[396e]
His
mind disdains them, unless it be for jest.1” “Naturally,” he said.
“Then the narrative that he
will employ will be the kind that we just now illustrated by the verses of
Homer, and his diction will be one that partakes of both, of imitation and
simple narration, but there will be a small portion of imitation in a long
discourse—or is there nothing in what I say?”
“Yes, indeed,2” he said, that is the type
and pattern of such a speaker.” “Then,” said
I,
1 Plato, like Howells and some other modern novelists, would have thought somewhat gross comedy less harmful than the tragedy or romance that insidiously instils false ideals.
2 The respondent plays on the double meaning of οὐδὲν λέγεις and replies, “Yes indeed you do say something, namely the type and pattern,” etc.
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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