She was pre-eminent in courage and military skill, and
was the leader of the Hellenes. And when the rest fell off from
her, being compelled to stand alone, after having undergone the
very extremity of danger, she defeated and triumphed over the
invaders, and preserved from slavery those who were not yet
subjugated, and generously liberated all the rest of us who dwell
within the pillars. But afterwards there occurred violent
earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of
misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth,
and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the
depths of the sea. For which reason the sea in those parts is
impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mud in
the way; and this was caused by the subsidence of the island.
I have told you briefly, Socrates, what the aged Critias heard
from Solon and related to us. And when you were speaking
yesterday about your city and citizens, the tale which I have
just been repeating to you came into my mind, and I remarked with
astonishment how, by some mysterious coincidence, you agreed in
almost every particular with the narrative of Solon; but I did
not like to speak at the moment. For a long time had elapsed, and
I had forgotten too much; I thought that I must first of all run
over the narrative in my own mind, and then I would speak. And so
I readily assented to your request yesterday, considering that in
all such cases the chief difficulty is to find a tale suitable to
our purpose, and that with such a tale we should be fairly well
provided.
And therefore, as Hermocrates has told you, on my way home
yesterday I at once communicated the tale to my companions as I
remembered it; and after I left them, during the night by
thinking I recovered nearly the whole it. Truly, as is often
said, the lessons of our childhood make wonderful impression on
our memories; for I am not sure that I could remember all the
discourse of yesterday, but I should be much surprised if I
forgot any of these things which I have heard very long ago. I
listened at the time with childlike interest to the old man's
narrative; he was very ready to teach me, and I asked him again
and again to repeat his words, so that like an indelible picture
they were branded into my mind. As soon as the day broke, I
rehearsed them as he spoke them to my companions, that they, as
well as myself, might have something to say. And now, Socrates,
to make an end my preface, I am ready to tell you the whole tale.
I will give you not only the general heads, but the particulars,
as they were told to me. The city and citizens, which you
yesterday described to us in fiction, we will now transfer to the
world of reality. It shall be the ancient city of Athens, and we
will suppose that the citizens whom you imagined, were our
veritable ancestors, of whom the priest spoke; they will
perfectly harmonise, and there will be no inconsistency in saying
that the citizens of your republic are these ancient Athenians.
Let us divide the subject among us, and all endeavour according
to our ability gracefully to execute the task which you have
imposed upon us. Consider then, Socrates, if this narrative is
suited to the purpose, or whether we should seek for some other
instead.
[Soc.] And what other, Critias, can we find that will be
better than this, which is natural and suitable to the festival
of the goddess, and has the very great advantage of being a fact
and not a fiction? How or where shall we find another if we
abandon this? We cannot, and therefore you must tell the tale,
and good luck to you; and I in return for my yesterday's
discourse will now rest and be a listener.
[Crit.] Let me proceed to explain to you, Socrates, the order
in which we have arranged our entertainment. Our intention is,
that Timaeus, who is the most of an astronomer amongst us, and
has made the nature of the universe his special study, should
speak first, beginning with the generation of the world and going
down to the creation of man; next, I am to receive the men whom
he has created of whom some will have profited by the excellent
education which you have given them; and then, in accordance with
the tale of Solon, and equally with his law, we will bring them
into court and make them citizens, as if they were those very
Athenians whom the sacred Egyptian record has recovered from
oblivion, and thenceforward we will speak of them as Athenians
and fellow-citizens.
[Soc.] I see that I shall receive in my turn a perfect and
splendid feast of reason. And now, Timaeus, you, I suppose,
should speak next, after duly calling upon the Gods.
[Tim.] All men, Socrates, who have any degree of right
feeling, at the beginning of every enterprise, whether small or
great, always call upon God. And we, too, who are going to
discourse of the nature of the universe, how created or how
existing without creation, if we be not altogether out of our
wits, must invoke the aid of Gods and Goddesses and pray that our
words may be acceptable to them and consistent with themselves.
Let this, then, be our invocation of the Gods, to which I add an
exhortation of myself to speak in such manner as will be most
intelligible to you, and will most accord with my own intent.
