“Yes,” he said, “I have. The demos has but poor taste in many matters. The demos likes above all to be entertained, and it delights in things that are strange and horrible.”
“True,” I answered, “and the demos does not like to think; for that is a difficult sort of labor. It will be necessary to omit that which would please the few, and put in its place that which is amusing and easy to understand. And there will doubtless also be much that is unseemly and shameful to read.”
I took up the Republic from Megaphon’s side.
“Indeed,” I said, “that of which I speak has already begun. I will read you what stands written here:
‘An important witness against Bloombury Bright, Priest of the Pericles Avenue Temple of Zeus, in Bright’s trial before fifteen priests of the State Synodos, was Theodora wife of Diodoros Ploutocrates. She charged that in the month Anthesterion the priest embraced and kissed her twice. On a second visit, when he found her wearing a chiton,[14] she says, he was more violent in his attentions.’
“Do you not think this very vile, O Megaphon?” I asked.
“Most vile indeed,” he said.
“And would you like to have your daughter read it?”
“No, by Zeus!” he cried. “For there is no good in it, but only evil. It would befoul her mind.”