صفحة 430 من 1391

Thus far, as the argument required, we have said nothing of the

rewards and honours which the poets attribute to justice; we have

contented ourselves with showing that justice in herself is best

for the soul in herself, even if a man should put on a Gyges'

ring and have the helmet of Hades too. And now you shall repay me

what you borrowed; and I will enumerate the rewards of justice in

life and after death. I granted, for the sake of argument, as you

will remember, that evil might perhaps escape the knowledge of

Gods and men, although this was really impossible. And since I

have shown that justice has reality, you must grant me also that

she has the palm of appearance. In the first place, the just man

is known to the Gods, and he is therefore the friend of the Gods,

and he will receive at their hands every good, always excepting

such evil as is the necessary consequence of former sins.