republic (books 1 - 5)   

BOOK I
OF WEALTH, JUSTICE, MODERATION, AND THEIR OPPOSITES



SOCRATES, who is the narrator. CEPHALUS.
GLACON. THRASYMACHUS.
ADEIMANTUS. CLEITOPHON.
POLEMARCHUS.

And others who are mute auditors.

The scene is laid in the house of Cephalus at the Piraeus; and
the whole dialogue is narrated by Socrates the day after it actually
took place to Timaeus Hermocrates, Critias, and a nameless person,
who are introduced in the Timaeus.


I WENT down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon, the
son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the
goddess; and also because I wanted to see in what man-
ner they would celebrate the festival, which was a new thing.
I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants; but
that of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful.
When we had finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle,
we turned in the direction of the city; and at that instant
Polemarchus, the son of Cephalus, chanced to catch sight of
us from a distance as we were starting on our way home, and
told his servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant
took hold of me by the cloak behind, and said, Polemarchus
desires you to wait.

I turned round, and asked him where his master was.

There he is, said the youth, coming after you, if you will
only wait.

Certainly we will, said Glaucon; and in a few minutes
Polemarchus appeared, and with him Adeimantus, Glaucon's
brother, Niceratus, the son of Nicias, and several others who
had been at the procession.

Polemarchus said to me, I perceive, Socrates, that you and
your companion are already on your way to the city.

You are not far wrong, I said.

But do you see, he rejoined, how many we are?

Of course.

And are you stronger than all these? for if not, you will
have to remain where you are.

May there not be the alternative, I said, that we may per-
suade you to let us go?

But can you persuade us, if we refuse to listen to you? he
said.

Certainly not, replied Glaucon.

Then we are not going to listen; of that you may be assured.