Stephanus 108

108a Critias: It was to remind you of all this, and to ask for indulgence not less but greater for what is about to be said, that I have said all this, Socrates. If then I seem to be asking for this gift justly, grant it of your own accord.

Socrates: Why, of course we shall grant it, Critias. And let this same gift be given a third time to Hermocrates on our behalf as well. For plainly a little later, when he too must speak, 108b he will make the same plea as you; so that he may devise some other opening and not be forced to repeat the same one, let him speak now on the understanding that indulgence is already his until that time. Let me warn you in advance, dear Critias, what this audience is thinking: the poet who spoke before you has won astonishing approval here, so you will need a very great deal of indulgence if you are to be capable of taking over the theme.

Hermocrates: The same charge, Socrates, you lay upon me as 108c upon him. But men of faint heart have never yet raised a trophy, Critias; so you must advance upon the account with courage, and calling upon Paean and the Muses, set forth and sing the praise of the ancient citizens, who were good men.

Critias: My dear Hermocrates, you are posted last in the order and have another man in front of you, and yet you are still bold. What that boldness is worth will perhaps become clear to you; but since you both comfort and 108d hearten me, I must obey you, and besides the gods you named I must call upon the others, and above all upon Mnemosyne. For the greater part of our account lies altogether with this goddess: if we can remember adequately and report what was told long ago by the priests and brought here by Solon, I am well assured that we shall seem to this audience to have accomplished what is fitting in reasonable measure. This, then, is what we must now do, with no more delay.

108e

First of all, then, let us recall that the sum total was nine thousand years since the war was revealed as having taken place between those who dwelt beyond the Pillars of Heracles and all who dwelt this side of them—the war which we must now carry to its completion. Of the two sides, this city of ours was said to have led the way and to have fought the whole war through; of the other, the kings of the island of Atlantis, which we said was once an island larger than Libya and Asia, but which has now sunk beneath earthquakes and left impassable mud for those who sail out from here

108a Critias: I have said all this, Socrates, because I wanted to remind you of it, and to ask for not less but more indulgence for what I am going to say. If it seems that I ask for this gift rightly, give it willingly.

Socrates: Why would we not give it, Critias? And let the same thing be given as a third to Hermocrates from us. For it is clear that a little later, when he has to speak, 108b he will make the same request as you. So let him speak with this indulgence already granted to him until then, so that he can find a different opening and not be forced to say the same one. But I warn you in advance, my friend Critias, what the audience is thinking. The poet before you has won wonderful praise with them, so you will need a very large amount of indulgence if you are going to be able to take over from him.

Hermocrates: Socrates, you are giving me the same instruction 108c as you gave him. But men who lose heart have never set up a trophy, Critias. So you must go on to your account bravely. Call on Paean and the Muses, and bring to light and praise those ancient citizens, who were good men.

Critias: My dear Hermocrates, you are placed later in the order and have someone in front of you, so you are still confident. What this is really like, the thing itself will soon show you. But I must obey your words of comfort and 108d encouragement. And besides the gods you named, I must call on the others, and most of all on Mnemosyne. For almost everything that matters most in our account rests with this goddess. If we remember well enough and report what the priests once told and Solon brought here, I am fairly sure that we shall seem to this audience to have finished in a modest way what was fitting. So now this is what we must do, and put it off no longer.

108e

First of all, let us remember that the total was nine thousand years since the war broke out and was reported to us. It was fought between the people who lived outside the Pillars of Heracles and all those who lived inside them. This is the war that we must now finish telling. It is said that this city of ours began the war and fought all the way through it. The other side was led by the kings of the island of Atlantis. We said that this island was once larger than Libya and Asia. But now it has sunk because of earthquakes and become impassable mud for the sailors who set out from here,

108a and crave a greater rather than a less measure of indulgence for what I am about to say, that I have made all these observations, Socrates. If, therefore, I seem justified in craving this boon, pray grant it willingly.

Socrates: And why should we hesitate to grant it, Critias? Nay, what is more,the same boon shall be granted by us to a third, Hermocrates. For it is plain that later on, before long, when it is his duty to speak, he will make the same request as you.

108b So, in order that he may provide a different prelude and not be compelled to repeat the same one, let him assume, when he comes to speak, that he already has our indulgence. I forewarn you, however, my dear Critias, of the mind of your audience,—how that the former poet won marvellous applause from it, so that you will require an extraordinary measure of indulgence if you are to prove capable of following in his steps.

Hermocrates: And in truth, Socrates, you are giving me the same warning as Critias.

108c But men of faint heart never yet set up a trophy, Critias; wherefore you must go forward to your discoursing manfully, and, invoking the aid of Paion and the Muses, exhibit and celebrate the excellence of your ancient citizens.

Critias: You, my dear Hermocrates, are posted in the last rank, with another man before you, so you are still courageous. But experience of our task will of itself speedily enlighten you as to its character. However, I must trust to your consolation 108d and encouragement, and in addition to the gods you mentioned I must call upon all the rest and especially upon Mnemosyne. For practically all the most important part of our speech depends upon this goddess; for if I can sufficiently remember and report the tale once told by the priests and brought hither by Solon, I am wellnigh convinced that I shall appear to the present audience to have fulfilled my task adequately. This, then, I must at once proceed to do, and procrastinate no longer.

108e Now first of all we must recall the fact that 9000 is the sum of years since the war occurred, as is recorded, between the dwellers beyond the pillars of Heracles and all that dwelt within them; which war we have now to relate in detail. It was stated that this city of ours was in command of the one side and fought through the whole of the war, and in command of the other side were the kings of the island of Atlantis, which we said was an island larger than Libya and Asia once upon a time, but now lies sunk by earthquakes and has created a barrier of impassable mud