[429e]
And things that are dyed by this process become
fast-colored1 and washing
either with or without lyes cannot take away the sheen of their hues. But
otherwise you know what happens to them, whether2 anyone dips other colors or even these
without the preparatory treatment.” “I know,”
he said, “that they present a ridiculous and washed-out
appearance.” “By this analogy, then,” said I,
“you must conceive what we too to the best of our ability were
doing when we selected our soldiers and educated them in music3
1 For δευσοποιός cf. L. and S., and Nauck,Ἀδέσποτα441τοῖς δευσοποιοῖς φαρμάκοις ξανθίζεται.
2 The two points of precaution are (1) to select white wool, not ἄλλα χρώματα, (2) to prepare by treatment even this.
3 Cf. 522 A, Philebus 17 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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