Book 7
812
Ath. That, Clinias, (as we have often said) will probably become clearer of itselfCp. Plat. Laws 799d. when we arrive at the end of our whole exposition concerning laws.
812
Clin. Very true.
812
Ath. After the writing-master, must we not address the lyre-master next?
812
Clin. Certainly.
812
Ath. When assigning to the lyre-masters their proper duties in regard to the teaching and general training in these subjects, we must, as I think, bear in mind our previous declarations.Plat. Laws 664e., Plat. Laws 679a.
812
Clin. Declarations about what?
812
Ath. We said, I fancy, that the sixty-year-old singers of hymns to Dionysus ought to be exceptionally keen of perception regarding rhythms and harmonic compositions, in order that when dealing with musical representations of a good kind or a bad, by which the soul is emotionally affected, they may be able to pick out the reproductions of the good kind and of the bad, and having rejected the latter, may produce the other in public, and charm the souls of the children by singing them, and so challenge them all to accompany them in acquiring virtue by means of these representations.
812
Clin. Very true.
