“ ‘What, then, is the advantage to those who have seen [God]? or what has he who has seen more than he who has not seen, unless he remember this fact, that he has seen?’ “ ‘I cannot tell,’ I answered. “ ‘And what do those suffer who are judged to be unworthy of this spectacle?’ said he. “ ‘They are imprisoned in the bodies of certain wild beasts, and this is their punishment.’ “ ‘Do they know, then, that it is for this reason they are in such forms, and that they have committed some sin?’ “ ‘I do not think so.’ “ ‘Then these reap no advantage from their punishment, as it seems: moreover, I would say that they are not punished unless they are conscious of the punishment.’ “ ‘No indeed.’ “ ‘Therefore souls neither see God nor transmigrate into other bodies; for they would know that so they are punished, and they would be afraid to commit even the most trivial sin afterwards. But that they can perceive that God exists, and that righteousness and piety are honourable, I also quite agree with you,’ said he. “ ‘You are right,’ I replied. 527 Chapter IV.—The soul of itself cannot see God.