Pagina 893 de 1391

There seem to be two causes of the deterioration of the arts.

What are they?

Wealth, I said, and poverty.

How do they act?

The process is as follows: When a potter becomes rich, will he,

think you, any longer take the same pains with his art?

Certainly not.

He will grow more and more indolent and careless?

Very true.

And the result will be that he becomes a worse potter?

Yes; he greatly deteriorates.

But, on the other hand, if he has no money, and cannot provide

himself with tools or instruments, he will not work equally well

himself, nor will he teach his sons or apprentices to work

equally well.

Certainly not.

Then, under the influence either of poverty or of wealth, workmen

and their work are equally liable to degenerate?

That is evident.

Here, then, is a discovery of new evils, I said, against which

the guardians will have to watch, or they will creep into the

city unobserved.

What evils?