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And then, I said, we must try them with enchantments-that is the

third sort of test-and see what will be their behaviour: like

those who take colts amid noise and tumult to see if they are of

a timid nature, so must we take our youth amid terrors of some

kind, and again pass them into pleasures, and prove them more

thoroughly than gold is proved in the furnace, that we may

discover whether they are armed against all enchantments, and of

a noble bearing always, good guardians of themselves and of the

music which they have learned, and retaining under all

circumstances a rhythmical and harmonious nature, such as will be

most serviceable to the individual and to the State. And he who

at every age, as boy and youth and in mature life, has come out

of the trial victorious and pure, shall be appointed a ruler and

guardian of the State; he shall be honoured in life and death,

and shall receive sepulture and other memorials of honour, the

greatest that we have to give.