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But now imagine further, that they descend into their old

habitations;-in that underground dwelling they will not see as

well as their fellows, and will not be able to compete with them

in the measurement of the shadows on the wall; there will be many

jokes about the man who went on a visit to the sun and lost his

eyes, and if they find anybody trying to set free and enlighten

one of their number, they will put him to death, if they can

catch him. Now the cave or den is the world of sight, the fire is

the sun, the way upwards is the way to knowledge, and in the

world of knowledge the idea of good is last seen and with

difficulty, but when seen is inferred to be the author of good

and right-parent of the lord of light in this world, and of truth

and understanding in the other.