and¡¡mortal¡¡creature¡£¡¡For¡¡immortal¡¡no¡¡such¡¡union¡¡can¡¡be¡¡reasonably
believed¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡although¡¡fancy£»¡¡not¡¡having¡¡seen¡¡nor¡¡surely¡¡known¡¡the
nature¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡may¡¡imagine¡¡an¡¡immortal¡¡creature¡¡having¡¡both¡¡a¡¡body¡¡and
also¡¡a¡¡soul¡¡which¡¡are¡¡united¡¡throughout¡¡all¡¡time¡£¡¡Let¡¡that£»¡¡however£»
be¡¡as¡¡God¡¡wills£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡spoken¡¡of¡¡acceptably¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡And¡¡now¡¡let¡¡us
ask¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡loses¡¡her¡¡wings£¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡wing¡¡is¡¡the¡¡corporeal¡¡element¡¡which¡¡is¡¡most¡¡akin¡¡to¡¡the
divine£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡by¡¡nature¡¡tends¡¡to¡¡soar¡¡aloft¡¡and¡¡carry¡¡that¡¡which
gravitates¡¡downwards¡¡into¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡region£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡habitation¡¡of
the¡¡gods¡£¡¡The¡¡divine¡¡is¡¡beauty£»¡¡wisdom£»¡¡goodness£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡like£»¡¡and¡¡by
these¡¡the¡¡wing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡is¡¡nourished£»¡¡and¡¡grows¡¡apace£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡fed
upon¡¡evil¡¡and¡¡foulness¡¡and¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡of¡¡good£»¡¡wastes¡¡and¡¡falls
away¡£¡¡Zeus£»¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡lord£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡reins¡¡of¡¡a¡¡winged¡¡chariot£»
leads¡¡the¡¡way¡¡in¡¡heaven£»¡¡ordering¡¡all¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡care¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡and
there¡¡follows¡¡him¡¡the¡¡array¡¡of¡¡gods¡¡and¡¡demigods£»¡¡marshalled¡¡in¡¡eleven
bands£»¡¡Hestia¡¡alone¡¡abides¡¡at¡¡home¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡heaven£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rest
they¡¡who¡¡are¡¡reckoned¡¡among¡¡the¡¡princely¡¡twelve¡¡march¡¡in¡¡their
appointed¡¡order¡£¡¡They¡¡see¡¡many¡¡blessed¡¡sights¡¡in¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡heaven£»¡¡and
there¡¡are¡¡many¡¡ways¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro£»¡¡along¡¡which¡¡the¡¡blessed¡¡gods¡¡are
passing£»¡¡every¡¡one¡¡doing¡¡his¡¡own¡¡work£»¡¡he¡¡may¡¡follow¡¡who¡¡will¡¡and¡¡can£»
for¡¡jealousy¡¡has¡¡no¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡celestial¡¡choir¡£¡¡But¡¡when¡¡they¡¡go
to¡¡banquet¡¡and¡¡festival£»¡¡then¡¡they¡¡move¡¡up¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the
vault¡¡of¡¡heaven¡£¡¡The¡¡chariots¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡in¡¡even¡¡poise£»¡¡obeying¡¡the
rein£»¡¡glide¡¡rapidly£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡others¡¡labour£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡vicious¡¡steed¡¡goes
heavily£»¡¡weighing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡charioteer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡when¡¡his¡¡steed
has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡thoroughly¡¡trained£º¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡agony¡¡and
extremest¡¡conflict¡¡for¡¡the¡¡soul¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡immortals£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡at
the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡their¡¡course£»¡¡go¡¡forth¡¡and¡¡stand¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡of
heaven£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡revolution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spheres¡¡carries¡¡them¡¡round£»¡¡and¡¡they
behold¡¡the¡¡things¡¡beyond¡£¡¡But¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heaven¡¡which¡¡is¡¡above¡¡the
heavens£»¡¡what¡¡earthly¡¡poet¡¡ever¡¡did¡¡or¡¡ever¡¡will¡¡sing¡¡worthily£¿¡¡It
is¡¡such¡¡as¡¡I¡¡will¡¡describe£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡must¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡when
truth¡¡is¡¡my¡¡theme¡£¡¡There¡¡abides¡¡the¡¡very¡¡being¡¡with¡¡which¡¡true
knowledge¡¡is¡¡concerned£»¡¡the¡¡colourless£»¡¡formless£»¡¡intangible
essence£»¡¡visible¡¡only¡¡to¡¡mind£»¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soul¡£¡¡The¡¡divine
intelligence£»¡¡being¡¡nurtured¡¡upon¡¡mind¡¡and¡¡pure¡¡knowledge£»¡¡and¡¡the
intelligence¡¡of¡¡every¡¡soul¡¡which¡¡is¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡receiving¡¡the¡¡food
proper¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡rejoices¡¡at¡¡beholding¡¡reality£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡more¡¡gazing¡¡upon
truth£»¡¡is¡¡replenished¡¡and¡¡made¡¡glad£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡revolution¡¡of¡¡the
worlds¡¡brings¡¡her¡¡round¡¡again¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡revolution¡¡she
beholds¡¡justice£»¡¡and¡¡temperance£»¡¡and¡¡knowledge¡¡absolute£»¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the
form¡¡of¡¡generation¡¡or¡¡of¡¡relation£»¡¡which¡¡men¡¡call¡¡existence£»¡¡but
knowledge¡¡absolute¡¡in¡¡existence¡¡absolute£»¡¡and¡¡beholding¡¡the¡¡other¡¡true
existences¡¡in¡¡like¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡feasting¡¡upon¡¡them£»¡¡she¡¡passes¡¡down
into¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavens¡¡and¡¡returns¡¡home£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡the
charioteer¡¡putting¡¡up¡¡his¡¡horses¡¡at¡¡the¡¡stall£»¡¡gives¡¡them¡¡ambrosia
to¡¡eat¡¡and¡¡nectar¡¡to¡¡drink¡£
¡¡¡¡Such¡¡is¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gods£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡other¡¡souls£»¡¡that¡¡which¡¡follows
God¡¡best¡¡and¡¡is¡¡likest¡¡to¡¡him¡¡lifts¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡charioteer¡¡into
the¡¡outer¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡carried¡¡round¡¡in¡¡the¡¡revolution£»¡¡troubled
indeed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡steeds£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡¡beholding¡¡true¡¡being£»
while¡¡another¡¡only¡¡rises¡¡and¡¡falls£»¡¡and¡¡sees£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡fails¡¡to¡¡see
by¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unruliness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steeds¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡souls¡¡are
also¡¡longing¡¡after¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡world¡¡and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡follow£»¡¡but¡¡not
being¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡they¡¡are¡¡carried¡¡round¡¡below¡¡the¡¡surface£»
plunging£»¡¡treading¡¡on¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡each¡¡striving¡¡to¡¡be¡¡first£»¡¡and
there¡¡is¡¡confusion¡¡and¡¡perspiration¡¡and¡¡the¡¡extremity¡¡of¡¡effort£»¡¡and
many¡¡of¡¡them¡¡are¡¡lamed¡¡or¡¡have¡¡their¡¡wings¡¡broken¡¡through¡¡the
ill¡driving¡¡of¡¡the¡¡charioteers£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡¡after¡¡a¡¡fruitless
toil£»¡¡not¡¡having¡¡attained¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mysteries¡¡of¡¡true¡¡being£»¡¡go¡¡away£»¡¡and
feed¡¡upon¡¡opinion¡£¡¡The¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡the¡¡souls¡¡exhibit¡¡this¡¡exceeding
eagerness¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡of¡¡truth¡¡is¡¡that¡¡pasturage¡¡is¡¡found
there£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡suited¡¡to¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soul£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wing
on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡soars¡¡is¡¡nourished¡¡with¡¡this¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡law
of¡¡Destiny£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡which¡¡attains¡¡any¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡truth¡¡in¡¡company
with¡¡a¡¡god¡¡is¡¡preserved¡¡from¡¡harm¡¡until¡¡the¡¡next¡¡period£»¡¡and¡¡if
attaining¡¡always¡¡is¡¡always¡¡unharmed¡£¡¡But¡¡when¡¡she¡¡is¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡follow£»
and¡¡fails¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡some¡¡ill¡hap¡¡sinks
beneath¡¡the¡¡double¡¡load¡¡of¡¡forgetfulness¡¡and¡¡vice£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡wings
fall¡¡from¡¡her¡¡and¡¡she¡¡drops¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡law¡¡ordains¡¡that
this¡¡soul¡¡shall¡¡at¡¡her¡¡first¡¡birth¡¡pass£»¡¡not¡¡into¡¡any¡¡other¡¡animal£»
but¡¡only¡¡into¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡which¡¡has¡¡seen¡¡most¡¡of¡¡truth¡¡shall
come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡as¡¡a¡¡philosopher£»¡¡or¡¡artist£»¡¡or¡¡some¡¡musical¡¡and
loving¡¡nature£»¡¡that¡¡which¡¡has¡¡seen¡¡truth¡¡in¡¡the¡¡second¡¡degree¡¡shall¡¡be
some¡¡righteous¡¡king¡¡or¡¡warrior¡¡chief£»¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡which¡¡is¡¡of¡¡the¡¡third
class¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡a¡¡politician£»¡¡or¡¡economist£»¡¡or¡¡trader£»¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡shall
be¡¡lover¡¡of¡¡gymnastic¡¡toils£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡physician£»¡¡the¡¡fifth¡¡shall¡¡lead
the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡a¡¡prophet¡¡or¡¡hierophant£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sixth¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of
poet¡¡or¡¡some¡¡other¡¡imitative¡¡artist¡¡will¡¡be¡¡assigned£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡seventh
the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡an¡¡artisan¡¡or¡¡husbandman£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eighth¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a
sophist¡¡or¡¡demagogue£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ninth¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tyrant¡all¡¡these¡¡are
states¡¡of¡¡probation£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡who¡¡does¡¡righteously¡¡improves£»¡¡and¡¡he
who¡¡does¡¡unrighteously£»¡¡improves£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡who¡¡does¡¡unrighteously£»
deteriorates¡¡his¡¡lot¡£
¡¡¡¡Ten¡¡thousand¡¡years¡¡must¡¡elapse¡¡before¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡each¡¡one¡¡can
return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡from¡¡whence¡¡she¡¡came£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡cannot¡¡grow¡¡her
wings¡¡in¡¡less£»¡¡only¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡a¡¡philosopher£»¡¡guileless¡¡and¡¡true£»
or¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lover£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡not¡¡devoid¡¡of¡¡philosophy£»¡¡may¡¡acquire
wings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡third¡¡of¡¡the¡¡recurring¡¡periods¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡years£»¡¡he¡¡is
distinguished¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡good¡¡man¡¡who¡¡gains¡¡wings¡¡in¡¡three
thousand¡¡years£º¡and¡¡they¡¡who¡¡choose¡¡this¡¡life¡¡three¡¡times¡¡in
succession¡¡have¡¡wings¡¡given¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡go¡¡away¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡three
thousand¡¡years¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡others¡¡receive¡¡judgment¡¡when¡¡they¡¡have
completed¡¡their¡¡first¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡the¡¡judgment¡¡they¡¡go£»¡¡some¡¡of
them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡of¡¡correction¡¡which¡¡are¡¡under¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡are
punished£»¡¡others¡¡to¡¡some¡¡place¡¡in¡¡heaven¡¡whither¡¡they¡¡are¡¡lightly
borne¡¡by¡¡justice£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡they¡¡live¡¡in¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡worthy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡life
which¡¡they¡¡led¡¡here¡¡when¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡men¡£¡¡And¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the
first¡¡thousand¡¡years¡¡the¡¡good¡¡souls¡¡and¡¡also¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡souls¡¡both
come¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡lots¡¡and¡¡choose¡¡their¡¡second¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡may¡¡take
any¡¡which¡¡they¡¡please¡£¡¡The¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡may¡¡pass¡¡into¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡a
beast£»¡¡or¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡return¡¡again¡¡into¡¡the¡¡man¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡which
has¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡will¡¡not¡¡pass¡¡into¡¡the¡¡human¡¡form¡£¡¡For¡¡a
man¡¡must¡¡have¡¡intelligence¡¡of¡¡universals£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡proceed
from¡¡the¡¡many¡¡particulars¡¡of¡¡sense¡¡to¡¡one¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡reason£»¡this
is¡¡the¡¡recollection¡¡of¡¡those¡¡things¡¡which¡¡our¡¡soul¡¡once¡¡saw¡¡while
following¡¡God¡when¡¡regardless¡¡of¡¡that¡¡which¡¡we¡¡now¡¡call¡¡being¡¡she
raised¡¡her¡¡head¡¡up¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡true¡¡being¡£¡¡And¡¡therefore¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡of
the¡¡philosopher¡¡alone¡¡has¡¡wings£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡just£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡is¡¡always£»
according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡his¡¡abilities£»¡¡clinging¡¡in¡¡recollection¡¡to
those¡¡things¡¡in¡¡which¡¡God¡¡abides£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡beholding¡¡which¡¡He¡¡is¡¡what¡¡He
is¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡who¡¡employs¡¡aright¡¡these¡¡memories¡¡is¡¡ever¡¡being¡¡initiated
into¡¡perfect¡¡mysteries¡¡and¡¡alone¡¡becomes¡¡truly¡¡perfect¡£¡¡But£»¡¡as¡¡he
forgets¡¡earthly¡¡interests¡¡and¡¡is¡¡rapt¡¡in¡¡the¡¡divine£»¡¡the¡¡vulgar¡¡deem
him¡¡mad£»¡¡and¡¡rebuke¡¡him£»¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡inspired¡£
¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡far¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡and¡¡last¡¡kind¡¡of
madness£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡imputed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡who£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡sees¡¡the¡¡beauty¡¡of
earth£»¡¡is¡¡transported¡¡with¡¡the¡¡recollection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡true¡¡beauty£»¡¡he
would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡away£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡cannot£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡like¡¡a¡¡bird¡¡fluttering
and¡¡looking¡¡upward¡¡and¡¡careless¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡below£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡is
therefore¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡mad¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡have¡¡shown¡¡this¡¡of¡¡all¡¡inspirations
to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡noblest¡¡and¡¡highest¡¡and¡¡the¡¡offspring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡to
him¡¡who¡¡has¡¡or¡¡shares¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡who¡¡loves¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡is
called¡¡a¡¡lover¡¡because¡¡he¡¡partakes¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡For£»¡¡as¡¡has¡¡been¡¡already
said£»¡¡every¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡man¡¡has¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡nature¡¡beheld¡¡true¡¡being£»
this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡her¡¡passing¡¡into¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡man¡£¡¡But¡¡all
souls¡¡do¡¡not¡¡easily¡¡recall¡¡the¡¡things¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡world£»¡¡they¡¡may
have¡¡seen¡¡them¡¡for¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time¡¡only£»¡¡or¡¡they¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been
unfortunate¡¡in¡¡their¡¡earthly¡¡lot£»¡¡and£»¡¡having¡¡had¡¡their¡¡hearts
turned¡¡to¡¡unrighteousness¡¡through¡¡some¡¡corrupting¡¡influence£»¡¡they
may¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡things¡¡which¡¡once¡¡they¡¡saw¡£¡¡Few
only¡¡retain¡¡an¡¡adequate¡¡remembrance¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they£»¡¡when¡¡they
behold¡¡here¡¡any¡¡image¡¡of¡¡that¡¡other¡¡world£»¡¡are¡¡rapt¡¡in¡¡amazement£»
but¡¡they¡¡are¡¡ignorant¡¡of¡¡what¡¡this¡¡rapture¡¡means£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡do
not¡¡clearly¡¡perceive¡£¡¡For¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡light¡¡of¡¡justice¡¡or¡¡temperance
or¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡ideas¡¡which¡¡are¡¡precious¡¡to¡¡souls¡¡in¡¡the
earthly¡¡copies¡¡of¡¡them£º¡¡they¡¡are¡¡seen¡¡through¡¡a¡¡glass¡¡dimly£»¡¡and¡¡there
are¡¡few¡¡who£»¡¡going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡images£»¡¡behold¡¡in¡¡them¡¡the¡¡realities£»¡¡and
these¡¡only¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the
happy¡¡band¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡beauty¡¡shining¡¡in¡¡brightness¡we¡¡philosophers
following¡¡in¡¡the¡¡train¡¡of¡¡Zeus£»¡¡others¡¡in¡¡company¡¡with¡¡oth
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü