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[673a] motion.

Clinias
Very true.

Athenian
Now the vocal actions which pertain to the training of the soul in excellence we ventured somehow to name “music.”

Clinias
And rightly so.

Athenian
As regards the bodily actions which we called playful dancing,—if such action attains to bodily excellence, we may term the technical guidance of the body to this end “gymnastic.” [673b]

Clinias
Quite rightly.

Athenian
As to music, which was referred to when we said a moment ago that the one half of choristry had been described and disposed of,—let us say the same of it now; but as to the other half, are we to speak about it, or what are we to do?

Clinias
My good sir, you are conversing with Cretans and Lacedaemonians, and we have discussed the subject of music; what reply, then, to your question do you suppose that either of us will make, when the subject left still untouched is gymnastic?

Athenian
You have given me a pretty clear answer, I should say, [673c] in putting this question; although it is a question, I understand it to be also (as I say) an answer—or rather, an actual injunction to give a full account of gymnastic.

Clinias
You have grasped my meaning excellently: please do so.

Athenian
Do it I must; and indeed it is no very hard task to speak of things well known to you both. For you are far better acquainted with this art than with the other.

Clinias
That is about true.

Athenian
The origin of the play1 we are speaking of [673d] is to be found in the habitual tendency of every living creature to leap; and the human creature, by acquiring, as we said, a sense of rhythm, generated and brought forth dancing; and since the rhythm is suggested and awakened by the tune, the union of these two brought forth choristry and play.

Clinias
Very true.

Athenian
Of choristry we have already discussed the one part, and we shall next endeavor to discuss the other part.

Clinias
By all means.

Athenian
But, if you both agree, let us first put the finishing stroke [673e] to our discourse on the use of drink.

Clinias
What, or what kind of, finish do you mean?

Athenian
If a State shall make use of the institution now mentioned in a lawful and orderly manner, regarding it in a serious light and practising it with a view to temperance, and if in like manner and with a like object, aiming at the mastery of them, it shall allow indulgence in all other pleasures,—then they must all be made use of in the manner described. But if, on the other hand, this institution is regarded in the light of play, and if anyone that likes is to be allowed to drink whenever he likes

1 i.e. playful motion, or dancing, as contrasted with “music” (or “harmony”) which springs from the tendency to cry outc.

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