[12,63] πρὸς κάλλος ἢ μέγεθος {θεοῦ} συνεξεταζόμενον. {ἀφ´ οὗ γε εἰ} μὴ Ὁμήρου πολὺ φανῶ κρείττων καὶ σωφρονέστερος ποιητής, τοῦ δόξαντος ὑμῖν ἰσοθέου τὴν σοφίαν, ἣν βούλεσθε ζημίαν ἕτοιμος ὑπέχειν ἐγώ. λέγω δὲ πρὸς τὸ δυνατὸν τῆς ἐμαυτοῦ τέχνης·

[12,63] if it be carefully examined from the point of view of a god's beauty or stature ; since, if I shall not be found to be a better and more temperate artificer than Homer, whom you thought godlike in his skill, I am willing to pay any fines you wish ! But I am speaking with an eye to what is possible in my art.

[12,64] δαψιλὲς γὰρ χρῆμα ποίησις καὶ πάντα τρόπον εὔπορον καὶ αὐτόνομον, καὶ χορηγίᾳ γλώττης καὶ πλήθει ῥημάτων ἱκανὸν ἐξ αὑτοῦ πάντα δηλῶσαι τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς βουλήματα, κἂν ὁποιονοῦν διανοηθῇ σχῆμα ἢ ἔργον ἢ πάθος ἢ μέγεθος, οὐκ ἂν ἀπορήσειεν ἀγγέλου φωνῆς πάνυ ἐναργῶς σημαινούσης ἕκαστα. στρεπτὴ γὰρ γλῶσς´ ἐστὶ βροτῶν, πολέες δ´ ἔνι μῦθοι, φησὶν Ὅμηρος αὐτός, παντοῖοι, ἐπέων δὲ πολὺς νομὸς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.

[12,64] For an extravagant thing is poetry and in every respect resourceful and a law unto itself, and by the assistance of the tongue and a multitude of words is able all by itself to express all the devisings of the heart, and whatever conception it may arrive at concerning any shape or action or emotion or magnitude, it can never be at a loss, since the voice of a Messenger can disclose with perfect clearness each and all these things. For, as Homer himself says, "For glib runs the tongue, and can at will Give utterance to discourse in ev'ry vein ; Wide is the range of language ; and such words As one may speak, another may return".