[507a]
I said, “that I were able to make and you to
receive the payment and not merely as now the interest. But at any rate
receive this interest1 and the
offspring of the good. Have a care, however, lest I deceive you
unintentionally with a false reckoning of the interest.”
“We will do our best,” he said, “to be on our
guard. Only speak on.” “Yes,” I said,
“after first coming to an understanding with you and reminding you
of what has been said here before and often on other occasions.2”
1 This playful interlude relieves the monotony of the argument and is a transition to the symbolism.τόκος means both interest and offspring. Cf. 555 E, Polit. 267 A, Aristoph.Clouds 34, Thesm. 845, Pindar, Ol. x. 12. the equivocation, which in other languages became a metaphor, has played a great part in the history of opinion about usury. Cf. the article “Usury” in Hastings's Encyclopaedia of Relig. and Ethics.
2 Cf. 475 E f. Plato as often begins by a restatement of the theory of ideas, i.e. practically of the distinction between the concept and the objects of sense. Cf. Rep. 596 A ff., Phaedo 108 b ff.
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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