Page 815 of 1391

'The kindred of the gods, the relatives of Zeus, whose ancestral

altar, the altar of Zeus, is aloft in air on the peak of Ida,'

and who have

'the blood of deities yet flowing in their veins.'

And therefore let us put an end to such tales, lest they engender

laxity of morals among the young.

By all means, he replied.

But now that we are determining what classes of subjects are or

are not to be spoken of, let us see whether any have been omitted

by us. The manner in which gods and demigods and heroes and the

world below should be treated has been already laid down.

Very true.

And what shall we say about men? That is clearly the remaining

portion of our subject.

Clearly so.

But we are not in a condition to answer this question at present,

my friend.

Why not?