360 BC

THE SEVENTH LETTER

by Plato
translated by J. Harward
PLATO TO THE RELATVES AN! "REN!S O" !ON. #EL"ARE.
$o% wr&te to 'e t(at '%st )ons&der yo%r *&ews t(e sa'e as t(ose o+
!&on, and yo% %r-e 'e to a&d yo%r )a%se so +ar as )an &n word and
deed. .y answer &s t(at, &+ yo% (a*e t(e sa'e o/&n&on and des&re as (e
(ad, )onsent to a&d yo%r )a%se0 b%t &+ not, s(all t(&n1 'ore
t(an on)e abo%t &t. Now w(at (&s /%r/ose and des&re was, )an
&n+or' yo% +ro' no 'ere )on2e)t%re b%t +ro' /os&t&*e 1nowled-e. "or
w(en 'ade 'y +&rst *&s&t to S&)&ly, be&n- t(en abo%t +orty years
old, !&on was o+ t(e sa'e a-e as H&//ar&nos &s now, and t(e o/&n&on
w(&)( (e t(en +or'ed was t(at w(&)( (e always reta&ned, 'ean t(e
bel&e+ t(at t(e Syra)%sans o%-(t to be +ree and -o*erned by t(e best
laws. So &t &s no 'atter +or s%r/r&se &+ so'e 3od s(o%ld 'a1e
H&//ar&nos ado/t t(e sa'e o/&n&on as !&on abo%t +or's o+ -o*ern'ent.
B%t &t &s well wort( w(&le t(at yo% s(o%ld all, old as well as
yo%n-, (ear t(e way &n w(&)( t(&s o/&n&on was +or'ed, and w&ll
atte'/t to -&*e yo% an a))o%nt o+ &t +ro' t(e be-&nn&n-. "or t(e
/resent &s a s%&table o//ort%n&ty.
n 'y yo%t( went t(ro%-( t(e sa'e e4/er&en)e as 'any ot(er 'en.
+an)&ed t(at &+, early &n l&+e, be)a'e 'y own 'aster, s(o%ld
at on)e e'bar1 on a /ol&t&)al )areer. And +o%nd 'ysel+ )on+ronted
w&t( t(e +ollow&n- o))%rren)es &n t(e /%bl&) a++a&rs o+ 'y own )&ty.
T(e e4&st&n- )onst&t%t&on be&n- -enerally )onde'ned, a re*ol%t&on too1
/la)e, and +&+ty5one 'en )a'e to t(e +ront as r%lers o+ t(e
re*ol%t&onary -o*ern'ent, na'ely ele*en &n t(e )&ty and ten &n t(e
Pe&rae%s5ea)( o+ t(ese bod&es be&n- &n )(ar-e o+ t(e 'ar1et and
'%n&)&/al 'atters5w(&le t(&rty were a//o&nted r%lers w&t( +%ll
/owers o*er /%bl&) a++a&rs as a w(ole. So'e o+ t(ese were relat&*es
and a)6%a&ntan)es o+ '&ne, and t(ey at on)e &n*&ted 'e to s(are &n
t(e&r do&n-s, as so'et(&n- to w(&)( (ad a )la&'. T(e e++e)t on 'e
was not s%r/r&s&n- &n t(e )ase o+ a yo%n- 'an. )ons&dered t(at
t(ey wo%ld, o+ )o%rse, so 'ana-e t(e State as to br&n- 'en o%t o+ a
bad way o+ l&+e &nto a -ood one. So wat)(ed t(e' *ery )losely to see
w(at t(ey wo%ld do.
And see&n-, as d&d, t(at &n 6%&te a s(ort t&'e t(ey 'ade t(e
+or'er -o*ern'ent see' by )o'/ar&son so'et(&n- /re)&o%s as -old5+or
a'on- ot(er t(&n-s t(ey tr&ed to send a +r&end o+ '&ne, t(e a-ed
So)rates, w(o' s(o%ld s)ar)ely s)r%/le to des)r&be as t(e 'ost
%/r&-(t 'an o+ t(at day, w&t( so'e ot(er /ersons to )arry o++ one o+
t(e )&t&7ens by +or)e to e4e)%t&on, &n order t(at, w(et(er (e w&s(ed
&t, or not, (e '&-(t s(are t(e -%&lt o+ t(e&r )ond%)t0 b%t (e wo%ld
not obey t(e', r&s1&n- all )onse6%en)es &n /re+eren)e to be)o'&n- a
/artner &n t(e&r &n&6%&to%s deeds5see&n- all t(ese t(&n-s and ot(ers
o+ t(e sa'e 1&nd on a )ons&derable s)ale, d&sa//ro*ed o+ t(e&r
/ro)eed&n-s, and w&t(drew +ro' any )onne)t&on w&t( t(e ab%ses o+ t(e
t&'e.
Not lon- a+ter t(at a re*ol%t&on ter'&nated t(e /ower o+ t(e
t(&rty and t(e +or' o+ -o*ern'ent as &t t(en was. And on)e 'ore,
t(o%-( w&t( 'ore (es&tat&on, be-an to be 'o*ed by t(e des&re to ta1e
/art &n /%bl&) and /ol&t&)al a++a&rs. #ell, e*en &n t(e new
-o*ern'ent, %nsettled as &t was, e*ents o))%rred w(&)( one wo%ld
nat%rally *&ew w&t( d&sa//ro*al0 and &t was not s%r/r&s&n- t(at &n a
/er&od o+ re*ol%t&on e4)ess&*e /enalt&es were &n+l&)ted by so'e
/ersons on /ol&t&)al o//onents, t(o%-( t(ose w(o (ad ret%rned +ro'
e4&le at t(at t&'e s(owed *ery )ons&derable +orbearan)e. B%t on)e 'ore
&t (a//ened t(at so'e o+ t(ose &n /ower bro%-(t 'y +r&end So)rates,
w(o' (a*e 'ent&oned, to tr&al be+ore a )o%rt o+ law, lay&n- a 'ost
&n&6%&to%s )(ar-e a-a&nst (&' and one 'ost &na//ro/r&ate &n (&s
)ase8 +or &t was on a )(ar-e o+ &'/&ety t(at so'e o+ t(e' /rose)%ted
and ot(ers )onde'ned and e4e)%ted t(e *ery 'an w(o wo%ld not
/art&)&/ate &n t(e &n&6%&to%s arrest o+ one o+ t(e +r&ends o+ t(e
/arty t(en &n e4&le, at t(e t&'e w(en t(ey t(e'sel*es were &n e4&le
and '&s+ort%ne.
As obser*ed t(ese &n)&dents and t(e 'en en-a-ed &n /%bl&) a++a&rs,
t(e laws too and t(e )%sto's, t(e 'ore )losely e4a'&ned t(e' and t(e
+art(er ad*an)ed &n l&+e, t(e 'ore d&++&)%lt &t see'ed to 'e to
(andle /%bl&) a++a&rs ar&-(t. "or &t was not /oss&ble to be a)t&*e
&n /ol&t&)s w&t(o%t +r&ends and tr%stwort(y s%//orters0 and to +&nd
t(ese ready to 'y (and was not an easy 'atter, s&n)e /%bl&) a++a&rs at
At(ens were not )arr&ed on &n a))ordan)e w&t( t(e 'anners and
/ra)t&)es o+ o%r +at(ers0 nor was t(ere any ready 'et(od by w(&)(
)o%ld 'a1e new +r&ends. T(e laws too, wr&tten and %nwr&tten, were
be&n- altered +or t(e worse, and t(e e*&l was -row&n- w&t( startl&n-
ra/&d&ty. T(e res%lt was t(at, t(o%-( at +&rst (ad been +%ll o+ a
stron- &'/%lse towards /ol&t&)al l&+e, as loo1ed at t(e )o%rse o+
a++a&rs and saw t(e' be&n- swe/t &n all d&re)t&ons by )ontend&n-
)%rrents, 'y (ead +&nally be-an to sw&'0 and, t(o%-( d&d not sto/
loo1&n- to see &+ t(ere was any l&1el&(ood o+ &'/ro*e'ent &n t(ese
sy'/to's and &n t(e -eneral )o%rse o+ /%bl&) l&+e, /ost/oned
a)t&on t&ll a s%&table o//ort%n&ty s(o%ld ar&se. "&nally, &t be)a'e
)lear to 'e, w&t( re-ard to all e4&st&n- )orn'%n&t&es, t(at t(ey
were one and all '&s-o*erned. "or t(e&r laws (a*e -ot &nto a state
t(at &s al'ost &n)%rable, e4)e/t by so'e e4traord&nary re+or' w&t(
-ood l%)1 to s%//ort &t. And was +or)ed to say, w(en /ra&s&n- tr%e
/(&loso/(y t(at &t &s by t(&s t(at 'en are enabled to see w(at 2%st&)e
&n /%bl&) and /r&*ate l&+e really &s. T(ere+ore, sa&d, t(ere w&ll be
no )essat&on o+ e*&ls +or t(e sons o+ 'en, t&ll e&t(er t(ose w(o are
/%rs%&n- a r&-(t and tr%e /(&loso/(y re)e&*e so*ere&-n /ower &n t(e
States, or t(ose &n /ower &n t(e States by so'e d&s/ensat&on o+
/ro*&den)e be)o'e tr%e /(&loso/(ers.
#&t( t(ese t(o%-(ts &n 'y '&nd )a'e to taly and S&)&ly on 'y
+&rst *&s&t. .y +&rst &'/ress&ons on arr&*al were t(ose o+ stron-
d&sa//ro*al5d&sa//ro*al o+ t(e 1&nd o+ l&+e w(&)( was t(ere )alled t(e
l&+e o+ (a//&ness, st%++ed +%ll as &t was w&t( t(e ban6%ets o+ t(e
tal&an 3ree1s and Syra)%sans, w(o ate to re/let&on tw&)e e*ery day,
and were ne*er w&t(o%t a /artner +or t(e n&-(t0 and d&sa//ro*al o+ t(e
(ab&ts w(&)( t(&s 'anner o+ l&+e /rod%)es. "or w&t( t(ese (ab&ts
+or'ed early &n l&+e, no 'an %nder (ea*en )o%ld /oss&bly atta&n to
w&sdo'5(%'an nat%re &s not )a/able o+ s%)( an e4traord&nary
)o'b&nat&on. Te'/eran)e also &s o%t o+ t(e 6%est&on +or s%)( a 'an0
and t(e sa'e a//l&es to *&rt%e -enerally. No )&ty )o%ld re'a&n &n a
state o+ tran6%&ll&ty %nder any laws w(atsoe*er, w(en 'en t(&n1 &t
r&-(t to s6%ander all t(e&r /ro/erty &n e4tra*a-ant, and )ons&der &t a
d%ty to be &dle &n e*eryt(&n- else e4)e/t eat&n- and dr&n1&n- and
t(e labor&o%s /rose)%t&on o+ deba%)(ery. t +ollows ne)essar&ly t(at
t(e )onst&t%t&ons o+ s%)( )&t&es '%st be )onstantly )(an-&n-,
tyrann&es, ol&-ar)(&es and de'o)ra)&es s%))eed&n- one anot(er, w(&le
t(ose w(o (old t(e /ower )annot so '%)( as end%re t(e na'e o+ any +or'
o+ -o*ern'ent w(&)( 'a&nta&ns 2%st&)e and e6%al&ty o+ r&-(ts.
#&t( a '&nd +%ll o+ t(ese t(o%-(ts, on t(e to/ o+ 'y /re*&o%s
)on*&)t&ons, )rossed o*er to Syra)%se5led t(ere /er(a/s by
)(an)e5b%t &t really loo1s as &+ so'e (&-(er /ower was e*en t(en
/lann&n- to lay a +o%ndat&on +or all t(at (as now )o'e to /ass w&t(
re-ard to !&on and Syra)%se5and +or +%rt(er tro%bles too, +ear,
%nless yo% l&sten to t(e ad*&)e w(&)( &s now +or t(e se)ond t&'e
o++ered by 'e. #(at do 'ean by say&n- t(at 'y arr&*al &n S&)&ly at
t(at 'o*e'ent /ro*ed to be t(e +o%ndat&on on w(&)( all t(e se6%el
rests9 was bro%-(t &nto )lose &nter)o%rse w&t( !&on w(o was t(en a
yo%n- 'an, and e4/la&ned to (&' 'y *&ews as to t(e &deals at w(&)( 'en
s(o%ld a&', ad*&s&n- (&' to )arry t(e' o%t &n /ra)t&)e. n do&n-
t(&s see' to (a*e been %naware t(at was, &n a +as(&on, w&t(o%t
1now&n- &t, )ontr&*&n- t(e o*ert(row o+ t(e tyranny w(&)(0
s%bse6%ently too1 /la)e. "or !&on, w(o ra/&dly ass&'&lated 'y tea)(&n-
as (e d&d all +or's o+ 1nowled-e, l&stened to 'e w&t( an ea-erness
w(&)( (ad ne*er seen e6%alled &n any yo%n- 'an, and resol*ed to l&*e
+or t(e +%t%re &n a better way t(an t(e 'a2or&ty o+ tal&an and
S&)&l&an 3ree1s, (a*&n- set (&s a++e)t&on on *&rt%e &n /re+eren)e to
/leas%re and sel+5&nd%l-en)e. T(e res%lt was t(at %nt&l t(e deat( o+
!&onys&os (e l&*ed &n a way w(&)( rendered (&' so'ew(at %n/o/%lar
a'on- t(ose w(ose 'anner o+ l&+e was t(at w(&)( &s %s%al &n t(e )o%rts
o+ des/ots.
A+ter t(at e*ent (e )a'e to t(e )on)l%s&on t(at t(&s )on*&)t&on,
w(&)( (e (&'sel+ (ad -a&ned %nder t(e &n+l%en)e o+ -ood tea)(&n-,
was not l&1ely to be )on+&ned to (&'sel+. ndeed, (e saw &t be&n-
a)t%ally &'/lanted &n ot(er '&nds5not 'any /er(a/s, b%t )erta&nly &n
so'e0 and (e t(o%-(t t(at w&t( t(e a&d o+ t(e 3ods, !&onys&os '&-(t
/er(a/s be)o'e one o+ t(ese, and t(at, &+ s%)( a t(&n- d&d )o'e to
/ass, t(e res%lt wo%ld be a l&+e o+ %ns/ea1able (a//&ness bot( +or
(&'sel+ and +or t(e rest o+ t(e Syra)%sans. "%rt(er, (e t(o%-(t &t
essent&al t(at s(o%ld )o'e to Syra)%se by all 'anner o+ 'eans and
w&t( t(e %t'ost /oss&ble s/eed to be (&s /artner &n t(ese /lans,
re'e'ber&n- &n (&s own )ase (ow read&ly &nter)o%rse w&t( 'e (ad
/rod%)ed &n (&' a lon-&n- +or t(e noblest and best l&+e. And &+ &t
s(o%ld /rod%)e a s&'&lar e++e)t on !&onys&os, as (&s a&' was t(at &t
s(o%ld, (e (ad -reat (o/e t(at, w&t(o%t bloods(ed, loss o+ l&+e, and
t(ose d&sastro%s e*ents w(&)( (a*e now ta1en /la)e, (e wo%ld be able
to &ntrod%)e t(e tr%e l&+e o+ (a//&ness t(ro%-(o%t t(e w(ole
terr&tory.
Hold&n- t(ese so%nd *&ews, !&on /ers%aded !&onys&os to send +or
'e0 (e also wrote (&'sel+ entreat&n- 'e to )o'e by all 'anner o+ 'eans
and w&t( t(e %t'ost /oss&ble s/eed, be+ore )erta&n ot(er /ersons
)o'&n- &n )onta)t w&t( !&onys&os s(o%ld t%rn (&' as&de &nto so'e way
o+ l&+e ot(er t(an t(e best. #(at (e sa&d, t(o%-( /er(a/s &t &s rat(er
lon- to re/eat, was as +ollows8 :#(at o//ort%n&t&es,: (e sa&d,
:s(all we wa&t +or, -reater t(an t(ose now o++ered to %s by
Pro*&den)e9: And (e des)r&bed t(e Syra)%san e'/&re &n taly and
S&)&ly, (&s own &n+l%ent&al /os&t&on &n &t, and t(e yo%t( o+ !&onys&os
and (ow stron-ly (&s des&re was d&re)ted towards /(&loso/(y and
ed%)at&on. H&s own ne/(ews and relat&*es, (e sa&d, wo%ld be read&ly
attra)ted towards t(e /r&n)&/les and 'anner o+ l&+e des)r&bed by 'e,
and wo%ld be 'ost &n+l%ent&al &n attra)t&n- !&onys&os &n t(e sa'e
d&re)t&on, so t(at, now &+ e*er, we s(o%ld see t(e a))o'/l&s('ent o+
e*ery (o/e t(at t(e sa'e /ersons '&-(t a)t%ally be)o'e bot(
/(&loso/(ers and t(e r%lers o+ -reat States. T(ese were t(e a//eals
addressed to 'e and '%)( 'ore to t(e sa'e e++e)t.
.y own o/&n&on, so +ar as t(e yo%n- 'en were )on)erned, and t(e
/robable l&ne w(&)( t(e&r )ond%)t wo%ld ta1e, was +%ll o+
a//re(ens&on5+or yo%n- 'en are 6%&)1 &n +or'&n- des&res, w(&)( o+ten
ta1e d&re)t&ons )on+l&)t&n- w&t( one anot(er. B%t 1new t(at t(e
)(ara)ter o+ !&on;s '&nd was nat%rally a stable one and (ad also t(e
ad*anta-e o+ so'ew(at ad*an)ed years.
T(ere+ore, /ondered t(e 'atter and was &n two '&nds as to
w(et(er o%-(t to l&sten to entreat&es and -o, or (ow o%-(t to a)t0
and +&nally t(e s)ale t%rned &n +a*o%r o+ t(e *&ew t(at, &+ e*er
anyone was to try to )arry o%t &n /ra)t&)e 'y &deas abo%t laws and
)onst&t%t&ons, now was t(e t&'e +or 'a1&n- t(e atte'/t0 +or &+ only
)o%ld +%lly )on*&n)e one 'an, s(o%ld (a*e se)%red t(ereby t(e
a))o'/l&s('ent o+ all -ood t(&n-s.
#&t( t(ese *&ews and t(%s ner*ed to t(e tas1, sa&led +ro' (o'e, &n
t(e s/&r&t w(&)( so'e &'a-&ned, b%t /r&n)&/ally t(ro%-( a +eel&n- o+
s(a'e w&t( re-ard to 'ysel+, lest '&-(t so'e day a//ear to 'ysel+
w(olly and solely a 'ere 'an o+ words, one w(o wo%ld ne*er o+ (&s
own w&ll lay (&s (and to any a)t. Also t(ere was reason to t(&n1
t(at s(o%ld be betray&n- +&rst and +ore'ost 'y +r&ends(&/ and
)o'rades(&/ w&t( !&on, w(o &n *ery tr%t( was &n a /os&t&on o+
)ons&derable dan-er. + t(ere+ore anyt(&n- s(o%ld (a//en to (&', or &+
(e were ban&s(ed by !&onys&os and (&s ot(er ene'&es and )o'&n- to %s
as e4&le addressed t(&s 6%est&on to 'e8 :Plato, (a*e )o'e to yo%
as a +%-&t&*e, not +or want o+ (o/l&tes, nor be)a%se (ad no
)a*alry +or de+en)e a-a&nst 'y ene'&es, b%t +or want o+ words and
/ower o+ /ers%as&on, w(&)( 1new to be a s/e)&al -&+t o+ yo%rs,
enabl&n- yo% to lead yo%n- 'en &nto t(e /at( o+ -oodness and
2%st&)e, and to establ&s( &n e*ery )ase relat&ons o+ +r&ends(&/ and
)o'rades(&/ a'on- t(e'. t &s +or t(e want o+ t(&s ass&stan)e on
yo%r /art t(at (a*e le+t Syra)%se and a' (ere now. And t(e
d&s-ra)e atta)(&n- to yo%r treat'ent o+ 'e &s a s'all 'atter. B%t
/(&loso/(y5w(ose /ra&ses yo% are always s&n-&n-, w(&le yo% say s(e
&s (eld &n d&s(ono%r by t(e rest o+ 'an1&nd5'%st we not say t(at
/(&loso/(y alon- w&t( 'e (as now been betrayed, so +ar as yo%r
a)t&on was )on)erned9 Had been l&*&n- at .e-ara, yo% wo%ld )erta&nly
(a*e )o'e to -&*e 'e yo%r a&d towards t(e ob2e)ts +or w(&)( as1ed
&t0 or yo% wo%ld (a*e t(o%-(t yo%rsel+ t(e 'ost )onte'/t&ble o+
'an1&nd. B%t as &t &s, do yo% t(&n1 t(at yo% w&ll es)a/e t(e
re/%tat&on o+ )oward&)e by 'a1&n- e4)%ses abo%t t(e d&stan)e o+ t(e
2o%rney, t(e len-t( o+ t(e sea *oya-e, and t(e a'o%nt o+ labo%r
&n*ol*ed9 "ar +ro' &t.: To re/roa)(es o+ t(&s 1&nd w(at )red&table
re/ly )o%ld (a*e 'ade9 S%rely none.
too1 'y de/art%re, t(ere+ore, a)t&n-, so +ar as a 'an )an a)t,
&n obed&en)e to reason and 2%st&)e, and +or t(ese reasons lea*&n- 'y
own o))%/at&ons, w(&)( were )erta&nly not d&s)red&table ones, to /%t
'ysel+ %nder a tyranny w(&)( d&d not see' l&1ely to (ar'on&se w&t(
'y tea)(&n- or w&t( 'ysel+. By 'y de/art%re se)%red 'y own +reedo'
+ro' t(e d&s/leas%re o+ <e%s =en&os, and 'ade 'ysel+ )lear o+ any
)(ar-e on t(e /art o+ /(&loso/(y, w(&)( wo%ld (a*e been e4/osed to
detra)t&on, &+ any d&s-ra)e (ad )o'e %/on 'e +or +a&nt5(eartedness and
)oward&)e.
On 'y arr&*al, to )%t a lon- story s(ort, +o%nd t(e )o%rt o+
!&onys&os +%ll o+ &ntr&-%es and o+ atte'/ts to )reate &n t(e so*ere&-n
&ll5+eel&n- a-a&nst !&on. )o'bated t(ese as +ar as )o%ld, b%t w&t(
*ery l&ttle s%))ess0 and &n t(e +o%rt( 'ont( or t(ereabo%ts,
)(ar-&n- !&on w&t( )ons/&ra)y to se&7e t(e t(rone, !&onys&os /%t (&'
on board a s'all boat and e4/elled (&' +ro' Syra)%se w&t( &-no'&ny.
All o+ %s w(o were !&on;s +r&ends were a+ra&d t(at (e '&-(t ta1e
*en-ean)e on one or ot(er o+ %s as an a))o'/l&)e &n !&on;s )ons/&ra)y.
#&t( re-ard to 'e, t(ere was e*en a r%'o%r )%rrent &n Syra)%se t(at
(ad been /%t to deat( by !&onys&os as t(e )a%se o+ all t(at (ad
o))%rred. Per)e&*&n- t(at we were all &n t(&s state o+ '&nd and
a//re(end&n- t(at o%r +ears '&-(t lead to so'e ser&o%s )onse6%en)e, (e
now tr&ed to w&n all o+ %s o*er by 1&ndness8 'e &n /art&)%lar (e
en)o%ra-ed, b&dd&n- 'e be o+ -ood )(eer and entreat&n- 'e on all
-ro%nds to re'a&n. "or 'y +l&-(t +ro' (&' was not l&1ely to redo%nd to
(&s )red&t, b%t 'y stay&n- '&-(t do so. T(ere+ore, (e 'ade a -reat
/reten)e o+ entreat&n- 'e. And we 1now t(at t(e entreat&es o+
so*ere&-ns are '&4ed w&t( )o'/%ls&on. So to se)%re (&s ob2e)t (e
/ro)eeded to render 'y de/art%re &'/oss&ble, br&n-&n- 'e &nto t(e
a)ro/ol&s, and establ&s(&n- 'e &n 6%arters +ro' w(&)( not a s&n-le
s(&/;s )a/ta&n wo%ld (a*e ta1en 'e away a-a&nst t(e w&ll o+ !&onys&os,
nor &ndeed w&t(o%t a s/e)&al 'essen-er sent by (&' to order 'y
re'o*al. Nor was t(ere a s&n-le 'er)(ant, or a s&n-le o++&)&al &n
)(ar-e o+ /o&nts o+ de/art%re +ro' t(e )o%ntry, w(o wo%ld (a*e allowed
'e to de/art %na))o'/an&ed, and wo%ld not (a*e /ro'/tly se&7ed 'e
and ta1en 'e ba)1 to !&onys&os, es/e)&ally s&n)e a state'ent (ad now
been )&r)%lated )ontrad&)t&n- t(e /re*&o%s r%'o%rs and -&*&n- o%t t(at
!&onys&os was be)o'&n- e4traord&nar&ly atta)(ed to Plato. #(at were
t(e +a)ts abo%t t(&s atta)('ent9 '%st tell t(e tr%t(. As t&'e went
on, and as &nter)o%rse 'ade (&' a)6%a&nted w&t( 'y d&s/os&t&on and
)(ara)ter, (e d&d be)o'e 'ore and 'ore atta)(ed to 'e, and w&s(ed 'e
to /ra&se (&' 'ore t(an /ra&sed !&on, and to loo1 %/on (&' as 'ore
s/e)&ally 'y +r&end t(an !&on, and (e was e4traord&nar&ly ea-er
abo%t t(&s sort o+ t(&n-. B%t w(en )on+ronted w&t( t(e one way &n
w(&)( t(&s '&-(t (a*e been done, &+ &t was to be done at all, (e
s(ran1 +ro' )o'&n- &nto )lose and &nt&'ate relat&ons w&t( 'e as a
/%/&l and l&stener to 'y d&s)o%rses on /(&loso/(y, +ear&n- t(e
dan-er s%--ested by '&s)(&e+5'a1ers, t(at (e '&-(t be ensnared, and so
!&on wo%ld /ro*e to (a*e a))o'/l&s(ed all (&s ob2e)t. end%red all
t(&s /at&ently, reta&n&n- t(e /%r/ose w&t( w(&)( (ad )o'e and t(e
(o/e t(at (e '&-(t )o'e to des&re t(e /(&loso/(&) l&+e. B%t (&s
res&stan)e /re*a&led a-a&nst 'e.
T(e t&'e o+ 'y +&rst *&s&t to S&)&ly and 'y stay t(ere was ta1en
%/ w&t( all t(ese &n)&dents. On a later o))as&on le+t (o'e and a-a&n
)a'e on an %r-ent s%''ons +ro' !&onys&os. B%t be+ore -&*&n- t(e
'ot&*es and /art&)%lars o+ 'y )ond%)t t(en and s(ow&n- (ow s%&table
and r&-(t &t was, '%st +&rst, &n order t(at 'ay not treat as t(e
'a&n /o&nt w(at &s only a s&de &ss%e, -&*e yo% 'y ad*&)e as to w(at
yo%r a)ts s(o%ld be &n t(e /resent /os&t&on o+ a++a&rs0 a+terwards, to
sat&s+y t(ose w(o /%t t(e 6%est&on w(y )a'e a se)ond t&'e, w&ll
deal +%lly w&t( t(e +a)ts abo%t 'y se)ond *&s&t0 w(at (a*e now to
say &s t(&s.
He w(o ad*&ses a s&)1 'an, w(ose 'anner o+ l&+e &s /re2%d&)&al to
(ealt(, &s )learly bo%nd +&rst o+ all to )(an-e (&s /at&ent;s 'anner
o+ l&+e, and &+ t(e /at&ent &s w&ll&n- to obey (&', (e 'ay -o on to
-&*e (&' ot(er ad*&)e. B%t &+ (e &s not w&ll&n-, s(all )ons&der
one w(o de)l&nes to ad*&se s%)( a /at&ent to be a 'an and a /(ys&)&an,
and one w(o -&*es &n to (&' to be %n'anly and %n/ro+ess&onal. n t(e
sa'e way w&t( re-ard to a State, w(et(er &t be %nder a s&n-le r%ler or
'ore t(an one, &+, w(&le t(e -o*ern'ent &s be&n- )arr&ed on
'et(od&)ally and &n a r&-(t )o%rse, &t as1s ad*&)e abo%t any deta&ls
o+ /ol&)y, &t &s t(e /art o+ a w&se 'an to ad*&se s%)( /eo/le. B%t
w(en 'en are tra*ell&n- alto-et(er o%ts&de t(e /at( o+ r&-(t
-o*ern'ent and +latly re+%se to 'o*e &n t(e r&-(t /at(, and start by
-&*&n- not&)e to t(e&r ad*&ser t(at (e '%st lea*e t(e -o*ern'ent alone
and 'a1e no )(an-e &n &t %nder /enalty o+ deat(5&+ s%)( 'en s(o%ld
order t(e&r )o%nsellors to /ander to t(e&r w&s(es and des&res and to
ad*&se t(e' &n w(at way t(e&r ob2e)t 'ay 'ost read&ly and eas&ly be
on)e +or all a))o'/l&s(ed, s(o%ld )ons&der as %n'anly one w(o
a))e/ts t(e d%ty o+ -&*&n- s%)( +or's o+ ad*&)e, and one w(o re+%ses
&t to be a tr%e 'an.
Hold&n- t(ese *&ews, w(ene*er anyone )ons%lts 'e abo%t any o+ t(e
we&-(t&est 'atters a++e)t&n- (&s own l&+e, as, +or &nstan)e, t(e
a)6%&s&t&on o+ /ro/erty or t(e /ro/er treat'ent o+ body or '&nd, &+ &t
see's to 'e t(at (&s da&ly l&+e rests on any syste', or &+ (e see's
l&1ely to l&sten to ad*&)e abo%t t(e t(&n-s on w(&)( (e )ons%lts 'e,
ad*&se (&' w&t( read&ness, and do not )ontent 'ysel+ w&t( -&*&n- (&' a
'erely /er+%n)tory answer. B%t &+ a 'an does not )ons%lt 'e at all, or
e*&dently does not &ntend to +ollow 'y ad*&)e, do not ta1e t(e
&n&t&at&*e &n ad*&s&n- s%)( a 'an, and w&ll not %se )o'/%ls&on to (&',
e*en &+ (e be 'y own son. wo%ld ad*&se a sla*e %nder s%)(
)&r)%'stan)es, and wo%ld %se )o'/%ls&on to (&' &+ (e were %nw&ll&n-.
To a +at(er or 'ot(er do not t(&n1 t(at /&ety allows one to o++er
)o'/%ls&on, %nless t(ey are s%++er&n- +ro' an atta)1 o+ &nsan&ty0
and &+ t(ey are +ollow&n- any re-%lar (ab&ts o+ l&+e w(&)( /lease t(e'
b%t do not /lease 'e, wo%ld not o++end t(e' by o++er&n- %seless,
ad*&)e, nor wo%ld +latter t(e' or tr%)1le to t(e', /ro*&d&n- t(e'
w&t( t(e 'eans o+ sat&s+y&n- des&res w(&)( 'ysel+ wo%ld sooner d&e
t(an )(er&s(. T(e w&se 'an s(o%ld -o t(ro%-( l&+e w&t( t(e sa'e
att&t%de o+ '&nd towards (&s )o%ntry. + s(e s(o%ld a//ear to (&' to
be +ollow&n- a /ol&)y w(&)( &s not a -ood one, (e s(o%ld say so,
/ro*&ded t(at (&s words are not l&1ely e&t(er to +all on dea+ ears
or to lead to t(e loss o+ (&s own l&+e. B%t +or)e a-a&nst (&s nat&*e
land (e s(o%ld not %se &n order to br&n- abo%t a )(an-e o+
)onst&t%t&on, w(en &t &s not /oss&ble +or t(e best )onst&t%t&on to
be &ntrod%)ed w&t(o%t dr&*&n- 'en &nto e4&le or /%tt&n- t(e' to deat(0
(e s(o%ld 1ee/ 6%&et and o++er %/ /rayers +or (&s own wel+are and
+or t(at o+ (&s )o%ntry.
T(ese are t(e /r&n)&/les &n a))ordan)e w&t( w(&)( s(o%ld ad*&se
yo%, as also, 2o&ntly w&t( !&on, ad*&sed !&onys&os, b&dd&n- (&' &n
t(e +&rst /la)e to l&*e (&s da&ly l&+e &n a way t(at wo%ld 'a1e (&' as
+ar as /oss&ble 'aster o+ (&'sel+ and able to -a&n +a&t(+%l +r&ends
and s%//orters, &n order t(at (e '&-(t not (a*e t(e sa'e e4/er&en)e as
(&s +at(er. "or (&s +at(er, (a*&n- ta1en %nder (&s r%le 'any -reat
)&t&es o+ S&)&ly w(&)( (ad been %tterly destroyed by t(e barbar&ans,
was not able to +o%nd t(e' a+res( and to establ&s( &n t(e' tr%stwort(y
-o*ern'ents )arr&ed on by (&s own s%//orters, e&t(er by 'en w(o (ad no
t&es o+ blood w&t( (&', or by (&s brot(ers w(o' (e (ad bro%-(t %/ w(en
t(ey were yo%n-er, and (ad ra&sed +ro' (%'ble stat&on to (&-( o++&)e
and +ro' /o*erty to &''ense wealt(. Not one o+ t(ese was (e able to
wor1 %/on by /ers%as&on, &nstr%)t&on, ser*&)es and t&es o+ 1&ndred, so
as to 'a1e (&' a /artner &n (&s r%le0 and (e s(owed (&'sel+ &n+er&or
to !ar&%s w&t( a se*en+old &n+er&or&ty. "or !ar&%s d&d not /%t (&s
tr%st &n brot(ers or &n 'en w(o' (e (ad bro%-(t %/, b%t only &n (&s
)on+ederates &n t(e o*ert(row o+ t(e .ede and E%n%)(0 and to t(ese
(e ass&-ned /ort&ons o+ (&s e'/&re, se*en &n n%'ber, ea)( o+ t(e'
-reater t(an all S&)&ly0 and t(ey were +a&t(+%l to (&' and d&d not
atta)1 e&t(er (&' or one anot(er. T(%s (e s(owed a /attern o+ w(at t(e
-ood law-&*er and 1&n- o%-(t to be0 +or (e drew %/ laws by w(&)( (e
(as se)%red t(e Pers&an e'/&re &n sa+ety down to t(e /resent t&'e.
A-a&n, to -&*e anot(er &nstan)e, t(e At(en&ans too1 %nder t(e&r r%le
*ery 'any )&t&es not +o%nded by t(e'sel*es, w(&)( (ad been (ard (&t by
t(e barbar&ans b%t were st&ll &n e4&sten)e, and 'a&nta&ned t(e&r
r%le o*er t(ese +or se*enty years, be)a%se t(ey (ad &n ea)( t(e' 'en
w(o' t(ey )o%ld tr%st. B%t !&onys&os, w(o (ad -at(ered t(e w(ole o+
S&)&ly &nto a s&n-le )&ty, and was so )le*er t(at (e tr%sted no one,
only se)%red (&s own sa+ety w&t( -reat d&++&)%lty. "or (e was badly
o++ +or tr%stwort(y +r&ends0 and t(ere &s no s%rer )r&ter&on o+ *&rt%e
and *&)e t(an t(&s, w(et(er a 'an &s or &s not dest&t%te o+ s%)(
+r&ends.
T(&s, t(en, was t(e ad*&)e w(&)( !&on and -a*e to !&onys&os,
s&n)e, ow&n- to br&n-&n- %/ w(&)( (e (ad re)e&*ed +ro' (&s +at(er,
(e (ad (ad no ad*anta-es &n t(e way o+ ed%)at&on or o+ s%&table
lessons, &n t(e +&rst /la)e...0 and, &n t(e se)ond /la)e, t(at,
a+ter start&n- &n t(&s way, (e s(o%ld 'a1e +r&ends o+ ot(ers a'on- (&s
)onne)t&ons w(o were o+ t(e sa'e a-e and were &n sy'/at(y w&t( (&s
/%rs%&t o+ *&rt%e, b%t abo*e all t(at (e s(o%ld be &n (ar'ony w&t(
(&'sel+0 +or t(&s &t was o+ w(&)( (e was re'ar1ably &n need. T(&s we
d&d not say &n /la&n words, +or t(at wo%ld not (a*e been sa+e0 b%t
&n )o*ert lan-%a-e we 'a&nta&ned t(at e*ery 'an &n t(&s way wo%ld sa*e
bot( (&'sel+ and t(ose w(o' (e was lead&n-, and &+ (e d&d not +ollow
t(&s /at(, (e wo%ld do 2%st t(e o//os&te o+ t(&s. And a+ter /ro)eed&n-
on t(e )o%rse w(&)( we des)r&bed, and 'a1&n- (&'sel+ a w&se and
te'/erate 'an, &+ (e were t(en to +o%nd a-a&n t(e )&t&es o+ S&)&ly
w(&)( (ad been la&d waste, and b&nd t(e' to-et(er by laws and
)onst&t%t&ons, so as to be loyal to (&' and to one anot(er &n t(e&r
res&stan)e to t(e atta)1s o+ t(e barbar&ans, (e wo%ld, we told (&',
'a1e (&s +at(er;s e'/&re not 'erely do%ble w(at &t was b%t 'any
t&'es -reater. "or, &+ t(ese t(&n-s were done, (&s way wo%ld be
)lear to a 'ore )o'/lete s%b2%-at&on o+ t(e Cart(a-&n&ans t(an t(at
w(&)( be+ell t(e' &n 3elon;s t&'e, w(ereas &n o%r own day (&s +at(er
(ad +ollowed t(e o//os&te )o%rse o+ le*y&n- attr&b%te +or t(e
barbar&ans. T(&s was t(e lan-%a-e and t(ese t(e e4(ortat&ons -&*en
by %s, t(e )ons/&rators a-a&nst !&onys&os a))ord&n- to t(e )(ar-es
)&r)%lated +ro' *ar&o%s so%r)es5)(ar-es w(&)(, /re*a&l&n- as t(ey
d&d w&t( !&onys&os, )a%sed t(e e4/%ls&on o+ !&on and red%)ed 'e to a
state o+ a//re(ens&on. B%t w(en5to s%''ar&se -reat e*ents w(&)(
(a//ened &n no -reat t&'e5!&on ret%rned +ro' t(e Pelo/onnese and
At(ens, (&s ad*&)e to !&onys&os too1 t(e +or' o+ a)t&on.
To /ro)eed5w(en !&on (ad tw&)e o*er del&*ered t(e )&ty and
restored &t to t(e )&t&7ens, t(e Syra)%sans went t(ro%-( t(e sa'e
)(an-es o+ +eel&n- towards (&' as !&onys&os (ad -one t(ro%-(, w(en
!&on atte'/ted +&rst to ed%)ate (&' and tra&n (&' to be a so*ere&-n
wort(y o+ s%/re'e /ower and, w(en t(at was done, to be (&s )oad2%tor
&n all t(e deta&ls o+ (&s )areer. !&onys&os l&stened to t(ose w(o
)&r)%lated slanders to t(e e++e)t t(at !&on was a&'&n- at t(e
tyranny &n all t(e ste/s w(&)( (e too1 at t(at t&'e (&s &ntent&on
be&n- t(at !&onys&os, w(en (&s '&nd (ad +allen %nder t(e s/ell o+
)%lt%re, s(o%ld ne-le)t t(e -o*ern'ent and lea*e &t &n (&s (ands,
and t(at (e s(o%ld t(en a//ro/r&ate &t +or (&'sel+ and trea)(ero%sly
de/ose !&onys&os. T(ese slanders were *&)tor&o%s on t(at o))as&on0
t(ey were so on)e 'ore w(en )&r)%lated a'on- t(e Syra)%sans, w&nn&n- a
*&)tory w(&)( too1 an e4traord&nary )o%rse and /ro*ed d&s-ra)e+%l to
&ts a%t(ors. T(e story o+ w(at t(en too1 /la)e &s one w(&)( deser*es
)are+%l attent&on on t(e /art o+ t(ose w(o are &n*&t&n- 'e to deal
w&t( t(e /resent s&t%at&on.
, an At(en&an and +r&end o+ !&on, )a'e as (&s ally to t(e )o%rt
o+ !&onys&os, &n order t(at '&-(t )reate -ood w&ll &n /la)e o+ a
state war0 &n 'y )on+l&)t w&t( t(e a%t(ors o+ t(ese slanders was
worsted. #(en !&onys&os tr&ed to /ers%ade 'e by o++ers o+ (ono%rs
and wealt( to atta)( 'ysel+ to (&', and w&t( a *&ew to -&*&n- a de)ent
)olo%r to !&on;s e4/%ls&on a w&tness and +r&end on (&s s&de, (e +a&led
)o'/letely &n (&s atte'/t. Later on, w(en !&on ret%rned +ro' e4&le, (e
too1 w&t( (&' +ro' At(ens two brot(ers, w(o (ad been (&s +r&ends,
not +ro' )o''%n&ty &n /(&loso/(&) st%dy, b%t w&t( t(e ord&nary
)o'/an&ons(&/ )o''on a'on- 'ost +r&ends, w(&)( t(ey +or' as t(e res%lt
o+ relat&ons o+ (os/&tal&ty and t(e &nter)o%rse w(&)( o))%rs w(en
one 'an &n&t&ates t(e ot(er &n t(e 'yster&es. t was +ro' t(&s 1&nd o+
&nter)o%rse and +ro' ser*&)es )onne)ted w&t( (&s ret%rn t(at t(ese two
(el/ers &n (&s restorat&on be)a'e (&s )o'/an&ons. Ha*&n- )o'e to
S&)&ly, w(en t(ey /er)e&*ed t(at !&on (ad been '&sre/resented to t(e
S&)&l&an 3ree1s, w(o' (e (ad l&berated, as one t(at /lotted to
be)o'e 'onar)(, t(ey not only betrayed t(e&r )o'/an&on and +r&end, b%t
s(ared /ersonally &n t(e -%&lt o+ (&s '%rder, stand&n- by (&s
'%rderers as s%//orters w&t( wea/ons &n t(e&r (ands. T(e -%&lt and
&'/&ety o+ t(e&r )ond%)t ne&t(er e4)%se nor do dwell %/on &t.
"or 'any ot(ers 'a1e &t t(e&r b%s&ness to (ar/ %/on &t, and w&ll
'a1e &t t(e&r b%s&ness &n t(e +%t%re. B%t do ta1e e4)e/t&on to t(e
state'ent t(at, be)a%se t(ey were At(en&ans, t(ey (a*e bro%-(t s(a'e
%/on t(&s )&ty. "or say t(at (e too &s an At(en&an w(o re+%sed to
betray t(&s sa'e !&on, w(en (e (ad t(e o++er o+ r&)(es and 'any
ot(er (ono%rs. "or (&s was no )o''on or *%l-ar +r&ends(&/, b%t
rested on )o''%n&ty &n l&beral ed%)at&on, and t(&s &s t(e one t(&n- &n
w(&)( a w&se 'an w&ll /%t (&s tr%st, +ar 'ore t(an &n t&es o+ /ersonal
and bod&ly 1&ns(&/. So t(e two '%rderers o+ !&on were not o+
s%++&)&ent &'/ortan)e to be )a%ses o+ d&s-ra)e to t(&s )&ty, as t(o%-(
t(ey (ad been 'en o+ any note.
All t(&s (as been sa&d w&t( a *&ew to )o%nsell&n- t(e +r&ends and
+a'&ly o+ !&on. And &n add&t&on to t(&s -&*e +or t(e t(&rd t&'e to
yo% t(e sa'e ad*&)e and )o%nsel w(&)( (a*e -&*en tw&)e be+ore to
ot(ers5not to ensla*e S&)&ly or any ot(er State to des/ots5t(&s 'y
)o%nsel b%t5to /%t &t %nder t(e r%le o+ laws5+or t(e ot(er )o%rse &s
better ne&t(er +or t(e ensla*ers nor +or t(e ensla*ed, +or t(e'sel*es,
t(e&r )(&ldren;s )(&ldren and des)endants0 t(e atte'/t &s &n e*ery way
+ra%-(t w&t( d&saster. t &s only s'all and 'ean nat%res t(at are bent
%/on se&7&n- s%)( -a&ns +or t(e'sel*es, nat%res t(at 1now not(&n- o+
-oodness and 2%st&)e, d&*&ne as well as (%'an, &n t(&s l&+e and &n t(e
ne4t.
T(ese are t(e lessons w(&)( tr&ed to tea)(, +&rst to !&on,
se)ondly to !&onys&os, and now +or t(e t(&rd t&'e to yo%. !o yo%
obey 'e t(&n1&n- o+ <e%s t(e Preser*er, t(e /atron o+ t(&rd
*ent%res, and loo1&n- at t(e lot o+ !&onys&os and !&on, o+ w(o' t(e
one w(o d&sobeyed 'e &s l&*&n- &n d&s(ono%r, w(&le (e w(o obeyed 'e
(as d&ed (ono%rably. "or t(e one t(&n- w(&)( &s w(olly r&-(t and noble
&s to str&*e +or t(at w(&)( &s 'ost (ono%rable +or a 'an;s sel+ and
+or (&s )o%ntry, and to +a)e t(e )onse6%en)es w(ate*er t(ey 'ay be.
"or none o+ %s )an es)a/e deat(, nor, &+ a 'an )o%ld do so, wo%ld
&t, as t(e *%l-ar s%//ose, 'a1e (&' (a//y. "or not(&n- e*&l or -ood,
w(&)( &s wort( 'ent&on&n- at all, belon-s to t(&n-s so%lless0 b%t -ood
or e*&l w&ll be t(e /ort&on o+ e*ery so%l, e&t(er w(&le atta)(ed to
t(e body or w(en se/arated +ro' &t.
And we s(o%ld &n *ery tr%t( always bel&e*e t(ose an)&ent and
sa)red tea)(&n-s, w(&)( de)lare t(at t(e so%l &s &''ortal, t(at &t (as
2%d-es, and s%++ers t(e -reatest /enalt&es w(en &t (as been
se/arated +ro' t(e body. T(ere+ore also we s(o%ld )ons&der &t a lesser
e*&l to s%++er -reat wron-s and o%tra-es t(an to do t(e'. T(e )o*eto%s
'an, &'/o*er&s(ed as (e &s &n t(e so%l, t%rns a dea+ ear to t(&s
tea)(&n-0 or &+ (e (ears &t, (e la%-(s &t to s)orn w&t( +an)&ed
s%/er&or&ty, and s(a'elessly snat)(es +or (&'sel+ +ro' e*ery so%r)e
w(ate*er (&s best&al +an)y s%//oses w&ll /ro*&de +or (&' t(e 'eans
o+ eat&n- or dr&n1&n- or -l%tt&n- (&'sel+ w&t( t(at sla*&s( and
-ross /leas%re w(&)( &s +alsely )alled a+ter t(e -oddess o+ lo*e. He
&s bl&nd and )annot see &n t(ose a)ts o+ /l%nder w(&)( are a))o'/an&ed
by &'/&ety w(at (e&no%s -%&lt &s atta)(ed to ea)( wron-+%l deed, and
t(at t(e o++ender '%st dra- w&t( (&' t(e b%rden o+ t(&s &'/&ety
w(&le (e 'o*es abo%t on eart(, and w(en (e (as tra*elled beneat( t(e
eart( on a 2o%rney w(&)( (as e*ery )&r)%'stan)e o+ s(a'e and '&sery.
t was by %r-&n- t(ese and ot(er l&1e tr%t(s t(at )on*&n)ed
!&on, and &t &s w(o (a*e t(e best r&-(t to be an-ered w&t( (&s
'%rderers &n '%)( t(e sa'e way as (a*e w&t( !&onys&os. "or bot( t(ey
and (e (a*e done t(e -reatest &n2%ry to 'e, and '&-(t al'ost say
to all 'an1&nd, t(ey by slay&n- t(e 'an t(at was w&ll&n- to a)t
r&-(teo%sly, and (e by re+%s&n- to a)t r&-(teo%sly d%r&n- t(e w(ole o+
(&s r%le, w(en (e (eld s%/re'e /ower, &n w(&)( r%le &+ /(&loso/(y
and /ower (ad really 'et to-et(er, &t wo%ld (a*e sent +ort( a l&-(t to
all 'en, 3ree1s and barbar&ans, establ&s(&n- +%lly +or all t(e tr%e
bel&e+ t(at t(ere )an be no (a//&ness e&t(er +or t(e )o''%n&ty or
+or t(e &nd&*&d%al 'an, %nless (e /asses (&s l&+e %nder t(e r%le o+
r&-(teo%sness w&t( t(e -%&dan)e o+ w&sdo', e&t(er /ossess&n- t(ese
*&rt%es &n (&'sel+, or l&*&n- %nder t(e r%le o+ -odly 'en and (a*&n-
re)e&*ed a r&-(t tra&n&n- and ed%)at&on &n 'orals. T(ese were t(e a&'s
w(&)( !&onys&os &n2%red, and +or 'e e*eryt(&n- else &s a tr&+l&n-
&n2%ry )o'/ared w&t( t(&s.
T(e '%rderer o+ !&on (as, w&t(o%t 1now&n- &t, done t(e sa'e as
!&onys&os. "or as re-ards !&on, 1now r&-(t well, so +ar as &t &s
/oss&ble +or a 'an to say anyt(&n- /os&t&*ely abo%t ot(er 'en, t(at,
&+ (e (ad -ot t(e s%/re'e /ower, (e wo%ld ne*er (a*e t%rned (&s '&nd
to any ot(er +or' o+ r%le, b%t t(at, deal&n- +&rst w&t( Syra)%se,
(&s own nat&*e land, w(en (e (ad 'ade an end o+ (er sla*ery, )lot(ed
(er &n br&-(t a//arel, and -&*en (er t(e -arb o+ +reedo', (e wo%ld
t(en by e*ery 'eans &n (&s /ower (a*e ordered ar&-(t t(e l&*es o+
(&s +ellow5)&t&7ens by s%&table and e4)ellent laws0 and t(e t(&n- ne4t
&n order, w(&)( (e wo%ld (a*e set (&s (eart to a))o'/l&s(, was to
+o%nd a-a&n all t(e States o+ S&)&ly and 'a1e t(e' +ree +ro' t(e
barbar&ans, dr&*&n- o%t so'e and s%bd%&n- ot(ers, an eas&er tas1 +or
(&' t(an &t was +or H&ero. + t(ese t(&n-s (ad been a))o'/l&s(ed by
a 'an w(o was 2%st and bra*e and te'/erate and a /(&loso/(er, t(e sa'e
bel&e+ w&t( re-ard to *&rt%e wo%ld (a*e been establ&s(ed a'on- t(e
'a2or&ty w(&)(, &+ !&onys&os (ad been won o*er, wo%ld (a*e been
establ&s(ed, '&-(t al'ost say, a'on- all 'an1&nd and wo%ld (a*e
-&*en t(e' sal*at&on. B%t now so'e (&-(er /ower or a*en-&n- +&end
(as +allen %/on t(e', &ns/&r&n- t(e' w&t( lawlessness, -odlessness and
a)ts o+ re)1lessness &ss%&n- +ro' &-noran)e, t(e seed +ro' w(&)( all
e*&ls +or all 'an1&nd ta1e root and -row and w&ll &n +%t%re bear t(e
b&tterest (ar*est +or t(ose w(o bro%-(t t(e' &nto be&n-. T(&s
&-noran)e &t was w(&)( &n t(at se)ond *ent%re wre)1ed and r%&ned
e*eryt(&n-.
And now, +or -ood l%)1;s sa1e, let %s on t(&s t(&rd *ent%re
absta&n +ro' words o+ &ll o'en. B%t, ne*ert(eless, ad*&se yo%, (&s
+r&ends, to &'&tate &n !&on (&s lo*e +or (&s )o%ntry and (&s te'/erate
(ab&ts o+ da&ly l&+e, and to try w&t( better a%s/&)es to )arry o%t (&s
w&s(es5w(at t(ese were, yo% (a*e (eard +ro' 'e &n /la&n words. And
w(oe*er a'on- yo% )annot l&*e t(e s&'/le !or&an l&+e a))ord&n- to
t(e )%sto's o+ yo%r +ore+at(ers, b%t +ollows t(e 'anner o+ l&+e o+
!&on;s '%rderers and o+ t(e S&)&l&ans, do not &n*&te t(&s 'an to
2o&n yo%, or e4/e)t (&' to do any loyal or sal%tary a)t0 b%t &n*&te
all ot(ers to t(e wor1 o+ resettl&n- all t(e States o+ S&)&ly and
establ&s(&n- e6%al&ty %nder t(e laws, s%''on&n- t(e' +ro' S&)&ly
&tsel+ and +ro' t(e w(ole Pelo/onnese5and (a*e no +ear e*en o+ At(ens0
+or t(ere, also, are 'en w(o e4)el all 'an1&nd &n t(e&r de*ot&on to
*&rt%e and &n (atred o+ t(e re)1less a)ts o+ t(ose w(o s(ed t(e
blood o+ +r&ends.
B%t &+, a+ter all, t(&s &s wor1 +or a +%t%re t&'e, w(ereas &''ed&ate
a)t&on &s )alled +or by t(e d&sorders o+ all sorts and 1&nds w(&)(
ar&se e*ery day +ro' yo%r state o+ )&*&l str&+e, e*ery 'an to w(o'
Pro*&den)e (as -&*en e*en a 'oderate s(are o+ r&-(t &ntell&-en)e o%-(t
to 1now t(at &n t&'es o+ )&*&l str&+e t(ere &s no res/&te +ro' tro%ble
t&ll t(e *&)tors 'a1e an end o+ +eed&n- t(e&r -r%d-e by )o'bats and
ban&s('ents and e4e)%t&ons, and o+ wrea1&n- t(e&r *en-ean)e on t(e&r
ene'&es. T(ey s(o%ld 'aster t(e'sel*es and, ena)t&n- &'/art&al laws,
+ra'ed not to -rat&+y t(e'sel*es 'ore t(an t(e )on6%ered /arty, s(o%ld
)o'/el 'en to obey t(ese by two restra&n&n- +or)es, res/e)t and
+ear0 +ear, be)a%se t(ey are t(e 'asters and )an d&s/lay s%/er&or
+or)e0 res/e)t, be)a%se t(ey r&se s%/er&or to /leas%res and are
w&ll&n- and able to be ser*ants to t(e laws. T(ere &s no ot(er way
sa*e t(&s +or ter'&nat&n- t(e tro%bles o+ a )&ty t(at &s &n a state o+
)&*&l str&+e0 b%t a )onstant )ont&n%an)e o+ &nternal d&sorders,
str%--les, (atred and '%t%al d&str%st &s t(e )o''on lot o+ )&t&es
w(&)( are &n t(at /l&-(t.
T(ere+ore, t(ose w(o (a*e +or t(e t&'e be&n- -a&ned t(e %//er
(and, w(en t(ey des&re to se)%re t(e&r /os&t&on, '%st by t(e&r own a)t
and )(o&)e sele)t +ro' all Hellas 'en w(o' t(ey (a*e as)erta&ned to be
t(e best +or t(e /%r/ose. T(ese '%st &n t(e +&rst /la)e be 'en o+
'at%re years, w(o (a*e )(&ldren and w&*es at (o'e, and, as +ar as
/oss&ble, a lon- l&ne o+ an)estors o+ -ood re/%te, and all '%st be
/ossessed o+ s%++&)&ent /ro/erty. "or a )&ty o+ ten t(o%sand
(o%se(olders t(e&r n%'bers s(o%ld be +&+ty0 t(at &s eno%-(. T(ese t(ey
'%st &nd%)e to )o'e +ro' t(e&r own (o'es by entreat&es and t(e /ro'&se
o+ t(e (&-(est (ono%rs0 and (a*&n- &nd%)ed t(e' to )o'e t(ey '%st
entreat and )o''and t(e' to draw %/ laws a+ter b&nd&n- t(e'sel*es by
oat( to s(ow no /art&al&ty e&t(er to )on6%erors or to )on6%ered, b%t
to -&*e e6%al and )o''on r&-(ts to t(e w(ole State.
#(en laws (a*e been ena)ted, w(at e*eryt(&n- t(en (&n-es on &s t(&s.
+ t(e )on6%erors s(ow 'ore obed&en)e to t(e laws t(an t(e
)on6%ered, t(e w(ole State w&ll be +%ll o+ se)%r&ty and (a//&ness, and
t(ere w&ll be an es)a/e +ro' all yo%r tro%bles. B%t &+ t(ey do not,
t(en do not s%''on 'e or any ot(er (el/er to a&d yo% a-a&nst t(ose w(o
do not obey t(e )o%nsel now -&*e yo%. "or t(&s )o%rse &s a1&n to
t(at w(&)( !&on and atte'/ted to )arry o%t w&t( o%r (earts set on
t(e wel+are o+ Syra)%se. t &s &ndeed a se)ond best )o%rse. T(e
+&rst and best was t(at s)(e'e o+ wel+are to all 'an1&nd w(&)( we
atte'/ted to )arry o%t w&t( t(e )o5o/erat&on o+ !&onys&os0 b%t so'e
)(an)e, '&-(t&er t(an 'en, bro%-(t &t to not(&n-. !o yo% now, w&t(
-ood +ort%ne attend&n- yo% and w&t( Hea*en;s (el/, try to br&n- yo%r
e++orts to a (a//&er &ss%e.
Let t(&s be t(e end o+ 'y ad*&)e and &n2%n)t&on and o+ t(e narrat&*e
o+ 'y +&rst *&s&t to !&onys&os. #(oe*er w&s(es 'ay ne4t (ear o+ 'y
se)ond 2o%rney and *oya-e, and learn t(at &t was a reasonable and
s%&table /ro)eed&n-. .y +&rst /er&od o+ res&den)e &n S&)&ly was
o))%/&ed &n t(e way w(&)( related be+ore -&*&n- 'y ad*&)e to t(e
relat&*es and +r&ends o+ !&on. A+ter t(ose e*ents /ers%aded
!&onys&os by s%)( ar-%'ents as )o%ld to let 'e -o0 and we 'ade an
a-ree'ent as to w(at s(o%ld be done w(en /ea)e was 'ade0 +or at t(at
t&'e t(ere was a state o+ war &n S&)&ly. !&onys&os sa&d t(at, w(en
(e (ad /%t t(e a++a&rs o+ (&s e'/&re &n a /os&t&on o+ -reater sa+ety
+or (&'sel+, (e wo%ld send +or !&on and 'e a-a&n0 and (e des&red
t(at !&on s(o%ld re-ard w(at (ad be+allen (&' not as an e4&le, b%t
as a )(an-e o+ res&den)e. a-reed to )o'e a-a&n on t(ese )ond&t&ons.
#(en /ea)e (ad been 'ade, (e be-an send&n- +or 'e0 (e re6%ested t(at
!&on s(o%ld wa&t +or anot(er year, b%t be--ed t(at s(o%ld by all
'eans )o'e. !&on now 1e/t %r-&n- and entreat&n- 'e to -o. "or
/ers&stent r%'o%rs )a'e +ro' S&)&ly t(at !&onys&os was now on)e 'ore
/ossessed by an e4traord&nary des&re +or /(&loso/(y. "or t(&s reason
!&on /ressed 'e %r-ently not to de)l&ne (&s &n*&tat&on. B%t t(o%-(
was well aware t(at as re-ards /(&loso/(y s%)( sy'/to's were not
%n)o''on &n yo%n- 'en, st&ll &t see'ed to 'e sa+er at t(at t&'e to
/art )o'/any alto-et(er w&t( !&on and !&onys&os0 and o++ended bot(
o+ t(e' by re/ly&n- t(at was an old 'an, and t(at t(e ste/s now
be&n- ta1en were 6%&te at *ar&an)e w&t( t(e /re*&o%s a-ree'ent.
A+ter t(&s, &t see's, Ar)(ytes )a'e to t(e )o%rt o+ !&onys&os.
Be+ore 'y de/art%re (ad bro%-(t (&' and (&s Tarent&ne )&r)le &nto
+r&endly relat&ons w&t( !&onys&os. T(ere were so'e ot(ers &n
Syra)%se w(o (ad re)e&*ed so'e &nstr%)t&on +ro' !&on, and ot(ers (ad
learnt +ro' t(ese, -ett&n- t(e&r (eads +%ll o+ erroneo%s tea)(&n- on
/(&loso/(&)al 6%est&ons. T(ese, &t see's, were atte'/t&n- to (old
d&s)%ss&ons w&t( !&onys&os on 6%est&ons )onne)ted w&t( s%)(
s%b2e)ts, &n t(e &dea t(at (e (ad been +%lly &nstr%)ted &n 'y *&ews.
Now &s not at all de*o&d o+ nat%ral -&+ts +or learn&n-, and (e (as a
-reat )ra*&n- +or (ono%r and -lory. #(at was sa&d /robably /leased
(&', and (e +elt so'e s(a'e w(en &t be)a'e )lear t(at (e (ad not ta1en
ad*anta-e o+ 'y tea)(&n- d%r&n- 'y *&s&t. "or t(ese reasons (e
)on)e&*ed a des&re +or 'ore de+&n&te &nstr%)t&on, and (&s lo*e o+
-lory was an add&t&onal &n)ent&*e to (&'. T(e real reasons w(y (e
(ad learnt not(&n- d%r&n- 'y /re*&o%s *&s&t (a*e 2%st been set +ort(
&n t(e /re)ed&n- narrat&*e. A))ord&n-ly, now t(at was sa+e at (o'e
and (ad re+%sed (&s se)ond &n*&tat&on, as 2%st now related,
!&onys&os see's to (a*e +elt all 'anner o+ an4&ety lest )erta&n /eo/le
s(o%ld s%//ose t(at was %nw&ll&n- to *&s&t (&' a-a&n be)a%se (ad
+or'ed a /oor o/&n&on o+ (&s nat%ral -&+ts and )(ara)ter, and be)a%se,
1now&n- as d&d (&s 'anner o+ l&+e, d&sa//ro*ed o+ &t.
t &s r&-(t +or 'e to s/ea1 t(e tr%t(, and 'a1e no )o'/la&nt &+
anyone, a+ter (ear&n- t(e +a)ts, +or's a /oor o/&n&on o+ 'y
/(&loso/(y, and t(&n1s t(at t(e tyrant was &n t(e r&-(t. !&onys&os now
&n*&ted 'e +or t(e t(&rd t&'e, send&n- a tr&re'e to ens%re 'e
)o'+ort on t(e *oya-e0 (e sent also Ar)(ede'os5one o+ t(ose w(o (ad
s/ent so'e t&'e w&t( Ar)(ytes, and o+ w(o' (e s%//osed t(at (ad a
(&-(er o/&n&on t(an o+ any o+ t(e S&)&l&an 3ree1s5and, w&t( (&', ot(er
'en o+ re/%te &n S&)&ly. T(ese all bro%-(t t(e sa'e re/ort, t(at
!&onys&os (ad 'ade /ro-ress &n /(&loso/(y. He also sent a *ery lon-
letter, 1now&n- as (e d&d 'y relat&ons w&t( !&on and !&on;s
ea-erness also t(at s(o%ld ta1e s(&/ and -o to Syra)%se. T(e
letter was +ra'ed &n &ts o/en&n- senten)es to 'eet all t(ese
)ond&t&ons, and t(e tenor o+ &t was as +ollows8 :!&onys&os to
Plato,: (ere +ollowed t(e )%sto'ary -reet&n- and &''ed&ately a+ter
&t (e sa&d, :+ &n )o'/l&an)e w&t( o%r re6%est yo% )o'e now, &n t(e
+&rst /la)e, !&on;s a++a&rs w&ll be dealt w&t( &n w(ate*er way yo%
yo%rsel+ des&re0 1now t(at yo% w&ll des&re w(at &s reasonable, and
s(all )onsent to &t. B%t &+ not, none o+ !&on;s a++a&rs w&ll (a*e
res%lts &n a))ordan)e w&t( yo%r w&s(es, w&t( re-ard e&t(er to !&on
(&'sel+ or to ot(er 'atters.: T(&s (e sa&d &n t(ese words0 t(e rest &t
wo%ld be ted&o%s and &no//ort%ne to 6%ote. Ot(er letters arr&*ed
+ro' Ar)(ytes and t(e Tarent&nes, /ra&s&n- t(e /(&loso/(&)al st%d&es
o+ !&onys&os and say&n- t(at, &+ d&d not now )o'e, s(o%ld )a%se
a )o'/lete r%/t%re &n t(e&r +r&ends(&/ w&t( !&onys&os, w(&)( (ad
been bro%-(t abo%t by 'e and was o+ no s'all &'/ortan)e to t(e&r
/ol&t&)al &nterests.
#(en t(&s &n*&tat&on )a'e to 'e at t(at t&'e &n s%)( ter's, and
t(ose w(o (ad )o'e +ro' S&)&ly and taly were try&n- to dra- 'e
t(&t(er, w(&le 'y +r&ends at At(ens were l&terally /%s(&n- 'e o%t w&t(
t(e&r %r-ent entreat&es, &t was t(e sa'e old tale5t(at '%st not
betray !&on and 'y Tarent&ne +r&ends and s%//orters. Also 'ysel+ (ad
a l%r1&n- +eel&n- t(at t(ere was not(&n- s%r/r&s&n- &n t(e +a)t t(at a
yo%n- 'an, 6%&)1 to learn, (ear&n- tal1 o+ t(e -reat tr%t(s o+
/(&loso/(y, s(o%ld +eel a )ra*&n- +or t(e (&-(er l&+e. t(o%-(t
t(ere+ore t(at '%st /%t t(e 'atter de+&n&tely to t(e test to see
w(et(er (&s des&re was -en%&ne or t(e re*erse, and on no a))o%nt lea*e
s%)( an &'/%lse %na&ded nor 'a1e 'ysel+ res/ons&ble +or s%)( a dee/
and real d&s-ra)e, &+ t(e re/orts bro%-(t by anyone were really
tr%e. So bl&nd+old&n- 'ysel+ w&t( t(&s re+le)t&on, set o%t, w&t(
'any +ears and w&t( no *ery +a*o%rable ant&)&/at&ons, as was nat%ral
eno%-(. Howe*er, went, and 'y a)t&on on t(&s o))as&on at any rate
was really a )ase o+ :t(e t(&rd to t(e Preser*er,: +or (ad t(e
-ood +ort%ne to ret%rn sa+ely0 and +or t(&s '%st, ne4t to t(e 3od,
t(an1 !&onys&os, be)a%se, t(o%-( 'any w&s(ed to 'a1e an end o+ 'e,
(e /re*ented t(e' and /a&d so'e /ro/er res/e)t to 'y s&t%at&on.
On 'y arr&*al, t(o%-(t t(at +&rst '%st /%t to t(e test t(e
6%est&on w(et(er !&onys&os (ad really been 1&ndled w&t( t(e +&re o+
/(&loso/(y, or w(et(er all t(e re/orts w(&)( (ad )o'e to At(ens were
e'/ty r%'o%rs. Now t(ere &s a way o+ /%tt&n- s%)( t(&n-s to t(e test
w(&)( &s not to be des/&sed and &s well s%&ted to 'onar)(s, es/e)&ally
to t(ose w(o (a*e -ot t(e&r (eads +%ll o+ erroneo%s tea)(&n-, w(&)(
&''ed&ately 'y arr&*al +o%nd to be *ery '%)( t(e )ase w&t(
!&onys&os. One s(o%ld s(ow s%)( 'en w(at /(&loso/(y &s &n all &ts
e4tent0 w(at t(e&r ran-e o+ st%d&es &s by w(&)( &t &s a//roa)(ed,
and (ow '%)( labo%r &t &n*ol*es. "or t(e 'an w(o (as (eard t(&s, &+ (e
(as t(e tr%e /(&loso/(&) s/&r&t and t(at -odl&1e te'/era'ent w(&)(
'a1es (&' a 1&n to /(&loso/(y and wort(y o+ &t, t(&n1s t(at (e (as
been told o+ a 'ar*ello%s road ly&n- be+ore (&', t(at (e '%st
+ort(w&t( /ress on w&t( all (&s stren-t(, and t(at l&+e &s not wort(
l&*&n- &+ (e does anyt(&n- else. A+ter t(&s (e %ses to t(e +%ll (&s
own /owers and t(ose o+ (&s -%&de &n t(e /at(, and rela4es not (&s
e++orts, t&ll (e (as e&t(er rea)(ed t(e end o+ t(e w(ole )o%rse o+
st%dy or -a&ned s%)( /ower t(at (e &s not &n)a/able o+ d&re)t&n- (&s
ste/s w&t(o%t t(e a&d o+ a -%&de. T(&s &s t(e s/&r&t and t(ese are t(e
t(o%-(ts by w(&)( s%)( a 'an -%&des (&s l&+e, )arry&n- o%t (&s wor1,
w(ate*er (&s o))%/at&on 'ay be, b%t t(ro%-(o%t &t all e*er )lea*&n- to
/(&loso/(y and to s%)( r%les o+ d&et &n (&s da&ly l&+e as w&ll -&*e
(&' &nward sobr&ety and t(erew&t( 6%&)1ness &n learn&n-, a -ood
'e'ory, and reason&n- /ower0 t(e 1&nd o+ l&+e w(&)( &s o//osed to t(&s
(e )ons&stently (ates. T(ose w(o (a*e not t(e tr%e /(&loso/(&) te'/er,
b%t a 'ere s%r+a)e )olo%r&n- o+ o/&n&ons /enetrat&n-, l&1e s%nb%rn,
only s1&n dee/, w(en t(ey see (ow -reat t(e ran-e o+ st%d&es &s, (ow
'%)( labo%r &s &n*ol*ed &n &t, and (ow ne)essary to t(e /%rs%&t &t
&s to (a*e an orderly re-%lat&on o+ t(e da&ly l&+e, )o'e to t(e
)on)l%s&on t(at t(e t(&n- &s d&++&)%lt and &'/oss&ble +or t(e', and
are a)t%ally &n)a/able o+ )arry&n- o%t t(e )o%rse o+ st%dy0 w(&le so'e
o+ t(e' /ers%ade t(e'sel*es t(at t(ey (a*e s%++&)&ently st%d&ed t(e
w(ole 'atter and (a*e no need o+ any +%rt(er e++ort. T(&s &s t(e
s%re test and &s t(e sa+est one to a//ly to t(ose w(o l&*e &n l%4%ry
and are &n)a/able o+ )ont&n%o%s e++ort0 &t ens%res t(at s%)( a 'an
s(all not t(row t(e bla'e %/on (&s tea)(er b%t on (&'sel+, be)a%se
(e )annot br&n- to t(e /%rs%&t all t(e 6%al&t&es ne)essary to &t. T(%s
&t )a'e abo%t t(at sa&d to !&onys&os w(at d&d say on t(at
o))as&on.
d&d not, (owe*er, -&*e a )o'/lete e4/os&t&on, nor d&d !&onys&os
as1 +or one. "or (e /ro+essed to 1now 'any, and t(ose t(e 'ost
&'/ortant, /o&nts, and to (a*e a s%++&)&ent (old o+ t(e' t(ro%-(
&nstr%)t&on -&*en by ot(ers. (ear also t(at (e (as s&n)e wr&tten
abo%t w(at (e (eard +ro' 'e, )o'/os&n- w(at /ro+esses to be (&s own
(andboo1, *ery d&++erent, so (e says, +ro' t(e do)tr&nes w(&)( (e
(eard +ro' 'e0 b%t o+ &ts )ontents 1now not(&n-0 1now &ndeed
t(at ot(ers (a*e wr&tten on t(e sa'e s%b2e)ts0 b%t w(o t(ey are, &s
'ore t(an t(ey 1now t(e'sel*es. T(%s '%)( at least, )an say abo%t
all wr&ters, /ast or +%t%re, w(o say t(ey 1now t(e t(&n-s to w(&)(
de*ote 'ysel+, w(et(er by (ear&n- t(e tea)(&n- o+ 'e or o+ ot(ers,
or by t(e&r own d&s)o*er&es5t(at a))ord&n- to 'y *&ew &t &s not
/oss&ble +or t(e' to (a*e any real s1&ll &n t(e 'atter. T(ere
ne&t(er &s nor e*er w&ll be a treat&se o+ '&ne on t(e s%b2e)t. "or
&t does not ad'&t o+ e4/os&t&on l&1e ot(er bran)(es o+ 1nowled-e0
b%t a+ter '%)( )on*erse abo%t t(e 'atter &tsel+ and a l&+e l&*ed
to-et(er, s%ddenly a l&-(t, as &t were, &s 1&ndled &n one so%l by a
+la'e t(at lea/s to &t +ro' anot(er, and t(erea+ter s%sta&ns &tsel+.
$et t(&s '%)( 1now5t(at &+ t(e t(&n-s were wr&tten or /%t &nto
words, &t wo%ld be done best by 'e, and t(at, &+ t(ey were wr&tten
badly, s(o%ld be t(e /erson 'ost /a&ned. A-a&n, &+ t(ey (ad a//eared
to 'e to ad'&t ade6%ately o+ wr&t&n- and e4/os&t&on, w(at tas1 &n l&+e
)o%ld (a*e /er+or'ed nobler t(an t(&s, to wr&te w(at &s o+ -reat
ser*&)e to 'an1&nd and to br&n- t(e nat%re o+ t(&n-s &nto t(e l&-(t
+or all to see9 B%t do not t(&n1 &t a -ood t(&n- +or 'en t(at
t(ere s(o%ld be a d&s6%&s&t&on, as &t &s )alled, on t(&s
to/&)5e4)e/t +or so'e +ew, w(o are able w&t( a l&ttle tea)(&n- to +&nd
&t o%t +or t(e'sel*es. As +or t(e rest, &t wo%ld +&ll so'e o+ t(e'
6%&te &llo-&)ally w&t( a '&sta1en +eel&n- o+ )onte'/t, and ot(ers w&t(
lo+ty and *a&n5-lor&o%s e4/e)tat&ons, as t(o%-( t(ey (ad learnt
so'et(&n- (&-( and '&-(ty.
On t(&s /o&nt &ntend to s/ea1 a l&ttle 'ore at len-t(0 +or
/er(a/s, w(en (a*e done so, t(&n-s w&ll be )learer w&t( re-ard to 'y
/resent s%b2e)t. T(ere &s an ar-%'ent w(&)( (olds -ood a-a&nst t(e 'an
*ent%res to /%t anyt(&n- w(ate*er &nto wr&t&n- on 6%est&ons o+ t(&s
nat%re0 &t (as o+ten be+ore been stated by 'e, and &t see's s%&table
to t(e /resent o))as&on.
"or e*eryt(&n- t(at e4&sts t(ere are t(ree &nstr%'ents by w(&)(
t(e 1nowled-e o+ &t &s ne)essar&ly &'/arted0 +o%rt(, t(ere &s t(e
1nowled-e &tsel+, and, as +&+t(, we '%st )o%nt t(e t(&n- &tsel+
w(&)( &s 1nown and tr%ly e4&sts. T(e +&rst &s t(e na'e, t(e, se)ond
t(e de+&n&t&on, t(e t(&rd. t(e &'a-e, and t(e +o%rt( t(e 1nowled-e. +
yo% w&s( to learn w(at 'ean, ta1e t(ese &n t(e )ase o+ one &nstan)e,
and so %nderstand t(e' &n t(e )ase o+ all. A )&r)le &s a t(&n-
s/o1en o+, and &ts na'e &s t(at *ery word w(&)( we (a*e 2%st
%ttered. T(e se)ond t(&n- belon-&n- to &t &s &ts de+&n&t&on, 'ade %/
na'es and *erbal +or's. "or t(at w(&)( (as t(e na'e :ro%nd,:
:ann%lar,: or, :)&r)le,: '&-(t be de+&ned as t(at w(&)( (as t(e
d&stan)e +ro' &ts )&r)%'+eren)e to &ts )entre e*eryw(ere e6%al. T(&rd,
)o'es t(at w(&)( &s drawn and r%bbed o%t a-a&n, or t%rned on a lat(e
and bro1en %/5none o+ w(&)( t(&n-s )an (a//en to t(e )&r)le
&tsel+5to w(&)( t(e ot(er t(&n-s, 'ent&oned (a*e re+eren)e0 +or &t
&s so'et(&n- o+ a d&++erent order +ro' t(e'. "o%rt(, )o'es
1nowled-e, &ntell&-en)e and r&-(t o/&n&on abo%t t(ese t(&n-s. >nder
t(&s one (ead we '%st -ro%/ e*eryt(&n- w(&)( (as &ts e4&sten)e, not &n
words nor &n bod&ly s(a/es, b%t &n so%ls5+ro' w(&)( &t &s dear t(at &t
&s so'et(&n- d&++erent +ro' t(e nat%re o+ t(e )&r)le &tsel+ and +ro'
t(e t(ree t(&n-s 'ent&oned be+ore. O+ t(ese t(&n-s &ntell&-en)e
)o'es )losest &n 1&ns(&/ and l&1eness to t(e +&+t(, and t(e ot(ers are
+art(er d&stant.
T(e sa'e a//l&es to stra&-(t as well as to )&r)%lar +or', to
)olo%rs, to t(e -ood, t(e, bea%t&+%l, t(e 2%st, to all bod&es
w(et(er 'an%+a)t%red or )o'&n- &nto be&n- &n t(e )o%rse o+ nat%re,
to +&re, water, and all s%)( t(&n-s, to e*ery l&*&n- be&n-, to
)(ara)ter &n so%ls, and to all t(&n-s done and s%++ered. "or &n t(e
)ase o+ all t(ese, no one, &+ (e (as not so'e (ow or ot(er -ot (old o+
t(e +o%r t(&n-s +&rst 'ent&oned, )an e*er be )o'/letely a /arta1er
o+ 1nowled-e o+ t(e +&+t(. "%rt(er, on a))o%nt o+ t(e wea1ness o+
lan-%a-e, t(ese ?&.e., t(e +o%r@ atte'/t to s(ow w(at ea)( t(&n- &s
l&1e, not less t(an w(at ea)( t(&n- &s. "or t(&s reason no 'an o+
&ntell&-en)e w&ll *ent%re to e4/ress (&s /(&loso/(&)al *&ews &n
lan-%a-e, es/e)&ally not &n lan-%a-e t(at &s %n)(an-eable, w(&)( &s
tr%e o+ t(at w(&)( &s set down &n wr&tten )(ara)ters.
A-a&n yo% '%st learn t(e /o&nt w(&)( )o'es ne4t. E*ery )&r)le, o+
t(ose w(&)( are by t(e a)t o+ 'an drawn or e*en t%rned on a lat(e,
&s +%ll o+ t(at w(&)( &s o//os&te to t(e +&+t( t(&n-. "or e*eryw(ere
&t (as )onta)t w&t( t(e stra&-(t. B%t t(e )&r)le &tsel+, we say, (as
not(&n- &n e&t(er s'aller or -reater, o+ t(at w(&)( &s &ts o//os&te.
#e say also t(at t(e na'e &s not a t(&n- o+ /er'anen)e +or any o+
t(e', and t(at not(&n- /re*ents t(e t(&n-s now )alled ro%nd +ro' be&n-
)alled stra&-(t, and t(e stra&-(t t(&n-s ro%nd0 +or t(ose w(o 'a1e
)(an-es and )all t(&n-s by o//os&te na'es, not(&n- w&ll be less
/er'anent ?t(an a na'e@. A-a&n w&t( re-ard to t(e de+&n&t&on, &+ &t &s
'ade %/ o+ na'es and *erbal +or's, t(e sa'e re'ar1 (olds t(at t(ere &s
no s%++&)&ently d%rable /er'anen)e &n &t. And t(ere &s no end to t(e
&nstan)es o+ t(e a'b&-%&ty +ro' w(&)( ea)( o+ t(e +o%r s%++ers0 b%t
t(e -reatest o+ t(e' &s t(at w(&)( we 'ent&oned a l&ttle earl&er,
t(at, w(ereas t(ere are two t(&n-s, t(at w(&)( (as real be&n-, and
t(at w(&)( &s only a 6%al&ty, w(en t(e so%l &s see1&n- to 1now, not
t(e 6%al&ty, b%t t(e essen)e, ea)( o+ t(e +o%r, /resent&n- to t(e so%l
by word and &n a)t t(at w(&)( &t &s not see1&n- ?&.e., t(e 6%al&ty@, a
t(&n- o/en to re+%tat&on by t(e senses, be&n- 'erely t(e t(&n-
/resented to t(e so%l &n ea)( /art&)%lar )ase w(et(er by state'ent
or t(e a)t o+ s(ow&n-, +&lls, one 'ay say, e*ery 'an w&t( /%77le'ent
and /er/le4&ty.
Now &n s%b2e)ts &n w(&)(, by reason o+ o%r de+e)t&*e ed%)at&on, we
(a*e not been a))%sto'ed e*en to sear)( +or t(e tr%t(, b%t are
sat&s+&ed w&t( w(ate*er &'a-es are /resented to %s, we are not (eld %/
to r&d&)%le by one anot(er, t(e 6%est&oned by 6%est&oners, w(o )an
/%ll to /&e)es and )r&t&)&se t(e +o%r t(&n-s. B%t &n s%b2e)ts w(ere we
try to )o'/el a 'an to -&*e a )lear answer abo%t t(e +&+t(, any one o+
t(ose w(o are )a/able o+ o*ert(row&n- an anta-on&st -ets t(e better o+
%s, and 'a1es t(e 'an, w(o -&*es an e4/os&t&on &n s/ee)( or wr&t&n- or
&n re/l&es to 6%est&ons, a//ear to 'ost o+ (&s (earers to 1now not(&n-
o+ t(e t(&n-s on w(&)( (e &s atte'/t&n- to wr&te or s/ea10 +or t(ey
are so'et&'es not aware t(at &t &s not t(e '&nd o+ t(e wr&ter or
s/ea1er w(&)( &s /ro*ed to be at +a%lt, b%t t(e de+e)t&*e nat%re o+
ea)( o+ t(e +o%r &nstr%'ents. T(e /ro)ess (owe*er o+ deal&n- w&t(
all o+ t(ese, as t(e '&nd 'o*es %/ and down to ea)( &n t%rn, does
a+ter '%)( e++ort -&*e b&rt( &n a well5)onst&t%ted '&nd to 1nowled-e
o+ t(at w(&)( &s well )onst&t%ted. B%t &+ a 'an &s &ll5)onst&t%ted
by nat%re ?as t(e state o+ t(e so%l &s nat%rally &n t(e 'a2or&ty
bot( &n &ts )a/a)&ty +or learn&n- and &n w(at &s )alled 'oral
)(ara)ter@5or &t 'ay (a*e be)o'e so by deter&orat&on5not e*en
Lyn)e%s )o%ld endow s%)( 'en w&t( t(e /ower o+ s&-(t.
n one word, t(e 'an w(o (as no nat%ral 1&ns(&/ w&t( t(&s 'atter
)annot be 'ade a1&n to &t by 6%&)1ness o+ learn&n- or 'e'ory0 +or &t
)annot be en-endered at all &n nat%res w(&)( are +ore&-n to &t.
T(ere+ore, &+ 'en are not by nat%re 1&ns(&/ all&ed to 2%st&)e and
all ot(er t(&n-s t(at are (ono%rable, t(o%-( t(ey 'ay be -ood at
learn&n- and re'e'ber&n- ot(er 1nowled-e o+ *ar&o%s 1&nds5or &+ t(ey
(a*e t(e 1&ns(&/ b%t are slow learners and (a*e no 'e'ory5none o+
all t(ese w&ll e*er learn to t(e +%ll t(e tr%t( abo%t *&rt%e and *&)e.
"or bot( '%st be learnt to-et(er0 and to-et(er also '%st be learnt, by
)o'/lete and lon- )ont&n%ed st%dy, as sa&d at t(e be-&nn&n-, t(e
tr%e and t(e +alse abo%t all t(at (as real be&n-. A+ter '%)( e++ort,
as na'es, de+&n&t&ons, s&-(ts, and ot(er data o+ sense, are bro%-(t
&nto )onta)t and +r&)t&on one w&t( anot(er, &n t(e )o%rse o+
s)r%t&ny and 1&ndly test&n- by 'en w(o /ro)eed by 6%est&on and
answer w&t(o%t &ll w&ll, w&t( a s%dden +las( t(ere s(&nes +ort(
%nderstand&n- abo%t e*ery /roble', and an &ntell&-en)e w(ose e++orts
rea)( t(e +%rt(est l&'&ts o+ (%'an /owers. T(ere+ore e*ery 'an o+
wort(, w(en deal&n- w&t( 'atters o+ wort(, w&ll be +ar +ro' e4/os&n-
t(e' to &ll +eel&n- and '&s%nderstand&n- a'on- 'en by )o''&tt&n-
t(e' to wr&t&n-. n one word, t(en, &t 'ay be 1nown +ro' t(&s t(at, &+
one sees wr&tten treat&ses )o'/osed by anyone, e&t(er t(e laws o+ a
law-&*er, or &n any ot(er +or' w(ate*er, t(ese are not +or t(at 'an
t(e t(&n-s o+ 'ost wort(, &+ (e &s a 'an o+ wort(, b%t t(at (&s
treas%res are la&d %/ &n t(e +a&rest s/ot t(at (e /ossesses. B%t &+
t(ese t(&n-s were wor1ed at by (&' as t(&n-s o+ real wort(, and
)o''&tted to wr&t&n-, t(en s%rely, not -ods, b%t 'en :(a*e
t(e'sel*es bere+t (&' o+ (&s w&ts.:
Anyone w(o (as +ollowed t(&s d&s)o%rse and d&-ress&on w&ll 1now well
t(at, &+ !&onys&os or anyone else, -reat or s'all, (as wr&tten a
treat&se on t(e (&-(est 'atters and t(e +&rst /r&n)&/les o+ t(&n-s, (e
(as, so say, ne&t(er (eard nor learnt any so%nd tea)(&n- abo%t t(e
s%b2e)t o+ (&s treat&se0 ot(erw&se, (e wo%ld (a*e (ad t(e sa'e
re*eren)e +or &t, w(&)( (a*e, and wo%ld (a*e s(r%n1 +ro' /%tt&n-
&t +ort( &nto a world o+ d&s)ord and %n)o'el&ness. "or (e wrote &t,
not as an a&d to 'e'ory5s&n)e t(ere &s no r&s1 o+ +or-ett&n- &t, &+
a 'an;s so%l (as on)e la&d (old o+ &t0 +or &t &s e4/ressed &n t(e
s(ortest o+ state'ents5b%t &+ (e wrote &t at all, &t was +ro' a 'ean
)ra*&n- +or (ono%r, e&t(er /%tt&n- &t +ort( as (&s own &n*ent&on, or
to +&-%re as a 'an /ossessed o+ )%lt%re, o+ w(&)( (e was not wort(y,
&+ (&s (eart was set on t(e )red&t o+ /ossess&n- &t. + t(en !&onys&os
-a&ned t(&s )%lt%re +ro' t(e one lesson w(&)( (e (ad +ro' 'e, we 'ay
/er(a/s -rant (&' t(e /ossess&on o+ &t, t(o%-( (ow (e a)6%&red
&t53od wot, as t(e T(eban says0 +or -a*e (&' t(e tea)(&n-, w(&)(
(a*e des)r&bed, on t(at one o))as&on and ne*er a-a&n.
T(e ne4t /o&nt w(&)( re6%&res to be 'ade )lear to anyone w(o
w&s(es to d&s)o*er (ow t(&n-s really (a//ened, &s t(e reason w(y &t
)a'e abo%t t(at d&d not )ont&n%e 'y tea)(&n- &n a se)ond and t(&rd
lesson and yet o+tener. !oes !&onys&os, a+ter a s&n-le lesson, bel&e*e
(&'sel+ to 1now t(e 'atter, and (as (e an ade6%ate 1nowled-e o+ &t,
e&t(er as (a*&n- d&s)o*ered &t +or (&'sel+ or learnt &t be+ore +ro'
ot(ers, or does (e bel&e*e 'y tea)(&n- to be wort(less, or, t(&rdly,
to be beyond (&s ran-e and too -reat +or (&', and (&'sel+ to be really
%nable to l&*e as one w(o -&*es (&s '&nd to w&sdo' and *&rt%e9 "or
&+ (e t(&n1s &t wort(less, (e w&ll (a*e to )ontend w&t( 'any w(o say
t(e o//os&te, and w(o wo%ld be (eld &n +ar (&-(er re/%te as 2%d-es
t(an !&onys&os, &+ on t(e ot(er (and, (e t(&n1s (e (as d&s)o*ered or
learnt t(e t(&n-s and t(at t(ey are wort( (a*&n- as /art o+ a
l&beral ed%)at&on, (ow )o%ld (e, %nless (e &s an e4traord&nary /erson,
(a*e so re)1lessly d&s(ono%red t(e 'aster w(o (as led t(e way &n t(ese
s%b2e)ts9 How (e d&s(ono%red (&', w&ll now state.
>/ to t(&s t&'e (e (ad allowed !&on to re'a&n &n /ossess&on o+ (&s
/ro/erty and to re)e&*e t(e &n)o'e +ro' &t. B%t not lon- a+ter t(e
+ore-o&n- e*ents, as &+ (e (ad ent&rely +or-otten (&s letter to t(at
e++e)t, (e no lon-er allowed !&on;s tr%stees to send (&' re'&ttan)es
to t(e Pelo/onnese, on t(e /reten)e t(at t(e owner o+ t(e /ro/erty was
not !&on b%t !&on;s son, (&s own ne/(ew, o+ w(o' (e (&'sel+ was
le-ally t(e tr%stee. T(ese were t(e a)t%al +a)ts w(&)( o))%rred %/
to t(e /o&nt w(&)( we (a*e rea)(ed. T(ey (ad o/ened 'y eyes as to
t(e *al%e o+ !&onys&os; des&re +or /(&loso/(y, and (ad e*ery r&-(t
to )o'/la&n, w(et(er w&s(ed to do so or not. Now by t(&s t&'e &t was
s%''er and t(e season +or sea *oya-es0 t(ere+ore de)&ded t(at '%st
not be *e4ed w&t( !&onys&os rat(er t(an w&t( 'ysel+ and t(ose w(o
(ad +or)ed 'e to )o'e +or t(e t(&rd t&'e &nto t(e stra&t o+ S)ylla,
t(at on)e a-a&n '&-(t
To +ell C(arybd&s 'eas%re ba)1 'y )o%rse,
b%t '%st tell !&onys&os t(at &t was &'/oss&ble +or 'e to re'a&n
a+ter t(&s o%tra-e (ad been /%t %/on !&on. He tr&ed to soot(e 'e and
be--ed 'e to re'a&n, not t(&n1&n- &t des&rable +or (&'sel+ t(at
s(o%ld arr&*e /ost (aste &n /erson as t(e bearer o+ s%)( t&d&n-s. #(en
(&s entreat&es /rod%)ed no e++e)t, (e /ro'&sed t(at (e (&'sel+ wo%ld
/ro*&de 'e w&t( trans/ort. "or 'y &ntent&on was to e'bar1 on one o+
t(e trad&n- s(&/s and sa&l away, be&n- &nd&-nant and t(&n1&n- &t 'y
d%ty to +a)e all dan-ers, &n )ase was /re*ented +ro' -o&n-5s&n)e
/la&nly and ob*&o%sly was do&n- no wron-, b%t was t(e /arty wron-ed.
See&n- 'e not at all &n)l&ned to stay, (e de*&sed t(e +ollow&n-
s)(e'e to 'a1e 'e stay d%r&n- t(at sad&n- season. On t(e ne4t day (e
)a'e to 'e and 'ade a /la%s&ble /ro/osal8 :Let %s /%t an end,: (e
sa&d, :to t(ese )onstant 6%arrels between yo% and 'e abo%t !&on and
(&s a++a&rs. "or yo%r sa1e w&ll do t(&s +or !&on. re6%&re (&' to
ta1e (&s own /ro/erty and res&de &n t(e Pelo/onnese, not as an
e4&le, b%t on t(e %nderstand&n- t(at &t &s o/en +or (&' to '&-rate
(ere, w(en t(&s ste/ (as t(e 2o&nt a//ro*al o+ (&'sel+, 'e, and yo%
(&s +r&ends0 and t(&s s(all be o/en to (&' on t(e %nderstand&n- t(at
(e does not /lot a-a&nst 'e. $o% and yo%r +r&ends and !&on;s +r&ends
(ere '%st be s%ret&es +or (&' &n t(&s, and (e '%st -&*e yo%
se)%r&ty. Let t(e +%nds w(&)( (e re)e&*es be de/os&ted &n t(e
Pelo/onnese and at At(ens, w&t( /ersons a//ro*ed by yo%, and let
!&on en2oy t(e &n)o'e +ro' t(e' b%t (a*e no /ower to ta1e t(e' o%t
o+ de/os&t w&t(o%t t(e a//ro*al o+ yo% and yo%r +r&ends. "or (a*e no
-reat )on+&den)e &n (&', t(at, &+ (e (as t(&s /ro/erty at (&s
d&s/osal, (e w&ll a)t 2%stly towards 'e, +or &t w&ll be no s'all
a'o%nt0 b%t (a*e 'ore )on+&den)e &n yo% and yo%r +r&ends. See &+
t(&s sat&s+&es yo%0 and on t(ese )ond&t&ons re'a&n +or t(e /resent
year, and at t(e ne4t season yo% s(all de/art ta1&n- t(e /ro/erty w&t(
yo%. a' 6%&te s%re t(at !&on w&ll be -rate+%l to yo%, &+ yo%
a))o'/l&s( so '%)( on (&s be(al+.:
#(en (eard t(&s /ro/osal was *e4ed, b%t a+ter re+le)t&on sa&d
wo%ld let (&' 1now 'y *&ew o+ &t on t(e +ollow&n- day. #e a-reed
to t(at e++e)t +or t(e 'o'ent, and a+terwards w(en was by 'ysel+
/ondered t(e 'atter &n '%)( d&stress. T(e +&rst re+le)t&on t(at )a'e
%/, lead&n- t(e way &n 'y sel+5)o''%n&n-, was t(&s8 :Co'e s%//ose t(at
!&onys&os &ntends to do none o+ t(e t(&n-s w(&)( (e (as 'ent&oned, b%t
t(at, a+ter 'y de/art%re, (e wr&tes a /la%s&ble letter to !&on, and
orders se*eral o+ (&s )reat%res to wr&te to t(e sa'e e++e)t, tell&n-
(&' o+ t(e /ro/osal w(&)( (e (as now 'ade to 'e, 'a1&n- o%t t(at (e
was w&ll&n- to do w(at (e /ro/osed, b%t t(at re+%sed and
)o'/letely ne-le)ted !&on;s &nterests. "%rt(er, s%//ose t(at (e &s not
w&ll&n- to allow 'y de/art%re, and w&t(o%t -&*&n- /ersonal orders to
any o+ t(e 'er)(ants, 'a1es &t )lear, as (e eas&ly )an, to all t(at (e
not w&s( 'e to sa&l, w&ll anyone )onsent to ta1e 'e as a /assen-er,
w(en lea*e t(e (o%se8 o+ !&onys&os9:
"or &n add&t&on to 'y ot(er tro%bles, was lod-&n- at t(at t&'e
&n t(e -arden w(&)( s%rro%nd (&s (o%se, +ro' w(&)( e*en t(e -ate1ee/er
wo%ld (a*e re+%sed to let 'e -o, %nless an order (ad been sent to
(&' +ro' !&onys&os. :S%//ose (owe*er t(at wa&t +or t(e year, s(all
be able to wr&te word o+ t(ese t(&n-s to !&on, stat&n- t(e /os&t&on &n
w(&)( a', and t(e ste/s w(&)( a' try&n- to ta1e. And &+
!&onys&os does any o+ t(e t(&n-s w(&)( (e says, s(all (a*e
a))o'/l&s(ed so'et(&n- t(at &s not alto-et(er to be sneered at0 +or
!&on;s /ro/erty &s, at a +a&r est&'ate, /er(a/s not less t(an a
(%ndred talents. + (owe*er t(e /ros/e)t w(&)( see loo'&n- &n t(e
+%t%re ta1es t(e )o%rse w(&)( 'ay reasonably be e4/e)ted, 1now not
w(at s(all do w&t( 'ysel+. St&ll &t &s /er(a/s ne)essary to -o on
wor1&n- +or a year, and to atte'/t to /ro*e by a)t%al +a)t t(e
'a)(&nat&ons o+ !&onys&os.:
Ha*&n- )o'e to t(&s de)&s&on, on t(e +ollow&n- day sa&d to
!&onys&os, : (a*e de)&ded to re'a&n. B%t,: )ont&n%ed, : '%st as1
t(at yo% w&ll not re-ard 'e as e'/owered to a)t +or !&on, b%t w&ll
alon- w&t( 'e wr&te a letter to (&', stat&n- w(at (as now been
de)&ded, and en6%&re w(et(er t(&s )o%rse sat&s+&es (&'. + &t does
not, and &+ (e (as ot(er w&s(es and de'ands, (e '%st wr&te /art&)%lars
o+ t(e' as soon as /oss&ble, and yo% '%st not as yet ta1e any (asty
ste/ w&t( re-ard to (&s &nterests.:
T(&s was w(at was sa&d and t(&s was t(e a-ree'ent w(&)( was 'ade,
al'ost &n t(ese words. #ell, a+ter t(&s t(e trad&n-5s(&/s too1 t(e&r
de/art%re, and &t was no lon-er /oss&ble +or 'e to ta1e '&ne, w(en
!&onys&os, &+ yo% /lease, addressed 'e w&t( t(e re'ar1 t(at (al+ t(e
/ro/erty '%st be re-arded as belon-&n- to !&on and (al+ to (&s son.
T(ere+ore, (e sa&d, (e wo%ld sell &t, and w(en &t was sold wo%ld
-&*e (al+ to 'e to ta1e away, and wo%ld lea*e (al+ on t(e s/ot +or t(e
son. T(&s )o%rse, (e sa&d, was t(e 'ost 2%st. T(&s /ro/osal was a blow
to 'e, and t(o%-(t &t abs%rd to ar-%e any lon-er w&t( (&'0
(owe*er, sa&d t(at we '%st wa&t +or !&on;s letter, and t(en on)e
'ore wr&te to tell (&' o+ t(&s new /ro/osal. H&s ne4t ste/ was t(e
br&ll&ant one o+ sell&n- t(e w(ole o+ !&on;s /ro/erty, %s&n- (&s own
d&s)ret&on w&t( re-ard to t(e 'anner and ter's o+ t(e sale and o+
t(e /%r)(asers. He s/o1e not a word to 'e abo%t t(e 'atter +ro'
be-&nn&n- to end, and +ollowed (&s e4a'/le and ne*er tal1ed to (&'
a-a&n abo%t !&on;s a++a&rs0 +or d&d not t(&n1 t(at )o%ld do any
-ood by do&n- so. T(&s &s t(e (&story so +ar o+ 'y e++orts to )o'e
to t(e res)%e o+ /(&loso/(y and o+ 'y +r&ends.
A+ter t(&s !&onys&os and went on w&t( o%r da&ly l&+e, w&t( 'y
eyes t%rned abroad l&1e a b&rd yearn&n- to +ly +ro' &ts /er)(, and
(e always de*&s&n- so'e new way o+ s)ar&n- 'e ba)1 and o+ 1ee/&n- a
t&-(t (old on !&on;s /ro/erty. Howe*er, we -a*e o%t to all S&)&ly t(at
we were +r&ends. !&onys&os, now desert&n- t(e /ol&)y o+ (&s +at(er,
atte'/ted to lower t(e /ay o+ t(e older 'e'bers o+ (&s body -%ard. T(e
sold&ers were +%r&o%s, and, asse'bl&n- &n -reat n%'bers, de)lared t(at
t(ey wo%ld not s%b'&t. He atte'/ted to %se +or)e to t(e', s(%tt&n- t(e
-ates o+ t(e a)ro/ol&s0 b%t t(ey )(ar-ed stra&-(t +or t(e walls,
yell&n- o%t an %n&ntell&-&ble and +ero)&o%s war )ry. !&onys&os too1
+r&-(t and )on)eded all t(e&r de'ands and 'ore to t(e /eltasts t(en
asse'bled.
A r%'o%r soon s/read t(at Hera)le&des (ad been t(e )a%se o+ all
t(e tro%ble. Hear&n- t(&s, Hera)le&des 1e/t o%t o+ t(e way.
!&onys&os was try&n- to -et (old o+ (&', and be&n- %nable to do so,
sent +or T(eodotes to )o'e to (&' &n (&s -arden. t (a//ened t(at
was wal1&n- &n t(e -arden at t(e sa'e t&'e. ne&t(er 1now nor d&d
(ear t(e rest o+ w(at /assed between t(e', b%t w(at T(eodotes sa&d
to !&onys&os &n 'y /resen)e 1now and re'e'ber. :Plato,: (e sa&d,
: a' try&n- to )on*&n)e o%r +r&end !&onys&os t(at, &+ a' able to
br&n- Hera)le&des be+ore %s to de+end (&'sel+ on t(e )(ar-es w(&)(
(a*e been 'ade a-a&nst (&', and &+ (e de)&des t(at Hera)le&des '%st no
lon-er l&*e &n S&)&ly, (e s(o%ld be allowed ?t(&s &s 'y /o&nt@ to ta1e
(&s son and w&+e and sa&l to t(e Pelo/onnese and res&de t(ere,
ta1&n- no a)t&on t(ere a-a&nst !&onys&os and en2oy&n- t(e &n)o'e o+
(&s /ro/erty. (a*e already sent +or (&' and w&ll send +or (&' a-a&n0
and &+ (e )o'es &n obed&en)e e&t(er to 'y +or'er 'essa-e or to t(&s
one5well and -ood. B%t be- and entreat !&onys&os t(at, &+ anyone
+&nds Hera)le&des e&t(er &n t(e )o%ntry or (ere, no (ar' s(all )o'e to
(&', b%t t(at (e 'ay ret&re +ro' t(e )o%ntry t&ll !&onys&os )o'es to
so'e ot(er de)&s&on. !o yo% a-ree to t(&s9: (e added, address&n-
!&onys&os. : a-ree,: (e re/l&ed, :t(at e*en &+ (e &s +o%nd at yo%r
(o%se, no (ar' s(all be done to (&' beyond w(at (as now been sa&d.:
On t(e +ollow&n- day E%ryb&os and T(eodotes )a'e to 'e &n t(e
e*en&n-, bot( -reatly d&st%rbed. T(eodotes sa&d, :Plato, yo% were
/resent yesterday d%r&n- t(e /ro'&ses 'ade by !&onys&os to 'e and to
yo% abo%t Hera)le&des9: :Certa&nly,: re/l&ed. :#ell,: (e
)ont&n%ed, :at t(&s 'o'ent /eltasts are s)o%r&n- t(e )o%ntry see1&n-
to arrest Hera)le&des0 and (e '%st be so'ew(ere &n t(&s ne&-(bo%r(ood.
"or Hea*en;s sa1e )o'e w&t( %s to !&onys&os.: So we went and stood
&n t(e /resen)e o+ !&onys&os0 and t(ose two stood s(edd&n- s&lent
tears, w(&le sa&d8 :T(ese 'en are a+ra&d t(at yo% 'ay ta1e stron-
'eas%res w&t( re-ard to Hera)le&des )ontrary to w(at was a-reed
yesterday. "or &t see's t(at (e (as ret%rned and (as been seen
so'ew(ere abo%t (ere.: On (ear&n- t(&s (e bla7ed %/ and t%rned all
)olo%rs, as a 'an wo%ld &n a ra-e. T(eodotes, +all&n- be+ore (&' &n
tears, too1 (&s (and and entreated (&' to do not(&n- o+ t(e sort.
B%t bro1e &n and tr&ed to en)o%ra-e (&', say&n-8 :Be o+ -ood
)(eer, T(eodotes0 !&onys&os w&ll not (a*e t(e (eart to ta1e any
+res( ste/ )ontrary to (&s /ro'&ses o+ yesterday.: "&4&n- (&s eye on
'e, and ass%'&n- (&s 'ost a%to)rat&) a&r (e sa&d, :To yo% /ro'&sed
not(&n- s'all or -reat.: :By t(e -ods,: sa&d, :yo% d&d /ro'&se
t(at +orbearan)e +or w(&)( o%r +r&end (ere now a//eals.: #&t( t(ese
words t%rned away and went o%t. A+ter t(&s (e )ont&n%ed t(e (%nt +or
Hera)le&des, and T(eodotes, send&n- 'essa-es, %r-ed Hera)le&des to
ta1e +l&-(t. !&onys&os sent o%t Te&s&as and so'e /eltasts w&t(
orders to /%rs%e (&'. B%t Hera)le&des, as &t was sa&d, was 2%st &n
t&'e, by a s'all +ra)t&on o+ a day, &n 'a1&n- (&s es)a/e &nto
Cart(a-&n&an terr&tory.
A+ter t(&s !&onys&os t(o%-(t t(at (&s lon- )(er&s(ed s)(e'e not to
restore !&on;s /ro/erty wo%ld -&*e (&' a /la%s&ble e4)%se +or
(ost&l&ty towards 'e0 and +&rst o+ all (e sent 'e o%t o+ t(e
a)ro/ol&s, +&nd&n- a /rete4t t(at t(e wo'en were obl&-ed to (old a
sa)r&+&)&al ser*&)e +or ten days &n t(e -arden &n w(&)( (ad 'y
lod-&n-. He t(ere+ore ordered 'e to stay o%ts&de &n t(e (o%se o+
Ar)(ede'os d%r&n- t(&s /er&od. #(&le was t(ere, T(eodotes sent +or
'e and 'ade a -reat o%t/o%r&n- o+ &nd&-nat&on at t(ese o))%rren)es,
t(row&n- t(e bla'e on !&onys&os. Hear&n- t(at (ad been to see
T(eodotes (e re-arded t(&s, as anot(er e4)%se, s&ster to t(e
/re*&o%s one, +or 6%arrell&n- w&t( 'e. Send&n- a 'essen-er (e en6%&red
&+ (ad really been )on+err&n- w&t( T(eodotes on (&s &n*&tat&on
:Certa&nly,: re/l&ed, :#ell,: )ont&n%ed t(e 'essen-er, :(e ordered
'e to tell yo% t(at yo% are not a)t&n- at all well &n /re+err&n-
always !&on and !&on;s +r&ends to (&'.: And (e d&d not send +or 'e
to ret%rn to (&s (o%se, as t(o%-( &t were now )lear t(at T(eodotes and
Hera)le&des were 'y +r&ends, and (e 'y ene'y. He also t(o%-(t t(at
(ad no 1&nd +eel&n-s towards (&' be)a%se t(e /ro/erty o+ !&on was
now ent&rely done +or.
A+ter t(&s res&ded o%ts&de t(e a)ro/ol&s a'on- t(e 'er)enar&es.
Var&o%s /eo/le t(en )a'e to 'e, a'on- t(e' t(ose o+ t(e s(&/s; )rews
w(o )a'e +ro' At(ens, 'y own +ellow )&t&7ens, and re/orted t(at
was e*&l s/o1en o+ a'on- t(e /eltasts, and t(at so'e o+ t(e' were
t(reaten&n- to 'a1e an end o+ 'e, &+ t(ey )o%ld 1et (old o+ 'e
A))ord&n-ly de*&sed t(e +ollow&n- /lan +or 'y sa+ety.
sent to Ar)(ytes and 'y ot(er +r&ends &n Taras, tell&n- t(e' t(e
/l&-(t was &n. "&nd&n- so'e e4)%se +or an e'bassy +ro' t(e&r )&ty,
t(ey sent a t(&rty5oared -alley w&t( La'&s)os, one o+ t(e'sel*es,
w(o )a'e and entreated !&onys&os abo%t 'e, say&n- t(at wanted to -o,
and t(at (e s(o%ld on no a))o%nt stand &n 'y way. He )onsented and
allowed 'e to -o, -&*&n- 'e 'oney +or t(e 2o%rney. B%t +or !&on;s
/ro/erty 'ade no +%rt(er re6%est, nor was any o+ &t restored.
'ade 'y way to t(e Pelo/onnese to Oly'/&a, w(ere +o%nd !&on a
s/e)tator at t(e 3a'es, and told (&' w(at (ad o))%rred. Call&n- <e%s
to be (&s w&tness, (e at on)e %r-ed 'e w&t( 'y relat&*es and +r&ends
to 'a1e /re/arat&ons +or ta1&n- *en-ean)e on !&onys&os5o%r -ro%nd
+or a)t&on be&n- t(e brea)( o+ +a&t( to a -%est5so (e /%t &t and
re-arded &t, w(&le (&s own was (&s %n2%st e4/%ls&on and ban&s('ent.
Hear&n- t(&s, told (&' t(at (e '&-(t )all 'y +r&ends to (&s a&d,
&+ t(ey w&s(ed to -o0 :B%t +or 'ysel+,: )ont&n%ed, :yo% and ot(ers
&n a way +or)ed 'e to be t(e s(arer o+ !&onys&os; table and (eart( and
(&s asso)&ate &n t(e a)ts o+ rel&-&on. He /robably bel&e*ed t(e
)%rrent slanders, t(at was /lott&n- w&t( yo% a-a&nst (&' and (&s
des/ot&) r%le0 yet +eel&n-s o+ s)r%/le /re*a&led w&t( (&', and (e
s/ared 'y l&+e. A-a&n, a' (ardly o+ t(e a-e +or be&n- )o'rade &n
ar's to anyone0 also stand as a ne%tral between yo%, &+ e*er yo%
des&re +r&ends(&/ and w&s( to bene+&t one anot(er0 so lon- as yo%
a&' at &n2%r&n- one anot(er, )all ot(ers to yo%r a&d.: T(&s sa&d,
be)a%se was d&s-%sted w&t( 'y '&s-%&ded 2o%rney&n-s to S&)&ly and 'y
&ll5+ort%ne t(ere. B%t t(ey d&sobeyed 'e and wo%ld not l&sten to 'y
atte'/ts at re)on)&l&at&on, and so bro%-(t on t(e&r own (eads all
t(e e*&ls w(&)( (a*e s&n)e ta1en /la)e. "or &+ !&onys&os (ad
restored to !&on (&s /ro/erty or been re)on)&led w&t( (&' on any
ter's, none o+ t(ese t(&n-s wo%ld (a*e (a//ened, so +ar as (%'an
+ores&-(t )an +oretell. !&on wo%ld (a*e eas&ly been 1e/t &n )(e)1 by
'y w&s(es and &n+l%en)e. B%t now, r%s(&n- %/on one anot(er, t(ey
(a*e )a%sed %n&*ersal d&saster.
!&on;s as/&rat&on (owe*er was t(e sa'e t(at s(o%ld say 'y own or
t(at o+ any ot(er r&-(t5'&nded 'an o%-(t to be. #&t( re-ard to (&s own
/ower, (&s +r&ends and (&s )o%ntry t(e &deal o+ s%)( a 'an wo%ld be to
w&n t(e -reatest /ower and (ono%r by render&n- t(e -reatest
ser*&)es. And t(&s end &s not atta&ned &+ a 'an -ets r&)(es +or
(&'sel+, (&s s%//orters and (&s )o%ntry, by +or'&n- /lots and
-ett&n- to-et(er )ons/&rators, be&n- all t(e w(&le a /oor )reat%re,
not 'aster o+ (&'sel+, o*er)o'e by t(e )oward&)e w(&)( +ears to
+&-(t a-a&nst /leas%res0 nor &s &t atta&ned &+ (e -oes on to 1&ll
t(e 'en o+ s%bstan)e, w(o' (e s/ea1s o+ as t(e ene'y, and to /l%nder
t(e&r /ossess&ons, and &n*&tes (&s )on+ederates and s%//orters to do
t(e sa'e, w&t( t(e ob2e)t t(at no one s(all say t(at &t &s (&s
+a%lt, &+ (e )o'/la&ns o+ be&n- /oor. T(e sa'e &s tr%e &+ anyone
renders ser*&)es o+ t(&s 1&nd to t(e State and re)e&*es (ono%rs +ro'
(er +or d&str&b%t&n- by de)rees t(e /ro/erty o+ t(e +ew a'on- t(e
'any5or &+, be&n- &n )(ar-e t(e a++a&rs o+ a -reat State w(&)( r%les
o*er 'any s'all ones, (e %n2%stly a//ro/r&ates to (&s own State t(e
/ossess&ons o+ t(e s'all ones. "or ne&t(er a !&on nor any ot(er 'an
w&ll, w&t( (&s eyes o/en, 'a1e (&s way by ste/s l&1e t(ese to a
/ower w(&)( w&ll be +ra%-(t w&t( destr%)t&on to (&'sel+ and (&s
des)endants +or all t&'e0 b%t (e w&ll ad*an)e towards )onst&t%t&onal
-o*ern'ent and t(e +ra'&n- o+ t(e 2%stest and best laws, rea)(&n-
t(ese ends w&t(o%t e4e)%t&ons and '%rders e*en on t(e s'allest s)ale.
T(&s )o%rse !&on a)t%ally +ollowed, t(&n1&n- &t /re+erable to s%++er
&n&6%&to%s deeds rat(er t(an to do t(e'0 b%t, w(&le ta1&n- /re)a%t&ons
a-a&nst t(e', (e ne*ert(eless, w(en (e (ad rea)(ed t(e )l&'a4 o+
*&)tory o*er (&s ene'&es, too1 a +alse ste/ and +ell, a )atastro/(e
not at all s%r/r&s&n-. "or a 'an o+ /&ety, te'/eran)e and w&sdo', w(en
deal&n- w&t( t(e &'/&o%s, wo%ld not be ent&rely bl&nd to t(e )(ara)ter
o+ s%)( 'en, b%t &t wo%ld /er(a/s not be s%r/r&s&n- &+ (e s%++ered t(e
)atastro/(e t(at '&-(t be+all a -ood s(&/;s )a/ta&n, w(o wo%ld not
be ent&rely %naware o+ t(e a//roa)( o+ a stor', b%t '&-(t be %naware
o+ &ts e4traord&nary and startl&n- *&olen)e, and '&-(t t(ere+ore be
o*erw(el'ed by &ts +or)e. T(e sa'e t(&n- )a%sed !&on;s down+all. "or
(e was not %naware t(at (&s assa&lants were t(oro%-(ly bad 'en, b%t (e
was %naware (ow (&-( a /&t)( o+ &n+at%at&on and o+ -eneral
w&)1edness and -reed t(ey (ad rea)(ed. T(&s was t(e )a%se o+ (&s
down+all, w(&)( (as &n*ol*ed S&)&ly &n )o%ntless sorrows.
As to t(e ste/s w(&)( s(o%ld be ta1en a+ter t(e e*ents w(&)(
(a*e now related, 'y ad*&)e (as been -&*en /retty +%lly and 'ay be
re-arded as +&n&s(ed0 and &+ yo% as1 'y reasons +or re)o%nt&n- t(e
story o+ 'y se)ond 2o%rney to S&)&ly, &t see'ed to 'e essent&al t(at
an a))o%nt o+ &t '%st be -&*en be)a%se o+ t(e stran-e and
/arado4&)al )(ara)ter o+ t(e &n)&dents. + &n t(&s /resent a))o%nt
o+ t(e' t(ey a//ear to anyone 'ore &ntell&-&ble, and see' to anyone to
s(ow s%++&)&ent -ro%nds &n *&ew o+ t(e )&r)%'stan)es, t(e /resent
state'ent &s ade6%ate and not too len-t(y.
5THE EN!5
.