der of the Hellenes. And when
the rest fell off from her, being compelled to stand alone, after having
undergone the very extremity of danger, she defeated and triumphed
over the invaders, and preserved from slavery those who were not yet
subjugated, and generously liberated all the rest of us who dwell within
the pillars. But afterwards there occurred violent earthquakes and
floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men
in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner
disappeared in the depths of the sea. For which reason the sea in those
parts is impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mud in
the way; and this was caused by the subsidence of the island.

I have told you briefly, Socrates, what the aged Critias heard from
Solon and related to us. And when you were speaking yesterday about your
city and citizens, the tale which I have just been repeating to you came
into my mind, and I remarked with astonishment how, by some mysterious
coincidence, you agreed in almost every particular with the narrative
of Solon; but I did not like to speak at the moment. For a long time had
elapsed, and I had forgotten too much; I thought that I must first of
all run over the narrative in my own mind, and then I would speak. And
so I readily assented to your request yesterday, considering that in
all such cases the chief difficulty is to find a tale suitable to our
purpose, and that with such a tale we should be fairly well provided.

And therefore, as Hermocrates has told you, on my way home yesterday I
at once communicated the tale to my companions as I remembered it; and
after I left them, during the night by thinking I recovered nearly the
whole of it. Truly, as is often said, the lessons of our childhood make
a wonderful impression on our memories; for I am not sure that I could
remember all the discourse of yesterday, but I should be much surprised
if I forgot any of these things which I have heard very long ago. I
listened at the time with childlike interest to the old man's narrative;
he was very ready to teach me, and I asked him again and again to repeat
his words, so that like an indelible picture they were branded into my
mind. As soon as the day broke, I rehearsed them as he spoke them to my
companions, that they, as well as myself, might have something to say.
And now, Socrates, to make an end of my preface, I am ready to tell
you the whole tale. I will