[Footnote 321: Plato, Republic, x. p. 604 C. [Greek: Tô=| bouleu/esthai peri\ to\ gegono\s kai\ ô(/sper e)n ptô/sei ku/bôn pro\s ta\ peptôko/ta ti/thesthai ta\ au)tou= pra/gmata, o(/pê| o( lo/gos ai(rei= be/ltist' a)\n e)/chein, a)lla\ mê\ prosptai/santas, katha/per pai=das, e)chome/nous tou= plêge/ntos e)n tô=| boa=n diatri/bein], &c.]
[Footnote 322: Plato, Republic, x. p. 605.]
[Footnote 323: Plato, Republic, x. pp. 605-606-607. 605 B: [Greek: to\n mimêtiko\n poiêtê\n phê/somen kakê\n politei/an i)di/a| e(ka/stou tê=| psuchê=| e)mpoiei=n, tô=| a)noê/tô| au)tê/s charizo/menon . . .] 607 A: [Greek: ei) de\ tê\n ê(dusme/nên mou=san parade/xei e)n me/lesin ê)\ e)/pesin, ê(donê/ soi kai\ lu/pê basileu/seton a)nti\ no/mou te kai\ tou= koinê=| a)ei\ do/xantos ei)=nai belti/stou lo/gou.]]
[Side-note: Ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry--Plato fights for philosophy, though his feelings are strongly enlisted for poetry.]
This quarrel between philosophy and poetry (continues the Platonic Sokrates) is of ancient date.[324] I myself am very sensible to the charms of poetry, especially that of Homer. I should be delighted if a case could be made out to justify me in admitting it into our city. But I cannot betray the cause of what seems to me truth. We must resist our sympathies and preferences, when they are incompatible with the right government of the mind.[325]
[Footnote 324: Plato, Republic, x. p. 607 B. [Greek: palaia/ tis diaphora\ philosophi/a| te kai\ poiêtikê=|].]
[Footnote 325: Plato, Republic, x. pp. 607-608.]
[Side-note: Immortality of the soul affirmed and sustained by argument--Total number of souls always the same.]
To maintain the right government and good condition of the soul or mind, is the first of all considerations: and will be seen yet farther to be such, when we consider that it is immortal and imperishable. Of this Plato proceeds to give a proof,[326] concluding with a mythical sketch of the destiny of the soul after death. The soul being immortal (he says), the total number of souls is and always has been the same--neither increasing nor diminishing.[327]
[Footnote 326: Plato, Republic, x. pp. 609-610.]
[Footnote 327: Plato, Republic, x. p. 611 A.]