born in an imperfect state, and are at first restless, irrational
creatures: this, as you will remember, has been already said by us. 'I
remember.' And that Apollo and the Muses and Dionysus gave us harmony and
rhythm? 'Very true.' The other story implies that wine was given to punish
us and make us mad; but we contend that wine is a balm and a cure; a
spring of modesty in the soul, and of health and strength in the body.
Again, the work of the chorus is co-extensive with the work of education;
rhythm and melody answer to the voice, and the motions of the body
correspond to all three, and the sound enters in and educates the soul in
virtue. 'Yes.' And the movement which, when pursued as an amusement, is
termed dancing, when studied with a view to the improvement of the body,
becomes gymnastic. Shall we now proceed to speak of this? 'What Cretan or
Lacedaemonian would approve of your omitting gymnastic?' Your question
implies assent; and you will easily understand a subject which is familiar
to you. Gymnastic is based on the natural tendency of every animal to
rapid motion; and man adds a sense of rhythm, which is awakened by music;
music and dancing together form the choral art. But before proceeding I
must add a crowning word about drinking. Like other pleasures, it has a
lawful use; but if a state or an individual is inclined to drink at will,
I cannot allow them. I would go further than Crete or Lacedaemon and have
the law of the Carthaginians, that no slave of either sex should drink
wine at all, and no soldier while he is on a campaign, and no magistrate
or officer while he is on duty, and that no one should drink by daylight
or on a bridal night. And there are so many other occasions on which wine
ought to be prohibited, that there will not be many vines grown or
vineyards required in the state.

BOOK III. If a man wants to know the origin of states and societies, he
should behold them from the point of view of time. Thousands of cities
have come into being and have passed away again in infinite ages, every