Page - 1374 - in The Complete Plato

Athenian. The form which in fact Homer indicates as following the second. This third form arose when, as he says, Dardanus founded Dardania: For not as yet had the holy Ilium been built on the plain to be a city of speaking men; but they were still dwelling at the foot of many–fountained Ida. For indeed, in these verses, and in what he said of the Cyclopes, he speaks the words of God and nature; for poets are a divine race and often in their strains, by the aid of the Muses and the Graces, they attain truth. Cleinias. Yes. Athenian. Then now let us proceed with the rest of our tale, which will probably be found to illustrate in some degree our proposed design:—Shall we do so? Cleinias. By all means. Athenian. Ilium was built, when they descended from the mountain, in a large and fair plain, on a sort of low hill, watered by many rivers descending from Ida. Cleinias. Such is the tradition. Athenian. And we must suppose this event to have taken place many ages after the deluge? Athenian. A marvellous forgetfulness of the former destruction would appear to have come over them, when they placed their town right under numerous streams flowing from the heights, trusting for their security to not very high hills, either. Cleinias. There must have been a long interval, clearly. Athenian. And, as population increased, many other cities would begin to be inhabited. Cleinias. Doubtless. Athenian. Those cities made war against Troy—by sea as well as land—for at that time men were ceasing to be afraid of the sea. Cleinias. Clearly. Athenian. The Achaeans remained ten years, and overthrew Troy. Cleinias. True. Athenian. And during the ten years in which the Achaeans were besieging Ilium, the homes of the besiegers were falling into an evil plight. Their youth revolted; and when the soldiers returned to their own cities and families, they did not receive them properly, and as they ought to have done, and numerous 1374