PLATO WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION LAWS by R.G.Bury VOL.II -LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY 192- 1926

;
LAWS, BOOK VII
devices introduced by Antaeus or Cercyon^ in the art
of wrestling for the sake of empty glory, or in boxing
by Epeius or Amycus, since they are useless in the
business of war, they merit no eulogy. But the
exercises of stand-up wrestling, with the twisting
free of neck, hands and sides, when practised with
ardour and with a firm and graceful pose, and
directed towards strength and health,—these must
not be omitted, since they are useful for all purposes
; but we must charge both the pupils and
their teachers—when we reach this point in our
legislation—that the latter should impart these
lessons gently, and the former receive them gratefully.
Nor should we omit such mimic dances as
are fitting for use by our choirs,—for instance, the
sword-dance of the Curetes ^ here in Crete, and that
of the Dioscori ^ in Lacedaemon ; and at Athens,
too, our \'irgin-Lady^ gladdened by the pastime of
the dance deemed it not seemly to sport with
empty hands, but rather to tread the measure vested
in full panoply. These examples it would well
become the boys and girls to copy, and so cultivate
the favour of the goddess, alike for service in war
and for use at festivals. It shall be the rule for
the children, from the age of six until they reach
military age, whenever they approach any god and
form processions, to be always equipped with arms
and horses, and with dance and march, now quick,
now slow, to make their supplications to the gods
is mentioned as a boxer in Homer, 11. 23. 668 ; and the
mj'thical Amycus is said to have invented the use of ifidvTts
(boxing-gloves).
* Priests of the Idaean Zeus.
^ Castor and PoUux.
* Athene.
29
PLATO
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