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Neither may they imitate smiths or other artificers, or oarsmen,

or boatswains, or the like?

How can they, he said, when they are not allowed to apply their

minds to the callings of any of these?

Nor may they imitate the neighing of horses, the bellowing of

bulls, the murmur of rivers and roll of the ocean, thunder, and

all that sort of thing?

Nay, he said, if madness be forbidden, neither may they copy the

behaviour of madmen.

You mean, I said, if I understand you aright, that there is one

sort of narrative style which may be employed by a truly good man

when he has anything to say, and that another sort will be used

by a man of an opposite character and education.

And which are these two sorts? he asked.