Sayfa 800 / 1391

Such then, I said, are our principles of theology-some tales are

to be told, and others are not to be told to our disciples from

their youth upwards, if we mean them to honour the gods and their

parents, and to value friendship with one another.

Yes; and I think that our principles are right, he said.

But if they are to be courageous, must they not learn other

lessons besides these, and lessons of such a kind as will take

away the fear of death? Can any man be courageous who has the

fear of death in him?

Certainly not, he said.

And can he be fearless of death, or will he choose death in

battle rather than defeat and slavery, who believes the world

below to be real and terrible?

Impossible.

Then we must assume a control over the narrators of this class of

tales as well as over the others, and beg them not simply to

revile but rather to commend the world below, intimating to them

that their descriptions are untrue, and will do harm to our

future warriors.

That will be our duty, he said.