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Then persons of worth, even if only mortal men, must not be

represented as overcome by laughter, and still less must such a

representation of the gods be allowed.

Still less of the gods, as you say, he replied.

Then we shall not suffer such an expression to be used about the

gods as that of Homer when he describes how

'Inextinguishable laughter arose among the blessed gods, when

they saw Hephaestus bustling about the mansion.'

On your views, we must not admit them.

On my views, if you like to father them on me; that we must not

admit them is certain.

Again, truth should be highly valued; if, as we were saying, a

lie is useless to the gods, and useful only as a medicine to men,

then the use of such medicines should be restricted to

physicians; private individuals have no business with them.

Clearly not, he said.