Book 7
814
Ath. As regards wrestling, some points have been explained;Plat. Laws 795d, Plat. Laws 795e. but we have not explained what is, in my opinion, the most important point, nor is it easy to express it in words without the help of a practical illustration. This point, then, we shall decide aboutCp. Plat. Laws 832e. when word accompanied by deed can clearly demonstrate this fact, among the others mentioned,—that wrestling of this kind is of all motions by far the most nearly allied to military fighting; and also that it is not the latter that should be learned for the sake of the former, but, on the contrary, it is the former that should be practiced for the sake of the latter.Cp. Plat. Laws 803d.
814
Clin. There, at any rate, you are right.
814
Ath. For the present let this suffice as an account of the functions of the wrestling-school. Motion of the whole body, other than wrestling, has for its main division what may be rightly termed dancingHere a wide term, embracing all kinds of bodily gestures and posturing.; and we ought to consider it as consisting of two kinds,—the one representing the solemn movement of beautiful bodies, the other the ignoble movement of ugly bodies; and of these again there are two subdivisions.
