[612a]
because it now feasts on earth, cling to it in wild profusion of earthy
and stony accretion by reason of these feastings that are accounted
happy.1 And then one might see whether in its real nature2 it is manifold3 or
single in its simplicity, or what is the truth about it and how.4 But for the present we have, I think, fairly well described
its sufferings and the forms it assumes in this human life of
ours.” “We certainly have,” he said.“Then,” said I, “we
have met all the other demands
1 Cf. Charm. 158 A, Laws 695 A, 783 A. See λεγόμενα ἀγαθά491 C, 495 A, Laws 661 C.
2 Cf. Phaedo 246 A. In Tim. 72 D Plato says that only God knows the truth about the soul. See Laws 641 D, and Unity of Plato's Thought, p. 42.
3 Cf. Phaedr. 271 A.
4 ὅπῃ καὶ ὅπως: cf. 621 B, Phaedo 100 D, Tim. 37 A-B, Laws 652 A, 834 E, 899 A and B.
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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