Averroes' Paraphrase of Plato's Republic

bere, neq; non eius potißimum naturæ debere eligi
What the guardians ought to be likead huiusmodi officiū, cui cum corporis robore, inſit
etiam mouendi uelocitas, ſenſus perſpicacitas, adeò
ut ſimulac ſenſerit aliquid, quod in rem ſit, accurrat,
indaget, aßequaturq; idipſum q̅ celerrime: ueluti eſt
natura uenatici canis, ſeu maris, ſiue fœminæ. utri-
uſq; ſiquidem, et canis, & cuſtodis par ingenium eſt,
quod ad ea ſpectat, quæ ſunt cuſtodiæ neceßaria.
Atq; eæ ſunt cuſtodum, milituq; corporales affectio-
nes. Quod uerò ad animi mores attinet, eos natura
iracundos eſſe oportet. nam quicunq; eſt iracundiæ
expers, eſſerueſcere non poteſt, atq; ita, neq; arcere,
neq; abigere hoſtem. Idq; in homine eſt haud ſecus,
atq; in reliquis animantibus: uideturq; quiſquis eſt
his moribus tum corporis, tum animi natura prædi-
tus, utranq; rem ex æquo ſeriò, grauiterq; accipere,
odium uidelicet, et amicitiam. atq; in his tamen opus
eſt, ut duo maximè diſcordia cōcordi nectantur, iun-
ganturq; uinculo: quorum alterū eſt, ut maximo amo-
re, ſtudioq; ciues proſequantur, alterum, ut, et maxi-
mo odio perſequantur hoſtem. quid igitur, an fieri
non pōt, ut homo quiſpiā duabus his affectionibus in
ſtructus naſcatur? præſertim cū rarus omnino cuſtos
ſit, qui non has duas cōiunctas habeat. Quodipſum,
etſi fieri non poße uideatur, fieri tamen pōt, quem

This passage discusses the selection of guardians, noting that they must possess physical strength, speed, and sharp senses. Like a hunting dog, whether male or female, a guardian must be quick to investigate and pursue. Regarding temperament, they must be naturally irascible, as those who lack the capacity for anger cannot defend against an enemy. The goal is to reconcile two seemingly contradictory traits: the deepest love and dedication toward fellow citizens, and the deepest hatred toward the enemy. While this may seem impossible, it is attainable.