parmenides   

of terms, one contact is added to the contacts.

True.

Whatever is the whole number of things, the contacts will be

always one less.

True.

But if there be only one, and not two, there will be no contact?

How can there be?

And do we not say that the others being other than the one are not

one and have no part in the one?

True.

Then they have no number, if they have no one in them?

Of course not.

Then the others are neither one nor two, nor are they called by

the name of any number?

No.

One, then, alone is one, and two do not exist?

Clearly not.

And if there are not two, there is no contact?

There is not.

Then neither does the one touch the others, nor the others the

one, if there is no contact?

Certainly not.

For all which reasons the one touches and does not touch itself

and the others?

True.

Further-is the one equal and unequal to itself and others?

How do you mean?

If the one were greater or less than the others, or the others

greater or less than the one, they would not be greater or less than

each other in virtue of their being the one and the others; but, if in

addition to their being what they are they had equality, they would be

equal to one another, or if the one had smallness and the others