wind and a “demonic power," they feel carried away and thrilled by a religious horror, Afterwards they are sceptical) about this state, but as long as they are in it they enjoy the delight of being outside themselves and of the marvellous, mixed with the bitterest wormwool of suffering; it is the right kind of food for warriors, something rare, dangerous, and bitter-sweet, which does not easily fall to our share. It is to souls capable of feeling pity in such wise that tragedy appeals to hard and warlike souls, which are difficult to conquer, whether through fear or through pity, but which are greatly benefited by an occasional melting: but of what use is tragedy to those who are as open to the sympathetic affections as the sails are to the winds? When, in Plato's time, the Athenians had become more soft-hearted and sensitive, oh, how far removed were they still from the gushing emotions of our city-people and townsfolk ! Even then philosophers complained of the injuriousness of tragedies. of peril such as the one which we are inaugurating, in which valour and manliness are rising in value, may perhaps gradually harden the souls to such a degree that they will again be in need of tragic poets; but, meanwhile, these were to use the mildest expressionsomewhat superfluous. In the same sense, perhaps, also music will see better days (they will certainly be more evil ones!) when artists will have to appeal with their music to strictly personal beings, hearts of oak,
