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This method of conjoining and reconciling such sentiments with the doctrines of philosophers brings the poet’s work out of the realm of myth and impersonation, and, moreover, invests with seriousness its helpful sayings. Besides, it opens and stimulates in advance the mind of the youth by the sayings in philosophy. For he comes to it thus not altogether without a foretaste of it, nor without having heard of it, nor indiscriminately stuffed with what he has heard always from his mother and nurse, and, I dare say, from his father and his tutor as well, who all beatify and worship the rich, who shudder at death and pain, who regard virtue without money and repute as quite undesirable and a thing of naught. But when they hear the precepts of the philosophers, which go counter to such opinions, at first astonishment and confusion and amazement take hold of them, since they cannot accept or tolerate any such teaching, unless, just as if they were now to look upon the sun after having been in utter darkness, they have been made accustomed, in a reflected light, as it were, in which the dazzling rays of truth are softened by combining truth with fable, to face facts of this sort without being distressed, and not to try to get away from them.The whole passage is a reminiscence of Plato, Republic, vii. chap. 2 (515 E). For if they have previously heard or read in poetry such thoughts as these: To mourn the babe for th’ ills to which he comes; But him that’s dead, and from his labours rests, To bear from home with joy and cheering words,Celebrated lines from the Cresphontes of Euripides. Nauck, TGF., Eurip. No. 449; cf. Cicero, Tusc. Disp. i. 48. 115. and What needs have mortals save two things alone, Demeter’s grain and draught from water-jar?Nauck, ibid., Eurip. No. 892 (again quoted by Plutarch, Moralia, 1043 E, 1044 B and F). and O Tyranny, beloved of barbarous folk, Ibid., Adesp. o 359. and And mortal men’s felicity Is gained by such of them as feel least grief, Ibid., Adesp. No. 360. they are less confused and disquieted upon hearing at the lectures of the philosophers that Death is nothing to us, One of Epicurus’s leading principles, Diogenes Laertius, x. 139. and The wealth allowed by Nature is definitely limited, Another of Epicurus’s leading principles, Diogenes Laertius, x. 144. and Happiness and blessedness do not consist in vast possessions or exalted occupations or offices or authority, but on impassivity, calmness, and a disposition of the soul that sets its limitations to accord with Nature. Also from Epicurus, without much doubt, but not to be found in just this form; cf., however, Diogenes Laertius, x. 139, 141, 144.
