If you had been making, Socrates, said he, a city of hogs, what else would have fed them but these things?
But how should we do, Glauco, said I?
What is usually done, said he. They must, as I imagine, have their beds and tables, and meats and desserts, as we now have, if they are not to be miserable.
Be it so, said I: I understand you. We consider, it seems, not only how a city may exist, but a luxurious city; and perhaps it is not amiss; for in considering such a one, we may probably see how justice and injustice have their origin in cities. The true city seems to me to be such as we have described, like one who is healthy; but if you prefer that we likewise consider a city that is corpulent, nothing hinders it. For these things will not, it seems, please some, nor this sort of life satisfy them; but there shall be beds and tables and all other furniture, seasonings, ointments, and perfumes, mistresses, and confections: and various kinds of these. And we must no longer consider as alone necessary what we mentioned at the first, houses and clothes and shoes, but painting, too, and all the curious arts must be set agoing, and carving, and gold, and ivory; and all these things must be got, must they not?
Yes, said he.
Must not the city, then, be larger? For that healthy one is no longer sufficient, but is already full of luxury, and of a crowd of such as are in no way necessary to cities; such as all kinds of sportsmen, and the imitative artists, many of them imitating in figures, and colors; and others in music; and poets too, and their ministers, rhapsodists, actors, dancers, undertakers, workmen of all sorts of instruments, and what hath reference to female ornament, as well as other things. We shall need likewise many more servants. Do you not think they will need pedagogues, and nurses, and tutors, hair-dressers, barbers, victuallers too, and cooks? And further still, we shall want swineherds likewise; of these there were none in the other city (for there needed not); but in this we shall want these, and many other sorts of herds likewise, if any eat the several animals, shall we not?
Why not?
Shall we not, then, in this manner of life be much more in need of physicians than formerly?
Much more.
And the country, which was then sufficient to support the inhabitants, will, instead of being sufficient, become too little; or how shall we say?