Page - 1340 - in The Complete Plato

hard and of iron, but this one is soft because golden; and there are several other kinds. Now we ought always to cooperate with the lead of the best, which is law. For inasmuch as reason is beautiful and gentle, and not violent, her rule must needs have ministers in order to help the golden principle in vanquishing the other principles. And thus the moral of the tale about our being puppets will not have been lost, and the meaning of the expression “superior or inferior to a man’s self” will become clearer; and the individual, attaining to right reason in this matter of pulling the strings of the puppet, should live according to its rule; while the city, receiving the same from some god or from one who has knowledge of these things, should embody it in a law, to be her guide in her dealings with herself and with other states. In this way virtue and vice will be more clearly distinguished by us. And when they have become clearer, education and other institutions will in like manner become clearer; and in particular that question of convivial entertainment, which may seem, perhaps, to have been a very trifling matter, and to have taken a great many more words than were necessary. Cleinias. Perhaps, however, the theme may turn out not to be unworthy of the length of discourse. Athenian. Very good; let us proceed with any enquiry which really bears on our present object. Cleinias. Proceed. Athenian. Suppose that we give this puppet of ours drink—what will be the effect on him? Cleinias. Having what in view do you ask that question? Athenian. Nothing as yet; but I ask generally, when the puppet is brought to the drink, what sort of result is likely to follow. I will endeavour to explain my meaning more clearly: what I am now asking is this—Does the drinking of wine heighten and increase pleasures and pains, and passions and loves? Cleinias. Very greatly. Athenian. And are perception and memory, and opinion and prudence, heightened and increased? Do not these qualities entirely desert a man if he becomes saturated with drink? Cleinias. Yes, they entirely desert him. Athenian. Does he not return to the state of soul in which he was when a young child? Cleinias. He does. Athenian. Then at that time he will have the least control over himself? 1340