“I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my
prayers to the goddess (Bendis, the Thracian Artemis.); and also, because I wanted to see in what
manner they would celebrate the festival, which was a new thing. I was delighted with the
procession of the inhabitants; but that of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful. When
we had finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle, we turned in the direction of the city; and at
that instant Polemarchus the son of Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we
were starting on our way home, and told his servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant
took hold of me by the cloak behind, and said: Polemarchus desires you to wait.

I turned round, and asked him where his master was.
There he is, said the youth, coming after you, if you will only wait.

Certainly, we will, said Glaucon; and in a few minutes Polemarchus appeared, and with him
Adeimantus, Glaucon’s brother, Niceratus the son of Nicias, and several others who had been at

the procession.

Polemarchus said to me: I perceive, Socrates, that you and your companion are already on your

way to the city.
You are not far wrong, I said.

But do you see, he rejoined, how many we are?

Of course,

And are you stronger than all these? for if not, you will have to remain where you are.
May there not be the alternative, I said, that we may persuade you to let us go?
But can you persuade us, if we refuse to listen to you? he said.

Certainly not, replied Glaucon.

Then we are not going to listen; of that you may be assured.”
The Republic, Book 1, Trans. Allan Bloom