Book

  1 1 |             is an attribute of the Gods not given to man, Stranger;
  2 1 |       beings to be a puppet of the Gods, either their plaything
  3 1 |           either received from the Gods or himself discovered; for
  4 2 |   corrupted in human life. And the Gods, pitying the toils which
  5 2 |            in the festivals of the Gods, and with their help. I
  6 2 |        they are called, to us, the Gods, who, as we say, have been
  7 2 |          have just appealed to the Gods before he judged. He is
  8 2 |           I were to ask these same Gods who were your legislators—
  9 2 |          put into the mouth of the Gods. The words will come with
 10 2 |        glory and fame, coming from Gods and men, though good and
 11 2 |           the life which is by the Gods deemed to be the happiest
 12 2 |          song. And I said that the Gods had pity on us, and gave
 13 2 |          invite not only the other Gods, but Dionysus above all,
 14 2 |          traditions concerning the Gods I leave to those who think
 15 2 |        Muses and Dionysus were the Gods whom we had to thank for
 16 3 |          but what they heard about Gods and men they believed to
 17 3 |            lot, and is dear to the Gods and a token of good fortune:
 18 3 |           in themselves and in the Gods. All these things created
 19 3 |        consisted of prayers to the Gods, which were called hymns;
 20 3 |           no regard at all for the Gods—herein they exhibit and
 21 4 |          and chief ministry of the gods; and the second to him who
 22 4 |           every blessing which the Gods can confer.~Cleinias. Truly,
 23 4 |          to offer sacrifice to the Gods, and hold converse with
 24 4 |        their much service upon the Gods, but when offered by any
 25 4 |            next after the Olympian Gods and the Gods of the State,
 26 4 |          the Olympian Gods and the Gods of the State, honour should
 27 4 |      honour should be given to the Gods below; they should receive
 28 4 |       lucky omen, are given to the Gods above, by him who would
 29 4 |            of piety. Next to these Gods, a wise man will do service
 30 4 |          the private and ancestral Gods, who are worshipped as the
 31 4 |        receive our reward from the Gods and those who are above
 32 4 |           render our state, if the Gods co–operate with us, prosperous
 33 4 |         before virtue the immortal Gods have placed the sweat of
 34 4 |            About the honour of the Gods and the respect of parents,
 35 4 |          sufficient preamble about Gods and demi–gods, and about
 36 4 |       preamble about Gods and demi–gods, and about parents living
 37 5 |           now heard the laws about Gods, and about our dear forefathers:—
 38 5 |       which a man has, next to the Gods, his soul is the most divine
 39 5 |      bidding every one next to the Gods, who are our masters, and
 40 5 |          her as second only to the Gods. Again, when a man thinks
 41 5 |            knows, the world of the Gods below, instead of being
 42 5 |        those who share in the same Gods and are of the same blood
 43 5 |         may fairly expect that the Gods who preside over generation
 44 5 |            is more to be pitied by Gods and men. Wherefore, also,
 45 5 |          every good thing, both to Gods and men; and he who would
 46 5 |         high and steep places, the Gods oppose him in some of his
 47 5 |         are discoursing and not to Gods. Pleasures and pains and
 48 5 |         decayed one, in respect of Gods and temples—the temples
 49 5 |        built in each city, and the Gods or demi–gods after whom
 50 5 |         city, and the Gods or demi–gods after whom they are to be
 51 5 |        such a state is governed by Gods or sons of Gods, one, or
 52 5 |        governed by Gods or sons of Gods, one, or more than one,
 53 5 |          ought to entertain to the Gods and demi–gods of the country.
 54 5 |     entertain to the Gods and demi–gods of the country. And in order
 55 5 |         duty of ministering to the Gods, the state and the family,
 56 5 |          informed is sacred to the Gods; and in the next place,
 57 5 |           to the state, and to the Gods who are the patrons of the
 58 5 |         excess shall belong to the Gods. And let every possession
 59 5 |       assign twelve lots to twelve Gods, and call them by their
 60 5 | inspiration, and in which the demi–gods have their appointed lots,
 61 6 |    appointed to be servants of the Gods who have no servants. Some
 62 6 |          the actual temples of the Gods, and so beautify them at
 63 6 |            also the service of the Gods; in the second place, upon
 64 6 |         the first in honour of the Gods and divine things, and the
 65 6 |          to all the oracles of the Gods; and if they are all agreed,
 66 6 |            the treasurers of these Gods exact the money, as was
 67 6 |       another, and worshipping the Gods according to law for ever.~
 68 6 |            dwelling–places of holy Gods: and in them will be held
 69 6 |            stain the altars of the Gods with blood. For in those
 70 6 |            using the Muses and the Gods who preside over contests
 71 7 |          pipe with the help of the Gods to whom they offer acceptable
 72 7 |           supplications to all the Gods in goodly array, armed and
 73 7 |         offering up prayers to the Gods and to the sons of Gods;
 74 7 |            Gods and to the sons of Gods; and also engaging in contests
 75 7 |        time, and in honour of what Gods, sons of Gods, and heroes
 76 7 |       honour of what Gods, sons of Gods, and heroes they ought to
 77 7 |            Fates and all the other Gods, and to consecrate the several
 78 7 |     consecrate the several odes to gods and heroes: and if any one
 79 7 |           dances to any one of the Gods, the priests and priestesses,
 80 7 |            to be offered up to the Gods when we sacrifice?~Cleinias.
 81 7 |      requests which we make to the Gods, will take especial heed
 82 7 |           hymns and praises of the Gods, intermingled with prayers;
 83 7 |        with prayers; and after the Gods prayers and praises should
 84 7 |          be able to propitiate the Gods, and to defend himself against
 85 7 |            without the will of the Gods. And this ought to be the
 86 7 |        whom, and when, and to what Gods severally they are to sacrifice
 87 7 |            comparing them with the Gods; and under that feeling
 88 7 |        honour with libations those Gods to whom that day and night
 89 7 |          city alive and awake, the Gods receiving the honours due
 90 7 |         which honours in dance the Gods and the sons of the Gods,
 91 7 |           Gods and the sons of the Gods, is entirely associated
 92 7 |      expression, about those great Gods, the Sun and the Moon.~Cleinias.
 93 7 |            about the nature of the Gods in heaven, so far as to
 94 7 |           the same error about the Gods which would have been ludicrous
 95 7 |       Athenian. At all events, the Gods cannot like us to be spreading
 96 8 |           of the city, and to what Gods they shall be offered; but
 97 8 |            dedicated to the twelve Gods, after whom the several
 98 8 |   assigning them so as to suit the Gods and seasons of the year.
 99 8 |           and their rites with the Gods who are termed heavenly
100 8 |        sacred and dedicated to the Gods, and such as are the works
101 8 |            have been appointed for Gods and demi–gods, whether every
102 8 |        appointed for Gods and demi–gods, whether every third year,
103 8 |         whatever way or manner the Gods may put into men’s minds
104 8 |          the first coming from the Gods, and the second from the
105 8 |         used in the service of the Gods, which come from abroad,
106 8 |             and the temples of the Gods, and of their attendant
107 9 |         laws to heroes and sons of gods, being, according to the
108 9 |    themselves the offspring of the gods, and legislating for others,
109 9 |    suppliant to the temples of the Gods who avert evils, go to the
110 9 |          either in relation to the gods, or his parents, or the
111 9 |          after what relates to the Gods, follows what relates to
112 9 |      concerning the robbers of the Gods, and concerning traitors,
113 9 |            incur the hatred of the Gods, even as the curse of the
114 9 |          and sacrifices to certain Gods, who are concerned with
115 9 |           in states. But who these Gods are, and what should be
116 9 |           fatal dart sent from the Gods—whether a man is killed
117 9 |        crime committed against the Gods or against his fellow–citizens,
118 9 |          in honour, both among the Gods and also among men who would
119 9 |           thing and hateful to the Gods to see an elder man assaulted
120 9 |            out of reverence to the Gods who preside over birth;
121 9 |         either of the wrath of the Gods above, or of the punishments
122 10|          act insolently toward the Gods. But first we must give
123 10|           believed that there were Gods, ever intentionally did
124 10|          the very existence of the Gods, while others, as you say,
125 10|         persuade us that there are Gods by reasonable evidences,
126 10|           show us the existence of Gods, if not in a better manner
127 10|       proving the existence of the Gods?~Athenian. How would you
128 10|           admit. They speak of the Gods in prose as well as verse,
129 10|           narrate the birth of the Gods, and how after they were
130 10|            what is pleasing to the Gods. But as to our younger generation
131 10|           for the existence of the Gods, and produce the sun, moon,
132 10|         supposition that there are Gods! Shall we make a defence
133 10|            to prove that there are Gods, and that they are good,
134 10|         prove the existence of the Gods? Who can avoid hating and
135 10|            interest talking to the Gods, and beseeching them, as
136 10|         thought that there were no Gods, but as if there could be
137 10|          the very existence of the Gods? Yet the attempt must be
138 10|          think nothing—to know the Gods rightly and to live accordingly.
139 10|        held this opinion about the Gods. There have always been
140 10|       youth this opinion, that the Gods do not exist, ever continued
141 10|           notion, I mean, that the Gods exist, but take no heed
142 10|           to the opinion about the Gods which may some day become
143 10|          do not offend against the Gods. For the duty of the legislator
144 10|          people would say that the Gods exist not by nature, but
145 10|            under the idea that the Gods are not such as the law
146 10|         not say and think that the Gods are such as the law ordains (
147 10|     ancient opinion that there are Gods, and of all those other
148 10|           of discoursing about the Gods, and about divine things?
149 10|            of the existence of the Gods—but seeing that they are
150 10|          the belief that there are Gods, of whom the law is said
151 10|       about the true nature of the Gods.~Cleinias. Still I do not
152 10|            we are to call upon the Gods, let us call upon them now
153 10|           of them, those souls are Gods, whether they are living
154 10|            that all things full of Gods?~Cleinias. No one, Stranger,
155 10|        denied the existence of the Gods, and leave him.~Cleinias.
156 10|          the belief that there are Gods.—Let us see, then, whether
157 10|            who deny that there are Gods.~Cleinias. Certainly—quite
158 10|           believing that there are Gods, believes also that they
159 10|           believing that there are Gods you are led by some affinity
160 10|          do not like to accuse the Gods of them, because they are
161 10|        denied the existence of the Gods. And do you, Megillus and
162 10|            proving to him that the Gods care about the small as
163 10|           a human quality, but the Gods have no part in anything
164 10|       alike confess that there are Gods, but with a difference—the
165 10|          both acknowledge that the Gods hear and see and know all
166 10|            remains is, that if the Gods neglect the lighter and
167 10|            are the property of the Gods, to whom also the whole
168 10|            these things are to the Gods great or small—in either
169 10|       would not be natural for the Gods who own us, and who are
170 10|            a supposition about the Gods which is both impious and
171 10|         who delights to accuse the Gods of neglect.~Cleinias. Yes.~
172 10|          of all things easy to the Gods. If any one were to form
173 10|             although not, like the Gods of popular opinion, eternal,
174 10|         This is the justice of the Gods who inhabit Olympus.~ O
175 10|           you are neglected by the Gods, know that if you become
176 10|           universal neglect of the Gods, not knowing how they make
177 10|            not what you say of the Gods, then will God help you;
178 10|        proved the existence of the Gods, and that they care for
179 10|       Athenian. Well, then, by the Gods themselves I conjure you
180 10|           and in that conflict the Gods and demigods are our allies,
181 10|       latter is in the life of the Gods, although some vestige of
182 10|          say who declares that the Gods are always lenient to the
183 10|          he who maintains that the Gods can be propitiated argue
184 10|          would any man compare the Gods without absurdity? Will
185 10|          be a fearful image of the Gods.~Athenian. Nor are they
186 10|      Athenian. And are not all the Gods the chiefest of all guardians,
187 10|          three assertions—that the Gods exist, and that they take
188 10|     various imaginations about the Gods; and this zeal has led me
189 10|            who does not believe in Gods, and yet has a righteous
190 10|        that the world is devoid of Gods are intemperate, and have
191 10|         may talk loosely about the Gods and about sacrifices and
192 10|           also the notion that the Gods take no thought of men produces
193 10|          believe that there are no Gods, or that they are negligent,
194 10|           and promise to charm the Gods with sacrifices and prayers,
195 10|      reason of this is as follows:—Gods and temples are not easily
196 10|           and promising shrines to Gods, demigods, and sons of Gods;
197 10|        Gods, demigods, and sons of Gods; and when they are awakened
198 10|       shall possess shrines of the Gods in private houses, and he
199 10|       publicly or privately to any Gods, let him be punished with
200 11|        trove:—May I never pray the Gods to find the hidden treasure,
201 11|         suffer at the hands of the Gods, God only knows; but I would
202 11|  prescribed:—No one shall call the Gods to witness, when he says
203 11|            and pays no heed to the Gods; and in the next degree,
204 11|            and when he invokes the Gods, according to the customs
205 11|            defile the names of the Gods, after the fashion of men
206 11|          deemed to have robbed the Gods of the agora; or if he proves
207 11|          dedicate the goods to the Gods of the agora. He who is
208 11|     matters, out of respect to the Gods who are their ancestors.
209 11|           case let the law and the Gods maintain the common bonds
210 11|            as what?~Athenian. O ye Gods, he will say, how monstrous
211 11|          should have a fear of the Gods above, who regard the loneliness
212 11|           about the service of the Gods, will be a suitable introduction:—
213 11|          ancient customs about the Gods which are universal, and
214 11|          of two kinds: some of the Gods we see with our eyes and
215 11|            imagine that the living Gods have a good will and gratitude
216 11|          heard and ratified by the Gods, and Amyntor in his wrath
217 11|        whence it is clear that the Gods listen to the imprecations
218 11|         children, are heard by the Gods in accordance with nature;
219 11|       heart earnestly entreats the Gods in his prayers to do them
220 11|            is more honoured by the Gods, than that of a father or
221 11|          win him the favour of the Gods.~Cleinias. Excellent.~Athenian.
222 11|         laws of such a kind as the Gods and sons of Gods would have
223 11|            as the Gods and sons of Gods would have us give.~If a
224 12|            base, but only what the Gods themselves do. For such
225 12|         presented to Peleus by the Gods as a nuptial gift when he
226 12|     Magnetes, by providence of the Gods, is again preserved, and
227 12|           no doubt that there were Gods, which was a reasonable
228 12|          most men were the sons of Gods, and according to tradition
229 12|     judgment to no man, but to the Gods only, and in this way suits
230 12|            in the existence of the Gods, and others imagine that
231 12|         the needs of men about the Gods are changed, the laws should
232 12|        which the sun and the other Gods behold. Wherefore, in the
233 12|       games there dedicated to the Gods; and they should send as
234 12|           an oath by the customary Gods that he expects to find
235 12|          Touching offerings to the Gods, a moderate man should observe
236 12|           all men is sacred to all Gods; wherefore let no man dedicate
237 12|          them a second time to the Gods. Gold and silver, whether
238 12|           a colour suitable to the Gods, especially in woven works,
239 12|        whether appertaining to the Gods of the underworld or of
240 12|           goes on her way to other Gods, before them to give an
241 12|          the lifeless altar of the Gods below. But the legislator
242 12|           not the knowledge of the Gods which we have set forth
243 12|            there is respecting the Gods; our city is forbidden and
244 12|         lead men to believe in the Gods, as we have already stated?~
245 12|           a true worshipper of the Gods who does not know these