Page:The Republic by Plato.djvu/19

Rh mental range. It has had a great influence on all later visions of ideal States: but especially is this true, and indeed freely and frequently avowed, in the Utopia of Sir Thomas More.

The version of all Plato's works by Professor Jowett is the most important piece of translation made during the last generation, at least; it has added to our own literature a masterpiece of artistic form and manifold wisdom. The rendering is not slavishly literal, but all the more faithful to the spirit. In the "Republic" the style of Plato himself is usually so transparent that very little need of annotation will be felt. We may, however, in closing, mention a few helps for the special student of Plato. The chief standard work in English is Grote's "Plato and the other Companions of Socrates," in which each dialogue is carefully discussed. Walter Pater's "Plato and Platonism" is the best of brief compendiums. Zeller's "History of Ancient Philosophy," in German, or in English translation, is indispensable to the thorough student.