Chapter XXVIII: Introduction: To the Sixth Book

In this last book of his Commonwealth, Cicero labors to show
that truly pious philanthropical and patriotic statesmen will
not only be rewarded on earth by the approval of conscience
and the applause of all good citizens, but that they may
expect hereafter immortal glory in new forms of being. To
illustrate this, he introduces the "Dream of Scipio," in
which he explains the resplendent doctrines of Plato
respecting the immortality of the soul with inimitable
dignity and elegance. This Somnium Scipionis, for which we
are indebted to the citation of Macrobius, is the most
beautiful thing of the kind ever written. It has been
intensely admired by all European scholars, and will be still
more so. There are two translations of it in our language;
one attached to Oliver's edition of Cicero's Thoughts, the
other by Mr. Danby, published in 1829. Of these we have
freely availed ourselves, and as freely we express our
acknowledgments.