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。