[572b]
the visions of his dreams are least
likely to be lawless.”1 “I certainly think so,” he
said. “This description has carried us too far,2 but the point
that we have to notice is this, that in fact there exists in every one of
us, even in some reputed most respectable,3 a terrible, fierce and
lawless brood of desires, which it seems are revealed in our sleep.
Consider, then, whether there is anything in what I say, and whether you
admit it.” “Well, I do.”“Now recall4 our characterization of the democratic man.
1 This sentence contains 129 words. George Moore says, “Pater's complaint that Plato's sentences are long may be regarded as Pater's single excursion into humor.” But Pater is in fact justifying his own long sentences by Plato's example. He calls this passage Plato's evening prayer.
2 Plato always returns to the point after a digression. Cf. 543 C, 471 C, 544 B, 568 D, 588 B, Phaedo 78 B, Theaet. 177 C, Protag. 359 A, Crat. 438 A, Polit. 287 A-B, 263 C, 302 B, Laws 682 E, 697 C, 864 C, and many other passages. Cf. also Lysias ii. 61ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν ἐξήχθην, Demosth.De cor. 211, Aristot.De an. 403 b 16, also p. 193, note i, and Plato's carefulness in keeping to the point under discussion in 353 C, Theaet. 182 C, 206 C, Meno 93 A-B, Gorg. 479 D-E, 459 C-D, etc.
3 For the irony of the expression Cf. Laws 693 D, Aesch.Eumen. 373.
4 Cf. 559 D f.
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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