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ἐάν τε λανθάνῃ. Cf. 427 D and II 367 E. βελτίων -- κολαζόμενος. II 380 B note ᾧ ζῶμεν. Cf. I 353 D τί δ̓ αὖ τὸ ζῆν; ψυχῆς φήσομεν ἔργον εἶναι; μάλιστά γε and note ad loc. βιωτὸν ἄρα ἔσται should not be made interrogative. The sentence means: ‘if life, which men deem unbearable when the bodily constitution decays, even when they are surrounded by every variety of food and drink and wealth and power, shall be, forsooth, when tumult and decay affect the constitution of the very principle whereby we live, worth living, if so be we do what we desire, and take no steps to escape from wickedness and injustice, and acquire justice and virtue.’ Life is not (says Plato) βιωτός to the guilty man who works his will; it may become so if he takes steps to rid himself of vice, i.e. ἐὰν διδῷ δίκην καὶ βελτίων γίγνηται κολαζόμενος. For the sentiment cf. Crit. 47 D, E, Gorg. 477 B—E, Prot. 313 A, B.
The Republic of Plato. James Adam. 1902. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
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