第30章

Nay，verymuchthereverse。 Andstillhewillgoonimitatingwithoutknowingwhatmakesathinggoodorbad，andmaybeexpectedthereforetoimitateonlythatwhichappearstobegoodtotheignorantmultitude？ Justso。 Thusfarthenweareprettywellagreedthattheimitatorhasnoknowledgeworthmentioningofwhatheimitates。Imitationisonlyakindofplayorsport，andthetragicpoets，whethertheywriteiniambicorinHeroicverse，areimitatorsinthehighestdegree？ Verytrue。 Andnowtellme，Iconjureyou，hasnotimitationbeenshownbyustobeconcernedwiththatwhichisthriceremovedfromthetruth？ Certainly。 Andwhatisthefacultyinmantowhichimitationisaddressed？ Whatdoyoumean？ Iwillexplain：Thebodywhichislargewhenseennear，appearssmallwhenseenatadistance？ True。 Andthesameobjectappearsstraightwhenlookedatoutofthewater，andcrookedwheninthewater；andtheconcavebecomesconvex，owingtotheillusionaboutcolourstowhichthesightisliable。Thuseverysortofconfusionisrevealedwithinus；andthisisthatweaknessofthehumanmindonwhichtheartofconjuringandofdeceivingbylightandshadowandotheringeniousdevicesimposes，havinganeffectuponuslikemagic。 True。 Andtheartsofmeasuringandnumberingandweighingcometotherescueofthehumanunderstanding—thereisthebeautyofthem——andtheapparentgreaterorless，ormoreorheavier，nolongerhavethemasteryoverus，butgivewaybeforecalculationandmeasureandweight？ Mosttrue。 Andthis，surely，mustbetheworkofthecalculatingandrationalprincipleinthesoulTobesure。 Andwhenthisprinciplemeasuresandcertifiesthatsomethingsareequal，orthatsomearegreaterorlessthanothers，thereoccursanapparentcontradiction？ True。 Butwerewenotsayingthatsuchacontradictionisthesamefacultycannothavecontraryopinionsatthesametimeaboutthesamething？ Verytrue。 Thenthatpartofthesoulwhichhasanopinioncontrarytomeasureisnotthesamewiththatwhichhasanopinioninaccordancewithmeasure？ True。 Andthebetterpartofthesoulislikelytobethatwhichtruststomeasureandcalculation？ Certainly。 Andthatwhichisopposedtothemisoneoftheinferiorprinciplesofthesoul？ Nodoubt。 ThiswastheconclusionatwhichIwasseekingtoarrivewhenIsaidthatpaintingordrawing，andimitationingeneral，whendoingtheirownproperwork，arefarremovedfromtruth，andthecompanionsandfriendsandassociatesofaprinciplewithinuswhichisequallyremovedfromreason，andthattheyhavenotrueorhealthyaim。 Exactly。 Theimitativeartisaninferiorwhomarriesaninferior，andhasinferioroffspring。 Verytrue。 Andisthisconfinedtothesightonly，ordoesitextendtothehearingalso，relatinginfacttowhatwetermpoetry？ Probablythesamewouldbetrueofpoetry。 Donotrely，Isaid，onaprobabilityderivedfromtheanalogyofpainting；butletusexaminefurtherandseewhetherthefacultywithwhichpoeticalimitationisconcernedisgoodorbad。 Byallmeans。 Wemaystatethequestionthus：——Imitationimitatestheactionsofmen，whethervoluntaryorinvoluntary，onwhich，astheyimagine，agoodorbadresulthasensued，andtheyrejoiceorsorrowaccordingly。 Isthereanythingmore？ No，thereisnothingelse。 Butinallthisvarietyofcircumstancesisthemanatunitywithhimself——orrather，asintheinstanceofsighttherewasconfusionandoppositioninhisopinionsaboutthesamethings，soherealsoistherenotstrifeandinconsistencyinhislife？ThoughIneedhardlyraisethequestionagain，forIrememberthatallthishasbeenalreadyadmitted；andthesoulhasbeenacknowledgedbyustobefulloftheseandtenthousandsimilaroppositionsoccurringatthesamemoment？ Andwewereright，hesaid。 Yes，Isaid，thusfarwewereright；buttherewasanomissionwhichmustnowbesupplied。 Whatwastheomission？ Werewenotsayingthatagoodman，whohasthemisfortunetolosehissonoranythingelsewhichismostdeartohim，willbearthelosswithmoreequanimitythananother？ Yes。 Butwillhehavenosorrow，orshallwesaythatalthoughhecannothelpsorrowing，hewillmoderatehissorrow？ Thelatter，hesaid，isthetruerstatement。 Tellme：willhebemorelikelytostruggleandholdoutagainsthissorrowwhenheisseenbyhisequals，orwhenheisalone？ Itwillmakeagreatdifferencewhetherheisseenornot。 Whenheisbyhimselfhewillnotmindsayingordoingmanythingswhichhewouldbeashamedofanyonehearingorseeinghimdo？ True。 Thereisaprincipleoflawandreasoninhimwhichbidshimresist，aswellasafeelingofhismisfortunewhichisforcinghimtoindulgehissorrow？ True。 Butwhenamanisdrawnintwooppositedirections，toandfromthesameobject，this，asweaffirm，necessarilyimpliestwodistinctprinciplesinhim？ Certainly。 Oneofthemisreadytofollowtheguidanceofthelaw？ Howdoyoumean？ Thelawwouldsaythattobepatientundersufferingisbest，andthatweshouldnotgivewaytoimpatience，asthereisnoknowingwhethersuchthingsaregoodorevil；andnothingisgainedbyimpatience；also，becausenohumanthingisofseriousimportance，andgriefstandsinthewayofthatwhichatthemomentismostrequired。 Whatismostrequired？heasked。 Thatweshouldtakecounselaboutwhathashappened，andwhenthedicehavebeenthrownorderouraffairsinthewaywhichreasondeemsbest；not，likechildrenwhohavehadafall，keepingholdofthepartstruckandwastingtimeinsettingupahowl，butalwaysaccustomingthesoulforthwithtoapplyaremedy，raisingupthatwhichissicklyandfallen，banishingthecryofsorrowbythehealingart。 Yes，hesaid，thatisthetruewayofmeetingtheattacksoffortune。 Yes，Isaid；andthehigherprincipleisreadytofollowthissuggestionofreason？ Clearly。 Andtheotherprinciple，whichinclinesustorecollectionofourtroublesandtolamentation，andcanneverhaveenoughofthem，wemaycallirrational，useless，andcowardly？ Indeed，wemay。 Anddoesnotthelatter——Imeantherebelliousprinciple——furnishagreatvarietyofmaterialsforimitation？Whereasthewiseandcalmtemperament，beingalwaysnearlyequable，isnoteasytoimitateortoappreciatewhenimitated，especiallyatapublicfestivalwhenapromiscuouscrowdisassembledinatheatre。Forthefeelingrepresentedisonetowhichtheyarestrangers。 Certainly。 Thentheimitativepoetwhoaimsatbeingpopularisnotbynaturemade，norishisartintended，topleaseortoaffecttheprincipleinthesoul；buthewillpreferthepassionateandfitfultemper，whichiseasilyimitated？ Clearly。 Andnowwemayfairlytakehimandplacehimbythesideofthepainter，forheislikehimintwoways：first，inasmuchashiscreationshaveaninferiordegreeoftruth——inthis，Isay，heislikehim；andheisalsolikehiminbeingconcernedwithaninferiorpartofthesoul；andthereforeweshallberightinrefusingtoadmithimintoawell—orderedState，becauseheawakensandnourishesandstrengthensthefeelingsandimpairsthereason。Asinacitywhentheevilarepermittedtohaveauthorityandthegoodareputoutoftheway，sointhesoulofman，aswemaintain，theimitativepoetimplantsanevilconstitution，forheindulgestheirrationalnaturewhichhasnodiscernmentofgreaterandless，butthinksthesamethingatonetimegreatandatanothersmall—heisamanufacturerofimagesandisveryfarremovedfromthetruth。 Exactly。 Butwehavenotyetbroughtforwardtheheaviestcountinouraccusation：——thepowerwhichpoetryhasofharmingeventhegood（andthereareveryfewwhoarenotharmed），issurelyanawfulthing？ Yes，certainly，iftheeffectiswhatyousay。 Hearandjudge：Thebestofus，asIconceive，whenwelistentoapassageofHomer，oroneofthetragedians，inwhichherepresentssomepitifulherowhoisdrawlingouthissorrowsinalongoration，orweeping，andsmitinghisbreast——thebestofus，youknow，delightingivingwaytosympathy，andareinrapturesattheexcellenceofthepoetwhostirsourfeelingsmost。 Yes，ofcourseIknow。 Butwhenanysorrowofourownhappenstous，thenyoumayobservethatweprideourselvesontheoppositequality——wewouldfainbequietandpatient；thisisthemanlypart，andtheotherwhichdelightedusintherecitationisnowdeemedtobethepartofawoman。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Nowcanweberightinpraisingandadmiringanotherwhoisdoingthatwhichanyoneofuswouldabominateandbeashamedofinhisownperson？ No，hesaid，thatiscertainlynotreasonable。 Nay，Isaid，quitereasonablefromonepointofview。 Whatpointofview？ Ifyouconsider，Isaid，thatwheninmisfortunewefeelanaturalhungeranddesiretorelieveoursorrowbyweepingandlamentation，andthatthisfeelingwhichiskeptundercontrolinourowncalamitiesissatisfiedanddelightedbythepoets；—thebetternatureineachofus，nothavingbeensufficientlytrainedbyreasonorhabit，allowsthesympatheticelementtobreakloosebecausethesorrowisanother’s；andthespectatorfanciesthattherecanbenodisgracetohimselfinpraisingandpityinganyonewhocomestellinghimwhatagoodmanheis，andmakingafussabouthistroubles；hethinksthatthepleasureisagain，andwhyshouldhebesuperciliousandlosethisandthepoemtoo？Fewpersonseverreflect，asIshouldimagine，thatfromtheevilofothermensomethingofeviliscommunicatedtothemselves。Andsothefeelingofsorrowwhichhasgatheredstrengthatthesightofthemisfortunesofothersiswithdifficultyrepressedinourown。 Howverytrue！ Anddoesnotthesameholdalsooftheridiculous？Therearejestswhichyouwouldbeashamedtomakeyourself，andyetonthecomicstage，orindeedinprivate，whenyouhearthem，youaregreatlyamusedbythem，andarenotatalldisgustedattheirunseemliness； ——thecaseofpityisrepeated；——thereisaprincipleinhumannaturewhichisdisposedtoraisealaugh，andthiswhichyouoncerestrainedbyreason，becauseyouwereafraidofbeingthoughtabuffoon，isnowletoutagain；andhavingstimulatedtherisiblefacultyatthetheatre，youarebetrayedunconsciouslytoyourselfintoplayingthecomicpoetathome。 Quitetrue，hesaid。 Andthesamemaybesaidoflustandangerandalltheotheraffections，ofdesireandpainandpleasure，whichareheldtobeinseparablefromeveryaction———inallofthempoetryfeedsandwatersthepassionsinsteadofdryingthemup；sheletsthemrule，althoughtheyoughttobecontrolled，ifmankindareevertoincreaseinhappinessandvirtue。 Icannotdenyit。 Therefore，Glaucon，Isaid，wheneveryoumeetwithanyoftheeulogistsofHomerdeclaringthathehasbeentheeducatorofHellas，andthatheisprofitableforeducationandfortheorderingofhumanthings，andthatyoushouldtakehimupagainandagainandgettoknowhimandregulateyourwholelifeaccordingtohim，wemayloveandhonourthosewhosaythesethings——theyareexcellentpeople，asfarastheirlightsextend；andwearereadytoacknowledgethatHomeristhegreatestofpoetsandfirstoftragedywriters； butwemustremainfirminourconvictionthathymnstothegodsandpraisesoffamousmenaretheonlypoetrywhichoughttobeadmittedintoourState。Forifyougobeyondthisandallowthehoneyedmusetoenter，eitherinepicorlyricverse，notlawandthereasonofmankind，whichbycommonconsenthaveeverbeendeemedbest，butpleasureandpainwillbetherulersinourState。 Thatismosttrue，hesaid。 Andnowsincewehaverevertedtothesubjectofpoetry，letthisourdefenceservetoshowthereasonablenessofourformerjudgmentinsendingawayoutofourStateanarthavingthetendencieswhichwehavedescribed；forreasonconstrainedus。Butthatshemayimputetousanyharshnessorwantofpoliteness，letustellherthatthereisanancientquarrelbetweenphilosophyandpoetry；ofwhichtherearemanyproofs，suchasthesayingof’theyelpinghoundhowlingatherlord，’orofone’mightyinthevaintalkoffools，’ and’themobofsagescircumventingZeus，’andthe’subtlethinkerswhoarebeggarsafterall’；andthereareinnumerableothersignsofancientenmitybetweenthem。Notwithstandingthis，letusassureoursweetfriendandthesisterartsofimitationthatifshewillonlyprovehertitletoexistinawell—orderedStateweshallbedelightedtoreceiveher——weareveryconsciousofhercharms；butwemaynotonthataccountbetraythetruth。Idaresay，Glaucon，thatyouareasmuchcharmedbyherasIam，especiallywhensheappearsinHomer？ Yes，indeed，Iamgreatlycharmed。 ShallIpropose，then，thatshebeallowedtoreturnfromexile，butuponthisconditiononly——thatshemakeadefenceofherselfinlyricalorsomeothermetre？ Certainly。 Andwemayfurthergranttothoseofherdefenderswhoareloversofpoetryandyetnotpoetsthepermissiontospeakinproseonherbehalf：letthemshownotonlythatsheispleasantbutalsousefultoStatesandtohumanlife，andwewilllisteninakindlyspirit；forifthiscanbeprovedweshallsurelybethegainers——Imean，ifthereisauseinpoetryaswellasadelight？ Certainly，hesaid，weshallthegainers。 Ifherdefencefails，then，mydearfriend，likeotherpersonswhoareenamouredofsomething，butputarestraintuponthemselveswhentheythinktheirdesiresareopposedtotheirinterests，sotoomustweafterthemannerofloversgiveherup，thoughnotwithoutastruggle。WetooareinspiredbythatloveofpoetrywhichtheeducationofnobleStateshasimplantedinus，andthereforewewouldhaveherappearatherbestandtruest；butsolongassheisunabletomakegoodherdefence，thisargumentofoursshallbeacharmtous，whichwewillrepeattoourselveswhilewelistentoherstrains；thatwemaynotfallawayintothechildishloveofherwhichcaptivatesthemany。Atalleventswearewellawarethatpoetrybeingsuchaswehavedescribedisnottoberegardedseriouslyasattainingtothetruth；andhewholistenstoher，fearingforthesafetyofthecitywhichiswithinhim，shouldbeonhisguardagainstherseductionsandmakeourwordshislaw。 Yes，hesaid，Iquiteagreewithyou。 Yes，Isaid，mydearGlaucon，forgreatistheissueatstake，greaterthanappears，whetheramanistobegoodorbad。Andwhatwillanyonebeprofitedifundertheinfluenceofhonourormoneyorpower，aye，orundertheexcitementofpoetry，heneglectjusticeandvirtue？ Yes，hesaid；Ihavebeenconvincedbytheargument，asIbelievethatanyoneelsewouldhavebeen。 Andyetnomentionhasbeenmadeofthegreatestprizesandrewardswhichawaitvirtue。 What，arethereanygreaterstill？Ifthereare，theymustbeofaninconceivablegreatness。 Why，Isaid，whatwasevergreatinashorttime？Thewholeperiodofthreescoreyearsandtenissurelybutalittlethingincomparisonwitheternity？ Sayrather’nothing，’hereplied。 Andshouldanimmortalbeingseriouslythinkofthislittlespaceratherthanofthewhole？ Ofthewhole，certainly。Butwhydoyouask？ Areyounotaware，Isaid，thatthesoulofmanisimmortalandimperishable？ Helookedatmeinastonishment，andsaid：No，byheaven：Andareyoureallypreparedtomaintainthis？ Yes，Isaid，Ioughttobe，andyoutoo——thereisnodifficultyinprovingit。 Iseeagreatdifficulty；butIshouldliketohearyoustatethisargumentofwhichyoumakesolight。 Listenthen。 Iamattending。 Thereisathingwhichyoucallgoodandanotherwhichyoucallevil？ Yes，hereplied。 Wouldyouagreewithmeinthinkingthatthecorruptinganddestroyingelementistheevil，andthesavingandimprovingelementthegood？ Yes。 Andyouadmitthateverythinghasagoodandalsoanevil；asophthalmiaistheeviloftheeyesanddiseaseofthewholebody；asmildewisofcorn，androtoftimber，orrustofcopperandiron：ineverything，orinalmosteverything，thereisaninherentevilanddisease？ Yes，hesaid。 Andanythingwhichisinfectedbyanyoftheseevilsismadeevil，andatlastwhollydissolvesanddies？ True。 Theviceandevilwhichisinherentineachisthedestructionofeach；andifthisdoesnotdestroythemthereisnothingelsethatwill；forgoodcertainlywillnotdestroythem，noragain，thatwhichisneithergoodnorevil。 Certainlynot。 If，then，wefindanynaturewhichhavingthisinherentcorruptioncannotbedissolvedordestroyed，wemaybecertainthatofsuchanaturethereisnodestruction？ Thatmaybeassumed。 Well，Isaid，andistherenoevilwhichcorruptsthesoul？ Yes，hesaid，therearealltheevilswhichwewerejustnowpassinginreview：unrighteousness，intemperance，cowardice，ignorance。 Butdoesanyofthesedissolveordestroyher？——andheredonotletusfallintotheerrorofsupposingthattheunjustandfoolishman，whenheisdetected，perishesthroughhisowninjustice，whichisanevilofthesoul。Taketheanalogyofthebody：Theevilofthebodyisadiseasewhichwastesandreducesandannihilatesthebody；andallthethingsofwhichwewerejustnowspeakingcometoannihilationthroughtheirowncorruptionattachingtothemandinheringinthemandsodestroyingthem。Isnotthistrue？ Yes。 Considerthesoulinlikemanner。Doestheinjusticeorotherevilwhichexistsinthesoulwasteandconsumeher？Dotheybyattachingtothesoulandinheringinheratlastbringhertodeath，andsoseparateherfromthebody？ Certainlynot。 Andyet，Isaid，itisunreasonabletosupposethatanythingcanperishfromwithoutthroughaffectionofexternalevilwhichcouldnotbedestroyedfromwithinbyacorruptionofitsown？ Itis，hereplied。 Consider，Isaid，Glaucon，thateventhebadnessoffood，whetherstaleness，decomposition，oranyotherbadquality，whenconfinedtotheactualfood，isnotsupposedtodestroythebody；although，ifthebadnessoffoodcommunicatescorruptiontothebody，thenweshouldsaythatthebodyhasbeendestroyedbyacorruptionofitself，whichisdisease，broughtonbythis；butthatthebody，beingonething，canbedestroyedbythebadnessoffood，whichisanother，andwhichdoesnotengenderanynaturalinfection——thisweshallabsolutelydeny？ Verytrue。 And，onthesameprinciple，unlesssomebodilyevilcanproduceanevilofthesoul，wemustnotsupposethatthesoul，whichisonething，canbedissolvedbyanymerelyexternalevilwhichbelongstoanother？ Yes，hesaid，thereisreasoninthat。 Eitherthen，letusrefutethisconclusion，or，whileitremainsunrefuted，letusneversaythatfever，oranyotherdisease，ortheknifeputtothethroat，oreventhecuttingupofthewholebodyintotheminutestpieces，candestroythesoul，untilsheherselfisprovedtobecomemoreunholyorunrighteousinconsequenceofthesethingsbeingdonetothebody；butthatthesoul，oranythingelseifnotdestroyedbyaninternalevil，canbedestroyedbyanexternalone，isnotto。beaffirmedbyanyman。 Andsurely，hereplied，noonewilleverprovethatthesoulsofmenbecomemoreunjustinconsequenceofdeath。 Butifsomeonewhowouldrathernotadmittheimmortalityofthesoulboldlydeniesthis，andsaysthatthedyingdoreallybecomemoreevilandunrighteous，then，ifthespeakerisright，Isupposethatinjustice，likedisease，mustbeassumedtobefataltotheunjust，andthatthosewhotakethisdisorderdiebythenaturalinherentpowerofdestructionwhichevilhas，andwhichkillsthemsoonerorlater，butinquiteanotherwayfromthatinwhich，atpresent，thewickedreceivedeathatthehandsofothersasthepenaltyoftheirdeeds？ Nay，hesaid，inthatcaseinjustice，iffataltotheunjust，willnotbesoveryterribletohim，forhewillbedeliveredfromevil。 ButIrathersuspecttheoppositetobethetruth，andthatinjusticewhich，ifithavethepower，willmurderothers，keepsthemurdereralive——aye，andwellawaketoo；sofarremovedisherdwelling—placefrombeingahouseofdeath。 True，Isaid；iftheinherentnaturalviceorevilofthesoulisunabletokillordestroyher，hardlywillthatwhichisappointedtobethedestructionofsomeotherbody，destroyasouloranythingelseexceptthatofwhichitwasappointedtobethedestruction。 Yes，thatcanhardlybe。 Butthesoulwhichcannotbedestroyedbyanevil，whetherinherentorexternal，mustexistforever，andifexistingforever，mustbeimmortal？ Certainly。 Thatistheconclusion，Isaid；and，ifatrueconclusion，thenthesoulsmustalwaysbethesame，forifnonebedestroyedtheywillnotdiminishinnumber。Neitherwilltheyincrease，fortheincreaseoftheimmortalnaturesmustcomefromsomethingmortal，andallthingswouldthusendinimmortality。 Verytrue。 Butthiswecannotbelieve——reasonwillnotallowus——anymorethanwecanbelievethesoul，inhertruestnature，tobefullofvarietyanddifferenceanddissimilarity。 Whatdoyoumean？hesaid。