us to our hurt unduly; and again, when he has reached a point
where if he should prolong his retreat we should plainly be frozen to
death with cold, note how he turns him about and resumes his approach,
traversing that region of the heavens where he may shed his genial
influence best upon us.

(14) A single MS. inserts a passage {to de kai era...
'Anekphraston}.

(15) i.e. as we say, "after the winter solstice."

Yes, upon my word (he answered), these occurrences bear the impress of
being so ordered for the sake of man.

Soc. And then, again, it being manifest that we could not endure either
scorching heat or freezing cold if they came suddenly upon us, note how
gradually the sun approaches, and how gradually recedes, so that we fail
to notice how we come at last to either extreme. (16)

(16) Or, "note the gradual approach and gradual recession of the sun-
god, so gradual that we reach either extreme in a manner
imperceptibly, and before we are aware of its severity."

For my part (he replied), the question forces itself upon my mind,
whether the gods have any other occupation save only to minister to man;
and I am only hindered from saying so, because the rest of animals would
seem to share these benefits along with man.

Soc. Why, to be sure; and is it not plain that these animals themselves
are born and bred for the sake of man? At any rate, no living creature
save man derives so many of his enjoyments from sheep and goats, horses
and cattle and asses, and other animals. He is more dependent, I should
suppose, on these than even on plants and vegetables. At any rate,
equally with these latter they serve him as means of subsistence or
articles of commerce; indeed, a large portion of the human family do not
use the products of the soil as food at all, but live on the milk and
cheese and flesh of their flocks and herds, whilst all men everywhere
tame and domesticate the more useful kinds of animals, and turn them to
account as fellow-workers in war and for other purposes.

Yes, I cannot but agree with what you say (he answered), when I see that
animals so much stronger than man become so subservient to his hand that
he can use them as he lists.

Soc. And as we reflect on the infinite beauty and utility and the
variety of nature, what are we to say of the fact that man has been
endowed with sensibilities which correspond with this diversity, whereby
we take our fill of every blessing; (17) or, ag