But if it becomes or is for an equal time with itself, it is of
the same age with itself?
Of course.
And that which is of the same age, is neither older nor younger?
No.
The one, then, becoming and being the same time with itself, neither
is nor becomes older or younger than itself?
I should say not.
And what are its relations to other things? Is it or does it
become older or younger than they?
I cannot tell you.
You can at least tell me that others than the one are more than
the one-other would have been one, but the others have multitude,
and are more than one?
They will have multitude.
And a multitude implies a number larger than one?
Of course.
And shall we say that the lesser or the greater is the first to come
or to have come into existence?
The lesser.
Then the least is the first? And that is the one?
Yes.
Then the one of all things that have number is the first to come
into being; but all other things have also number, being plural and
not singular.
They have.
And since it came into being first it must be supposed to have
come into being prior to the others, and the others later; and the
things which came into being later, are younger than that which
preceded them? And so the other things will be younger than the one,
and the one older than other things?
True.
What would you say of another question? Can the one have come into
being contrary to its own nature, or is that impossible?
Impossible.
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