Certainly.
Then smallness will not be in anything, Suppose the first; it will be either co-equal and whether in a whole or in a part; nor will there be co-extensive with the whole one, or will contain anything small but actual smallness.
the one?
True.
Clearly.
Neither will greatness be in the one, for if great-If it be co-extensive with the one it will be co-ness be in anything there will be something equal with the one, or if containing the one it greater other and besides greatness itself, will be greater than the one?
namely, that in which greatness is; and this too Of course.
when the small itself is not there, which the one, But can smallness be equal to anything or if it is great, must exceed; this, however, is im-greater than anything, and have the functions possible, seeing that smallness is wholly absent.
of greatness and equality and not its own func-True.
tions?
But absolute greatness is only greater than ab-Impossible.
solute smallness, and smallness is only smaller Then smallness cannot be in the whole of one, than absolute greatness.
but, if at all, in a part only?
Very true.
Yes.
Then other things not greater or less than the And surely not in all of a part, for then the dif-one, if they have neither greatness nor smallness; ficulty of the whole will recur; it will be equal to nor have greatness or smallness any power of or greater than any part in which it is.
exceeding or being exceeded in relation to the Certainly.
one, but only in relation to one another; nor will 90
Parmenides
the one be greater or less than them or others, if surround and be without itself; and, as contain-it has neither greatness nor smallness.
ing itself, will be greater than itself; and, as con-Clearly not.
tained in itself, will be less; and will thus be Then if the one is neither greater nor less than greater and less than itself.
the others, it cannot either exceed or be exceeded It will.
by them?
Now there cannot possibly be anything which Certainly not.
is not included in the one and the others?
And that which neither exceeds nor is ex-Of course not.
ceeded, must be on an equality; and being on an But, surely, that which is must always be some-equality, must be equal.
where?
Of course.
Yes.
And this will be true also of the relation of the But that which is in anything will be less, and one to itself; having neither greatness nor small-that in which it is will be greater; in no other ness in itself, it will neither exceed nor be ex-way can one thing be in another.
ceeded by itself, but will be on an equality with True.
and equal to itself.
And since there is nothing other or besides the Certainly.
one and the others, and they must be in some-Then the one will be equal both to itself and thing, must they not be in one another, the one the others?
in the others and the others in the one, if they Clearly so.
are to be anywhere?
And yet the one, being itself in itself, will also That is clear.