Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

>40 Bacchic Mysteries.Ftvo[AV(p 3s TJ [xetoXiqtJjicaotou. Ftrpveiai yaTCavtairaatv sv T(p T7] avo{xoiOT;^svfta o iaur/jvCpoppopovouv,<>o/7]av%ac 6 ftavaTos aong,xctt STI sv TCOpe(3oMruia{isv)Q,sv 6Xrj sati xatadovat,taurrjc. Kac esXftouoir)avaSpajJLTg xai arpsXiQjrco/, toy poppopoo. Kai TODTO eat* TO svsX^ovTot sTcixaia Sap^siv. Here theaccomplish this, would you not say,that he neither knows thegood itself, nor anything which is properly denominated good?And would you not assert that such a one, when he apprehendsany certain image of reality, apprehends it rather through themedium of opinion than of science that in the; present life heis sunk in sleep, and conversant with the delusion of dreams;and that before he is roused to a vigilant state he will descendto Hades, and be overwhelmed with a sleepperfectly profound."Henry Davis translates this passage more critically:"Is notthe case the same with reference to the good ?logically define it, abstracting the idea of tJte goodWhoever can notfrom allothers, and taking, as in a fight, one opposing argument afteranother, and can not proceed with unfailing proofs, eager to resthis case, not -on the ground of opinion, but of true being, such aone knows nothing of the good itself, nor of any good whatever ;and should he have attained to any knowledge of tlte good, wemust say that he has attained it by opinion, not by science(eTC .aTYjpivj) ; that he is sleeping and dreaming away his presentlife ;and before he is roused will descend to Hades, and therebe profoundly and perfectly laid asleep." vii. 14.