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which is commonly spoken of as the ether； of which this is but the
sediment collecting in the hollows of the earth。 But we who live in
these hollows are deceived into the notion that we are dwelling
above on the surface of the earth； which is just as if a creature
who was at the bottom of the sea were to fancy that he was on the
surface of the water； and that the sea was the heaven through which he
saw the sun and the other stars…he having never come to the surface by
reason of his feebleness and sluggishness； and having never lifted
up his head and seen； nor ever heard from one who had seen； this
region which is so much purer and fairer than his own。 Now this is
exactly our case： for we are dwelling in a hollow of the earth； and
fancy that we are on the surface； and the air we call the heaven；
and in this we imagine that the stars move。 But this is also owing
to our feebleness and sluggishness； which prevent our reaching the
surface of the air： for if any man could arrive at the exterior limit；
or take the wings of a bird and fly upward； like a fish who puts his
head out and sees this world； he would see a world beyond； and； if the
nature of man could sustain the sight； he would acknowledge that
this was the place of the true heaven and the true light and the
true stars。 For this earth； and the stones； and the entire region
which surrounds us； are spoilt and corroded； like the things in the
sea which are corroded by the brine； for in the sea too there is
hardly any noble or perfect growth； but clefts only； and sand； and
an endless slough of mud： and even the shore is not to be compared
to the fairer sights of this world。 And greater far is the superiority
of the other。 Now of that upper earth which is under the heaven； I can
tell you a charming tale； Simmias； which is well worth hearing。
And we； Socrates； replied Simmias； shall be charmed to listen。
The tale； my friend； he said； is as follows： In the first place； the
earth； when looked at from above； is like one of those balls which
have leather coverings in twelve pieces； and is of divers colors； of
which the colors which painters use on earth are only a sample。 But
there the whole earth is made up of them； and they are brighter far
and clearer than ours； there is a purple of wonderful luster； also the
radiance of gold； and the white which is in the earth is whiter than
any chalk or snow。 Of these and other colors the earth is made up； and
they are more in number and fairer than the eye of man has ever
seen； and the very hollows （of which I was speaking） filled with air
and water are seen like light flashing amid the other colors； and have
a color of their own； which gives a sort of unity to the variety of
earth。 And in this fair region everything that grows…trees； and
flowers； and fruits…is in a like degree fairer than any here； and
there are hills； and stones in them in a like degree smoother； and
more transparent； and fairer in color than our highly valued
emeralds and sardonyxes and jaspers； and other gems； which are but
minute fragments of them： for there all the stones are like our
precious stones； and fairer still。 The reason of this is that they are
pure； and not； like our precious stones； infected or corroded by the
corrupt briny elements which coagulate among us； and which breed
foulness and disease both in earth and stones； as well as in animals
and plants。 They are the jewels of the upper earth； which also
shines with gold and silver and the like； and they are visible to
sight and large and abundant and found in every region of the earth；
and blessed is he who sees them。 And upon the earth are animals and
men； some in a middle region； others dwelling about the air as we
dwell about the sea； others in islands which the air flows round； near
the continent： and in a word； the air is used by them as the water and
the sea are by us； and the ether is to them what the air is to us。
Moreover； the temperament of their seasons is such that they have no
disease； and live much longer than we do； and have sight and hearing
and smell； and all the other senses； in far greater perfection； in the
same degree that air is purer than water or the ether than air。 Also
they have temples and sacred places in which the gods really dwell；
and they hear their voices and receive their answers； and are
conscious of them and hold converse with them； and they see the sun；
moon； and stars as they really are； and their other blessedness is
of a piece with this。
Such is the nature of the whole earth； and of the things which are
around the earth； and there are divers regions in the hollows on the
face of the globe everywhere； some of them deeper and also wider
than that which we inhabit； others deeper and with a narrower
opening than ours； and some are shallower and wider； all have numerous
perforations； and passages broad and narrow in the interior of the
earth； connecting them with one another； and there flows into and
out of them； as into basins； a vast tide of water； and huge
subterranean streams of perennial rivers； and springs hot and cold；
and a great fire； and great rivers of fire； and streams of liquid mud；
thin or thick （like the rivers of mud in Sicily； and the
lava…streams which follow them）； and the regions about which they
happen to flow are filled up with them。 And there is a sort of swing
in the interior of the earth which moves all this up and down。 Now the
swing is in this wise： There is a chasm which is the vastest of them
all； and pierces right through the whole earth； this is that which
Homer describes in the words；
〃Far off； where is the inmost depth beneath the earth〃；
and which he in other places； and many other poets； have called
Tartarus。 And the swing is caused by the streams flowing into and
out of this chasm； and they each have the nature of the soil through
which they flow。 And the reason why the streams are always flowing
in and out is that the watery element has no bed or bottom； and is
surging and swinging up and down； and the surrounding wind and air
do the same； they follow the water up and down； hither and thither；
over the earth…just as in respiring the air is always in process of
inhalation and exhalation； and the wind swinging with the water in and
out produces fearful and irresistible blasts： when the waters retire
with a rush into the lower parts of the earth； as they are called；
they flow through the earth into those regions； and fill them up as
with the alternate motion of a pump； and then when they leave those
regions and rush back hither； they again fill the hollows here； and
when these are filled； flow through subterranean channels and find
their way to their several places； forming seas； and lakes； and
rivers； and springs。 Thence they