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Section 135

SOCRATES. For to whoever, dear Alcibiades, there is power to do what he wants, but he does not have sense, what is likely to happen, whether to a private person or even a city? Such as to a sick man there being power to do what he wants, not having medical sense, but tyrannizing so that no one might rebuke him, what will be the result? Will the body not, as is likely, be destroyed?

ALCIBIADES. You speak the truth.

SOCRATES. And what in a ship, if to someone there should be power to do what seems good, being deprived of sense and piloting virtue, do you perceive what would happen both to him and to his fellow sailors?

ALCIBIADES. I do, that they would all perish.

SOCRATES. Therefore in the same way in a city and all rules and powers left destitute of virtue, faring badly follows?

ALCIBIADES. Necessary.

SOCRATES. Therefore one must not prepare a tyranny, best Alcibiades, neither for oneself nor for the city, if you are going to be happy, but virtue.

ALCIBIADES. You speak the truth.

SOCRATES. And before having virtue, it is better to be ruled by the better than to rule for a man, not only a child.

ALCIBIADES. It appears so.

SOCRATES. Therefore the better is also more beautiful?

ALCIBIADES. Yes.

SOCRATES. And the more beautiful more fitting?

ALCIBIADES. How could it not be?

SOCRATES. Therefore it is fitting for the bad to be a slave; for it is better.

ALCIBIADES. Yes.

SOCRATES. Therefore vice is fitting for a slave.

ALCIBIADES. It appears so.

SOCRATES. And virtue is fitting for a free man.

ALCIBIADES. Yes.

SOCRATES. Therefore one must flee, comrade, what is fitting for a slave?

ALCIBIADES. Very much so, Socrates.

SOCRATES. And do you perceive now how you are? Fit for a free man or not?

ALCIBIADES. I seem to myself to perceive very much so.

SOCRATES. Do you know then how you will escape this which is around you now? So that we may not name it upon a beautiful man.

ALCIBIADES. I do.

SOCRATES. How?

ALCIBIADES. If you wish, Socrates.

SOCRATES. You do not speak beautifully, Alcibiades.

ALCIBIADES. But how must one speak?

SOCRATES. That if god wills.

ALCIBIADES. I say it indeed. And besides this however I say this, that we will risk exchanging our roles, Socrates, I taking yours and you mine; for there is no way I shall not attend you as a pedagogue from this day, and you will be attended by me.

SOCRATES. Noble one, my love will then differ in no way from a stork, if having hatched a winged love in you it will be cared for in return by it.

ALCIBIADES. But it stands thus, and I shall begin from now to care for justice.

SOCRATES. I would wish you also to continue; but I dread, not at all distrusting your nature, but seeing the strength of the city, lest it master both me and you.