646
Athenian
Ath. You are right in your reminder, and I am still ready to do so, now that you and Megillus have both expressed your willingness to listen to me.
Clinias
Clin. Of course we shall listen, if only on account of the surprising paradox that, of his own free will, a man ought to plunge into the depths of depravity.
Athenian
Ath. Depravity of soul, you mean, do you not?
10
Athenian
Ath. And how about plunging into a bad state of body, such as leanness or ugliness or impotence? Should we be surprised if a man of his own free will ever got into such a state?
Clinias
Clin. Of course we should.
Athenian
Ath. Well then, do we suppose that persons who go of themselves to dispensaries to drink medicines are not aware that soon afterwards, and for many days to come, they will find themselves in a bodily condition such as would make life intolerableEvidently, drastic purgatives were commonly prescribed. if it were to last for ever? And we know, do we not, that men who go to the gymnasia for hard training commence by becoming weaker?
Clinias
Clin. All this we know.
15
Athenian
Ath. We know also that they go there voluntarily for the sake of the subsequent benefit ?
Clinias
Clin. Quite true.
Athenian
Ath. Should one not take the same view of the other institutions also?
Athenian
Ath. Then one must also take the same view of the practice of wine-drinking, if one can rightly class it amongst the others.
20
Clinias
Clin. Of course one must.