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'Was celebrating in song her fair progeny whose days were to be

long, and to know no sickness. And when he had spoken of my lot

as in all things blessed of heaven he raised a note of triumph

and cheered my soul. And I thought that the word of Phoebus,

being divine and full of prophecy, would not fail. And now he

himself who uttered the strain, he who was present at the

banquet, and who said this-he it is who has slain my son.'

These are the kind of sentiments about the gods which will arouse

our anger; and he who utters them shall be refused a chorus;

neither shall we allow teachers to make use of them in the

instruction of the young, meaning, as we do, that our guardians,

as far as men can be, should be true worshippers of the gods and

like them.

I entirely agree, he said, in these principles, and promise to

make them my laws.

BOOK III.