登陆注册
26240800000115

第115章 BOOK X(10)

Perhaps they might be compared to the generals of armies,or they might be likened to physicians providing against the diseases which make war upon the body,or to husbandmen observing anxiously the effects of the seasons on the growth of plants;or I perhaps,to shepherds of flocks.For as we acknowledge the world to be full of many goods and also of evils,and of more evils than goods,there is,as we affirm,an immortal conflict going on among us,which requires marvellous watchfulness;and in that conflict the Gods and demigods are our allies,and we are their property.Injustice and insolence and folly are the destruction of us,and justice and temperance and wisdom are our salvation;and the place of these latter is in the life of the Gods,although some vestige of them may occasionally be discerned among mankind.But upon this earth we know that there dwell souls possessing an unjust spirit,who may be compared to brute animals,which fawn upon their keepers,whether dogs or shepherds,or the best and most perfect masters;for they in like manner,as the voices of the wicked declare,prevail by flattery and prayers and incantations,and are allowed to make their gains with impunity.And this sin,which is termed dishonesty,is an evil of the same kind as what is termed disease in living bodies or pestilence in years or seasons of the year,and in cities and governments has another name,which is injustice.

Cle.Quite true.

Ath.What else can he say who declares that the Gods are always lenient to the doers of unjust acts,if they divide the spoil with them?As if wolves were to toss a portion of their prey to the dogs,and they,mollified by the gift,suffered them to tear the flocks.

Must not he who maintains that the Gods can be propitiated argue thus?

Cle.Precisely so.

Ath.And to which of the above-mentioned classes of guardians would any man compare the Gods without absurdity?Will he say that they are like pilots,who are themselves turned away from their duty by "libations of wine and the savour of fat,"and at last overturn both ship and sailors?

Cle.Assuredly not.

Ath.And surely they are not like charioteers who are bribed to give up the victory to other chariots?

Cle.That would be a fearful image of the Gods.

Ath.Nor are they like generals,or physicians,or husbandmen,or shepherds;and no one would compare them to dogs who have silenced by wolves.

Cle.A thing not to be spoken of.

Ath.And are not all the Gods the chiefest of all guardians,and do they not guard our highest interests?

Cle.Yes;the chiefest.

Ath.And shall we say that those who guard our noblest interests,and are the best of guardians,are inferior in virtue to dogs,and to men even of moderate excellence,who would never betray justice for the sake of gifts which unjust men impiously offer them?

Cle.Certainly not:nor is such a notion to be endured,and he who holds this opinion may be fairly singled out and characterized as of all impious men the wickedest and most impious.

Ath.Then are the three assertions-that the Gods exist,and that they take care of men,and that they can never be persuaded to do injustice,now sufficiently demonstrated?May we say that they are?

Cle.You have our entire assent to your words.

Ath.I have spoken with vehemence because I am zealous against evil men;and I will tell dear Cleinias,why I am so.I would not have the wicked think that,having the superiority in argument,they may do as they please and act according to their various imaginations about the Gods;and this zeal has led me to speak too vehemently;but if we have at all succeeded in persuading the men to hate themselves and love their opposites,the prelude of our laws about impiety will not have been spoken in vain.

Cle.So let us hope;and even if we have failed,the style of our argument will not discredit the lawgiver.

Ath.After the prelude shall follow a discourse,which will be the interpreter of the law;this shall proclaim to all impious persons:-that they must depart from their ways and go over to the pious.And to those who disobey,let the law about impiety be as follows:-If a man is guilty of any impiety in word or deed,any one who happens to present shall give information to the magistrates,in aid of the law;and let the magistrates who.first receive the information bring him before the appointed court according to the law;and if a magistrate,after receiving information,refuses to act,he shall be tried for impiety at the instance of any one who is willing to vindicate the laws;and if any one be cast,the court shall estimate the punishment of each act of impiety;and let all such criminals be imprisoned.There shall be three prisons in the state:

同类推荐
  • On Revenues

    On Revenues

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 肩门

    肩门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Peg Woffington

    Peg Woffington

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 周礼

    周礼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 筠廊偶笔

    筠廊偶笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 雨中琦缘

    雨中琦缘

    总裁王梓与学员琦缘的故事,灵感、来自于千祥镇中
  • TFBOYS之橙海里的她

    TFBOYS之橙海里的她

    雨幕中,篝火前,星空下,一个女孩和三个少年。他在她命悬一线时,给了她一生难忘的救助;他在她重病时,时时刻刻守护着她;他为了她,宁愿受风寒,也不愿她受一丝风吹雨打。虎牙少年,星眸少年,梨涡少年,面对这三个如画般美好的少年,她要如何选择?如果可以,我愿用那千万人给我的爱,去换你一个人的爱。一王俊凯我不会再爱上任何人,因为,为了遇见你,我已经用完了我今生所有的勇气。一王源我不管你是不是天煞孤星,我只知道你是我永远的幸运星。一易烊千玺
  • 午夜心跳

    午夜心跳

    尸体也有心跳吗?它们隐藏在黑暗之中,听!!梦靥在召唤来吧-来吧-来吧!如果,为了爱,你必须放弃一件最宝贵的东西,你会选择什么?一个月圆之夜,午夜时分寂静的医院走廊突然出现神秘身影,314病房之内,一场触目惊心的离奇杀戮正悄然发生。通往太平间的路上,推车上停止心跳的冰冷尸体,只有停尸人阴沉的表情默默送行。恐惧中,惊慌失措逃跑的少女,终究难逃魔爪,只留下一声惨烈尖叫久久回荡。无法制止的杀戮,究竟是什么样的诅咒。黑暗中,有什么东西会冒出来扑向你……这是一个因爱而生的故事,扑朔迷离中隐隐透露出爱与恨的纠缠。清冷的月光下,谁都不知道,一件尘封的往事正因此而渐渐浮出水面。
  • 20-30岁,你必须做出哪些改变

    20-30岁,你必须做出哪些改变

    本书共分9章,内容包括:必须要认清现实、必须有明确的目标、必须要有所准备、必须要学会适应、必须尽快融入社会、必须遵从现实的规则、必须知道人性弱点等。
  • 涩女的天使之吻

    涩女的天使之吻

    故事内容简介:一个平凡家庭的女孩陈夕菱考入了一所名牌高校,在这所学校里,她是个平平庸庸毫无影响的小人物。论资色,论身段,论才华,是处处不如人!在一次撞车事件中与富商之长子林希晨邂逅,两人便有了第一次的接触,从此结下了不解之缘。又一次在KTV的相遇彻底将两人牵扯到了一起,改变了他们的生活。自从有了你,生命里都是奇迹。一个花钱似流水,一个花钱似流血。一个常顾豪华大饭店,一个只顾学校大食堂。两人在生活上存在太大的差异,可是两个人的心却能紧紧连在一起。毕竟他俩不是同一阶层的人,要想走在一起就必须通过层层磨练和种种考验,面对非常严峻的形势,两人的内心充满着坚定的信念,只为那份执着而纯真的爱。在这坎坷曲折的恋爱征程上,他们敢于斗争敢于追求,为爱执着,为爱疯狂,是那份坚定的信念支持着他们走到幸福的殿堂。
  • 灵尊境界:天才少年

    灵尊境界:天才少年

    一群绝世风华的少年,一段可歌可泣的青春,倾城之貌,绝世武学,都被天才少年们所拥有。是谁为爱纵身跳下悬崖,涅槃重生,懵懂的她变得成熟。当千年前的迷雾揭开,亲手把挚爱逼死的他,后悔不已,他,是否还能赢回佳人芳心?对对情侣牵手,而她仍然无法从伤痛之中走出来。大雪落下,红梅之下,倾世佳人独身而立,耳边熟悉旋律响起,“若希,怎么了你累了,说好的幸福呢?”白衣翩翩熟悉的身影,还有……那……紫玉萧。【本故事虚构,如有雷同,纯属巧合】(多多支持本书哦!)
  • 魔剑救世

    魔剑救世

    世间的好坏重来不是亘古不变的,神和魔代表着的善恶亦会反转。最强大的魔却拥有着最善良的心。上古洪荒年代,世上最强的神魔两界一直动荡不安,而魔界至强尊者魔天在领悟天道后,跳出六界,留下一柄魔剑,但它的名字却叫做“救世”,凭此剑,魔界魔王强者已经能够对抗仙帝。每数百万年,神魔必将一场大战,而三百多万年前的神魔大战中,仙帝和魔王同时陨落,之后慢慢出现了仙人妖鬼四界。三百多万年后,突然出现了两个神秘少年,一个清秀异常异常,却给人妖魅无比的感觉;而另一个紫眸妖邪,却始终透露出一丝温柔的目光,给人惬意,好似来自纯净透彻的不受污染的极乐地方。即将到来的末世神魔之战又会如何?
  • 七窍记

    七窍记

    身世不明的少年,身具七窍玲珑心,浪迹天下,在生存与命运中渐行渐远
  • 神秘樱花八公主

    神秘樱花八公主

    她们是神秘的八位公主,有一个人人羡慕的家世,有着不为人知的秘密,有让人倾国倾城的样貌,有逆天的能力,有个个都是冷血无情的杀手,世界上无人能敌。当她们遇上了比她们差一点,也有逆天的能力的八位王子,又会擦出怎样的火花呢?
  • 逆命高手

    逆命高手

    这是科学与修真交织,全民修真的时代。这是金手指无数,主角满地走的时代。“随身老爷爷学习机,戒指只卖998!”“超级商城系统,让你随时随地网购法宝秘籍。”在这里,只要有钱,你就可以当主角!来自异度时空的江钧,决心凭借通读网络小说的能力,掀起一场逆天强者的崛起征程!没有路,就自己铺。没有主角光环,就自己造一个!PS:作者曾获06年《时代周刊》风云人物、08年感动中国组委会特别大奖等荣誉。请放心食用!更新时间在中午12:00或下午6:00。