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The Republic — Page 4

English → Pt INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Level 9/10

We can only guess why the great design was abandoned; perhaps because Plato became sensible of some incongruity in a fictitious history, or because he had lost his interest in it, or because advancing years forbade the completion of it; and we may please ourselves with the fancy that had this imaginary narrative ever been finished, we should have found Plato himself sympathising with the struggle for Hellenic independence (cp. Laws, iii. 698 ff.), singing a hymn of triumph over Marathon and Salamis, perhaps making the reflection of Herodotus (v. 78) where he contemplates the growth of the Athenian empire—'How brave a thing is freedom of speech, which has made the Athenians so far exceed every other state of Hellas in greatness!' or, more probably, attributing the victory to the ancient good order of Athens and to the favor of Apollo and Athene (cp. Introd. to Critias).

Só podemos imaginar por que o grande projeto foi abandonado; talvez porque Platão tenha se dado conta de alguma incongruência em uma história fictícia, ou porque havia perdido o interesse nela, ou porque o avanço da idade lhe impediu de completá-la; e podemos nos comprazer com a ideia de que, caso essa narrativa imaginária tivesse sido concluída, teríamos encontrado o próprio Platão simpatizando com a luta pela independência helênica (cf. Leis, iii. 698 ss.), entoando um hino de triunfo sobre Maratona e Salamina, talvez fazendo a reflexão de Heródoto (v. 78) onde ele contempla o crescimento do império ateniense — 'Que coisa nobre é a liberdade de expressão, que fez os atenienses superarem em grandeza todos os outros estados da Hélade!' ou, mais provavelmente, atribuindo a vitória à antiga boa ordem de Atenas e ao favor de Apolo e Atena (cf. Introd. ao Crítias).

Again, Plato may be regarded as the 'captain' ('arhchegoz') or leader of a goodly band of followers; for in the Republic is to be found the original of Cicero's De Republica, of St. Augustine's City of God, of the Utopia of Sir Thomas More, and of the numerous other imaginary States which are framed upon the same model.

Além disso, Platão pode ser considerado o 'capitão' ('arhchegoz') ou líder de um notável grupo de seguidores; pois na República encontra-se o original do De Republica de Cícero, da Cidade de Deus de Santo Agostinho, da Utopia de Sir Thomas More, e dos numerosos outros Estados imaginários que foram concebidos segundo o mesmo modelo.

The extent to which Aristotle or the Aristotelian school were indebted to him in the Politics has been little recognised, and the recognition is the more necessary because it is not made by Aristotle himself.

A medida em que Aristóteles ou a escola aristotélica lhe eram devedores na Política tem sido pouco reconhecida, e o reconhecimento é tanto mais necessário porque não é feito pelo próprio Aristóteles.

Vocabulary

Only, just, or alone
podemos
We can, we are able to
imaginar
To imagine, to picture in one's mind
por
For, by, through, per
que
That, which, what, who
o
The (masculine singular definite article)
grande
Great, large, grand, important
projeto
Project, plan, or scheme
foi
Was, went (past tense of ser/ir)
abandonado
Abandoned, left behind, given up
talvez
Perhaps, maybe, possibly
porque
Because, for the reason that
tenha
Has, have (subjunctive form of ter)
se
Himself, herself, itself, reflexive pronoun
dado
Given, provided (past participle of dar)
conta
Account, awareness; dar conta means to realize
de
Of, from, about (preposition)
alguma
Some, any (feminine singular indefinite adjective)
incongruência
Inconsistency, incongruity, lack of logical coherence
em
In, at, on (preposition)
uma
A, an, one (feminine indefinite article)
história
Story, history, narrative, tale
fictícia
Fictional, imaginary, not based on fact
ou
Or, either (conjunction)
havia
There was, had (past form of haver)
perdido
Lost (past participle of perder)
interesse
Interest, curiosity, engagement in something
nela
In it, in her (contraction of em + ela)
avanço
Advance, progression, forward movement
da
Of the (contraction of de + a)
idade
Age, period of life
lhe
Him, her, to him, indirect object pronoun
impediu
Prevented, hindered, stopped someone from doing
completá-la
To complete it, to finish it entirely
e
And (conjunction)
nos
Us, to us (first person plural pronoun)
comprazer
To please, to delight, to gratify
com
With (preposition)
a
The (feminine singular definite article)
ideia
Idea, concept, thought, notion
caso
Case, if, in the event that
essa
That (feminine demonstrative adjective near listener)
narrativa
Narrative, story, account of events
imaginária
Imaginary, fictional, existing only in imagination
tivesse
Had (imperfect subjunctive of ter)
sido
Been (past participle of ser)
concluída
Concluded, completed, finished
teríamos
We would have (conditional of ter)
encontrado
Found, encountered (past participle of encontrar)
próprio
Own, himself, proper, very (emphatic adjective)
simpatizando
Sympathizing, showing sympathy or solidarity with
luta
Struggle, fight, battle, conflict
pela
For the (contraction of por + a)
independência
Independence, freedom from external control
entoando
Intoning, chanting, singing a hymn or song
um
A, an, one (masculine indefinite article)
hino
Hymn, anthem, song of praise
triunfo
Triumph, victory, great success
sobre
About, over, on top of
fazendo
Doing, making (present participle of fazer)
reflexão
Reflection, contemplation, thoughtful consideration
onde
Where, in which (relative or interrogative adverb)
ele
He, him (third person singular masculine pronoun)
contempla
Contemplates, observes, considers thoughtfully
crescimento
Growth, increase, development over time
do
Of the (contraction of de + o)
império
Empire, dominion, supreme political power
Que
What, how (exclamatory or interrogative word)
coisa
Thing, object, matter
nobre
Noble, honorable, of high character
é
Is (third person singular of ser)
liberdade
Liberty, freedom from oppression or constraint
expressão
Expression, phrase, utterance, manner of speaking
fez
Made, did (past tense of fazer)
os
The (masculine plural definite article)
superarem
To surpass, to exceed, to overcome others
grandeza
Greatness, grandeur, magnificence, superiority
todos
All, every, everyone (masculine plural adjective)
outros
Other, others (masculine plural adjective)
estados
States, nations, political entities
mais
More, most, but (adverb or conjunction)
provavelmente
Probably, likely, in all probability
atribuindo
Attributing, assigning credit or cause to something
vitória
Victory, triumph, winning of a contest
à
To the (contraction of a + a, feminine)
antiga
Ancient, old, former (feminine adjective)
boa
Good (feminine singular adjective)
ordem
Order, arrangement, discipline, command
ao
To the (contraction of a + o, masculine)
favor
Favor, goodwill, support, benefit
Além
Beyond, besides, moreover, in addition
disso
Of that, besides that (contraction of de + isso)
pode
Can, is able to (third person singular of poder)
ser
To be (infinitive, permanent states or identity)
considerado
Considered, regarded as, deemed (past participle)
capitão
Captain, leader, commander of a group
líder
Leader, chief, head of a group
notável
Notable, remarkable, distinguished, outstanding
grupo
Group, team, cluster of people or things
seguidores
Followers, disciples, supporters of a leader
pois
Because, since, for, therefore (conjunction)
na
In the (contraction of em + a, feminine)
encontra-se
Is found, one finds (reflexive of encontrar)
original
Original, source, initial model or prototype
De
Of, from (Latin or Portuguese preposition)
Cidade
City, town, urban center
Deus
God, deity (referring to the divine being)
Santo
Saint, holy (masculine adjective or title)
Utopia
Utopia, ideal imaginary perfect society or place
dos
Of the (contraction of de + os, masculine plural)
numerosos
Numerous, many, a large number of
Estados
States, nations, political communities
imaginários
Imaginary, fictional, not real (masculine plural)
foram
Were, went (past tense of ser/ir, third plural)
concebidos
Conceived, devised, created in the mind
segundo
According to, second, following (preposition or adjective)
mesmo
Same, even, itself (adjective or adverb)
modelo
Model, template, example to follow
A
The (feminine singular) or to (preposition)
medida
Measure, extent; à medida que means as, insofar
escola
School, institution of learning, academic tradition
eram
Were (imperfect past of ser, third plural)
devedores
Debtors, those indebted or obligated to another
Política
Politics, Aristotle's work on political science
tem
Has, have (third person singular of ter)
pouco
Little, few, not much (adverb or adjective)
reconhecida
Recognized, acknowledged (feminine past participle)
reconhecimento
Recognition, acknowledgment, appreciation of merit
tanto
So much, as much, to such a degree
necessário
Necessary, needed, required, essential
não
No, not (negation adverb)
feito
Done, made, accomplished (past participle of fazer)
pelo
By the (contraction of por + o, masculine)
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