Page:The Platonic Dialogues for English Readers, vol. 1, 1st. ed. (Whewell, 1859).pdf/33

 that he is younger and more inexperienced than the others, and that it is reasonable he should first hear what they have to say ; and then give his counsel, if he has anything to add to theirs. And he calls upon Nicias to speak first.

Nicias, in rather a formal way, gives his opinion in favour of the new gymnastic exercise, as he says, for several reasons. It keeps young men out of worse employments of their leisure, gives them strength and agility, is a preparation for actual war, both in the rank and in single affrays; and is likely to set young men upon learning other parts of the art of war. It would also, he says , make a man braver and bolder than he would otherwise be; and, a thing he says not to be de spised, would give him a military carriage which would inspire awe. “ So that,” he says in conclusion, “I think, and for these reasons, that it is a good thing to teach the young men this exercise. But I should be glad to hear what Laches says."

Laches is altogether on the other side. He says, “Of course it is difficult to say of any art that it is not worth while learning it. If this exercise be an Art, as the Professors of it say, and as Nicias assumes, let it be learnt. But if it be no art but only a trick, or ifit be a frivolous art, why should any body learn it ? I judge by this. I think that if it had been worth anything, it would not have escaped the notice of the Lacedæmonians, who care for no arts but such as promote success in war. Or if they had not found it out, any one who had done so might have gone to them and would have been sure of being received with hon our and rewarded: as a man who writes good tragedies is honoured among us Athenians. A man who thinks he has composed fine tragedies does not roam about Greece on the outside of At