665
Athenian
Ath. and that the order of motion is called rhythm, while the order of voice (in which acute and grave are blended together) is termed harmony, and to the combination of these two the name choristry is given. We stated also that the gods, in pity for us, have granted to us as fellow-choristers and choir-leaders Apollo and the Muses,—besides whom we mentioned, if we recollect, a third, Dionysus.
Clinias
Clin. Certainly we recollect.
Athenian
Ath. The choir of Apollo and that of the Muses have been described, and the third and remaining choir must necessarily be described, which is that of Dionysus.
Clinias
Clin. How so? Tell us; for at the first mention of it, a Dionysiac choir of old men sounds mighty strange,—if you mean that men over thirty, and even men over fifty and up to sixty, are really going to dance in his honor.
Athenian
Ath. That is, indeed, perfectly true. It needs argument, I fancy, to show how such a procedure would be reasonable.
5
Athenian
Ath. Are we agreed about our previous proposals?
Clinias
Clin. In what respect?
Athenian
Ath. That it is the duty of every man and child—bond and free, male and female,—and the duty of the whole State, to charm themselves unceasingly with the chants we have described, constantly changing them and securing variety in every way possible, so as to inspire the singers with an insatiable appetite for the hymns and with pleasure therein.
Clinias
Clin. Assuredly we would agree as to the duty of doing this.
10