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But next, what shall we say of their food; for the men are in

training for the great contest of all-are they not?

Yes, he said.

And will the habit of body of our ordinary athletes be suited to

them?

Why not?

I am afraid, I said, that a habit of body such as they have is

but a sleepy sort of thing, and rather perilous to health. Do you

not observe that these athletes sleep away their lives, and are

liable to most dangerous illnesses if they depart, in ever so

slight a degree, from their customary regimen?

Yes, I do.

Then, I said, a finer sort of training will be required for our

warrior athletes, who are to be like wakeful dogs, and to see and

hear with the utmost keenness; amid the many changes of water and

also of food, of summer heat and winter cold, which they will

have to endure when on a campaign, they must not be liable to

break down in health.

That is my view.

The really excellent gymnastic is twin sister of that simple

music which we were just now describing.

How so?