第817页 / 共1391页

Enough of the subjects of poetry: let us now speak of the style;

and when this has been considered, both matter and manner will

have been completely treated.

I do not understand what you mean, said Adeimantus.

Then I must make you understand; and perhaps I may be more

intelligible if I put the matter in this way. You are aware, I

suppose, that all mythology and poetry is a narration of events,

either past, present, or to come?

Certainly, he replied.

And narration may be either simple narration, or imitation, or a

union of the two?

That again, he said, I do not quite understand.