by the hand of man. And they dwelt naked, and mostly in the open air,

for the temperature of their seasons was mild; and they had no beds, but

lay on soft couches of grass, which grew plentifully out of the earth.

Such was the life of man in the days of Cronos, Socrates; the character

of our present life, which is said to be under Zeus, you know from your

own experience. Can you, and will you, determine which of them you deem

the happier?

YOUNG SOCRATES: Impossible.

STRANGER: Then shall I determine for you as well as I can?

YOUNG SOCRATES: By all means.

STRANGER: Suppose that the nurslings of Cronos, having this boundless

leisure, and the power of holding intercourse, not only with men, but

with the brute creation, had used all these advantages with a view to

philosophy, conversing with the brutes as well as with one another, and

learning of every nature which was gifted with any special power, and

was able to contribute some special experience to the store of wisdom,

there would be no difficulty in deciding that they would be a thousand

times happier than the men of our own day. Or, again, if they had merely

eaten and drunk until they were full, and told stories to one another

and to the animals--such stories as are now attributed to them--in this

case also, as I should imagine, the answer would be easy. But until some

satisfactory witness can be found of the love of that age for knowledge

Statesman