[460d]
to prevent anyone from recognizing her
own infant. And they will provide others who have milk if the mothers are
insufficient. But they will take care that the mothers themselves shall not
suckle too long, and the trouble of wakeful nights and similar burdens they
will devolve upon the nurses, wet and dry.” “You are
making maternity a soft job1 for the women of
the guardians.” “It ought to be,” said I,
“but let us pursue our design. We said that the offspring should
come from parents in their prime.”
1 Another favorite idea and expression. Cf. Gorgias 459 C, Laws 648 C, 713 D, 720 C, 779 A, 903 E, Isocrates iv. 36, Xenophon Memorabilia iii. 13. 5.
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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