第9章
Andnarrationmaybeeithersimplenarration，orimitation，oraunionofthetwo？
Thatagain，hesaid，Idonotquiteunderstand。
IfearthatImustbearidiculousteacherwhenIhavesomuchdifficultyinmakingmyselfapprehended。Likeabadspeaker，therefore，Iwillnottakethewholeofthesubject，butwillbreakapieceoffinillustrationofmymeaning。YouknowthefirstlinesoftheIliad，inwhichthepoetsaysthatChrysesprayedAgamemnontoreleasehisdaughter，andthatAgamemnonflewintoapassionwithhim；
whereuponChryses，failingofhisobject，invokedtheangeroftheGodagainsttheAchaeans。Nowasfarastheselines，AndheprayedalltheGreeks，butespeciallythetwosonsofAtreus，thechiefsofthepeople，thepoetisspeakinginhisownperson；heneverleadsustosupposethatheisanyoneelse。ButinwhatfollowshetakesthepersonofChryses，andthenhedoesallthathecantomakeusbelievethatthespeakerisnotHomer，buttheagedpriesthimself。AndinthisdoubleformhehascasttheentirenarrativeoftheeventswhichoccurredatTroyandinIthacaandthroughouttheOdyssey。
Yes。
Andanarrativeitremainsbothinthespeecheswhichthepoetrecitesfromtimetotimeandintheintermediatepassages？
Quitetrue。
Butwhenthepoetspeaksinthepersonofanother，maywenotsaythatheassimilateshisstyletothatofthepersonwho，asheinformsyou，isgoingtospeak？
Certainly。
Andthisassimilationofhimselftoanother，eitherbytheuseofvoiceorgesture，istheimitationofthepersonwhosecharacterheassumes？
Ofcourse。
Theninthiscasethenarrativeofthepoetmaybesaidtoproceedbywayofimitation？
Verytrue。
Or，ifthepoeteverywhereappearsandneverconcealshimself，thenagaintheimitationisdropped，andhispoetrybecomessimplenarration。However，inorderthatImaymakemymeaningquiteclear，andthatyoumaynomoresay，Idon’tunderstand，’Iwillshowhowthechangemightbeeffected。IfHomerhadsaid，’Thepriestcame，havinghisdaughter’sransominhishands，supplicatingtheAchaeans，andaboveallthekings；’andthenif，insteadofspeakinginthepersonofChryses，hehadcontinuedinhisownperson，thewordswouldhavebeen，notimitation，butsimplenarration。Thepassagewouldhaverunasfollows（Iamnopoet，andthereforeI
dropthemetre），’ThepriestcameandprayedthegodsonbehalfoftheGreeksthattheymightcaptureTroyandreturnsafelyhome，butbeggedthattheywouldgivehimbackhisdaughter，andtaketheransomwhichhebrought，andrespecttheGod。Thushespoke，andtheotherGreeksreveredthepriestandassented。ButAgamemnonwaswroth，andbadehimdepartandnotcomeagain，lestthestaffandchapletsoftheGodshouldbeofnoavailtohim——thedaughterofChrysesshouldnotbereleased，hesaid——sheshouldgrowoldwithhiminArgos。
Andthenhetoldhimtogoawayandnottoprovokehim，ifheintendedtogethomeunscathed。Andtheoldmanwentawayinfearandsilence，and，whenhehadleftthecamp，hecalleduponApollobyhismanynames，remindinghimofeverythingwhichhehaddonepleasingtohim，whetherinbuildinghistemples，orinofferingsacrifice，andprayingthathisgooddeedsmightbereturnedtohim，andthattheAchaeansmightexpiatehistearsbythearrowsofthegod，’——andsoon。Inthiswaythewholebecomessimplenarrative。
Iunderstand，hesaid。
Oryoumaysupposetheoppositecase——thattheintermediatepassagesareomitted，andthedialogueonlyleft。
Thatalso，hesaid，Iunderstand；youmean，forexample，asintragedy。
Youhaveconceivedmymeaningperfectly；andifImistakenot，whatyoufailedtoapprehendbeforeisnowmadecleartoyou，thatpoetryandmythologyare，insomecases，whollyimitative——instancesofthisaresuppliedbytragedyandcomedy；thereislikewisetheoppositestyle，inwhichthemypoetistheonlyspeaker——ofthisthedithyrambaffordsthebestexample；andthecombinationofbothisfoundinepic，andinseveralotherstylesofpoetry。DoItakeyouwithme？
Yes，hesaid；Iseenowwhatyoumeant。
IwillaskyoutorememberalsowhatIbeganbysaying，thatwehaddonewiththesubjectandmightproceedtothestyle。
Yes，Iremember。
Insayingthis，Iintendedtoimplythatwemustcometoanunderstandingaboutthemimeticart，——whetherthepoets，innarratingtheirstories，aretobeallowedbyustoimitate，andifso，whetherinwholeorinpart，andifthelatter，inwhatparts；orshouldallimitationbeprohibited？
Youmean，Isuspect，toaskwhethertragedyandcomedyshallbeadmittedintoourState？
Yes，Isaid；buttheremaybemorethanthisinquestion：Ireallydonotknowasyet，butwhithertheargumentmayblow，thitherwego。
Andgowewill，hesaid。
Then，Adeimantus，letmeaskyouwhetherourguardiansoughttobeimitators；orrather，hasnotthisquestionbeendecidedbytherulealreadylaiddownthatonemancanonlydoonethingwell，andnotmany；andthatifheattemptmany，hewillaltogetherfallofgainingmuchreputationinany？
Certainly。
Andthisisequallytrueofimitation；noonemancanimitatemanythingsaswellashewouldimitateasingleone？
Hecannot。
Thenthesamepersonwillhardlybeabletoplayaseriouspartinlife，andatthesametimetobeanimitatorandimitatemanyotherpartsaswell；forevenwhentwospeciesofimitationarenearlyallied，thesamepersonscannotsucceedinboth，as，forexample，thewritersoftragedyandcomedy——didyounotjustnowcallthemimitations？
Yes，Idid；andyouarerightinthinkingthatthesamepersonscannotsucceedinboth。
Anymorethantheycanberhapsodistsandactorsatonce？
True。
Neitherarecomicandtragicactorsthesame；yetallthesethingsarebutimitations。
Theyareso。
Andhumannature，Adeimantus，appearstohavebeencoinedintoyetsmallerpieces，andtobeasincapableofimitatingmanythingswell，asofperformingwelltheactionsofwhichtheimitationsarecopies。
Quitetrue，hereplied。
Ifthenweadheretoouroriginalnotionandbearinmindthatourguardians，settingasideeveryotherbusiness，aretodedicatethemselveswhollytothemaintenanceoffreedomintheState，makingthistheircraft，andengaginginnoworkwhichdoesnotbearonthisend，theyoughtnottopractiseorimitateanythingelse；iftheyimitateatall，theyshouldimitatefromyouthupwardonlythosecharacterswhicharesuitabletotheirprofession——thecourageous，temperate，holy，free，andthelike；buttheyshouldnotdepictorbeskilfulatimitatinganykindofilliberalityorbaseness，lestfromimitationtheyshouldcometobewhattheyimitate。Didyouneverobservehowimitations，beginninginearlyyouthandcontinuingfarintolife，atlengthgrowintohabitsandbecomeasecondnature，affectingbody，voice，andmind？
Yes，certainly，hesaid。
Then，Isaid，wewillnotallowthoseforwhomweprofessacareandofwhomwesaythattheyoughttobegoodmen，toimitateawoman，whetheryoungorold，quarrellingwithherhusband，orstrivingandvauntingagainstthegodsinconceitofherhappiness，orwhensheisinaffliction，orsorrow，orweeping；andcertainlynotonewhoisinsickness，love，orlabour。
Veryright，hesaid。
Neithermusttheyrepresentslaves，maleorfemale，performingtheofficesofslaves？
Theymustnot。
Andsurelynotbadmen，whethercowardsoranyothers，whodothereverseofwhatwehavejustbeenprescribing，whoscoldormockorrevileoneanotherindrinkoroutofindrinkor，orwhoinanyothermannersinagainstthemselvesandtheirneighboursinwordordeed，asthemannerofsuchis。Neithershouldtheybetrainedtoimitatetheactionorspeechofmenorwomenwhoaremadorbad；formadness，likevice，istobeknownbutnottobepractisedorimitated。
Verytrue，hereplied。
Neithermaytheyimitatesmithsorotherartificers，oroarsmen，orboatswains，orthelike？
Howcanthey，hesaid，whentheyarenotallowedtoapplytheirmindstothecallingsofanyofthese？
Normaytheyimitatetheneighingofhorses，thebellowingofbulls，themurmurofriversandrolloftheocean，thunder，andallthatsortofthing？
Nay，hesaid，ifmadnessbeforbidden，neithermaytheycopythebehaviourofmadmen。
Youmean，Isaid，ifIunderstandyouaright，thatthereisonesortofnarrativestylewhichmaybeemployedbyatrulygoodmanwhenhehasanythingtosay，andthatanothersortwillbeusedbyamanofanoppositecharacterandeducation。
Andwhicharethesetwosorts？heasked。
Suppose，Ianswered，thatajustandgoodmaninthecourseofanarrationcomesonsomesayingoractionofanothergoodman，——I
shouldimaginethathewillliketopersonatehim，andwillnotbeashamedofthissortofimitation：hewillbemostreadytoplaythepartofthegoodmanwhenheisactingfirmlyandwisely；inalessdegreewhenheisovertakenbyillnessorloveordrink，orhasmetwithanyotherdisaster。Butwhenhecomestoacharacterwhichisunworthyofhim，hewillnotmakeastudyofthat；hewilldisdainsuchaperson，andwillassumehislikeness，ifatall，foramomentonlywhenheisperformingsomegoodaction；atothertimeshewillbeashamedtoplayapartwhichhehasneverpractised，norwillheliketofashionandframehimselfafterthebasermodels；hefeelstheemploymentofsuchanart，unlessinjest，tobebeneathhim，andhismindrevoltsatit。
SoIshouldexpect，hereplied。
ThenhewilladoptamodeofnarrationsuchaswehaveillustratedoutofHomer，thatistosay，hisstylewillbebothimitativeandnarrative；buttherewillbeverylittleoftheformer，andagreatdealofthelatter。Doyouagree？
Certainly，hesaid；thatisthemodelwhichsuchaspeakermustnecessarilytake。
Butthereisanothersortofcharacterwhowillnarrateanything，and，theworselieis，themoreunscrupuloushewillbe；nothingwillbetoobadforhim：andhewillbereadytoimitateanything，notasajoke，butinrightgoodearnest，andbeforealargecompany。AsI
wasjustnowsaying，hewillattempttorepresenttherollofthunder，thenoiseofwindandhall，orthecreakingofwheels，andpulleys，andthevarioussoundsofflutes；pipes，trumpets，andallsortsofinstruments：hewillbarklikeadog，bleatlikeasheep，orcrowlikeacock；hisentireartwillconsistinimitationofvoiceandgesture，andtherewillbeverylittlenarration。
That，hesaid，willbehismodeofspeaking。
These，then，arethetwokindsofstyle？
Yes。
Andyouwouldagreewithmeinsayingthatoneofthemissimpleandhasbutslightchanges；andiftheharmonyandrhythmarealsochosenfortheirsimplicity，theresultisthatthespeaker，ifhcspeakscorrectly，isalwaysprettymuchthesameinstyle，andhewillkeepwithinthelimitsofasingleharmony（forthechangesarenotgreat），andinlikemannerhewillmakeuseofnearlythesamerhythm？
Thatisquitetrue，hesaid。
Whereastheotherrequiresallsortsofharmoniesandallsortsofrhythms，ifthemusicandthestylearetocorrespond，becausethestylehasallsortsofchanges。
Thatisalsoperfectlytrue，hereplied。
Anddonotthetwostyles，orthemixtureofthetwo，comprehendallpoetry，andeveryformofexpressioninwords？Noonecansayanythingexceptinoneorotherofthemorinbothtogether。
Theyincludeall，hesaid。
AndshallwereceiveintoourStateallthethreestyles，oroneonlyofthetwounmixedstyles？orwouldyouincludethemixed？
Ishouldpreferonlytoadmitthepureimitatorofvirtue。
Yes，Isaid，Adeimantus，butthemixedstyleisalsoverycharming：andindeedthepantomimic，whichistheoppositeoftheonechosenbyyou，isthemostpopularstylewithchildrenandtheirattendants，andwiththeworldingeneral。
Idonotdenyit。
ButIsupposeyouwouldarguethatsuchastyleisunsuitabletoourState，inwhichhumannatureisnottwofoldormanifold，foronemanplaysonepartonly？
Yes；quiteunsuitable。
AndthisisthereasonwhyinourState，andinourStateonly，weshallfindashoemakertobeashoemakerandnotapilotalso，andahusbandmantobeahusbandmanandnotadicastalso，andasoldierasoldierandnotatraderalso，andthesamethroughout？
True，hesaid。
Andthereforewhenanyoneofthesepantomimicgentlemen，whoaresocleverthattheycanimitateanything，comestous，andmakesaproposaltoexhibithimselfandhispoetry，wewillfalldownandworshiphimasasweetandholyandwonderfulbeing；butwemustalsoinformhimthatinourStatesuchashearenotpermittedtoexist；thelawwillnotallowthem。Andsowhenwehaveanointedhimwithmyrrh，andsetagarlandofwooluponhishead，weshallsendhimawaytoanothercity。Forwemeantoemployforoursouls’healththerougherandsevererpoetorstory—teller，whowillimitatethestyleofthevirtuousonly，andwillfollowthosemodelswhichweprescribedatfirstwhenwebegantheeducationofoursoldiers。
Wecertainlywill，hesaid，ifwehavethepower。
Thennow，myfriend，Isaid，thatpartofmusicorliteraryeducationwhichrelatestothestoryormythmaybeconsideredtobefinished；forthematterandmannerhavebothbeendiscussed。
Ithinksotoo，hesaid。
Nextinorderwillfollowmelodyandsong。
Thatisobvious。
Everyonecanseealreadywhatweoughttosayaboutthem，ifwearetobeconsistentwithourselves。
SOCRATES—GLAUCON
Ifear，saidGlaucon，laughing，thatthewords’everyone’hardlyincludesme，forIcannotatthemomentsaywhattheyshouldbe；
thoughImayguess。
Atanyrateyoucantellthatasongorodehasthreeparts——thewords，themelody，andtherhythm；thatdegreeofknowledgeImaypresuppose？
Yes，hesaid；somuchasthatyoumay。
Andasforthewords，theresurelybenodifferencewordsbetweenwordswhichareandwhicharenotsettomusic；bothwillconformtothesamelaws，andthesehavebeenalreadydeterminedbyus？
Yes。
Andthemelodyandrhythmwilldependuponthewords？
Certainly。
Weweresaying，whenwespokeofthesubject—matter，thatwehadnoneedoflamentationsandstrainsofsorrow？
True。
Andwhicharetheharmoniesexpressiveofsorrow？Youaremusical，andcantellme。
TheharmonieswhichyoumeanarethemixedortenorLydian，andthefull—tonedorbassLydian，andsuchlike。
Thesethen，Isaid，mustbebanished；eventowomenwhohaveacharactertomaintaintheyareofnouse，andmuchlesstomen。
Certainly。
Inthenextplace，drunkennessandsoftnessandindolenceareutterlyunbecomingthecharacterofourguardians。
Utterlyunbecoming。
Andwhicharethesoftordrinkingharmonies？
TheIonian，hereplied，andtheLydian；theyaretermed’relaxed。’
Well，andaretheseofanymilitaryuse？
Quitethereverse，hereplied；andifsotheDorianandthePhrygianaretheonlyoneswhichyouhaveleft。
Ianswered：OftheharmoniesIknownothing，butIwanttohaveonewarlike，tosoundthenoteoraccentwhichabravemanuttersinthehourofdangerandsternresolve，orwhenhiscauseisfailing，andheisgoingtowoundsordeathorisovertakenbysomeotherevil，andateverysuchcrisismeetstheblowsoffortunewithfirmstepandadeterminationtoendure；andanothertobeusedbyhimintimesofpeaceandfreedomofaction，whenthereisnopressureofnecessity，andheisseekingtopersuadeGodbyprayer，ormanbyinstructionandadmonition，orontheotherhand，whenheisexpressinghiswillingnesstoyieldtopersuasionorentreatyoradmonition，andwhichrepresentshimwhenbyprudentconducthehasattainedhisend，notcarriedawaybyhissuccess，butactingmoderatelyandwiselyunderthecircumstances，andacquiescingintheevent。ThesetwoharmoniesIaskyoutoleave；thestrainofnecessityandthestrainoffreedom，thestrainoftheunfortunateandthestrainofthefortunate，thestrainofcourage，andthestrainoftemperance；these，Isay，leave。
Andthese，hereplied，aretheDorianandPhrygianharmoniesofwhichIwasjustnowspeaking。
Then，Isaid，iftheseandtheseonlyaretobeusedinoursongsandmelodies，weshallnotwantmultiplicityofnotesorapanharmonicscale？
Isupposenot。
Thenweshallnotmaintaintheartificersoflyreswiththreecornersandcomplexscales，orthemakersofanyothermany—stringedcuriously—harmonisedinstruments？
Certainlynot。
Butwhatdoyousaytoflute—makersandflute—players？WouldyouadmitthemintoourStatewhenyoureflectthatinthiscompositeuseofharmonythefluteisworsethanallthestringedinstrumentsputtogether；eventhepanharmonicmusicisonlyanimitationoftheflute？
Clearlynot。
Thereremainthenonlythelyreandtheharpforuseinthecity，andtheshepherdsmayhaveapipeinthecountry。
Thatissurelytheconclusiontobedrawnfromtheargument。
ThepreferringofApolloandhisinstrumentstoMarsyasandhisinstrumentsisnotatallstrange，Isaid。
Notatall，hereplied。
Andso，bythedogofEgypt，wehavebeenunconsciouslypurgingtheState，whichnotlongagowetermedluxurious。
Andwehavedonewisely，hereplied。
Thenletusnowfinishthepurgation，Isaid。Nextinordertoharmonies，rhythmswillnaturallyfollow，andtheyshouldbesubjecttothesamerules，forweoughtnottoseekoutcomplexsystemsofmetre，ormetresofeverykind，butrathertodiscoverwhatrhythmsaretheexpressionsofacourageousandharmoniouslife；andwhenwehavefoundthem，weshalladaptthefootandthemelodytowordshavingalikespirit，notthewordstothefootandmelody。Tosaywhattheserhythmsarewillbeyourduty——youmustteachmethem，asyouhavealreadytaughtmetheharmonies。
But，indeed，hereplied，Icannottellyou。Ionlyknowthattherearesomethreeprinciplesofrhythmoutofwhichmetricalsystemsareframed，justasinsoundstherearefournotesoutofwhichalltheharmoniesarecomposed；thatisanobservationwhichIhavemade。ButofwhatsortoflivestheyareseverallytheimitationsIamunabletosay。
Then，Isaid，wemusttakeDamonintoourcounsels；andhewilltelluswhatrhythmsareexpressiveofmeanness，orinsolence，orfury，orotherunworthiness，andwhataretobereservedfortheexpressionofoppositefeelings。AndIthinkthatIhaveanindistinctrecollectionofhismentioningacomplexCreticrhythm；alsoadactylicorheroic，andhearrangedtheminsomemannerwhichIdonotquiteunderstand，makingtherhythmsequalintheriseandfallofthefoot，longandshortalternating；and，unlessIammistaken，hespokeofaniambicaswellasofatrochaicrhythm，andassignedtothemshortandlongquantities。Alsoinsomecasesheappearedtopraiseorcensurethemovementofthefootquiteasmuchastherhythm；orperhapsacombinationofthetwo；forIamnotcertainwhathemeant。Thesematters，however，asIwassaying，hadbetterbereferredtoDamonhimself，fortheanalysisofthesubjectwouldbedifficult，youknow。
Ratherso，Ishouldsay。
Butthereisnodifficultyinseeingthatgraceortheabsenceofgraceisaneffectofgoodorbadrhythm。
Noneatall。
Andalsothatgoodandbadrhythmnaturallyassimilatetoagoodandbadstyle；andthatharmonyanddiscordinlikemannerfollowstyle；
forourprincipleisthatrhythmandharmonyareregulatedbythewords，andnotthewordsbythem。
Justso，hesaid，theyshouldfollowthewords。
Andwillnotthewordsandthecharacterofthestyledependonthetemperofthesoul？
Yes。
Andeverythingelseonthestyle？
Yes。
Thenbeautyofstyleandharmonyandgraceandgoodrhythmdependonsimplicity，——Imeanthetruesimplicityofarightlyandnoblyorderedmindandcharacter，notthatothersimplicitywhichisonlyaneuphemismforfolly？
Verytrue，hereplied。
Andifouryoutharetodotheirworkinlife，musttheynotmakethesegracesandharmoniestheirperpetualaim？
Theymust。
Andsurelytheartofthepainterandeveryothercreativeandconstructiveartarefullofthem，——weaving，embroidery，architecture，andeverykindofmanufacture；alsonature，animalandvegetable，——inallofthemthereisgraceortheabsenceofgrace。
Anduglinessanddiscordandinharmoniousmotionarenearlyalliedtoillwordsandillnature，asgraceandharmonyarethetwinsistersofgoodnessandvirtueandbeartheirlikeness。
Thatisquitetrue，hesaid。
Butshalloursuperintendencegonofurther，andarethepoetsonlytoberequiredbyustoexpresstheimageofthegoodintheirworks，onpain，iftheydoanythingelse，ofexpulsionfromourState？
Oristhesamecontroltobeextendedtootherartists，andaretheyalsotobeprohibitedfromexhibitingtheoppositeformsofviceandintemperanceandmeannessandindecencyinsculptureandbuildingandtheothercreativearts；andishewhocannotconformtothisruleofourstobepreventedfrompractisinghisartinourState，lestthetasteofourcitizensbecorruptedbyhim？Wewouldnothaveourguardiansgrowupamidimagesofmoraldeformity，asinsomenoxiouspasture，andtherebrowseandfeeduponmanyabanefulherbandflowerdaybyday，littlebylittle，untiltheysilentlygatherafesteringmassofcorruptionintheirownsoul。Letourartistsratherbethosewhoaregiftedtodiscernthetruenatureofthebeautifulandgraceful；thenwillouryouthdwellinalandofhealth，amidfairsightsandsounds，andreceivethegoodineverything；andbeauty，theeffluenceoffairworks，shallflowintotheeyeandear，likeahealth—givingbreezefromapurerregion，andinsensiblydrawthesoulfromearliestyearsintolikenessandsympathywiththebeautyofreason。
Therecanbenonoblertrainingthanthat，hereplied。
Andtherefore，Isaid，Glaucon，musicaltrainingisamorepotentinstrumentthananyother，becauserhythmandharmonyfindtheirwayintotheinwardplacesofthesoul，onwhichtheymightilyfasten，impartinggrace，andmakingthesoulofhimwhoisrightlyeducatedgraceful，orofhimwhoisill—educatedungraceful；andalsobecausehewhohasreceivedthistrueeducationoftheinnerbeingwillmostshrewdlyperceiveomissionsorfaultsinartandnature，andwithatruetaste，whilehepraisesandrejoicesoverandreceivesintohissoulthegood，andbecomesnobleandgood，hewilljustlyblameandhatethebad，nowinthedaysofhisyouth，evenbeforeheisabletoknowthereasonwhy；andwhenreasoncomeshewillrecogniseandsalutethefriendwithwhomhiseducationhasmadehimlongfamiliar。
Yes，hesaid，Iquiteagreewithyouinthinkingthatouryouthshouldbetrainedinmusicandonthegroundswhichyoumention。
Justasinlearningtoread，Isaid，weweresatisfiedwhenweknewthelettersofthealphabet，whichareveryfew，inalltheirrecurringsizesandcombinations；notslightingthemasunimportantwhethertheyoccupyaspacelargeorsmall，buteverywhereeagertomakethemout；andnotthinkingourselvesperfectintheartofreadinguntilwerecognisethemwherevertheyarefound：
True——
Or，aswerecognisethereflectionoflettersinthewater，orinamirror，onlywhenweknowthelettersthemselves；thesameartandstudygivingustheknowledgeofboth：