ΠΛATΩNOΣ ΠOΛITEIA A' - Plato's Republic Book I

Alpha


Sōkratēs

I went down yesterday to the Peiraieus with Glaukōn, the son of Ariston, both to offer prayers to the goddess and, at the same time, I wished to see the festival and in what way they celebrated it, since now was the first time they were conducting it. And so, beautiful did this procession of my countrymen seem to me; however, not inferior did it seem to be to the show in which the Thracians took part.


The walk from Athens proper to the Peiraieus was about five miles.


After offering our prayers and seeing the sights, we made for the city. Thereupon, espying us at a distance as we made our way homeward, Polemarkhos the son of Kephalos ordered his boy to run ahead to bid us wait. And from behind me the boy grabbed at my himation and bidding us, saieth he: 'Polemarkhos wishes ye to wait.' And I turned about and asked where his master himself was. "He," saieth the boy, "from behind approacheth. So wait, ye." 

Glaukōn
"Well, we shall wait," saieth Glaukōn.

Sōkratēs
And a few moments later Polemarkhos came, and Adeimantos, the brother of Glaukōn, and Nikeratos, the son of Nikias, and some others as they came from the parade.
And so Polemarkhos spake: 

Polemarkhos
"O Sōkratēs, ye both seem to me to be city-ward headed and thus ye are leaving."

Sōkratēs
"Not poorly dost thou suppose," saieth I.

Polemarkhos
"And so, dost thou see us," saieth he, "how many we are?"

Sōkratēs
"How not?"

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