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：