صفحة 424 من 1391

The same is true of comedy,-you may often laugh at buffoonery

which you would be ashamed to utter, and the love of coarse

merriment on the stage will at last turn you into a buffoon at

home. Poetry feeds and waters the passions and desires; she lets

them rule instead of ruling them. And therefore, when we hear the

encomiasts of Homer affirming that he is the educator of Hellas,

and that all life should be regulated by his precepts, we may

allow the excellence of their intentions, and agree with them in

thinking Homer a great poet and tragedian. But we shall continue

to prohibit all poetry which goes beyond hymns to the Gods and

praises of famous men. Not pleasure and pain, but law and reason

shall rule in our State.