhencomparedwithothermen？ Thatagain，hesaid，isaveryfairproposal。 ShallIassumethatweourselvesareableandexperiencedjudgesandhavebeforenowmetwithsuchaperson？Weshallthenhavesomeonewhowillanswerourenquiries。 Byallmeans。 LetmeaskyounottoforgettheparalleloftheindividualandtheState；bearingthisinmind，andglancinginturnfromonetotheotherofthem，willyoutellmetheirrespectiveconditions？ Whatdoyoumean？heasked。 BeginningwiththeState，Ireplied，wouldyousaythatacitywhichisgovernedbyatyrantisfreeorenslaved？ Nocity，hesaid，canbemorecompletelyenslaved。 Andyet，asyousee，therearefreemenaswellasmastersinsuchaState？ Yes，hesaid，Iseethatthereare——afew；butthepeople，speakinggenerally，andthebestofthem，aremiserablydegradedandenslaved。 ThenifthemanisliketheState，Isaid，mustnotthesameruleprevail？hissoulisfullofmeannessandvulgarity——thebestelementsinhimareenslaved；andthereisasmallrulingpart，whichisalsotheworstandmaddest。 Inevitably。 Andwouldyousaythatthesoulofsuchanoneisthesoulofafreeman，orofaslave？ Hehasthesoulofaslave，inmyopinion。 AndtheStatewhichisenslavedunderatyrantisutterlyincapableofactingvoluntarily？ Utterlyincapable。 Andalsothesoulwhichisunderatyrant（Iamspeakingofthesoultakenasawhole）isleastcapableofdoingwhatshedesires；thereisagadflywhichgoadsher，andsheisfulloftroubleandremorse？ Certainly。 Andisthecitywhichisunderatyrantrichorpoor？ Poor。 Andthetyrannicalsoulmustbealwayspoorandinsatiable？ True。 AndmustnotsuchaStateandsuchamanbealwaysfulloffear？ Yes，indeed。 IsthereanyStateinwhichyouwillfindmoreoflamentationandsorrowandgroaningandpain？ Certainlynot。 Andisthereanymaninwhomyouwillfindmoreofthissortofmiserythaninthetyrannicalman，whoisinafuryofpassionsanddesires？ Impossible。 Reflectingupontheseandsimilarevils，youheldthetyrannicalStatetobethemostmiserableofStates？ AndIwasright，hesaid。 Certainly，Isaid。Andwhenyouseethesameevilsinthetyrannicalman，whatdoyousayofhim？ Isaythatheisbyfarthemostmiserableofallmen。 There，Isaid，Ithinkthatyouarebeginningtogowrong。 Whatdoyoumean？ Idonotthinkthathehasasyetreachedtheutmostextremeofmisery。 Thenwhoismoremiserable？ OneofwhomIamabouttospeak。 Whoisthat？ Hewhoisofatyrannicalnature，andinsteadofleadingaprivatelifehasbeencursedwiththefurthermisfortuneofbeingapublictyrant。 Fromwhathasbeensaid，Igatherthatyouareright。 Yes，Ireplied，butinthishighargumentyoushouldbealittlemorecertain，andshouldnotconjectureonly；forofallquestions，thisrespectinggoodandevilisthegreatest。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Letmethenofferyouanillustration，whichmay，Ithink，throwalightuponthissubject。 Whatisyourillustration？ Thecaseofrichindividualsincitieswhopossessmanyslaves：fromthemyoumayformanideaofthetyrant’scondition，fortheybothhaveslaves；theonlydifferenceisthathehasmoreslaves。 Yes，thatisthedifference。 Youknowthattheylivesecurelyandhavenothingtoapprehendfromtheirservants？ Whatshouldtheyfear？ Nothing。Butdoyouobservethereasonofthis？ Yes；thereasonis，thatthewholecityisleaguedtogetherfortheprotectionofeachindividual。 Verytrue，Isaid。Butimagineoneoftheseowners，themastersayofsomefiftyslaves，togetherwithhisfamilyandpropertyandslaves，carriedoffbyagodintothewilderness，wheretherearenofreementohelphim——willhenotbeinanagonyoffearlestheandhiswifeandchildrenshouldbeputtodeathbyhisslaves？ Yes，hesaid，hewillbeintheutmostfear。 Thetimehasarrivedwhenhewillbecompelledtoflatterdiversofhisslaves，andmakemanypromisestothemoffreedomandotherthings，muchagainsthiswill——hewillhavetocajolehisownservants。 Yes，hesaid，thatwillbetheonlywayofsavinghimself。 Andsupposethesamegod，whocarriedhimaway，tosurroundhimwithneighbourswhowillnotsufferonemantobethemasterofanother，andwho，iftheycouldcatchtheoffender，wouldtakehislife？ Hiscasewillbestillworse，ifyousupposehimtobeeverywheresurroundedandwatchedbyenemies。 Andisnotthisthesortofprisoninwhichthetyrantwillbebound——hewhobeingbynaturesuchaswehavedescribed，isfullofallsortsoffearsandlusts？Hissoulisdaintyandgreedy，andyetalone，ofallmeninthecity，heisneverallowedtogoonajourney，ortoseethethingswhichotherfreemendesiretosee，buthelivesinhisholelikeawomanhiddeninthehouse，andisjealousofanyothercitizenwhogoesintoforeignpartsandseesanythingofinterest。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Andamidevilssuchasthesewillnothewhoisill—governedinhisownperson——thetyrannicalman，Imean——whomyoujustnowdecidedtobethemostmiserableofall——willnothebeyetmoremiserablewhen，insteadofleadingaprivatelife，heisconstrainedbyfortunetobeapublictyrant？Hehastobemasterofotherswhenheisnotmasterofhimself：heislikeadiseasedorparalyticmanwhoiscompelledtopasshislife，notinretirement，butfightingandcombatingwithothermen。 Yes，hesaid，thesimilitudeismostexact。 Isnothiscaseutterlymiserable？anddoesnottheactualtyrantleadaworselifethanhewhoselifeyoudeterminedtobetheworst？ Certainly。 Hewhoistherealtyrant，whatevermenmaythink，istherealslave，andisobligedtopractisethegreatestadulationandservility，andtobetheflattererofthevilestofmankind。Hehasdesireswhichheisutterlyunabletosatisfy，andhasmorewantsthananyone，andistrulypoor，ifyouknowhowtoinspectthewholesoulofhim：allhislifelongheisbesetwithfearandisfullofconvulsions，anddistractions，evenastheStatewhichheresembles： andsurelytheresemblanceholds？ Verytrue，hesaid。 Moreover，asweweresayingbefore，hegrowsworsefromhavingpower：hebecomesandisofnecessitymorejealous，morefaithless，moreunjust，morefriendless，moreimpious，thanhewasatfirst；heisthepurveyorandcherisherofeverysortofvice，andtheconsequenceisthatheissupremelymiserable，andthathemakeseverybodyelseasmiserableashimself。 Nomanofanysensewilldisputeyourwords。 Comethen，Isaid，andasthegeneralumpireintheatricalcontestsproclaimstheresult，doyoualsodecidewhoinyouropinionisfirstinthescaleofhappiness，andwhosecond，andinwhatordertheothersfollow：therearefiveoftheminall——theyaretheroyal，timocratical，oligarchical，democratical，tyrannical。 Thedecisionwillbeeasilygiven，hereplied；theyshallbechorusescomingonthestage，andImustjudgethemintheorderinwhichtheyenter，bythecriterionofvirtueandvice，happinessandmisery。 Needwehireaherald，orshallIannounce，thatthesonofAriston（thebest）hasdecidedthatthebestandjustestisalsothehappiest，andthatthisishewhoisthemostroyalmanandkingoverhimself；andthattheworstandmostunjustmanisalsothemostmiserable，andthatthisishewhobeingthegreatesttyrantofhimselfisalsothegreatesttyrantofhisState？ Maketheproclamationyourself，hesaid。 AndshallIadd，’whetherseenorunseenbygodsandmen’？ Letthewordsbeadded。 Thenthis，Isaid，willbeourfirstproof；andthereisanother，whichmayalsohavesomeweight。 Whatisthat？ Thesecondproofisderivedfromthenatureofthesoul：seeingthattheindividualsoul，liketheState，hasbeendividedbyusintothreeprinciples，thedivisionmay，Ithink，furnishanewdemonstration。 Ofwhatnature？ Itseemstomethattothesethreeprinciplesthreepleasurescorrespond；alsothreedesiresandgoverningpowers。 Howdoyoumean？hesaid。 Thereisoneprinciplewithwhich，asweweresaying，amanlearns，anotherwithwhichheisangry；thethird，havingmanyforms，hasnospecialname，butisdenotedbythegeneraltermappetitive，fromtheextraordinarystrengthandvehemenceofthedesiresofeatinganddrinkingandtheothersensualappetiteswhicharethemainelementsofit；alsomoney—loving，becausesuchdesiresaregenerallysatisfiedbythehelpofmoney。 Thatistrue，hesaid。 Ifweweretosaythatthelovesandpleasuresofthisthirdpartwereconcernedwithgain，weshouldthenbeabletofallbackonasinglenotion；andmighttrulyandintelligiblydescribethispartofthesoulaslovinggainormoney。 Iagreewithyou。 Again，isnotthepassionateelementwhollysetonrulingandconqueringandgettingfame？ True。 Supposewecallitthecontentiousorambitious——wouldthetermbesuitable？ Extremelysuitable。 Ontheotherhand，everyoneseesthattheprincipleofknowledgeiswhollydirectedtothetruth，andcareslessthaneitheroftheothersforgainorfame。 Farless。 ’Loverofwisdom，’’loverofknowledge，’aretitleswhichwemayfitlyapplytothatpartofthesoul？ Certainly。 Oneprincipleprevailsinthesoulsofoneclassofmen，anotherinothers，asmayhappen？ Yes。 Thenwemaybeginbyassumingthattherearethreeclassesofmen——loversofwisdom，loversofhonour，loversofgain？ Exactly。 Andtherearethreekindsofpleasure，whicharetheirseveralobjects？ Verytrue。 Now，ifyouexaminethethreeclassesofmen，andaskoftheminturnwhichoftheirlivesispleasantest，eachwillbefoundpraisinghisownanddepreciatingthatofothers：themoney—makerwillcontrastthevanityofhonouroroflearningiftheybringnomoneywiththesolidadvantagesofgoldandsilver？ True，hesaid。 Andtheloverofhonour——whatwillbehisopinion？Willhenotthinkthatthepleasureofrichesisvulgar，whilethepleasureoflearning，ifitbringsnodistinction，isallsmokeandnonsensetohim？ Verytrue。 Andarewetosuppose，Isaid，thatthephilosophersetsanyvalueonotherpleasuresincomparisonwiththepleasureofknowingthetruth，andinthatpursuitabiding，everlearning，notsofarindeedfromtheheavenofpleasure？Doeshenotcalltheotherpleasuresnecessary，undertheideathatiftherewerenonecessityforthem，hewouldrathernothavethem？ Therecanbenodoubtofthat，hereplied。