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ALISHSAINA Vid 





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by 


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THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY 


EDITED BY 


E. CAPPS. px.p., up. ‘TT. E. PAGE, tirrp. 
W. H. D. ROUSE, urrr-.p. 


PLATO 











PLATO 


WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION 
xX 


LAWS 
BY 


R. G. BURY, Lirr.D. 


FORMERLY SCHOLAR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE 


IN TWO VOLUMES 
II 





LONDON : WILLIAM HEINEMANN 


NEW YORK :G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 
MCMXXVI 























{ Rex 

a * Say is 
. CEQe *Sa3e 
Soe ge eR aoa | 


STAT 
* r 





NOMOI 


TA TOY AIAAOTOY TIPOSOTA 


A@HNAIOZ ZENOX, KAEINIAS KPH3, 
METIAAOZ AAKEAAIMONIOZS . 


Z 


788 ao. Tevouévwr dé raidwy appévov kai Onredv 
Tpodyy pév tov Kal madeiay TO peTa TAadTa 
éyerv OpPorar’ av} yiyvoiO” hyiv, Hv elvar péev 
appntov mavtws advvatov, reyouevn Se Sidax7 
Tiwl Kal vovOeTnoet padrXov % vopmots eixvi’ av 
npiv paivorto. idia yap Kal Kat’ oixlas moda 
Kal opixpa xal ovx éxhavhh TWaor yuyvomeva 
padiws td ths éxdotav AUTNS TE Kal HdorAS 

Beal émiOupias, érepa mapa tas Tod vopobérov 
EvpBovrds tapayevopeva tavtodaTa Kal ovy 
Ouola AddHdows atrepydloiT’ av TA TOV TOdTOoV 
On todto S€ Kaxov Tals ToAEot. Kal yap Sia 
opikpoTnTa avTav Kal TmuKvoTnTa émitnmia Ti- 
Oévta rroveiv vopovs amperes Gua Kal doynpov. 
diapGeiper Sé Kal tos ypadh tebévtas vogous, 
év Tois opixpois Kal muKvois éOicbévT@y TeV 

CavOpérev tapavomety: Bote atopia pev Tepl 
auTa vouobeTetv, cuyav 6€ advvatov. & bé rNéyo, 


1 6p0drar’ dy Ast: dp0érara MSS. 


LAWS 
for ON LEGISLATION, potiticat] 


CHARACTERS 


An ATHENIAN STRANGER, CLINIAS OF CRETE, 
MeEcILius or LaceEDAEMON 


BOOK VII 


atu. Now that our children, of both sexes, are 
born, our proper course will be to deal in the next 
place with their nurture and education. This is a 
subject which it is wholly impossible to pass over; 
but obviously it can be treated more suitably by way 
of precept and exhortation than by legislation. For 
in the private life of the family many trivial things 
are apt to be done which escape general notice,— 
things which are the result of individual feelings of 
pain, pleasure, or desire, and which contravene the 
instructions of the lawgiver; and these will produce 
in the citizens a multiplicity of contradictory ten- 
dencies. This is bad for a State. For while, on the 
one hand, it is improper and undignified to impose 
penalties on these practices by law, because of their 
triviality and the frequency of their occurrence, on 
the other hand, it detracts from the authority of the 
_ law which stands written when men grow used to 
breaking the law in trivial matters repeatedly. 
Hence, while it is impossible to pass over these 
practices in silence, it is difficult to legislate con- 
cerning them. The practices I refer to I will try to 


3 
B2 


PLATO 


SnrA@car meipatéov olov Seiywata éFeveyxovta 
eis PAS" VOY yap Aeyouevors EoLKE KATA TL TKOTOS. 

KA. ‘Adi Géatata Aéyers. 

AQ. Ovxodv 6 OTL pev camara Kal vpuyas THD 
ye opOny TaVTOS bel tpopny paiver bat Suvapevyy 
@S KaNMOTE Kal aptoTa “cep yeverame TOUTO Mev 
opbas elpyTat Tov. 

KA. Ti pny; 

Dae. Lopara dé KaNMOTA, oipan, TO ye aTAOUC- 
TaTov, ws opborata Sei véwp dvtwv evOus precau 
TOV Taldwr. 

KA. Ildvvu pév odv. 

ao. Ti 6é; TOE OUK évvoodpev, os 7» T porn 
BraoTn Tavros Gwou TOAD peyioTn Kal mhetoTn 
pverat, Bore Kal epi monrXois TaperxnKe | 7) 
yiryveo Pau Tay avO paiva NnKN Simhaova amo 
mévte é€Tav év Tots Rovrois elkoow éteow 
avéavopeva ; 

KA. ‘Arn 7. 

AQ. Ti ov ; TON avén 6 oTav emrippen moveov 

789 Xepis TOA Kal TUMMETPOY, ovx topev 6tt 
pupla Kaka év TOs T@pacW ATOTENEL ; 

KA, Ildvu ye. 

ae. Ovd«ody tote deirau TrELoT OV T OVO, oTay 
) TWreiaTn TPO? Tpooyiyyntas ToIS  TeOpacw. 

KA, Ti ora, @ Eve; % Tois apts yeyovoct 
Kal vewTadtols Tovous Trelo TOUS mpooTa€open 

Ao. Oddapas ye, GAN’ és Kal mpoTepov Tots 
€vTOS TOY AUTOV pnt épov. Tpepopevors. 

KA. II@s Nevers, @ A@oTE ; 7) TOis KVOUMEVOLCL 


ppaters ; 





1 643D ff. 
4 


as La 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


make clear by bringing some specimens, as it were, 
to the light; for at present my words rather resemble 
a “dark speech.” 

cun. That is quite true. 

atu. When we said! that right nurture must be 
manifestly capable of making both bodies and souls 
in all respects as beautiful and good as possible, we 
spoke, I presume, truly? 

cuin. Certainly we did. 

atu. And I suppose that (to take the simplest 
point) the most beautiful bodies must grow up from 
earliest infancy as straight as possible. 

cuin. Most certainly. 

atu. Well then, do we not observe that. in every 
living creature the first shoot makes by far the 
largest and longest growth; so that many people 
stoutly maintain that in point of height men grow 
more in the first five years of life than in the next 
twenty? 

cin. That is true. 

atu. But we know, don’t we, that when growth 
occurs rapidly, without plenty of suitable exercise, 
it produces in the body countless evils? 

cin. Certainly. 

atu. And when bodies receive most food, then 
they require most exercise? 

etn. What is that, Stranger? Are we to pre- 
scribe most exercise for new-born babes and tiny 
infants ? 

atu. Nay, even earlier than that,—we shall pre- 
scribe it for those nourished inside the bodies of 
their mothers, 

cuin.. What do you mean, my dear sir? Is it 
unborn babes you are talking of? 


PLATO 


B ao. Nai. @Oavpyacrov 8 odvdév éotw ayvoeiv 
Upas THY TOV THALKOUTMOYV YyUEvacTLKHY, tv Bov- 
oiuny av vpiv, Kaitep atoTOV ovcay, dnrocat. 

KA. Ilavv pev ovv. 

ao. "Kote Tolvuy map npiv waddov TO TOLODTOV 
KkaTavoety dua 70 Tas TaLolas avrooe perfoves 
Twas maitew 7) bel. Tpépovar yap 61 Tap piv 
ov ovov rraibes ada Kai mpea Burepot TWES 
opridwv Opémpara, éml Tas _baXas Tas 7 pos 
aAAnAa aoKodvTes Ta Towra Tov Onpiwv. 

C modrod 67 déovaw nryeta Oat TOUS TOvOUS avtois 
eivat TOUS mpos aAAnrAa perpious, év ols auTa 
avaxwotor yupvatovres: 7 pos yap TovToLs Aa- 
Bovres bro warns ExagTos, Tovs pev eAdTTovas 
eis Tas yvetpas, pei Sous & bro thy aynadny évTos, 
mopevovTat TepiTaToovTEs oradious Tap oXovs 
évexa THs eveEias ov TL THS TOY avToV TopaTov, 
GAA THs ToOUTwY TOV Opepmparov. Kal TO ve 
Toa ovTov dndovat TO Suvapeve catapabeiv, 6 6Tt 
Ta copata mavra bro TOV ceva wav TE «al 

D KUN E@Y Kwovpeva dora ovivaTat TavT@V dca 
Te vT0 eau ov i) Kal év ai@pais 7% Kal Kara 
Oadatray i) Kai ép inm@v oxovpeva * Kal vt’ 
adNov omaaoby on pepomevery TeV coparov 
Keira, Kal dia TavTa Tas ‘TOV city Tpopas 
Kal TOTOV KataKxpaToovTa vryievav Kal KadXos Kal 
THY addny popunv piv duvara éoTL mapasdidovar. 
ti ovv av datper EXOVT@Y otT@ TOUTO@Y TO pera 
TodTo nuas Setv Tovely ; Bovreabe apa yérore 

E ppatoper, Te eves Vosous THY pev Kvovoay | TEpl- 
mareiy, TO ryevouevov 5€ mAaTTeWw TE olov Kpwvov, 
€ws trypov, kal wéxpe Svoiv éroiv omapyavay ; Kai 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


atu. It is. Still it is by no means surprising 
that you know nothing of this pre-natal gymnastic ; 
but, strange though it is, I should like to explain it 
to you. 

cutn. By all means do so. 

aTH. In our country it is easier to understand a 
practice of this kind, because there are people there 
who carry their sports to excess. At Athens we find 
not only boys but sometimes old men rearing birds 
and training such creatures to fight one another. 
But they are far from thinking that the training 
they give them by exciting their pugnacity provides 
sufficient exercise; in addition to this, each man 
takes up his bird and keeps it tucked away in his 
fist, if it is small, or under his arm, if it is large, 
and in this way they walk many a long mile in 
order to improve the condition, not of their own 
bodies, but of these creatures. Thus clearly do they 
show to any observant person that all bodies benefit, 
as by a tonic, when they are moved by any kind of 
shaking or motion, whether they are moved by their 
own action—as in a swing or in a rowing-boat—or 
are carried along on horseback or by any other 
rapidly moving bodies; and that this is the reason 
why bodies can deal successfully with their supplies 
of meat and drink and provide us with health and 
beauty, and strength as well. This being the state 
of the case, what does it behove us to do in the 
future? Shall we risk ridicule, and lay down a 
law that the pregnant woman shall walk, and that 
the child, while still soft, shall be moulded like wax, 
and be kept in swaddling clothes till it is two years 





1 dxodueva Ast : dxovuévwy MSS. 


PLATO 


57) Kai Tas Tpopods avayxatwpev vouw Enuobvres 
Ta radia 7 mpds dypods 4 mpos lepa %) mpos 
oixetous dei mn hépey, Héxpim@ep av ixavas 
ioracOa Svvata yiyvntat, Kab Tote dtevAaBov- 
pévas ett véwy dvtwv pu my Bia érepedopevor 
oTpépytas TA KOra érimoveiv hepovoas, &ws dv 
Tpletés arroTeNecOH TO yevdmevov ; Eis Sivamuv 8é 
190 ioyupas abtas elvas ypewv [Kal pi) piav] ;1 emi 88 
TovToLs éxdoTots, av uh yiyvntas, Enuiay trois pn 
wovovor ypapwpev; 7) ToANOD ye Sel ; TO yap 
apts pnOev yiyvour’ dv word Kah adbOovov. 

KA. To moiov; 

A®. To yédwra dv odd dreiv judas Tpos TO 
pn €Bérewv av weiOecOar yuvatneid te Kad Sovrera 
On tTpopar. 

KA. "Adda Tivos 5) yapw epapev adra Seip 
pnOjvar ; 

Ao. Todde ra tav Seorordy te Kal €devO épwv 

Bev tats roreow 70n ray’ av axovoavta es cvv- 
vorav adixort’ dv Thy opOnv, drt yawpls ths iBias 
Svotxyioews ev tals Tonect dpOAs yeyvomevns udtnv 
dv Ta Kowd Tis olorto éew Tid BeBaotnta 
Bécews vouwr, cal tadta évvodv aUTOS vomots av 
Tois viv pyGeicr ypwro, Kal xpwpevos ed Ti Te 
oikiav Kal TodW dua THY avTod Sto“cKoY eddaL- 
povot. 

KA. Kai wad’ e’xotws elpneas. 

Ae. Tovyapodv pro An~wouev THY ToLadTns 
vowobecias, mplv dv kal ra Tepl tas Wuxas TOV 


1 [nal uh ula] bracketed by W.-Mollendorff. 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


old? And shall we also compel the nurses by legal 
penalties to keep carrying the children somehow, 
either to the fields or to the temples or to their 
relatives, all the time until they are able to stand 
upright ; and after that, still to persevere in carrying 
them until they are three years old, as a precaution 
against the danger of distorting their legs by over- 
pressure while they are still young? And that the 
nurses shall be as strong as possible? And shall we 
impose a written penalty for every failure to carry 
out these injunctions? Such a course is quite out 
of the question; for it would lead to a super- 
abundance of that consequence which we mentioned 
a moment ago. 

cin. What was that? 

atu. The consequence of our incurring ridicule 
in abundance, in addition to meeting with a blank 
refusal to obey on the part. of the nurses, with their 
womanish and servile minds. 

cin. What reason, then, had we for saying that 
these rules ought to be stated ? 

aTH. The reason was this: the minds of the 
masters and of the freemen in the States may 
perhaps listen, and so come to the right conclusion 
that, unless private affairs in a State are rightly 
managed, it is vain to suppose that any stable code 
of laws can exist for public affairs; and when he 
perceives this, the individual citizen may of himself 
adopt as laws the rules we have now stated, and; by 
so doing and thus ordering aright both his household 
and his State, may achieve happiness. 

cin. Such a result seems quite probable. 

-aTH. Consequently we must not desist from this 

kind of legislation until we have described in detail 


9 


PLATO 


C ravu véwv traidwv éritndevpata aTobapev Kata 
Tov avTov TpoTov bymep hpyweOa ToV Tepl Ta 
cépata mvOwv rex Oévtwv StaTrepaiver. 

KA. ILdvu pév odv op0as. 

Ae. AdBapev toivuy tovto olov atovyeiov er 
aupotepa, T@pLaTOS TE Kal uYAs TOV TavU véwv 
Thv TLOnYHCLW Kal Kivnow yyvouerny OTL wadLoTA 
Sia TaoNs VUKTOS TE Kal Huépas, ws EaTe EYupopos 
dmact mév, ovX HKLiata 6€ Tols OTL VewTAaTOLCL, Kal 

D oixeiv, ei dvvatov Hy, olov dei wA€ovTtas: viv & ws 
éyy¥tata tovtTov troveiv Sei epi Ta veoyerh 
matdov Opémpata. TtexpwaiperOar dé yon Kal amo 
Tavoe ws €& éutretpias adTo eiAndact Kai éyvoKa- 
ow ov xpnotpov ai te Tpohol TOY opLKpOV Kal ai 
mept Ta Tov KopuBdvtTav iduata TeXodoar hvixa 
yap av tov BovAnbadct xataxotpivew ta dvovT- 
voovta Tov Traldiwr ai pntépes, ovY Hovyiav 
avTois tpochépovaew aAXA TOvVaVTioV KivnoL, ev 
Tais ayxddXas del celovoat, Kal ov ouyiy ara 

E Twa per@diav, kal atexvas olov KatavAovet TOV 
maiiiov, Kabarepel! tav éexppovov Baxxelov, 
idoes” TavTn TH THS KWHTEwWS Apa YopEia Kal 
Movon Xpapmevat. 

KA. Tis ody aitia TovTawr, @ Eéve, uaddiot EoO” 

meiv 5 
ao. Ov ravu yareTy yiyvookew. 

KA. Ids 67 ; 
ao. Acipaivery éoti mov tadr’ apotepa Ta 


1 kabamrepel: xabdmep 7 MSS.; KaOdrep ai Aldus, Zur. 
2 Baxxelwy, idoer:: Baxxeay idcers MSS. (Barxedy, ldoe 
England). : 


To 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


the treatment suited for the souls of young children 
in the same manner as we commenced our advice 
regarding their bodies. 

cin. You are quite right. 

aTH. Let us take this, then, as a fundamental 
assumption in both cases,—that for both body and 
soul of the very young a process of nursing and 
moving, that is as continuous as possible both by 
day and by night, is in all cases salutary, and 

ecially in the case of the youngest: it is like 

having them always rocked—if that were possible— 
on the sea. As it is, with new-born infants one 
should reproduce this condition as nearly as possible. 
Further evidence of this may be seen in the fact 
that this course is adopted and its usefulness 
recognized both by those who nurse small children 
and by those who administer remedies in cases of 
Corybantism.1 Thus when mothers have children 
suffering from sleeplessness, and want to lull them 
to rest, the treatment they apply is to give them, 
not quiet, but motion, for they rock them constantly 
in their arms; and instead of silence, they use a 
kind of crooning noise; and thus they literally cast 
a spell upon the children (like the victims of Bacchic 
frenzy) by employing the combined movements of 
dance and song as a remedy. 

cun. And what, Stranger, are we to suppose is 
the main cause of this? 

atu. It is easy enough to see. 

cin. How so? 

aTH. Both these affections are forms of fright ; 

1 “Corybantism ” is a technical term for a state of morbid 
mental excitement (cp. ‘‘ tarantism”) derived from ‘‘ Cory- 


bantes,” the name given to the frenzied worshippers of 
Bacchus. 


It 


791 


PLATO 


m7a0n, Kal éore beipara de> &&w pavrnv Tis 
wuxas Tid. Otay ovv eEwbev TUS mpoahépn Tots 
TOLOUTOLS mabect eto pLov, u) Tov eEwbev Kparel 
Kivnots T poo pepopevn Thy évtos hoBepav odoav 
Kal paveKny Kivnow, KpaTnoaca dé yardquny 
nouxlay Te év TH woyn daiverat anepyacapevn 
Tis mTept Ta THs Kapdias Yareris yevouevns 
éxdoT@v 7OHT ES, TavTdatrac ww ayamnT ov Th 
Tous pev Drrvov Aaryx avery Tovet, Tos © eypnyo- 
potas opxoupevous Te Kal avAoupévous peta Gear, 


Bols a av Kaddaeporvres E ExagTot Ova, KaTerprydaaro 


C 


atl HaViKaY Hypiy Siabécewr Ces eEuppovas € Exel, 
kal tavta, Os dia Bpaxéwv ye ovTws eimeiv, 
miOavov oyov EXEL | TLV, 

KA. Idvu pev oby. 

ae. Ei dé ye obt@ TowavTnY Tuva 1 Sivayav & eyes 
Tava, a xpi TOdE Trap? avtois, @s amraca 
vox Seiwact Evvodca éx véwv padrov av dia 
poBeov e6iforro yiryverBar. Tobro 8¢ mou mas dv 
gain Seirias a donno, GX’ ovK avdpias yiryver Par. 

KA. Ilds yap ov ; : 

ao. To o€ ye évavtiov avdpias dv daipev ex 
véwy evOds émuTndevpa elvau, TO'viKay TA TpOo- 
mimtov? nuiv deipata Te Kal goBous. 

KA. ‘Op@ds. 

Ae. “Ry 51) Kal TodTO eis Yruyns poptov apeThs, 
TY TOV TavTehas Taloov yumvactiKny ev Tats 
KIVHTETL, meya npiv papev EvpBddreo Oar. 

KA. Ilavu pep oun. 

ae. Kat pay. TO ye pa} dua Kodov év Wux Kal 
TO SvaKOXOV ou oULKpOV mopLov eduxias Kab 
Kako wuyxias Exatepov yiyvomevon yiryvolT ay. 

12 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


and frights are due to a poor condition of soul. So 
whenever one applies an external shaking to affections 
of this kind, the external motion thus applied over- 
powers the internal motion of fear and frenzy, and 
by thus overpowering it, it brings about a manifest 
calm in the soul and a cessation of the grievous 
palpitation of the heart which had existed in each 
ease. Thus it produces very satisfactory results. 
The children it puts to sleep; the Bacchants, who 
are awake, it brings into a sound state of mind 
instead of a frenzied condition, by means of dancing 
and playing, with the help of whatsoever gods they 
chance to be worshipping with sacrifice. This is—to 
put it shortly—quite a plausible account of the matter, 

cuin. Most plausible. — 

atu. Seeing, then, that these causes produce the 
effects described, in the case of the people mentioned 
one should observe this point,—that every soul that 
is subjected to fright from youth will be specially 
liable to become timid: and this, as all would aver, 
is not to practise courage, but cowardice. 
_ cu. Of course it is. 

aTH. The opposite course, of practising courage 
from youth up, consists, we shall say, in the con- 
quering of the frights and fears that assail us. 

cin. That is true. 

aTH. Let us say, then, that this factor—namely, 
the exercise of quite young children by the various 
motions—contributes greatly towards developing 
one part of the soul’s virtue. 

cin. Certainly. 

atH. Moreover, cheerfulness of soul and _ its 
opposite will constitute no small part of stout- 
heartedness and faintheartedness. 


13 


PLATO 


KA. Ilds & ob i 
D Ae. Tiva obv av Tpomov evdvs eppvod nyety 
omrdTepov Bourn Beier TO veoyeved ; ; ppater én 
meLpat éov orrws Tes kab nab’ bcov evTropel ToUT@Y. 
KA. Ila@s ya ov ; ; 
ae. Aéyw 57 TO Ye map iv Soya, @S 1) pev 
Tpugy SvoKora Kal axpaxonra Kal opddpa amo 
ouLKpav Kwovpeva Ta Tov véwy 70 amepyagerat, 
TO 6€ TovT@Y évavTiov, h Te shodpa cal aypia 
dovAwoLs, TAaTELVOUS Kal averevOépous Kal Hicay- 
Opetovs trovovca aveTitnoeious Evvoixous arro- 
TENEL. 
E ka. Ids ody oy) xpr) Ta pNTO paoviis Evveévta 
pnde matdeias THs aAAns Ouvata yeverOai Tw 
Tpépew THY TOMW atracay ; 
ao, *Odé mos" pbéyyecBai mou pera Bojjs 
evdus mav eiwbe 70 ‘YEvV@pEVOY, Kal oux eora To 
Tov avOpeéTav ryévos" Kal on kal T@ KNalety Tmpos 
Th Bon wadXov TaV ad\rNav cuvexeTal. 
KA. Ilavv ev oon. 
Ao. Odxodv ai Tpogot oKxoTrovcat Tivos émOu- 
pei TOUTOLS avrois év TH mpoa popa rex patpovrar 
792 ob ev yap av m™ poo Pepouevov oud, Karas olovTat 
m™ poo pépery, ov & av KAain cal Bod, ov Karas. 
Tois 67 mardiors TO Sopa @v €pa Kal paced 
Kravpoval kal Boat, onpeta ovdapas eUTUX)). 
éore de 6 Xpovos ovTos TpLaV ovK €XaTTOV € eT@V, 
poptov Ov omiKpov Tod saa Siayaryety yetpov 7) 1) 


xetpov. 
KA. 'O “~ déyers. 


14 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


cin. Of course, 

ata. What way can we find, thant for implanting 
at once in the new-born child whichever of these 
qualities we desire? We must endeavour to indicate 
how and to what extent we have them at our 
command, 

cin. By all means. 

ata. The doctrine held amongst us, I may ex- 
plain, is this,—that whereas luxurious living renders 
the disposition of the young morose and irascible 
and too easily moved by trifles, its opposite (which 
is uttermost and cruel enslavement) makes them 
lowly and mean-spirited and misanthropic, and thus 
unfit to associate with others. 

cin, In what way, then, should the State at 
large rear up infants that are still incapable of under- 
standing speech or receiving other kinds of education? 

atu. In this way: it is usual for every creature | 
that is born—and the human child as much as any— © 
to utter at once a loud outcry; and, what is more, | 
the child is the most liable of them all to be afflicted | 
with tears as well as outcries. 

CLIN. Quite true. 

atH. When nurses are trying to discover what a 
baby wants, they judge by these very same signs in 
offering it things. If it remains silent when the 
thing is offered, they conclude that it is the right 
thing, but the wrong thing if it weeps and cries out. 
Thus infants indicate what they like by means of 
weepings and outcries—truly no happy signals !—and 
this period of infancy lasts not less than three years, © 
which is no small fraction of one’s time to spend ill 
or well. 

cuiy. You are right. 


15 


PLATO 


ae. ‘O b9 Svaxoros ovdapds Te iAews Ap ov 

B Soxet shay Opnvedns te elvar nal dduppav ws 

él TO ToAv TARpPNS MaAAOY 7) Ypewv é€oTL TOV 
ayaop ; 

KA. "Eyot yoov Soxei. 

ao. Ti ody ; el tis Ta Tpl ETH TELP@TO TaCcaY 
Eynxavynv: mpochépav Straws TO TpEepopevoy Tuiv ws 
dduyioTn TporxXpnoeTat adyndove Kal piles Kal 
AUT Tan Kata Sivapw, ap’ ovK oldpeOa evOUpoV 
MadXOov Te Kal tlewv <av>} arepyaveoOar THMUL- 
Kadta TiHv xyuxnv Tod TpEpopéevon ; 

KA. A*rov 67, Kal paddiotd y av, @ Eéve, el Tus 

C roddas Hdovas ad’T@ TrapacKevator. 

Ao. Todt odxér dv éyo KXewia*® Evvaxorov- 
Ojncais av, ® Oavpdoe. Eote yap ody Hiv 7 
ToavTn mpakis SiapOopa peyiorn Tacdv: év 
apyn yap yiyvera Exdotote tpopys. opa@pev oe 
el TL NéyoOpev. 

KA. Aéye ti pps. 

ao. Ov opixpod répe vov elvas v@v TOV NOYyoD. 
Spa Sé kal ov, Evverrixpivé Te Huds, @ Méyidre. 0 
bev yap eos 8% Aoyos OVO Hdovds pyou Sdeiv 
SuwKey Tov 6pOov Biov ov7’ ad To Tapatrav pevyewv 

D ras Avmas, GAN abro aoraler bas TO pécov, d viv 
8) mpoceirov ws trewv dvonaoas, tv 81 didBecw 
kat Oeod Katd twa pavteias piypnv edoToxXws 
mdvres mpocayopevouev. tavTnv THv CEw Svoxetv 
byt Seiv judy Kal rov pédrovta EceaOar Oeiov: 

' pr’ ody adtov rpoTreTh mpos Tas HOovas yLyvope- 
vov OA\ws, ws ovd exTds AUTAV eoopevov, [TE 
1 ay) added by H. Richards, England. 
2 Kaewlg MSS.: KAewla, Ast, Zur. 
16 








LAWS, BOOK. VII 


atu. When a man is peevish and not cheerful at 
all, do you not regard him as a doleful person and 
more full, as a rule, of complaints than a good man 
ought to be? 

cin. I certainly regard him as such. 

aTH. Well then, suppose one should try to secure 
by every available means that our nursling should 
experience the least possible amount of grief or fear or 
pain of any kind, may we not believe that by this 
means the soul of the nursling would be rendered 
more bright and cheerful ? 

cin. Plainly it would, Stranger; and most of all 
if one should provide him with many pleasures. 

atu. There, my good sir, 1 must part company 
with Clinias. For in our eyes such a proceeding is 
the worst possible form of corruption, for it occurs in 
every instance at the very beginning of the child’s 
nurture. But let us consider whether I am right. 

cin. Explain your view. 

atu. I believe that the issue before us is one of 
extreme importance. You also, Megillus, consider 
the matter, I pray, and lend us the aid of your 
judgment. What I maintain is this: that the right 
life ought neither to pursue pleasures nor to shun 
pains entirely ; but it ought to embrace that middle 
state of cheerfulness (as I termed it a moment ago), 
which—as we all rightly suppose, on the strength 
of an inspired utterance—is the very condition of 
God himself. And I maintain that whosoever of us 
would be godlike must pursue this state of soul, 
neither becoming himself prone at all to pleasures, 
even as he will not be devoid of pain, not allowing 


1 Cp. Rep. 377 B. 


17 
VOL. If. c 


PLATO 


Gov, yépovta % véov, édv mdoye TadTov 
TODO piv, appeva  OnArvv, dmavtev Sé HKeiota 
Eels Stvauw tov aptiws veoyevh: Kupr@tatoy yap 
ody éudvetat maar ToTEe TO TAY HOOS Sia Eos. Ett 
S eywry’, ei un pédArouwe Sokew traivew, painv av 
Seiv kal tas depovcas év yaotpl wacav TaY 
yuvatcov uddtota Oepatrevery éxeivov Tov EviauTor, 
Omrws ATE Hdovais Tal TOAAAaTs Gua Kal papyos 
TporxXpyceTal 7 KVOVoa pte av AVTaLS, TO SE 
ihewy kal evpevés mpdov te Tim@ca Sialnoe Tov 
TOTE Ypovov. 
KA. Ovdév def ce, @ Eéve, MéyiAXov avepwrav 
793 ToTEpos nuav dpOoTepor elpnKev éya yap avTOS 
ToL cvyYwpa® Tov AUTNS TE Kal HOovAS axpdTov 
Biov gevyey Seiv ravras, wécoy S€ Tiva Téuvew 
del. Kaas ToivuY elonnds Te Kal axnyKoas dua. 
ao. Mara per ovdv opOds, & Krewia. 70d¢€ 
toivuy él TovTous Tpels OvTes StavonPapev. 
KA. To roiov; 
ae. “Ort Tait éotl mavta, doa viv SieFep- 
xyoueba, TA KaXOUpEVa UTO THY TOAABY aypada 
vouima: Kal os TaTplous voLous émovouatovcw, 
B ov« ada éotiv 7) Ta Toradta EvpravTa. Kal te 
ye 0 vov 2 Aoyos tuiv emixvOeis, OS OUTE VOmoUS 
Sel rpocayopevery avTta ovtTe appnta édv, eipntat 
Karas? Secpol yap ovtTo: tmacns eiol moXsTelas, 
petakd travtev bytes Tov év ypdupact TeOévT@V 
Te Kal Keipévov Kal TOV ete TEONTOMEVOY, ATEXVOS 





1 Op. Ar. Eth. N. 1103417: 4 5& HOcKch (Aperh) CE EBovs wepi- 
yiverat, b0ev Kal rotvoua *oxnne puxpdy wapeyKAivoy Grd Tov 


18 





a = 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


any other person—old or young, man or woman— 
to be in this condition and least of all, so far as 
possible, the new-born babe. For because of the 
force of habit, it is in infancy that the whole 
character is most effectually determined. I should 
assert further—were it not that it would be taken as 
a jest—that women with child, above all others, 
should be cared for during their years of pregnancy, 
lest any of them should indulge in repeated and 
intense pleasures or pains, instead of cultivating, 


during the whole of that period, a cheerful, bright , 


and calm demeanour. 

cin. There is no need for you, Stranger, to ask 
Megillus which of us two has made the truer state- 
ment. For I myself grant you that all men ought 
to shun the life of unmixed pain and pleasure, and 
follow always a middle path. So all is well both 
with your statement and with my reply. 

‘TH. You are perfectly right, Clinias. So then 
let the three of us together consider this next point. 

cin. What is that? 

atu. That all the regulations which we are now 
expounding are what are commonly termed “ un- 
written laws.” And these as a whole are just the 
same as what men call “ ancestral customs.” More- 
over, the view which was recently 2? impressed upon 
us, that one should neither speak of these as “laws” 
nor yet leave them without mention, was a right 
view. For it is these that act as bonds in every 
constitution, forming a link between all its laws (both 
those already enacted in writing and those still to be 
ous (‘‘ ethical virtue is the result of habit, and its name 


*ethical’ is also derived from ‘ éthos’ (habit) ”). 
2 788 B f. ; 


19 
c2 


PLATO 


olov mwdtpia Kal Tavtdracw apyaia vopipa, & 
Kaas péev teDévta Kal eOrobévta macy cwrnpia 
Tepixarvavra exer Tods TOTE ypadévTas vopous, 
Cav & éxtds tod xarod Baivn wrANUpEdOs, olov 
TEKTOVWOY éV oiKOdOoMNMacW epelcpata eK péoov 
vmoppéovta, ouptintev eis TavTov move Ta 
Evumavta xeicOai te adda bd érépwv, adta 
te Kal Ta Kah@s Uotepov érorxodounbevta, TOV 
apxaiwy vmoTecdvTap. a 6 Siavoovpéevous 
nuas, @® Krewia, oor Set tHv modu Katyn 
ovcav mavtn Evvdciv, pajte péya pte opiK- 
D pov rapadirovtas eis Svvapuv boa vopovs 4) 
€0n tis ) émitndevpata Karel? Tacr yap Tos 
Totovtols modus Evvdeitar, dvev dé addjrov 
ExdTEepa TOVTWY OUK EOTL mOVLa, WOTE OV yp? 
Gavpdlew éav npiv moAdrAa dua Kal optxpa do0- 
KobvTa éivat voutpa 7) Kal eOicpata émippéovta 
Jak potépous Trovh TOUS vomous. 
KA. “AXX’ dpOas ov TE Aéyers Huels TE OTH 
dvavoneopucba. 
Ao. Els uév toivuy tiv tod tpi’ érn yeyovoros 
E jAtkiav, Kopov Kal Kopys, Tadta el Tis axpiBas 
amoTékot Kal yun Tapépyws Tois eipnuévors 
XPOTO, ou omLKpa eis apéreray yeryvoer’ av Tos 
vewotl Tpepomévors: Tpreted Sé 52 Kal TeTpaeTet 
Kal jTevTaeTel Kal tv éEeTEl HOer Wuyns Tadvav 
déov dv ein, tpuphs 8 Hn tapadvtéov Kora- 
fovra pu atiuws, aX Grep éml trav SovrAwY 
y edeyouev, TO un we0” DBpews Koralovtas opyny 
éutroveiy Seivy Tois KoXacGeiot und aKxoXaoTous 
7194 €@vtas Tpudiyv, tavTov Spactéov TodTO ye Kal 
Op. 777 A fh 





20 


LAWS, BOOK. VII 


enacted), exactly like ancestral customs of great 
antiquity, which, if well established and practised, 
serve to wrap up securely the laws already written, 
whereas if they perversely go aside from the right 
way, like builders’ props that collapse under the 
middle of a house, they bring everything else 
tumbling down along with them, one thing buried 
under another, first the props themselves and then 
the fair superstructure, once the ancient supports 
have fallen down. Bearing this in mind, Clinias, we | 
must clamp together this State of yours, which is a 
new one, by every possible means, omitting nothing 
great or small in the way of laws, customs and 
institutions ; for it is by all such means that a State 
is clamped together, and neither kind of law is 
permanent without the other. Consequently, we — 
need not be surprised if the influx of a number of 
apparently trivial customs or usages should make our 
laws rather long. 
ciin. What you say is quite true, and we will 
bear it in mind. 
atu. If one could carry out these regulations 
methodically, and not merely apply them casually, in 
the case of girls and boys up to the age of three, 
they would conduce greatly to the benefit of our 
infant nurslings. To form the character of the child 
over three and up to six years old there will be need 
of games: by then punishment must be used to 
prevent their getting pampered,—not, however, 
punishment of a degrading kind, but just as we said 
before,| in the case of slaves, that one should avoid 
enraging the persons punished by using degrading 
punishments, or pampering them by leaving them 
unpunished, so in the case of the free-born the 
21 


PLATO 


er édevdéporor. mavdial & eial rots THALKOUTOLS 
avtopveis TWES, ais émecdav Evveoow avrol 
oyedov _dveupioKxovat, Evvievat dé eis Ta KaTa 
KOpas lepa be? mavTa 76n Ta THMKadTE madia, 
amo TpreTods MEXpL Tov && era, KoWn Ta Tov 
KO pnt OV els TAUTOV exaora: Tas 6€ Tpopous € ett 
TOY THKOUTOY KOGMLOTNTOS TE Kal dxodacias 
émtpeneto bar, tav 5& tpoddv avTav kal Tis 

B ayedns Evurdons, tav S@dexa yuvarcav plav 
ep’ éxaotn TeTayOaL Koo podcay Kat éviavTov 
TOV ™ ponpnycveor 3 as av tafwow of vowopu- 
axes. tavtas ¢ aipeia Bacay ev ai TOV 
yauov KUpLat THS émipenetas, é& éxaoTns THs 
pudis piav, prKas abrais: n bé Katactaoa 
apxero poiraca els TO iepov éxdoTns rmepas 
Kal kohavovca Gael TOV adixobvrTa, Soddov pev 
Kal Sovdnv Kal Eévov kal Eévnv adthn bia Twov 
TIS TOAEWS oixeT av, mohiryy bé apudisBntoivTa 

C pev Th KONAoEL ™ pos TovS do TUVOLOUS emi dienu 
ayouca, dvaphio Biyrntov be évTa al TOV To 
dry aut) KodatéTo. pera be Tov ébérn Kal 
TH eer SiaxpwecBo ev HON TO yévos éxat ep 
Kopot pev peta Kopwv, mapbévor Se OTAUTMS 
pet aX ov Thy Svat piBnv To.eiaOwoav mpos 
6é Ta paOnuara Tpémer Oat XpEew@v ExaTEPOUS, 
TOUS ev dppevas ed’ immrov didacKddous Kat 
TOof@v Kal aKovtov Kal ohevdovncews, éav S€ 
™ Evyxopact MEXpL ye pabrjicews Kal TA Onrea, 

D kai on Ta ye para Ta mpos Tv TOV é7 ov 
xpetar. TO yap 87 vov Kabeatos Tepl Ta TOLAdTA 
ayVvoEiTaL Tapa Tos TaCW Ohiyou. 


} arponpnuévev Badham : mpoerpnuévwy MSS. 
22 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


same rule holds good. Children of this age have 
games which come by natural instinct; and the 
erally invent them of themselves whenever 
meet together. As soon éy have reached the 
age of three, all the children from three to six must 
meet together at the village temples, those belong- 
ing to each village assembling at the same place. 
Moreover, the nurses of these children must watch 
over their behaviour, whether it be orderly or dis- 
orderly ; and over the nurses themselves and the 
whole band of children one of the twelve women 
already elected must be appointed annually to take 
charge of each band, the appointment resting with 
the Law-wardens. These women shall be elected by 
the women who have charge of the supervision of 
marriage, one out of each tribe and all of a like age. 
The woman thus appointed shall pay an official visit 
to the temple every day, and she shall employ a 
State servant and deal summarily with male or 
female slaves and strangers; but in the case of 
citizens, if the person protests against the punish- 
ment, she shall bring him for trial before the city- 
stewards ; but if no protest is made, she shall inflict 
summary justice equally on citizens, After the age of 
six, each sex shall be kept separate, boys spending 
their time with boys, and likewise girls with girls; 
and when it is necessary for them to begin lessons, 
the boys must go to teachers of riding, archery, 
javelin-throwing and slinging, and the girls also, if 
they agree to it, must share in the lessons, and 
especially such as relate to the use of arms. For, as 
regards the view now prevalent regarding these 
matters, it is based on almost universal ignorance. 


1 Cp, 784 A. 
23 


PLATO 


KA. To qoiov ; 

Ao. ‘Os dpa ra Seka Kal ta dpiotepe 
Suapépovtd oP juav hioer mpos tas Xpetas 
els Exdotas tov mpdkewr TA Tepl Tas Yelpas: 
émel Ta ye Tept Todas Te Kal Ta KdTw TOV 
Heddy ovdev Siapépovta eis Tovs Tovous daivetat, 

Era 5€ kata yeipas avoia tpopay Kal pntépwv 
olov XwXol yeyovapuev Exacto. THs Pvacws yap 
EXATEPWY TOV MEXOV TXESOV ivoppoTovens avTol 
dia Ta GON =Siddhopa aita TemoijKayev ovK 
op0as xpwpyevor, €v Scots pev yap TeV epyov 
pn péya Svadéper, Upa peév ev apiotepa yYpwpé- 
vov,’ mryxtp@ 5é év beEid, mpayua ovddév, Kai 
doa TotadTa’ TovToLs S&é Tapadeiypact ypwpevov 
Kai eis ada pH Séov ottTw xXpHoOar oxedov 

795 avora. ebecke 5 tadta 0 tav XKvOdv vopmos, 
ovK év dpirrepa pev Tofov ardyov, év befud be 
olaTOv Tpocayomevos movov, GAN opmoiws EéxaTé- 
pais én appotepa yYpwpmevos. maurod\r\a 8 
ETepa ToladTa Tapacdeiywata ev Hvioyetais T 
éotl Kal év érépois, ev olor pabety Svvarov Ste 
Tapa iow xatacKevatovowy of aptatepa SefLav 
acbevéotepa xatackevatovtes. taidta 8, omep 
elmopev, €v meV KEpaTivors TANKTPOLS Kal év 

B opyavois tovovTos ovdév péya: odnpois 8 eis 
Tov ToXE“ov STav Sén xpHoOa, péya Siadéper, 
Kal Tofous Kal axovTiows Kal éxdoTows TovT@Y* 
ToAv S€ péeyioTov Stay Stroy Sén Mpds Sra 
xpjoGar. Siapéper b€ maumorkv pabov py 
pabovros Kal 0 yupvacdpevos Tod pun ye- 
yupvacpévov. xabatep yap 6 TeXéws TayKpatiov 

1 ypwuevwv Apelt: xpéuevov MSS. 
24 





+ PCRS 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


cin. What view? 

atu, The view that, in the case of hands, right 
and left are by nature different in respect of their 
utility for special acts; but, as a matter of fact, in | 
the case of the feet and the lower limbs there is 
plainly no difference in working capacity ; and it is 
due to the folly of nurses and mothers that. we have 
all become limping, so to say, in our hands, For in 
natural ability the two limbs are almost equally 
balanced ; but we ourselves by habitually using them 
in a wrong way have made them different. In actions 
of trifling importance this does not matter—as for 
example, whether a man uses the left hand for the 
fiddle and the right hand for the bow, and things of 
that sort; but to follow these precedents and to use 
the hands in this way on other occasions, when there 
is no necessity, is very like foolishness. This is 
shown by the Scythian custom not only of using 
the left hand to draw the bow and the right to fit 
the arrow to it, but also of using both hands alike 
for both actions. And there are countless other | 
instances of a similar kind, in connexion with driving 
horses and other occupations, which teach us that | 
those who treat the left hand as weaker than the right | 
are confuted by nature. But this, as we have | 
said, matters little in the case of fiddle-bows of horn | 
and similar implements; but when it is a case of 
using iron instruments of war—bows, darts and the 
like—it matters a great deal, and most of all when 
weapon is to be used against weapon at close quarters. | 
There is a vast difference here between the taught 
and the untaught, the trained and the untrained 
warrior. For just as the athlete who is thoroughly 


25 


PLATO 


HOKNK@S 1) Tuypyny 7) TaAnv OvK ard meV Tov 
apltoTepav advvaTos éote paxerOat, ywraiver Sé 
Cal épérxerat tAnMpEN@Y, OTOTAY aUTOV TIS 
petaBiBdfov éri Oatepa avayxaln Starroveiv, 
TavtTov 61 TodT, oiwat, Kal év Ordos Kal év 
Tots arose aot yp mpocdoxadyv dpOov, Ott 
tov Outta Set Kextnpevov ols aptvorto 7 dv Kal 
émitiOetto adddois pndey apyov TovTav pnde 
aveTiathwov édv elvar kata Stvapiv: I'npvovov 
dé ye ef Tis Hvow Exwv 7) Kal THY Borapew pvozto, 
tals éxatov yxepow éxatov Set Bédrn pimtey 
évvartov elvat. TovTwv 51) TavT@Y THY émipédELav 
D apxoveais te kal dpxovar Set yiryverOat, Tais pev 
év Tatdiais Te Kal Tpopais émicKoTrals yuyvomevass, 
Tots 5€ Tept wadrjpata, Srrws aptitrodés Te Kal apTi- 
YeElpes TaVTEs TE Kal TAAL ylyvomevor ndev TOIS 
‘eOcow aToBXdrTwaL Tas Pioets eis TO SUVATOV. 
Ta dé padnuatd ov bitta, Os x eizeiv, 
xpjcacba: EvpBaivor dv, Ta pév boa Tepl TO 
TOMA yumvactixhs, Ta & ediyuxias Yap pov- 
oikns. Ta b& yuuvaotixhs av So, TO pev 
E dpxnots, TO S€ radn. Ths opyncews S€ AAD 
bev Movons rA€Ew ptpovpévov, TO Te peyado- 
mpetes purdttovca! dua Kal érXevGepov: adrAN 
dé eveFlas éhadpotntos te &vexa Kal KadXousS 
TOV TOU GwWp"aTOS avTOD peA@Y Kal pEpaV TO 
TpoonKov Kaumhns Te Kal éxTadcews, Kal aTrobe- 
Sopevns ExdoTols avTois avTaY EeUPYO MoU KLVHTEwS, 
Siactreipomévns apa Kal EvvaxorovOovens eis 
796 raogy THY OpxnoWw ikavas. Kai dn Ta YE KATA 
1 pvddtrovea: pvddrrovras MSS, (HAAo . . . pvAarror 
Badham). 
26 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


practised in the pancratium or in boxing or wrestling 
is capable of fighting on his left side, and does not 
move that side as if it were numb or lame, whenever 
he is compelled to bring it into action through his 
opponent shifting to the other side,—in precisely the 
same way, I take it, in regard to the use of weapons 
of war and everything else, it ought to be considered 
the correct thing that the man who possesses two 
sets of limbs, fit both for offensive and defensive 
action, should, so far as possible, suffer neither of 
these to go unpractised or untaught. Indeed, if a 
man were gifted by nature with the frame of a 
Geryon or a Briareus, with his hundred hands he 
ought to be able to throw a hundred darts. So all 
these matters must be the care of the male and 
female officers, the women overseeing the games 
and the feeding of the children, and the men their 
lessons, to the intent that all the boys and girls 
may be sound of hand and foot, and may in no 
wise, if possible, get their natures warped by their 
habits. 

The lessons may, for practical convenience, be 
divided under two heads—the gymnastical, which 
concern the body, and the musical, which aim at 
goodness of soul. Of gymnastic there are two kinds, 
dancing and wrestling. Of dancing there is one 
branch in which the style of the Muse is imitated, 
preserving both freedom and nobility, and another 
which aims at physical soundness, agility and beauty by 
securing for the various parts and members of the body 
the proper degree of flexibility and extension and be- 
stowing also the rhythmical motion which belongs 
to each, and which accompanies the whole of dancing 
and is diffused throughout it completely. As to the 


27 


PLATO 


madnv & pev “Avytaios » Kepevav ev téxvats 
éavtav Evvecticavto didoverkias aypnoTtov 
xa pw, muy pis *Emrevos 7) “A pwKos, ovdev Ypn- 
olua é€mi ToAe“oU KolvMviay OvTa, ovK aka 
Noyo Koope: ta Sé am opOhs madns, aT 
avyévov Kal xeipav Kal mrevpav é€erdjoEws, 
peta piroverkias Te Kal Katactdcews SiaTrovov- 
peva pet evoximovos, pewns Te Kal vytetas 
&vexa, TADT eis TaVTA OVTAa YpHoLwa OV TapETéor, 
aAXa Tpoctaxtéov pabntais te dua Kal Tois 
B SidaEovow, btav évtadl’ wpev TOV vopmwv, Tois 
pev Tavta Ta ToradTa edtpevos SwpetoPat, Tois 
6é maparapBavew év ydpiow. ov8 boa év Tois 
Xopots éorly ad pepipear-a, T™ poo nkovTa pupeto bar 
mapetéov, KaTad pev Tov TOTrov Tovde KovpyTav 
évoTTdia tratiyvia, kata 6€ Aaxedaipova Atocko- 
pov. 1 d€av Tov Tap Hpuiv Kopn Kal déoTrowa, 
evppavlcioa TH THS yopelas rabid, Kevais xepotv 
Covx @7On Seiv advpev, mavoTa d€ TavTeet 
Kkoopnbcioa ottw tTHv Opxynow Siatrepaiverv* a 
5) wavtws pipetoOar mrpémov av ein KOpovs TE 
dua Kal Kopas, tTHv THs Ocod yYapw TimevTas, 
moNéuou T €V xpeig Kal éoprdv évexa. ois bé 
mov matol evOvs te Kal dcov ‘av xpovoy pyTw 
eis ToAe“ov lwor, maar Oeois mpoaodous TE Kai 
Toumas Trotovpevous weO” SrwWY Te Kal trmov 
adel Koopeicbar Séov av ein, Oarrovs Te Kal 
Bpaburépas év opyncect nal év mopeia Tas 
ixetelas trovovjévous mpos Oeovs Te Kat Oeav 





1 Mythical giants and wrestlers, to whom were ascribed 
such devices as the use of the legs in wrestling. Epeius 


28 


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 pur- 
poses; 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 grate- 
fully. Nor should we omit such mimic dances as 
are fitting for use by our choirs,—for instance, the 
sword-dance of the Curetes 2 here in Crete, and that 
of the Dioscori* in Lacedaemon; and at Athens, 
too, our Virgin-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, 7/. 23. 668; and the 
mythical Amycus is said to have invented the use of fudyres 
(boxing-gloves). 
2 Priests of the Idaean Zeus, 


$ Castor and Pollux, 
* Athené, 


29 


‘PLATO © 


D maidas. wal ayavas bu) Kal mpoayavas, et TWer, 
ovK addov # 7) TOUT@Y evera Tpoaywvec Teor" OvTOL 
yap Kal év elpnvy) Kal Kata TONE Mov XPyotpor 
els TE moneTelay Kal idtous olxous, of dé adrou 
Tovot TE Kal Taldial Kal oTrovdal KaTa GoOpmaTa 
oun €devOépwr. 

"QO. MéysrAr€é te xal Krewvia, iv eltov yup- 
vaoTikiy é€v Tols mpwTois Royos OTL déou 
SueEed Beir, oxedov 82 Sued ua Ta vov «Kal 
éo0 attn mavtedjs* el o€é Twa TavTns vpmels 

E éyete Bertio, Oévres els KoLvoV Aéyere. 

KA, Ov paszov, & a) Eéve, TapévTas rabTa adda 
exw Bedtio TOUT@Y Tepl yunvacTIKAS dua Kal 
ayovias eitreiv. 

ao. To Tolvuy TouTols é&ns mept Ta TOV 
Movody Te ral *AmodX@vos Sapa, TOTE per, @s 
amavra elpnKores, popeba KaTaheiTety _Hova. ra 
Tmépt yupvaa rin iis: vov & éati dijka aT éorl 
Kal O71 TpOtTa waot pytéa. éyomev Tolvuy 
éEjs av’ta. 

KA. Ilavu pév obv AexTéov. 

797 Ae, *Axovoate 67} pou, T poaxnkoores pep 
Kal év Tots mpocOev: Ouws 5é TO YE opddpa 
aromov Kal andes dievAaBeiaOar bet Aéyovta 
Kal dxovovTa, Kal 67) Kal viv. Ep@ pev yap eyo 
Adyov ovK adoBov eivreiy, Sums 5é mn Oappyicas 
ovK amoornToual. 

KA. Tiva 67 TobTor, @ Eéve, Aéyers 5 z 

ao. Dnul cata wdacas TodELs TO TOY TraLdLOv 


1 54 H. Richards: 5€ MSS. 
1 672 D, 673 A ff.; cp. also 813 D ff. 





30 


woe. hae 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


and the children of gods. Contests, too, and pre- 
liminary trials must be carried out with a view to 
the objects stated, if at all; for these objects are 
useful both in peace and war, alike for the State 
and for private families; but all other kinds of work 
and play and bodily exercise are not worthy of 
a gentleman. 

And now, O Megillus and Clinias, I have pretty 
fully described that gymnastic training which—as 
I said + early in our discourse—requires description : 
here it is in its full completeness. So if you know 
of a better gymnastic than this, disclose it. 

cin, It is no easy thing, Stranger, to reject your 
account of gymnastic training and competition, and 
produce a better one. 

aTH. The subject which comes next to this, and 
deals with the gifts of Apollo and the Muses, is 
one which we previously? thought we had done 
with, and that the only subject left was gymnastic ; 
but I plainly see now, not only what still remains to 
be said to everybody, but also that it ought to come 
first. Let us, then, state these points in order. 

cLin. By all means let us do so. 

atu. Give ear to me now, albeit ye have already 
done so in the past. None the less, one must take 
great heed, now as before, both in the telling and 
in the hearing of a thing that is supremely strange 
and novel. To make the statement that I am going 
to make is an alarming task ; yet I will summon up 
my courage, and not shrink from it. 

ctin. What is the statement you refer to, 
Stranger? 

aTH, I assert that there exists in every State 


2 673 B. 
31 


PLATO 


yévos nyvonoOar Etpracw StL KUpLwTaToOY éoTL 
Tept Oécews vOLOov, 7) poviwous elvat TOUS TeOevras 

Ba py. TaxGev pev yap. avro Kal HeTaaxov Tob 
Ta avTa KaTa Ta aura Kal @oavTwS del Tous 
autovs taifew te kal evOvpetoOar Tots avrois 
mavyviows é@ Kal Ta omouel KeiMeva VOM Ua 
pévew roux}, Kwovpeva dé Tabra Kal Katvoro- 
povpeva peTaBorais Te adXas del Xpopeva, cal 
pndérore TavTa pia Tporayopevovtay TOV véwy 
payer év TXNpaoe Tois TOY auT@v T@matov pajre 
év TOUS arnors oKeveow opohoyoupevans avTois 
ael xeioOar To 7 evo XN MOV Kal do Xn pov, andra 
TOV TL véov del _kawvoromobyra Kal elo pépovTa. 

C ray eleoB oro Erepov KaTd Te oXATE. Kab 
Ypouata Kal wavtTa boa ToLavTa, TOUTOY TI- 
pio Bar Svadepovtws, TovTov mover AWBHY OvK 
eivat pelo paiper a ay op0otata AEyovTes* havba- 
vel yap, TOV VEwY Ta On peOoravra Kal movetv 
TO poev apxaiov Tap avtois ar mor, TO O€ véov 
EvTimov. —TovTOU dé mwaduy ab Aéyo ToD TE 
pyyatos Kal tod Soyuatos ovKx elvat Cnmiav 
peilw tmacais Todeow: axovoate dé daov dyul 
aut eivat KAKOV. 

D KA. °H 70 WéyeoOar tH apyarorynra réyers év 
Tais TOANEGLD | 

ae. Ildvu pev ovv. 

KA. Oo pavrous Tolvuy pas av axpoaras 
™ pos auTov TOV oyov éyous av TovTov, aXX ws 
duvvartov evpeverTarous, 

Ao. Eixos yodv. 

KA. Aéye povov. 

1 radrva England: +a ara MSS. 


32 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


a complete ignorance about children’s games—how 
that they are of decisive importance for legislation, 
as determining whether the laws enacted are to be 
permanent or not. For when the programme of 
games is prescribed and secures that the same 
children always play the same games and delight 
in the same toys in the same way and under the 
same conditions, it allows the real and serious laws 
also to remain undisturbed ; but when these games 
vary and suffer innovations, amongst other constant 
alterations the children are always shifting their 
fancy from one game to another, so that neither 
in respect of their own bodily gestures nor in re- 
spect of their equipment have they any fixed and 
acknowledged standard of propriety and impro- 
priety; but the man they hold in special honour 
is he who is always innovating or introducing some 
novel device in the matter of form or colour or 
something of the sort; whereas it would be per- 
fectly true to say that a State can have no worse 
pest than a man of that description, since he privily 
alters the characters of the young, and causes them 
to contemn what is old and esteem what is new. 
And I repeat again that there is no greater mischief ., 
a State can suffer than such a dictum and doctrine : 
just listen while I tell you how great an evil it is. 

cLin. Do you mean the way people rail at 
antiquity in States? 

ATH. Precisely. 

cin. That is a theme on which you will find 
us no grudging listeners, but the most sympathetic 
possible. 

atu. I should certainly expect it to be so. 

cin. Only say on. 


33 


VOL, Il. n 


PLATO 


ao. “Ire 5x, pevloves avtov axovowpév Te 
HMO@V AUTOV Kal Tpds AAAHjAOUS OUTS eiTa@pEL. 
petaBornv yap 8) Tavtav mrANY KaKoY TOD 
oparepwtatov evpicoper ev wpais Tucats, év 
mvevpactv, év diaitais cwpdtav, év TpoTots 
spuxav, év as Eros eitrely <tracw>,' od Trois pér, 
tois & ov, tA, 6 Ti Tep eitov viv by, KaKois: 
E @ote, ef tis aToBAéWreve TOs THOuAaTA, ws Tact 
pep ovtiows, Tact 8 avd rotois Kal movois EvynOn 
yuyvoueva, kal TO Tp@Tov Trapax evra tm avTar, 
érert €€ avTdv TovTwy UTO xXpovov adpKas 
gvcavta oixelas TovTos, pia Te Kal oun 
\ , 4 e / lol 
798 Kal yvopia yevoueva amdoy TavTy TH biaitn 
™ pos ndovnv Kab Dylevay apiota diayer’ Kal av 
mot apa avayxacOy petaBadrew ad Tis” Hytw- 
obv Tov evdoKipwrv SiaiTav, TO ye KaT apyxas 
auvrapaxGels ITO veowrv poyis wore KatéaTn 
Thy avvibeav TH TpodH Wad aTorkaRav: 
tavTov 61 det vouife tovTo yiyverOar Kal repli 
Tas Tov avOpeTar Siavoias Te Gua Kal TAS TOV 
Wuxav dices. ols yap av évtpapaact vopois Kal 
Kata twa Ociavy edtvyiay axivnto yévevTat 
B paxpav cal roddA\Ov xXpover, as pyndéva Exew 
pveiav pnde dxonv tod TorTé adds aita oxeiv 
H KaOdrep vov éxet, céBetar kal poPeitar Tasca 
» Wuyyn TO TL KwWelv TOV TOTE KAaPECTMTwY. 
enyavnv 6) Set tov vomobérny évvociv apodev 
yé modev Gvtwa tpoTov TodT eaTaL TH TOdEL. 
THO ovv eywye evpicxw. Tas Taldias TavTES 
Siavoobytat Kwoupévas THY véwy, OTrEp EuTrpoaOev 


1 <riow>, added by H. Richards. 
2 gi 71s Badham: ai@&s MSS., edd. 


34 











Khe aa ES 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


atu. Come now, let us listen to one. another 
and address one another on this subject with 
greater care than ever. Nothing, as we shall find, 
is more perilous than change in respect of every- 
thing, save only what is bad,—in respect of seasons, 
winds, bodily diet, mental disposition, everything 
in short with the solitary exception, as I said just 
now, of the bad. Accordingly, if one considers the 
human body, and sees how it grows used to all 
kinds of meats and drinks and exercises, even though 
at first upset by them, and how presently out of 
these very materials it grows flesh that is akin to 
them, and acquiring thus a familiar acquaintance 
with, and fondness for, all this diet, lives a most 
healthy and pleasant life ; and further, should a man 
be forced again to change back to one of the highly- 
reputed diets, how he is upset and ill at first, and 
recovers with difficulty as he gets used again to the 
food,—it is precisely the same, we must suppose, with 
the intellects of men and the nature of their souls. 
For if there exist laws under which men have been 
reared up and which (by the blessing of Heaven) 
have remained unaltered for many centuries, so that 
there exists no recollection or report of their ever 
having been different from what they now are,— 
then the whole soul is forbidden by reverence 
and fear to alter any of the things established of old. 
By hook or by crook, then, the lawgiver must devise 
a means whereby this shall be true of his State. 


* Now here is where I discover the means desired :-— 


Alterations in children’s games are regarded by all 
lawgivers (as we said above*) as being mere matters 
1 797 B,C. 

35 


p2 


PLATO 


edeyouev, Tadlas bvT@s elvar Kal ov Thy 
peylo tay é& avTav otovdny Kal Bra Bnv EvpBai- 
vel, WOTE ovK amrortpéTougl arnra Evvérovrat 
imetkovtes” Kal ov Aoyitovrat TOoe, OTL TOUTOUS 
avaryen TOUS maidas Tous ép tais maro.ais 
veotepifovtas étépous avdpas TOV eum poo bev 
yevéo Bat [raider], ‘ ryevopevous dé dAXous aAXov 
Biov Enteiv, tntnoavtas Oe é érépav émitndeupaT ov 
Kal VOM@Y émOuphoat, Kal meTa TOUTO os 
EovTos Tov vuv 67 Aeyouevov peyiorou xanod 
D rodeow ovdels avtav poBeiras. Ta ev ovv 
adda EMT TO peTaBarhopeva Kaka SieFepy dour’ 
av, boa Tepl oXMaTa. maaxet TO TovodTov" boa 
dé mepl Ta TOY nO@v émaivou Te Kal ‘poyou mépt 
TUKVA PETATITTEL, TaVT@Y, OlouaL, pméeyloTa TE 
Kal wreioTns evAaBeias Sedpueva ay ein. 
KA. Ilas yap ob ; 
ao. Ti ody; tois éumpoober Noyors Tia Tevoper, 
ols éhéyouev Ws TA TEpt TOUS PUOpovs Kal Tacay 
povoteny éoTe TOT OY pin ware Bertidvev Kal 
E yerpovev avOporray ; 3 TOS; 
KA. Ovdapas Gdrkws Tas TO ye Tap mi 
doyua é€ eXov av eln. 
24? Ovxodv, paper, amacav paxavntéov pen- 
avnv Tas ay hulv of maides pupre émOupaoww 
arXov Min WaT oY dnreaOat Kata opxyaers 7. 
KaTa perodias, MnTEe Tis aUTOVS TELaH TpoTayav 
mavtotas ndovas ; 
KA. ‘OpOorata Méyes. 
799 -A@. "Eyer Tis odv nav éml Ta Toradta Berti 
Twa Téexvynv THS TOV AiyuTTiov ; 
1 rzaldwy] bracketed by Badham, England, 
36 








See ae 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


of play, and not as the causes of serious mischief ; 
hence, instead of forbidding them, they give in 
to them and adopt them. They fail to reflect that 
those children who innovate in their games grow 
up into men different from their fathers; and being 
thus different themselves, they seek a different 
mode of life, and having sought this, they come 
to desire other institutions and laws; and none 
of them dreads the consequent approach of that 
result which we described just now as the greatest 
of all banes to a. State. The evil wrought by 
changes in outward forms would be of less im- 
portance ; but frequent changes in matters involving 
moral approval and disapproval are, as [ maintain, 
of extreme importance, and require the utmost 
caution. 

cLin. Most certainly. 
_ atu. Well, then, do we still put our trust in 
those former statements of ours,! in which we said 
that matters of rhythm and music. generally are 
imitations of the manners of good or bad men? Or 
how do we stand? 

ctin. Our view at least remains unaltered. 

atu, We assert, then, that every means must be 
employed, not only to prevent our children from 
desiring to copy different models in dancing or 
singing, but also to prevent anyone from tempting 
them by the inducement of pleasures of all sorts. 

cLINn.- Quite right. 

atu, To attain this end, can any one of us 
suggest a better device than that of the Egyptians ?? 


1 654 E ff, 668 A. 
2 Cp. 656 D ff 


37 


PLATO 


KA. Ilotas 81 réyers ; 

Ae. Tod cabvepioa wacav mév dpynoww, Tavra 
dé pédn, TdEavtas mpO@Tov pev Tas EopTas, gVAXO- 
yioapévous eis Tov éviavTov dotwas ev ols ypédvots 
Kat olotiow éxactos tov Oedy Kal Tarot 
tovtav Kal Saiuoor yiyverOar xpeov, peta Se 
TovTo, éml toils tav Gedy Ovpaow ExaoTols iv 
mony Set édupuveicOar, kal yopeiais motaor 
yepaipev tHv ToTe Ouciav, takar per mpaTov 
Twas, & & av tayOA, Moipas xal tots adXots 
maot Gcois Ovcavtas Kowh wavtas Tovs TodiTas 
amévoovtas Kabiepodv éExaotas Tas @das éxdo- 
tos Tov Oeav Kal Tov ad\XNov' av bé Tap adTa 
tis To Oedv adrovs buvous 4 yopelas mpocdyn, 
Tous lepéas TE Kal TAS lepeias peTA voMopUYAaK@V 
éfeipyovtas ociws éFeipyew Kal KaTa& vomov, TOV 
bé éFetpyouevov, av pr éxov é€eipyntar, dixas 
aceBeias Sa Biov wavtos TH COeAHcaYTE Tapeyev. 

KA. "OpOds. 

ao. Ilpds tovt@ 57 viv yevouevot TH OY 
mda0w@pmev TO Tpérov Huiv avTois. 

KA. Tov mrépu Néyets ; 

ao. Ilds trou véos, un Ott tpecBurns, idov av 
}) Kal akovaas OTLody TOV éxTOT@Y Kal pndapy 
mw EvvyPwv, ov« dv moré Tov TO amropyGev Tepl 
avT@av cvyxwpyceey émidpayov ovtws evOus, 
atas 8 av, kabarep év Tpiod@ yevopevos Kal p21) 
apodpa KaTerdas odor, ete wovos elite eT AX\X@V 
TUXOL Topevopevos, avéport av avTov Kal Tous 


1 zw Bekker: mws MSS. 





1 i.e. with the eaution proper to old men. 


38 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


cuin. What device is that ? 

atu. The device of consecrating all dancing and 
all music. First, they should ordain the sacred feasts, 
by drawing up an annual list of what feasts are 
to be held, and on what dates, and in honour of 
what special gods and children of gods and daemons ; 
and they should ordain next what hymn is to be sung 
at each of the religious sacrifices, and with what 
dances each such sacrifice is to be graced; these 
ordinances should be first made by certain persons, 
and then the whole body of citizens, after making a 
public sacrifice to the Fates and all the other deities, 
should consecrate with a libation these ordinances— 
dedicating each of the hymns to their respective gods 
and divinities. And if any man proposes other hymns 
or dances besides these for any god, the priests 
and priestesses will be acting in accordance with both 
religion and law when, with the help of the Law- 
wardens, they expel him from the feast; and if 
the man resists expulsion, he shall be liable, so long 
as he lives, to be prosecuted for impiety by anyone 
who chooses, 

cun. That is right. 

atu. Since we find ourselves now dealing with 
this theme, let us behave as befits ourselves. 

cLIn. In what respect ? 

aTH. Every young man—not to speak of old 
men—on hearing or seeing anything unusual and 
strange, is likely to avoid jumping to a hasty and 
impulsive solution of his doubts about it, and to 
stand still; just as a man who has come to a 
crossroads and is not quite sure of his way, if he 
be travelling alone, will question himself, or if 
travelling with others, will question them too about 


39 


PLATO 


addous TO aT opovpevov, Kab ovK av T pore pov 
oppnaete, mplv Tn BeBarwoarto THY Key THs 
mopelas, omy more épet. Kal én Kal TO mapov 
Hypiv aoavTws ToOunTeOv" aromou yap Ta vov 
ELTETTMKOTOS Aoyou ‘epi vopeov avayKn mou 
one macav monoac bat Kal pen padios 00TH 
TEpl TocovTwV THALKOUTOUS évTas pava bu- 
va xupibopevous €v T@ Tapaxphud Te cages av 
el 7rely EXE, 

KA, ‘Adnbéotata Aéyers. 

E ao Ov«oty TOUT@ pev xpovov Socoper, Be au- 
oo omev b¢ TOTE avo omToTav oKepropeda i. ikavas: 
iva 66 pn Ty érrouevny Tak Tots vomous Tots vov 
Haiv mapobvor Siarrepavacbar korvOa v _haThY, 
i@pev mpos TO Téhos avTov. Taxa yap laws, ei 
Beds eO€dot, Kav 1) 81éE080s arn on oxovoa 
Tédos ikavas av pnvicee kal TO viv dvaTropov- 
evov. 

KA. “Apiot’, & Eéve, Néyets, Kal TroL@pev OUTwS 
@sS elpnKas. 

Ae. Acdoy Ow ev 5y, hapev, TO dtomov TOUTO, 
vomous Tas F Oa8 npiv ryeyovevat, kat Kkabdtrep ol 
manatol TO rye} mepl Bappoiay oUT@ TOS, OS 

800 cover, avopacay, WOTE TAX ay ovd éxeivos 
Tayraract y dv adhectates elev Tob vov Aeyo- 
pévou, nal? imvov 6é olov mou TLS i Kal imap 
eypnyopes avelpwte HavTEvouevos avtTo. To 8 
ovyv Soypa trepl avrod TOOT éora mapa Ta 
Snudcra pérn Te Kal -iepa Kal my Tov véwv 
Evutracav xopeiav pnbels MaXov ) Tap’ ovrivodv 


176 ye Apelt, England: rére MSS. 
40 ; 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


the matter in doubt, and refuse to proceed until 
he has made sure by investigation of the direction 
of his path. We must now do likewise. In our 
discourse about laws, the point which has now 
occurred to us being strange, we are bound to 
investigate it closely; and in a matter so weighty 
we, at our age, must not lightly assume or assert 
that we can make any reliable statement about it on 
the spur of the moment. 

cin, That is very true. 

atu, We shall, therefore, devote some time to 
this subject, and only when we have investigated it 
thoroughly shall we regard our conclusions as certain, 
But lest we be uselessly hindered from completing 
the ordinance which accompanies the laws with 
which we are now concerned, let us proceed to 
their conclusion. For very probably (if Heaven so 
will) this exposition, when completely brought to 
its conclusion, may also clear up the problem now 
before us. 

cuin. Well said, Stranger: let us do just as you 
say. 
aTH. Let the strange fact be granted, we say, 
that our hymns are now made into “nomes” 
(laws), just as the men of old, it would seem, gave 
this name to harp-tunes,—so that they, too, perhaps, 
would not wholly disagree with our present sug- 
gestion, but one of them may have divined it 
vaguely, as in a dream by night or a waking vision: 
anyhow, let this be the decree on the matter :— 
In violation of public tunes and sacred songs and 
the whole choristry of the young, just as in violation 


1 A play on the double sense of véyos,—‘‘law” and 
*‘chant” or *‘ tune”: cp. 700 B, 722 D, 734 E. 


41 


PLATO 


adXov TeV vopov POeyyéo Ow pnd év opxnoer 
kweicOw. Kal o per ToLovTos atnmios amad- 
NatrécOw, Tov 8é pi) me opevor weadarep eppyOn 
vov 6, vopopiraxés Te Kal lépevat Kal lepets 
Brorafivtwrv. xeicOw b& viv jyiv tadta To 
oye ; 
KA. Keicdo, 
Ao. Tiva 6) tporov a’ta voyobeTav Tis eh 
TavtaTact katayéhactos yiyvout av ; idwpev 57 
x / 7 \ > , 3 / 
TO Tolovd ett TeplavTd. achadéctatov Kabatrep 
éxpayel’ att avtoiot mpatov mArAacacba TO 
oyw, Aéyw Se EY pevy THY expayeiov eivaL 
Tovovee Tu Ovaias yevoueévns Kal iepav Kavbévtwv 
KaTa voor, el Te Tis, paper, dia mapactas Tois 
C Bwpots te Kai lepois, vids 7) Kal adeXds, BAacdn- 
a rn / @ 9» > a la 
pot macav Brachnpiav, ap ovK av daiper, 
abupiav Kal Kaxnv OrTav Kal pavTeiavy TaTpl Kal 
oo» 2 > , , > , 
Tots adXoLs av oiKElors POEyyo.To évTLOEts ; 
KA. Ti pyv; 
pI MA cl b] P Maes U nan? 
ao. “Ev toivuvy trois map nuiv tomo TtodT 
eats Tals TOAETL yiryvomeEvon ws Eros Elrreiy oyedov 
Oryou Tacals Snpocia yap Twa Ovoiav btav apxyn 
4 \ n x wy > \ a 
Tis Ovon, peTa TAVTA Yopos Ody els GAAA TAOOS 
Xopav Kel, Kal aTdvTes ov Toppa TaVv Bapav 
D adda trap’ avtovs éviote Tacavy Bracdnpiav TOV 
iep@v Katayéovot, pipaci te cal puOmois Kai 
yowdeoTdtTais dppuoviats auvteivovtes TAS TAY 
axpowpévwv uxds, Kal ds dv Saxpicat wddioTta 
Thy Ovcacay Tapayphua toijon TOdLW, OvTOS TA 
42 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


of any other “nome” (law), no person shall utter 
a note or move a limb in the dance. He that obeys 
shall be free of all penalty; but he that disobeys 
shall (as we said just now) be punished by the Law- 
wardens, the priestesses and the priests. Shall we 
now lay down these enactments in our statement? 

cun. Yes, lay them down. 
atu. How shall we enact these rules by law 
in such a way as to escape ridicule? Let us 
consider yet another point concerning them. The 
safest plan is to begin by framing in our discourse 
some typical cases,! so to call them ; one such ease I 
may describe in this way. Suppose that, when a 
sacrifice is being performed and the offerings duly 
burned, some private worshipper—a son or a brother 
—when standing beside the altar and the offering, 
should blaspheme most blasphemously, would not his 
voice bring upon his father and the rest of the family 
a feeling of despair and evil forebodings? 

euIn, It would. 

atu. Well, in our part of the world this is what 
happens, one may almost say, in nearly every one of 
the States. Whenever a magistrate holds a public 
sacrifice, the next thing is for a crowd of choirs— 
not merely oné—to advance and take their stand, 
not at a distance from the altars, but often quite close 
to them; and then they let out a flood of blasphemy 
over the sacred offerings, racking the souls of their 
audience with words, rhythms and tunes most 
dolorous, and the man that succeeds at once in 
drawing most tears from the sacrificing city carries 


1 éxuaryeiov (‘* mould” or “‘ impression ”) is here used, much 
like eldos, of a class or “type” of cases needing legal 


regulation, 
43 


PLATO 


, , a A ‘ r a5 Bees 
vikntnpia pépet* TovToOY 67 TOV vopov ap ovK 
, nw 
amowngilopela ; kal el tot dpa Set TowvTwr 
olxtwv yiryvesOat Tovs ToATas emNKooUs, OTOTAV 

Lae 4 \ fa] , > \ b , = 
nuépar pn KaOapai tives GAA aTroppddes ot, 


E 700° Kew Séov dv ein wadrov yopods twas éEwbev 


801 


peptcOwpéevous @bdovs, olov oi mepl Tos TeNEUTI- 
cavtas pucOovpevor Kapixi tii Movon mporéu- 
movat [tovs TereuTHoavTas|;1 ToLovTOY Trov 
mpémov av ein Kal Tepl Tas ToLavTas Mdas YyuyVO- 
pevov' Kal 6) Kxal orodrdn yé Twov tais émiKn- 
Seiots @dais od otépavor mpérovey Av ovd émt- 
Ypvool Kocpol, TaV Se TovvarTioy, i’ bts TdXLOTA 
\ > fal / > / X \ la) 
Tept avToV Néyov aTadrAdTT@Opal. TO 5€ ToTOv- 
TOV Huas AUTOS ETAVEPOTH TAAL, TOV Exparyelov 
Tais @dais ei TpaTov ev TODO Hiv apecxov KeiaOw. 
KA. To motor ; 
ao. Evdnuia, cal 8 nal To THs @dHs Yyévos 
eVpnpov july ravtn TavtT@s bTapxéTw ; 7 wndev 
erravepwT®, TLOM S€ TovTO ovTaS ; 
KA. Ilavtdtact pev ovv Tider vind yap 
mTacaict Tais WwHpois oVTOS 6 VOMOS. 
, \ , > , 4 x yy 4 
ao. Tis x pet evdnpiav Sevtepos av ein vomos 
povatxs ; ap’ ovK evyas elvar Tots Oeois ols Ovopev 
EXAOTOTE ; 
lal \ ” 
KA. Il@s yap ov ; 
/ ’ 3 , oe , lal 
ao. Tpitos 8, olpat, vouos, Ste yvovtas dei 
Tovs TonTas ws evyal Tapa Oedv aitHoels ict, 
Se? 84 Tov voov adtovs ahodpa Tpocéxelv fy TroTE 
1 [rods reAeuthoavras] bracketed by Burges, England. 
44 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


off the palm of victory. Must we not reject! such a 
custom as this? For if itis ever really necessary that 
the citizens should listen to such doleful strains, 
it would be more fitting that the choirs that attend 
should be hired from abroad, and that not on holy 
days but only on fast-days—just as a corpse is escorted 
with Carian music by hired mourners. Such music 
would also form the fitting accompaniment for 
hymns of this kind; and the garb befitting these 
funeral hymns would not be any crowns nor gilded 
ornaments, but just the opposite,—for I want to get 
done with this subject as soon as I can. Only I 
would have us ask ourselves again? this single 
question,—are we satisfied to lay this down as our 
first typical rule for hymns? 

cin. What rule? 

aTtH. That of auspicious speech; and must we 
have a kind of hymn that is altogether in all respects 
auspicious? Or shall I ordain that it shall be so, 
without further questioning ? 

cin. By all means ordain it so; for that is a law 
carried by a unanimous vote. x 

aTH, What then, next to auspicious speech, 
should be the second law of music? Is it not that 
prayers should be made on each occasion to those 
gods to whom offering is made ? 

cuin. Certainly. 

atu. The third law, I suppose, will be this,— 
that.the poets, knowing that prayers are requests 
addressed to gods, must take the utmost care lest 


1 Music should be used as an ennobling educational 
instrument, promoting self-control, not as a means of 
exciting vulgar sentiment and passion. 

® Cp. 800 B, 


45 


PLATO 


B AdBoae KAKO os ayabov airovpevot" ryeNotov yap 
oy) To alos, olpas, tour ay yiyvoito evxijs 
TOLAVTNS yevouerns. 

KA. Ti pny; 

AO. Ovxody » Hpets eum poo bev oMLKpoV TO hoy 
érreto Onpev @S oUTE dpyupodv det IlXodtov ove 
Xpucodp év TOAEL iSpupévov é €voixelp ; 

KA. Ildavu pev our. 

A@, Tivos obv TOTE Tapaseryya elpno bar 
paper ToUTov Tov Aoryor ; i ap ou Tobe, 6 ote TO TOV 
TOLNTOV ryévos ov may inavov éore yuyrac new 

C afddpa ta te ayaba Kal py; Toimoas ody dyn Tov 
TUS TonTHS pyumacw Kal KaTa péXos TODTO 
warn pevos » [edxas ouK 6p0as |? jpiv Tovs 
mohitas mepl TOV peyictov evyerOaL Tavavria 
Tounoet Kal ToL TovTOU, xabdmep éXéyomev, ov 
TOA apapTnwata avevpnaopev peifo. Oder én 
Kal TovTov Tav tepl Motcay vouwrv Kal TUT@V 
éva ; 

KA. Tiva ; capéarepov ele jpiy. 

Ae. Tov mount hy Tapa Ta THS TONES VOML LA 
Kal dixaca 7) Kana } ayaba pn dev mo.ely ado, TA 

D dé mownbevra 7) efeivac Tov iss@Ta@v Han devi 
mpoTepov SetkvUvat, mply av avrois Tols wept TAUTA 
arrodederypevous Kpitais Kal tots vopodpvraks 
der Kal apo. oxedov O& darrodedevypévot 
elo mpiy ods eiAdueBa vomobéras Tepl ra _ Hou- 
olka Kal TOV THs TraLdelas errimedntHv. Ti ody; Dd 
TokAdKis €pwT@, KeloOw vouos Huiy Kal TUTOS 
éxpayelov TE TPLTOV TODTO, 7) TAS OoKEl ; 

1 jpaptnuevos : nuaptnuéevoy MSS., edd, 
2 [edxas od dp0as] bracketed by Badham. 
46 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


unwittingly they request a bad thing as though it 
were a good thing; for if such a prayer were made, 
it would prove, I fancy, a ludicrous blunder. 

cun. Of course. 

atu. Did not our argument conyince us, a little 
while ago,' that no Plutus either in gold or in silver 
should dwell enshrined within the State ? 

cin. It did. 

atu. What then shall we say that this statement 
serves to illustrate? Is it not this,—that the tribe 
of poets is not wholly capable of discerning very 
well what is good and what not? For surely when 
a poet, suffering from this error, composes prayers 
either in speech or in song, he will be making our 
citizens contradict ourselves in their prayers for 
things of the greatest moment ; yet this, as we have 
said,? is an error than which few are greater. So 
shall we also lay down this as one of our laws and 
typical cases regarding music ? 

ctin. Whatlaw? Explain it to us more clearly. 

aTH. The law that the poet shall compose nothing 
which goes beyond the limits of what the State holds 
to be legal and right, fair and good; nor shall he 
show his compositions to any private person until 
they have first been shown to the judges appointed | 
to deal with these matters, and to the Law-wardens, 
and have been approved by them, And in fact we 
have judges appointed in those whom we selected to 
be the legislators of music and in the supervisor of 
education. Well then, I repeat my question,—is 
this to be laid down as our third law, typical case, 
and example? What think you? 


1 742 Dff. Plutus is the god of wealth. 
2 801 B. 


47 


PLATO 


KA. KeioOo ti pnv ; 

Ao. Merd ye pny taita tuvor Oeav kal 
éyxopma Kekxowwrvnpéva evyais ddoit dv 6p0dTaTa, 
Kal peta Oeors woattws mepl Saipovas te Kal 
Hpwas per’ éykopiov ebyal yiyvowT av tovTas 
maot mpémoveat. 

KA. Ild@s yap ov ; 

E ao, Mera ye uyv tadr’ 45n vopos avev POovav 
evOus yiyvoit’ av bbe" TaY TOLT@Y OTdcOL TEXOS 
éxovev ToD Biov Kata copuata 1) KaTa Wuyas 
épya eFerpyacwévor Kaha Kal émwimova Kal Tois 
vomois evtreeis yeyovdtes, éyx@piwy avTovs 
TuyXavelv Tpétrov av ely. 

KA. Ild@s 8 od; 

802 ao. Tovs ye pny ére S@vTas éyxwpiors Te Kal 
tuvows Tidy ovK acdarés, ply av aravta tis 
tov Biov d:adpay@v téros étictHonTat Kadov. 
tadta 5é Tdavta jyiv éotw Kowa avdpact Te Kal 
yuvakiv ayabois nat ayabais Stapavads yevo- 
pévots, Tas 5é dbds Te Kal dpynoets oUTwl Xp?) 
kabictacbat: moAdd ott TaXaL@y Tadala Tepi 
povotkny Kal Kara Toinpata, Kal 67 Kal Tots 
cHpaclww opxynces woavTas, wy ovdcis POdvos 
éxréEacOar TH Kabtotapévn TodtTEla TO TpéTroV 

Bal dppottov’ doxipactas S€ TovTwy édopévous 
THY exroyv Toleicbar pn vewTépous TevTHKOVTA 
érav, kal 6 Te pev av ixavov eivar dofn Tdv 
Taraav Tonuatov, éyxpiverv, 6 tt 8 adv évdees 7) 
TO Tapdatrav aveTritndeiov, TO pev aToBdddeoPat 
mavtatact, TO 8 éravarpopevov) érippvO miter, 
TounTiKovs ama Kal pmovotxodvs avdpas Tapada- 


48 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


cun. Be it laid down by all means. 

aTH. Next to these, it will be most proper to 
sing hymns and praise to the gods, coupled with 

yers; and after the gods will come prayers com- 

bined with praise to daemons and heroes, as is 
befitting to each. 

cin. To be sure. 

atu. This done, we may proceed at once without 
scruple to formulate this law :—all citizens who have 
attained the goal of life and have wrought with body 
or soul noble works and toilsome, and have been 
obedient to the laws, shall be regarded as fitting 
objects for praise. 

cin. Certainly. 

atu. But truly it is not safe to honour with 
hymns and praises those still living, before they have 
traversed the whole of life and reached a noble end. 
All such honours shall be equally shared by women 
as well as men who have been conspicuous for their 
excellence. As to the songs and the dances, this is 
the fashion in which they should be arranged. 
Among the compositions of the ancients there exist 
many fine old pieces of music, and likewise dances, 
from which we may select without scruple for the 
constitution we are founding such as are fitting and 
proper. To examine these and make the selection, 
we shall choose out men not under fifty years of age ; 
and whichever of the ancient songs are approved we 
shall adopt, but whichever fail to reach our standard, 
or are altogether unsuitable, we shall either reject 
entirely or revise and remodel. For this purpose 
we shall call in the advice of poets and musicians, 





1 éravaipduevov Hermann: émavepduevov MSS. ; éravepo- 
uévous Stephens, Zur. 


49 
VOL, Il. E 


C 


D 


PLATO 


Bovtas, ypwpévovs aitav tais Suvayeot rijs 
ToLnoEws, tais 6é Hbovais Kal émiOvpiais 2) 
émitpémovtas arr’ } Tiow orLyaLS, eEnyoupevous 
be Ta TOU vowobérou Bovijpata 671 padsora 
dpynaiv te Kab gony Kal macav xopetay ovary} 
cacbat Kata Tov avroo voov. wacad draKros 
ye Taku AaBodca mept Modcav Svat ptr) kal pe) 
maparibeuevns THS yAuxelas Movons _dpeivov 
Hupio’ To 8 780 KoLvov Taoals. ev 7 yap av ék 
Taidwy Tis méexXpL THS éornvias Te Kal Eudpovos 
jpruxias dia fi@, cadppove pev Movon alt etay- 
pévn, dKovwv del” THS évavtias peel cal 
dvedevBepov avTny Mpoaaryopevel, Tpadels & év 
TH Kowy Kal yAuKeia puxpav Kal anon THv TavTy 
évartiay elvat now, wate, OTrEp €pp7n yov 87, 
TO ye THS nooviis i) andtas mepl éxaTépas ovdey 
TeTNEOVERTNKEY, éx mepiTtoo dé 1) pev Berrios, 1 1) 
dé yelpovs tors év adtH tpapévtas éxadotoTe 
TApeVETAL. 

KA. Kandos elpnkas. 

Ae. “Ets 8€ Onretass Te TpeTovgaAs 4 @odas a appect 
TE Xepioar mou déov ap ein TUT@ TLvt SLopt- 
o devon, rat appoviarce én wal pub pois mpooap- 
oTTeLy dvaryKatov: Secvov yap On Ye appovia 
am adeuv 4 (prOpe appuvO pei, pn dev TpoojKovra 
TOUT@Y éxdorous amadibovra Tots pédeoty. av- 
aryeaiov 5) kal tovTov Ta oxXnpard ye vopobe- 
TEL. éort dé app orepors pep apporepa. avayKn 


KaTexopeva atrodidova, [Tra dé Tov Onrerav]*® 


1 gitov: avtav MSS. ; airoy Zur. 
2 del W. R. Paton, England: 6 MSS. 
3 7a. . . Ondei@y I transpose, after W.-Méllendorff. 


50 





Pe. RG ip AID 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


and make use of their poetical ability, without, how- 


_ eyer, trusting to their tastes or their wishes, except 


in rare instances; and by thus expounding the in- 
tentions of the lawgiver, we shall organise to his 
satisfaction dancing, singing, and the whole of | 
choristry. In truth, every unregulated musical | 
pursuit becomes, when brought under regulation, 
a thousand times better, even when no honeyed 
strains are served up: all alike provide pleasure.* 
For if a man has been reared from childhood up to 
the age of steadiness and sense in the use of music 
that is sober and regulated, then he detests the oppo- 
site kind whenever he hears it, and calls it “vulgar” ; 
whereas if he has been reared in the common 
honeyed kind of music, he declares the opposite of 
this to be cold and unpleasing. Hence, as we said just 
now, in respect of the pleasure or displeasure they 
cause neither kind excels the other; where the 
superiority lies is in the fact that the one kind always 
makes those whoare reared in it better, the other worse. 

cin. Finely spoken! 

atu. Further, it will be right for the lawgiver to 
set apart suitable songs for males and females by 
making a rough division of them; and he must 
necessarily adapt them to harmonies and rhythms, 
for it would be a horrible thing for discord to exist | 
between theme and tune, metre and rhythm, as a | 
result of providing the songs with unsuitable accom- 
paniments. So the lawgiver must of necessity ordain © 
at least the outline of these. And while it is neces- 
sary for him to assign both words and music for both 


1 i.e.a ‘regulated ” style of music pleases the educated 
just as much as the other sort pleases the uneducated. Cp. 
658 E ff. 

i 
gE? 


PLATO 


aiT@ TO THIS Pioews Exatépov SiadépovTs, <ta 
dé trav Onreav> ToiT@ Sei Kal Siacadeiv. TO 
57) weyarotperés ody Kal TO mpds THY avdpiav 
pémrov appevorov patéov eivat, TO b€ mpos TO 
Koopmlov Kal c@dpov padXov atrokAXivov Onrvye- 
veoTeEpov @s Ov Tapadotéoy év Te TO VOM@ Kal 
803 Aoyw. Takis pév by Tis avy: TovTwY Oé avTaY 
didackaria Kat tapddocis AeyéoOw TO peta 
TovTO, Tiva TpoTov xpn Kal olatics Kal mote 
mpatrew éxacta avtwv: olov bn Tis vaumnyos 
THY THS vavTnylas apynv KaTaBaddOpevos TA 
Tpomidela vToypapeTas TaY TACiw@Y TYHMATA, 
TavTov 51 wor Kayo datvouar éuavt@ dpav ta 
Tov Biwv Teipopevos cynpata SiactHcacbat 
KaTa TpoTOUS TOs TOV WuyYer, dYTwS aUTaV TA 
B tpomideia kataBddreoOat, Toia wnyarh Kal tict 
mote tpotos Evvoytes Tov Biov dpiota dia Tod 
TAO TovTov THs Cais StaxopscOnoopeba, TOTO 
oxoTa@v! dpOds. eats 2 Toivuy Ta TOV avOpa- 
TOV Tpaywara peyarns pev omovens ovK aéta, 
avaykaioy ye py omovodatev’ tovtTo dé ovK 
eUTUXES. érret8)) dé évradba éopev, el mas Sua 
TPOGHKOVTOS TLVOS AUTO TPaTTOLMEV, Laws av Hiv 
ovppeTpov avein. éyw dé 81 Ti troTe ; iaws pévT’ 
C dv tis wot TOUT avTO UTOAaBay OpOas bTONABoL. 

KA. Ilavu pév odv. 

Ao. nul xphvar TO ev orrovdaioy orovdatew, 
TO Sé€ ur) orrovdaiov py ddoe Sé eivat Oeov pév 
Tdaons pakapiov otovons akiov, avOpwrov é, 
Strep eltomev EutrpocGer, Oeod Te Tatyvioy elvat 
heunxavnpévor, kal dvtws TODTO avTOU TO BéXTIC- 

1 cxoray Peipers: oxomeiv MSS. 
Sy 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


types of song as defined by the natural difference of 
the two sexes, he must also clearly declare wherein 
the feminine type consists. Now we may affirm that 
what is noble and of a manly tendency is masculine, 
while that which inclines rather to decorum and 
sedateness is to be regarded rather as feminine both 
in law and in discourse. Such then is our regulation 
of the matter. We have next to discuss the question 
of the teaching and imparting of these subjects— 
how, by whom, and when each of them should be 
practised. Just as a shipwright at the commence- 
ment of his building outlines the shape of his vessel 
by laying down her keel, so I appear to myself to be 
doing just the same—trying to frame, that is, the 
shapes of lives according to the modes of their souls, 
and thus literally laying down their keels, by rightly 
considering by what means and by what modes of 
living we shall best navigate our barque of life 
through this voyage of existence. And notwith- 
standing that human affairs are unworthy of earnest 
effort, necessity counsels us to be in earnest; and 
that is our misfortune. Yet, since we are where we 
are, it is no doubt becoming that we should show 
this earnestness in a suitable direction. But no 
doubt I may be faced—and rightly faced—with the 
question, “ What do I mean by this?” 

cLiN. Certainly. 

atu. What I assert is this,—that a man ought to 
be in serious earnest about serious things, and not 
about trifles; and that the object really worthy of 
all serious and blessed effort is God, while man is 
contrived, as we said above,! to be a plaything of 
God, and the best part of him is really just that ; and 


1. 644 D. 
53 


PLATO 


Tov yeyovevat: TodT@ 5n Sev TH TpoT@ Evvero- 
pevov Kat traifovta bri KadXioTas ane mavT 
aivopa Kal yuvaixa ottw SvaBiavat, Tobvavtiovy 4 
viv d:avonbértas. 

D_ ka. IIds; 
ao. Nov pév tov tas omovddas olovtar Seiv 
évexa TOV TaLdiav yiyverOaL’ Ta yap Tepl Tov 
ToOhEMoV HnyovvTaL atrovoaia ovTa THs eipHvys 
&vexa Seiv ed TiOecOar. TO Sd hv ev Tohéu@ pev 
dpa our ovv maida mepvxvia oT ad tradela 
ToTe Hiv akLorXoyos, OVTE OVTA OT ecopévny, O1 
5n hapev Hpuiv ye eivat omovdarotatov: Set 52) Tov 
Kat eipnvnv Biov éxactov mreiaTOY TE Kal apto- 
tov ducEeAOeiv. Tis odv 6pOoTns ; maifovTa® éatt 
E d:aBiwréov tivas 8) taidias Ovovta, Kal adovra 
kal dpxovpevor, Gare TOUS bev Geos idews avT@ 
Tapackevatew Suvatov eivat, tovs 6 éx@povs 
aptvverOat kab vixdv pwaxopevov. orota Sé adwv 
av Tes Kal dpxovpevos auporepa Tatra parrot, 
TO pev TOV TUT@Y elpntat Kal KaOdtep obdol 
TéTunvtar, Kad as itéov mpocdox@vta Kal Tov 
TonTHy ev AێyELv TO 
804 Tnréuay’, drAXr\a pev adtos evil ppeol ofor 
vona els, 

adra b€ kal Saipwv tbroOncetar’ ov yap olw 

ov oe Sed aéxntt yevecOar Te Tpapéeuer TE. 
TavTov 8 Kal Tovs tweTepous Tpopipmous Set Sia- 
vooupévous Ta mev eipnueva aTroXpaVvT@s vomuiterv 
elphoOar, ta dé Kal Tov Satwovd te Kai Oeov 


14 Hermann: 7d MSS. 
* walCovrd MSS.: rf waiCovrd . . . diaBiwréov ; rivas 5 Zur. 


54 








————— 


— 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


thus I say that every man and woman ought to pass 
through life in accordance with this character, playing 
at the noblest of pastimes, being otherwise minded 
than they now are. 

cin. How so? 

aTH. Now they imagine that serious work should 
be done for the sake of play ; for they think that it is 
for the sake of peace that the serious work of war 
needs to be well conducted. But as a matter of 
fact we, it would seem, do not find in war, either as 
existing or likely to exist, either real play or educa- 
tion worthy of the name, which is what we assert 
to be in our eyes the most serious thing. It is the 
life of peace that everyone should live as much and 
as well as he can. What then is the right way? We 
should live out our lives playing at certain pastimes 
—-sacrificing, singing and dancing—so as to be able 
to win Heaven's favour and to repel our foes and 
vanquish them in fight. By means of what kinds of 
song and dance both these aims may be effected,— 
this has been, in part, stated in outline, and the 
paths of procedure have been marked out, in the 
belief that the poet is right when he says !— 


* Telemachus, thine own wit will in part 
Instruct thee, and the rest will Heaven supply ; 
For to the will of Heaven thou owest birth 
And all thy nurture, 1 would fain believe.” 


It behoves our nurslings also to be of this same mind, 

and to believe that what we have said is sufficient, 

and that the heavenly powers will suggest to them all 
1 Odyss. 111. 26 ff. 


55 


PLATO 


avtotow tToOncecOat Ovcidy Te Tépt Kal YopeLav, 

Bolotict té Kai omdte Exacta éxdoTos TpooTat- 
Covtés Te Kal iNeovpevor KaTa TOY TpoTOY Tis 
gicews SiaBiocovrar, Oavpata dvtes TO TON, 
opixpa Oé adnOeias atta wetéxovTes. 

ME. Ilavtdract ro tov avO parr yévos Hpi, 
® &éve, Siadhavri less. 

Ae. M» Oavyacns, ® MéyirAre, adrd Evyyvobi 
foot’ tpos yap Tov Gedy amidmv Kal rabeav elrov 
émrep eipnka viv. Eaotw 8 ody TO yévos huav pH 

C pairop, ei cou hirov, arovdhs Sé Tivos aEvov. 

To & é€fs rovrows, oixoSopiar péev elpnvras 
yupvaciov dua Kat didackadeiwv Kowav TpLYf 
kata péonv Thy Tod, wer dé intov ad tpry7A 
meph TO adory yurdord re kal evpyx@pia, ToEKTs 
TE Kal TOV GNwV akpoBorlcpuav éevexa SiaxeKoo- 
pnpéva, pabnoeds Te dua Kal perérns Tov véwD. 
el © dpa my) TOTE ixavas éppnOncar, viv eipjcOw 
TO AOYH META VOouwv. ev b€ TOUVTOLS Tact dL0ac- 

D xadous Exdotov meTercpévous pia bots oiKODVTAaS 
Eévous SidaoKew Te TavTa boa TpOS TOV TOAE MOV 
€ott pabynpata tovs orravtas boa Te Tpos 
poverueiy, “ody ih ily y:6, warhal Boddatras 
portavTa, dv ban bn €OvTa Tas Tatdelas, GAda 
TO Neyouevov Tavt avdpa xal maida Kata TO 
SuvaTov, WS THs TOAEWS [LAAXOV 7) TOV event oper 
dvTas, matoevtéov €& avdyKyns. Ta avta be dy 
kal tepl Onrerdv 6 pev éwds vomos dy elror Tata 
doaTrep kal Trepl TOV appever, loa Kal Tas Onreias 

E doxety Seiv kai otdév poBnOels eiouw’ av todTov 





1 Cp. 644 D, E. 2 764 C, 779 D. 
56 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


else that concerns sacrifice and the dance,—in honour 
of what gods and at what seasons respectively they are 
to play and win their favour, and thus mould their 
lives according to the shape of their nature, inasmuch 
as they are puppets! for the most part, yet share 
occasionally in truth. 

Mec. You have a very mean opinion, Stranger, of 
the human race. 

ATH. Marvel not, Megillus, but forgive me. For 
when I spoke thus, I had my mind set on God, and was 
feeling the emotion to which I gave utterance. Let 
us grant, however, if you wish, that the human race is 
not a mean thing, but worthy of serious attention. 

To pursue our subject,—we have described? 
buildings for public gymnasia as well as schools in 
three divisions within the city, and also in three 
divisions round about the city training-grounds and 
race-courses for horses, arranged for archery and 
other long-distance shooting, and for the teaching and 
practising of the youth: if, however, our previous 
description of these was inadequate, let them now 
be described and legally regulated. In all these 
establishments there should reside teachers attracted 
by pay from abroad for each several subject, to 
instruct the pupils in all matters relating to war and 
to music ; and no father shall either send his son as 
a pupil or keep him away from the training-school 
at his own sweet will, but every “man jack” of 
them all (as the saying goes) must, so far as possible, 
be compelled to be educated, inasmuch as they are 
children of the State even more than children of their 
parents. For females, too, my law will lay down 
the same regulations as for men, and training of an 
identical kind, I will unhesitatingly affirm that 


57 


PLATO 


TOV Oyo OUTE imMmMTLKIS OUTE YUsVaTTLKHS, ws 
avopdou pev mpétov av ein, yuvarEl bé ovK dv 
mpérov. .axovwv pev yap 6) pwwOous madatods 
mémetopat, Ta Oe viv ws eros el7reiy oida ore 
pupiddes avapiOuntot yuvarkav etal Tov Trepl Tov 
Iovrov, as Lavpoparisas KanXovew, als ov 
imm@v Lovov arra kat Tokwv Kal Tav adXwv 
805 Omrhov Kowevia Kal Tots avSpacw ion mpoaTe- 
Taymevn lows aoKeiTat. _ Aoryeg mov dé Tpos TOUTOLS 
mepl TOUTWY TOLOVSE Twa eyo" onl, eirep TavTa 
obt@ EvuBaiver é éorl duvatd, mavTov avontoTara 
Ta viv ev Tois Tap Hiv Tomols yiyverOut TO LH 
Taon pou mavTas opobumadov émruTnOeveLy av8pas 
yuvacél tadTa. oxedov yap odiyou Taoa jypioera 
Toms avtl ditracias OUTwS éoTi TE Kal YyiryveTat 
€x TOV AVTOV TEAOV Kal TOVeY" Kai Tor Oavpac- 
B rov dv duaptnpa vopobétn TodT avTo yiyvorTo. 
KA. "Eouxé yer €oTe pévTo maprodra Hiv, 
@ Eve, Tapa Tas eiwOvias TodiTelas ToY viv 
Neyouevav. 
AQ. ‘Ada yap elroy) tov pev oyou édcat 
SieFeAOeiv, eb SueAPovtos Sé ovtTw To SoxKodv 
- aipetaOar Seiv. 
KA. Mada cirés TE EUMEADS merroinkds T’ ue 
Ta vov avtov éwavtT@ émiTAnTTELY OTL TavTa 
elpnxa. eye ody TO peTad TadTa GO TL oot 
C KEXAPLOMEVOD ¢ éoTiv. 
AO. Tode epouye, @ Krevvia, do Kal mpoa0ev 
elrov, ws, él pev TadTa Hv pn) (Kavos Epryous 
| eA reypEeva 6tt Suvata éoTe ylyver Oar, TaXa hv 
dv Tt Kal avrevrety TO AOY@, vdv 5é GAXO Ti TOV 


1 elroy Cornarius: eimay MSS., and some edd, (assigning 
AAG... defy also. to Clin.). 


58 











LAWS, BOOK VII 


neither riding nor gymnastics, which are proper for 
men, are improper for women. I believe the old 
tales I have heard, and I know now of my own 
observation, that there are practically countless 
myriads of women called Sauromatides, in the dis- 
trict of Pontus, upon whom equally with men is 
imposed the duty of handling bows and other 
weapons, as well as horses, and who practise it 
equally. In addition to this I allege the following 
argument. Since this state of things can exist, I 
affirm that the practice which at present prevails in 
our districts is a most irrational one—namely, that 
men and women should not all follow the same 
pursuits with one accord and with all their might. | 
For thus from the same taxation and trouble there 
arises and exists half a State only instead of a 
whole one, in nearly every instance; yet surely 
this would be a surprising blunder for a lawgiver to 
commit. 

cLin. So it would seem; yet truly a vast number 
of the things now mentioned, Stranger, are in con- 
flict with our ordinary polities. 

atu. Well, but I said! that we should allow 
the argument to run its full course, and when 
this is done we should adopt the conclusion we 
approve. 

cin. In this you spoke most reasonably; and 
you have made me now chide myself for what I said. 
So say on now what seems good to you. 

atu. What seems good to me, Clinias, as I said 
before,” is this,—that if the possibility of such a 
state of things taking place had not been sufficiently 
proved by facts, then it might have been possible to 
gainsay our statement; but as it is, the man who 


2 Cp. 746 C, 799 E. 2 $05 A. 
59 


PLATO 


Entntéov exely 7@ TobTov TOV vopLov pndapy 
Sexopeve, To 8 7} MéTE pov Sraxéhevpa év TOUTOLS 
ovK amo Bncerar, TO Ha) ov Déyew ws Set mat- 
delas TE Kal Tov adXwv STL pddiora KoLV@veElY TO 
D Ofrv yevos july TO Tov appévev yéver. Kal yap 
ovv ovToat mos Set repli avTav SiavonOivar. 
hépe, pun) peTeXoue BY avdpace yuvalK@v Kowy} THS 
Cwis maons MOY OUK avaryKn yevérOar yé Twa 

Taku éTépay avtais ; 

KA. ‘Avdyxn peév odv. 
ao, Tiva otv éumpocbev tev viv arrodedery- 
péveov Oeipev av Tis Kowavias TavTnS hv viv 
avtais apeis TpoordTToper ; ; TOTEpoV hy Opaxes 
tais yuvvackl Xpovras Kal TONG érepa evn, 
E yewpyeiv te kal Boveoreiy Kal Towpaivery Kal 
dtaxovety pndev _ StapepovTes TOV Sovrwy ; o) 
nabdrep npeis amravres TE Ob mept TOV TOTOV 
exeivov } vov yap &n TO Ye, Tap Hpi ave éoTe 
Tept TOUT@Y yuyvopevov* els Tia play oiknow 
Evupopncavres, TO eyouevov, mavTa Xpipara 
mapédouev Tais quvarél SvaTapuevery Te Kal 
xepxlowy ape al maons Taracias. 7 To 
TOUT@Y 87 bua Hégov Paper, @ Méeyirre, TO 
806 Aaxevixor Kopas pev yupvactov HeTOXOUS oveas 
dpa Kal povarkis Sav oeiv, yuvaicas dé apyous 
fev Taracias, ackntixov Oé twa Biov Kal ovd- 
AMOS paddov ove evTet} SiaTrhénerv, Jepareias 
dé kal Tapueias ad Kal mratdorpopias els Te pécov 
agixveic Oat, TOV be els TOV TOAELOV [42) KOLVO- 
vovoas, WoT ovd el Tis ToTe SiapdyeoOat Trepl 
Toews Te Kal Taidwv avayKaia TUYN yiyvotTo, 
1 @6uev H. Richards: @auev MSS. 
60 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


rejects our law must try some other method, nor ~ 
shall we be hereby precluded from asserting in our 
doctrine that the female sex must share with the 
male, to the greatest extent possible, both in educa- 
tion and in all else. For in truth we ought to 
conceive of the matter in this light. Suppose that 
women do not share with men in the whole of their 
mode of life, must they not have a different system 
of their own? 

cun. They must. 

atH. Then which of the systems now in vogue 
shall we prescribe in preference to that fellowship 
which we are now imposing upon them? Shall it be’ 
that of the Thracians, and many other tribes, who | 
employ their women in tilling the ground and minding | 
oxen and sheep and toiling just like slaves? Or that — 
which obtains with us and all the people of our district? | 
The way women are treated with us at present is 
this—we huddle all our goods together, as the saying 
goes, within four walls, and then hand over the dis- 
pensing of them to the women, together with the | 
control of the shuttles and all kinds of wool-work, 
Or again, shall we prescribe for them, Megillus, that 
midway system, the Laconian? Must the girls 
share in gymnastics and music, and the women 
abstain from wool-work, but weave themselves 
instead a life that is not trivial at all nor useless, 
but arduous, advancing as it were halfway in the 
path of domestic tendance and management and 
child-nurture, but taking no share in military 
service ; so that, even if it should chance to be 
necessary for them to fight in defence of their city 
and their children, they will be unable to handle 


61 


PLATO 


Bott’ dv ro€wv, @s tives “Apatoves, ot’ adrAns 
Kowwvncat tote Borns peta téxvns Suvdpevas, 
ovede aomida cal Sopy AaBodoar pipnoacbat 
THv Oedv, ws TopOoupévns avtais THs tatpibos 
yevvaiws avtiatacas PoBov ye, ei pndev peor, 
Toveuioss SivacOar Twrapacyei ev taker Twi 
catopbeicas ; Lavpopatidas ¥3 ovd dv TO Tapd- 
Tav ToApjioeav punoacOar ToUTOY Tov TpoTroY 
SiaBiodca, Tapa yuvaixas bé a’tas avdpes av ai 
€xelvwy yuvaixes havelev. tadt ody buav Tovs 
vowobétas 6 wev Bovdopmevos érratvety éerawweitw’ 

C710 8 éudv ov« ddrXras Gy AexOe/n* Tédeov yap Kal 
ov Siujpsouv ) Seiv Tov vopobeTny elvat, TO OHAV pév 
adiévta Tpupay Kal avarioxey Siaitats aTaKTws 
ypwmpevov, Tod Sé appevos émipedrnbevta, Tehéws 
gxedov evdaipovos ipucv Biov Katanetrew ayti 
dutAaciou TH TodeL. 

ME. Ti dpdcopev, ® Knrgewia; tov Eévov 
edcopev THY XrapTyy Hpiv ovTw KaTadpapety ; 

D xa. Nai: SedSouévns yap ait mappyncias 
éatéov, ws dv SieFéAOwpev tavtyn ikavas Tovs 
VOMous. , 

ME. 'OpOds réyeus. 

ao. Ovxobdv Ta peta tadta 75n oxedov Epor 
mepacbar ppdtey ; 

KA. Ils yap ov ; 

ao. Tis 8% rpdmos avOperors yiyvout’ av Tod 
Biov, olot ta pev avayKkaia ein KaTecKevacpéva 
pérpta, Ta Se Tov Texvav addowg Tapadedopéva, 

E yewpyiar 88 éxdeSopévar Sovrois Grrapxynv TOV ex 
Ths ys amotedkotow ixavnv avOpwros face 

1 od Sehuovv Schneider ; ob 8: fyuiovy MSS. : od8° fyusovy Zur. 
62 











LAWS, BOOK VII 


with skill either a bow (like the Amazons) or any. 
other missile, nor could they take spear and shield, 
after the fashion of the Goddess,! so as to be able 
nobly to resist the wasting of their native land, and 
to strike terror—if nothing more—into the enemy 
at the sight of them marshalled in battle-array? If 
they lived in this manner, they certainly would not 
dare to adopt the fashion of the Sauromatides, whose 
women would seem like men beside them. So in 
regard to this matter,-let who will commend your 
Laconian lawgivers: as to my view, it must stand as 
itis. The lawgiver ought to be whole-hearted, not 
half-hearted,—letting the female sex indulge in 
luxury and expense and disorderly ways of life,? 
while supervising the male sex ; for thus he is actu- 
ally bequeathing to the State the half only, instead 
of the whole, of a life of complete prosperity. 

mec. What are we to do, Clinias? Shall we 
allow the Stranger to run down our Sparta in this 
fashion ? 

cin. Yes: now that we have granted him free 
speech we must let him be, until we have discussed 
the laws fully. 

mec. You are right. 

aTH. May I, then, endeavour without more delay 
to proceed with my exposition? 

eLtn. By all means. 

atu. What manner of life would men live, sup- 
posing that they possessed a moderate supply of all 
the necessaries, and that they had entrusted all the 
crafts to other hands, and that their farms were 
hired out to slaves, and yielded them produce 


1} For Athené as a warrior, cp. 796 B, 
2 Cp. Ar. Pol. 1269» 12 ff. 
63 


PLATO 


koopiws: Evocitia b& xaterxevacpéva ein ywpis 
bev Ta TV avdpar, éyyds 8 eyoueva Ta TOY 
avtois oixeiwy, Taidwy te dua Onrev@v Kal Tov 
Entépwov avtais’ dpxovor dé Kal apyovoats ein 
mMpooteTaypéva Nev TadTa Exacta Ta Evocitia 
mavta Kal? éExdorny juépav Oeacapévovs Kal 
iddvtas tHv Siaywynv thy Tov Evocit@v, peta 
5€ tadTa omeicavtas Tov Te apxYovta Kal Tovs 
807 aAXous, ols av Ttuyydvy Geos 4 ToTe PVE TE Kal 
nuépa Kabvepwuévn, Kata Tata ovTws oiKade 
mopever Oar ; Tois 6) TavTH KeKocuNmEVOLS apa 
ovdev NELTrOMEVOY eoTLV avayKaioy Te épyov Kal 
TAVTATAGL TPOTHKOV, AAN év TpdT@ BogKHpaTos 
éxacTov Tratvopevov avtav Set Chv; ovKovY TO 
ye Sixatov dapev ovdé Kaddv, ovd oiov Te TOY 
favta ottTws atuyjoa: ToD Tpoa}KovTOS, Tpoc- 
jee 6€ apy@ Kal pabipws KataTeTiacuéve Com 
B oxedov itr’ addov Siapracb vat Coov Tav opbdpa 
TETPUX@LEVoOY pEeTa avodpias Te Gua Kal TOY 
movev. Ttadta ovv 81) bi’ axpiBelas pev ixavijs 
[@s xal viv] ef Snrotuer [dv],1 tows od« av mote 
yévorTo, péxpiTep av yuvaixés te Kal traides 
oixknoes Te idiat Kal idiws aGmavT 9 Ta ToOLavTA 
ExdoTos huov KaTecKevacneva’ Ta 5é peT Exeiv’ 
avd Sevtepa Ta viv Reyoueva ef yiryvorto Hpiv, 
C yiyvoito av kal yada petpios. épyov é 81) Tois 
ovTw baor dayev ov TO opiKpoTaToY ove TO 
davroTator Aeitrec Oar, péeyrotov 5é TdvTwy eivat 
mpoctetaypévov vmod OiKaiov vomov' Tod yap 
macav Tay d\Xwv tavtev Epywr Biov aoxoNiav 
1 [&s nal vov] and [év] I bracket (vuv) for viv ei Badham, 
England : od for «i Apelt). 
64 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


enough for their modest needs? Let us further 
suppose that they had public mess-rooms—separate 
rooms for men, and others close by for their house- 
holds, including the girls and their mothers—and 
that each of these rooms was in charge of a master 
or mistress, to dismiss the company and to watch over 
their behaviour daily ; and, at the close of the meal, 
that the master and all the company poured a liba- 
tion in honour of those gods to whom that night and 
day were dedicated, and so finally retired home. 
Supposing them to be thus organised, is there no 
necessary work, of a really appropriate kind, left for 
them, but must every one of them continue fatten- 
ing himself like a beast?1 That, we assert, is 
neither right nor good; nor is it possible for one 
who lives thus to miss his due reward; and the due 
reward of an idle beast, fattened in sloth, is, as a 
rule, to fall a prey to another beast—one of those 
which are worn to skin and bone through toil 
hardily endured. Now it is probable that if we 
look to find this state of leisure fully realised exactly 
as described, we shall be disappointed, so long as 
women and children and houses remain private, and 
all these things are established as the private property 
of individuals ; but if the second-best State,? as now 
described, could exist, we might be well content 
with it. And, we assert, there does remain for men 
living this life a task that is by no means small or 
trivial, but rather one that a just law imposes upon 
them as the weightiest task of all. For as com- 
pared with the life that aims at a Pythian or 


1 Cp. Ar. Pol. 1334 13 ff. 
2 i.¢. the (Magnesian) State described in the Laws, in con- 
trast to the Ideal (communistic) State of the Republic, 
65 


VOL, Il. F 


PLATO 


mapacKkevatovtos, Tov IIvOiados te kal "OdXvpri- 
ados vixns dpeyouévou, Sutracias te Kal ért 
TOA Tr€ovos aayorias éoti yéuwv o Tepl Ti 
Tov gw@patos TdvTws Kal wuyns els aperiy * 
D érripédrerav Bios eipnuévos opOctata. mapepyov 
yap ovdev Sef trav adrAX\ov eEpyov Siaxodupa 
yiyver Oar TOV TO TOMAaTL 7 poanKovToy eis atro- 
doow movav Kal tpopijs, ovd ad Wuyn pabn- 
adtav te Kal €O@v Traca Sé vvE Te Kal npuépa 
axedov ovK Et ikavn TOUT avTO TpaTTOVTL, TO 

TéNeov Te Kal ixavoyv avT@y éxrapBavery. 
Oita 67) TovTwv meduxdtay Takw Sei yiryver Oar 
mace Tols EdevOépots THs SiaTpiBrs mepl Tov Kpovov 
E drravta, oxedov apEduevov é& Ew péxpe THs ETépas 
del Evveyas wm Te Kai ALov avaTorHs. ToAAa 
bev ody Kal muxva Kal opixpa éyov ay TIS 
vomobétns acynpwv paivoito Tepl TOY KaT OiKiay 
Siovxyjoewv, Ta TE GANA Kal boa viKTwp aiTvias 
mépt mpémer Tois pwéAXovat Sia TéXOVS penned 
macav Todw axpiBas. To yap SAnv StaTtereiv 
qvTivody vuKTa evdovTa Kal OVTLVODY TOV TOALTOY, 
Kai pn havepov eivat maar Tois oiKétats éyet- 
808 pouevov Te kal eEavictdpevoy del mpwTov, TodTO 
aiaxpov Set SedoxX Oat Tact Kal ovK éXevOépou, elt’ 
ovv vomoy elT émruTHSEeUM“A TO TOLOUTOV KaXelY éoTl 
xpeov. Kal dy cal déorowvay év oixia bd Oepa- 
Tatvidwy éyeipecOai tivev Kal un mpeOTHY avTHY 
éyelpery Tas adAXaS, aioxpov éyev KPI Tpos 
autous SovAov te Kal dovAnv Kal Taida, Kai ef 
Tos hv olov te, 6Anv Kal Tacav THv oikiar. 
éryetpouevous 5€ vixtwp Sel TavTas TpaTTEW TOV 

1 aperhv Ast, England: &perjjs MSS. 
66 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


Olympian victory and is wholly lacking in leisure 
for other tasks, that life we speak of—which most 
truly deserves the name of “life’’—is doubly (nay, 
far more than doubly) lacking in leisure, seeing that 
it is occupied with the care of bodily and spiritual 
excellence in general. For there ought to be no 
other secondary task to hinder the work of supplying 
the body with its proper exercise and nourishment, 
or the soul with learning and moral training: nay, 
every night and day is not sufficient for the man who 
is occupied therein to win from them their fruit in 
full and ample measure. 

So this being nature's law, a programme must be 
framed for all the freeborn men, prescribing how 
they shall pass their time continuously, from dawn 
to dawn and sunrise on each successive day. It 
would be undignified for a lawgiver to mention a 
host of petty matters connected with the domestic 
arrangements—such as, in particular, the rules about 
that wakefulness at night which is proper for men 
who propose to guard a whole State adequately and 
continuously. That any citizen, indeed, should spend 
the whole of any night in sleep, instead of setting an 
example to his household by being himself always 
the first to awaken and rise—such a practice must be 
counted by all a shameful one, unworthy of a free 
man, whether it be called a custom or alaw. More- 
over, that the mistress of a house should be awakened 
by maids, instead of being herself the first to wake up 
all the others—this is a shameful practice ; and that 
it is so all the servants must declare to one another 
—bondman and bondmaid and boy, yea, even (were 
it possible) every stone in the house. And, when 
awake by night, they must certainly transact a large 

67 
F2 


PLATO 


Bre woduTiK@y pépn TOAAA Kal TOV oiKOVOMKOY, 
dpxovras pev Kata modu, Seoroiwas Sé Kai 
Seamrotas év idias oixiats. Umvos yap 57 Todds 
ovTe Tois c@pacw ovTE Tails Wuyais judy odd 
ad tais mpdfeot tais wept Tadta TavTa appoTT@V 
éotl kata diow. Kabevdwv yap ovdels ovdevos 
aEtos, ovdév wadXov Tod wn CaVTOS' GAN SoTLs 
Too fhv huav kat tod dpovely paduotad éote 
Kndepov, eypiyyope Ypovov @s TAEiaTOV, TO TPOS 

C iyievay avtod povoy dvddttay Xpyotpov’ ects 
& ov rodv, Karas eis 00s iov. éypnyopotes 6é 
dipyovtes év Todor vUKTwp PoBepol pév KaKois 
moXeulous Te Gua Kal TodiTals, ayactol 5é Kal 
Tipsor Tots Stxaiows Te Kal cwppoow, wpédtmor 
dé avtots Te Kal Evrae TH Wore. 

Nv€& pév 8% Scayouevn rovattn Tis TMpos Tact 
Tois eipnuévols avopiay av Tiva mpoomapéxolTo 
tais Wuyais éxdotav tov év Tals modeoLy 
nuépas dé dpOpou Te érravidvtwy Traidas pév TpOs 

D S:dacKxddous tov tpémecOar ypewv: dvev TroLpévos 
8¢ ote mpdBata ovT ddAXO <avovy>' oddev Tw 
Biwréov, 00d 8% Traidas advev TWdY Taldaywyav 
ovdé SovAous avev SeatroTav. oO é Tals TadvT@Y 
Onpiov éatt Svopetayeipistotatov? bom yap 
padiota eyes THyY Tod Ppoveiy puto KaATHPTU- 
pévnv, ériBovrov Kal Spi cal vBpiototatov 
Onpiwy yiyverar. 610 6) qWoddois avTo olov 

E yaduwois tial det Secpeverv, mpGtov pév, Tpopav 
Kal pntépov Otay amdddatTyTat, Taidaywyois 
madias Kal vynmioTntos yap, étr 8 avd Trois 
SiddoKover Kal otiody Kal pabypacw, ws édev- 

1 <tvovv> I add (wav for mw England). 
68 





he 


oe ee a 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


share of business, both political and economical, the 
magistrates in the city, and the masters and mis- 
tresses in their own houses. For much sleep is not * 
naturally suitable either to our bodies or souls, nor 
yet to employment on any such matters. For when 
asleep no man is worth anything, any more than if © 
he were dead: on the contrary, every one of us 
who cares most greatly for life and thought keeps 
awake as long as possible, only reserving so much 
time for sleep as his health requires—and that is but 
little, once the habit is well formed. And rulers 
that are watchful by night in cities are a terror to 
evil-doers, be they citizens or enemies, but objects 
of respect and admiration to the just and temperate ; 
and they confer benefit alike on themselves and on 
the whole State. 

The night, if spent in this way, will—in addition 
to all the other benefits described—tlend greater 
fortitude to the souls of all who reside in these 
States. With the return of daylight the children 
should go to their teachers; for just as no sheep or 
other witless creature ought to exist without a 
herdsman, so children cannot live without a tutor, 
nor slaves without a master. And, of all wild ; 
creatures, the child is the most intractable; for in 
so far as it, above all others, possesses a fount of 
reason that is as yet uncurbed, it is a treacherous, 
sly and most insolent creature. Wherefore the child 
must be strapped up, as it were, with many bridles | 
—first, when he leaves the care of nurse and mother, 
with tutors, to guide his childish ignorance, and 
after that with teachers of all sorts of subjects and 
lessons, treating him as becomes a freeborn child. 


69 


PLATO 


Gepov ws 8 ad SodXov, Tas 6 TpoctuyYavev TdY 
€Xevdépwv avdpav kodalérw Tov te maida avTov 
Kal Tov Tatdbaywyov Kal tov didacKadov, éav 
éEapaptavy tis Tu TOUT@V. dv 8 ad rportvyxavev 
Tis pny Kodaon TH Sinn, dveider pev evexécOw 
TpOTOV TO peyicT@, o S€ TOY vopopvAdKan él 
809 tiv tev maidwv apyiv npnuévos éemtoKxoreit@ 
TovToy Tov évTuyydvovtTa ols Aéyouev Kal jt 
kordbovta Séov Korabev,  KoAdlovTa pn KaTa 
tpotov: Srérav 5é huiv o€d Kal Stahepovtas 
emripeNovpevos THS TOV Taldwy Tpodis KaTev- 
Ouvérw tas pices alTav, del Ttpéra@v mpds 
Ttaya0ov KaTa vomous. 
Todrov 8& adtov ad ras av Hyiv 6 vopos avTos 
maoevcelev ikavas ; viv wev yap On elpnKev ovdev 
B rw cadés ovdé ixavov, ddr Ta ev, TA 8 ov Sei 
dé eis Sivapiy undév Tapareirew ato, wavra be 
Aoyov adepunvevery, iva odtos Tols dNXols pHvuTHS 
Te da Kal Tpopeds yiyvntar. Ta wev odv dy Yopelas 
Tépt MeX@V TE KAL Opynoews EppynOn, Tiva TvTOV 
éyovra éxrextéa Té €oTe Kal éravopPwtéa Kai 
xabiepwréa: Ta dé év ypdupace pev dvTa, avev Oe 
pétpov, Tota Kal tiva petaxerpifecOar xpH cot 
TpOToV, @ Apiate TOV Taidwv éripEeNnTa, TOUS UTS 
C cod tpedopevous, ove eipyxaper. Kal Tor TA mev 
mep Tov ToAELOV, & Set pavOave Te avdTovs Kal 





1 The child is of two-fold nature,—semi-rational ; as such 
he needs a double ‘‘ bridle,” that of instruction (proper to 
free men), and that of chastisement (proper to slaves). 


70 





ae 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


On the other hand, he must be treated as a slave ;* 
and any free man that meets him shall punish both 
the child himself and his tutor or teacher, if any of 
them does wrong. And if anyone thus meets them 
and fails to punish them duly, he shall, in the first 
place, be liable to the deepest degradation ; and the 
Law-warden who is chosen as president over the 
children shall keep his eye on the man who has met 
with the wrong-doings mentioned and_has failed 
either to inflict the needed punishment at all, or 
else to inflict it rightly. Moreover, this Law-warden 
shall exercise special supervision, with a keen eye, 
over the rearing of the children, to keep their grow- 
ing natures in the straight way, by turning them 
always towards goodness, as the laws direct. 

But how is the law itself to give an adequate 
education to this Law-warden of ours? For, up to the 
present, the law has not as yet made any clear or 
adequate statement : it has mentioned some things, 
but omitted others. But in dealing with this warden 
it must omit nothing, but fully expound every ordi- 
nance that he may be both expositor and nurturer to 
the rest. Matters of choristry of tunes and dancing, 
and what types are to be selected, remodelled, and 
consecrated—all this has already been dealt with ;? 
but with regard to the kind of literature that is 
written but without metre we have never put the 
question—O excellent supervisor of children, of 
what sort ought this prose to be, and in what fashion 
are your charges to deal with it? You know from 
our discourse? what are the military exercises they 
ought to learn and to practise, but the matters that 


2 799 A ff., 802 A ff. 
> Cp. 796 A ff. 


71 


PLATO 


pedeTav, EXels TH AOyY, TA Se Tepl TA ypaupata 
mpartov Kal SevTepov AVpas Tépt Kal Noyio par, Ov 
Epapev Selv boa Te pds TOAEMOV Kal OiKOVOmLaY 
kal THY KaTa TodAwW Sioiknow xphvat ExadoToUS 
AaBeiv, kal mpos Ta avTa TadTa éTL Ta Ypnoima 
Tov év Tails Tepiodsors TOY Ociwy, doTpwr Te TépL 
Kal HAtov Kal cerAnvns, doa Stotkety avayKaiorv éoTL 
D wep) tadta wdon Tore. Tivev 52) Tepe Aéyomer ; 
Hmepav TaEews eis nv@v TepLodous Kal wnvav eis 
éxactov Tov éviavtTov, iva @pat Kat Ouvoiar Kal 
€opTal Ta mpoonkovt amrodauBavovaar éavTais 
Exacta TO Kata haw ayecOar, CHoav THv TodW 
Kal éypnyopviav mapexopuevat, Oeots wev Tas TLMAS 
aTrobibao1, Tos 5é dvOpw@movs Tepl avTa madXov 
éuppovas arrepyalwvrat. TavTa ov’Tw col TavTa 
ixavas, ® dire, Tapa Tov vopobéTov Sreipnrat. 
Eqpocexe 59 Tov vodv toils peta tadta péddovat 
pnOnoecOar. ypapypatov elropev ws ovx ikavas 
&yers Tépt TO Tp@Tov, eixadoovTés TL TH NEEEt ; 
TOE, WS OUT SieipnKE GOL TOTEpoY Eis axpiBeLav 
Tov pabnuatos itéov Tov péAAOVTAa ToOAITHY 
écec Oat péTpLov 7) TO Tapamay ovdé mpocotcTéoV’ 
ws 8 avtws kal mept AUpay. tmpocotatéoy pévTot 
vov dapév. eis pev ypdupata madi Sexertet 
810 cyeddv eviavtol tpeis, AUpas Sé aracBar Tpia 
pev én Kal Séxa yeyovoow apxecOat pétpLos oO 
xpovos, éupetvar dé érepa tpia. Kal pte TrEl@ 
TOUT@Y nT eXdTTW TaTpl pwnd avTo@, piropa- 
Oobvte pndé picodvtt, Tept TatTa éFéoTw peilo 
72 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


have not as yet, my friend, been fully declared to 
you by the lawgiver are these—first, literature, next, 
lyre-playing; also arithmetic, of which I said that 
there ought to be as much as everyone needs to 
learn for purposes of war, house-management and 
civic administration ; together with what it is useful 
for these same purposes to learn about the courses 
of the heavenly bodies—stars and sun and moon— 
in so far as every State is obliged to take them into 
account. What I allude to is this—the arranging of 
days into monthly periods, and of months into a 
year, in each instance, so that the seasons, with 
their respective sacrifices and feasts, may each be 
assigned its due position by being held as nature 
dictates, and that thus they may create fresh liveli- 
ness and alertness in the State, and may pay their 
due honours to the gods, and may render the citizens 
more intelligent about these matters. These points, 
my friend, have not all as yet been explained to you 
sufficiently by the lawgiver. Now attend carefully 
to what is next to be said. In the first place, 
you are, as we said, insufficiently instructed as 
yet concerning letters. The point we complain of 
is this—that the law has not yet told you clearly 
whether the man who is to be a good citizen must 
pursue this study with precision, or neglect it alto- 
gether; and so likewise with regard to the lyre. 
That he must not neglect them we now affirm. For 
the study of letters, about three years is a reasonable 
period for a child of ten years old; and for lyre- 
playing, he should begin at thirteen and continue at 
it for three years. And whether he likes or dislikes 
the study, neither the child nor his father shall be 
permitted either to cut short or to prolong the years 


73 


PLATO 


pnd édatr@ Svar peBnv movtcOar Ta dvopov" 0 
be a) mer opevos ar epos Tov Taiwelwv ecto 
TUMOY, as odyov borepov pyréov. pavOaverv dé 
év TovTous Tots xXpovors 5% Ti mote Set Tous véous 
Kal SidacKev avd Tovs SidacKanovs, TobTo auros * 
B mparov pavOave. ypappara hey Tolvuy xp TO 
Expt ToD ypdyrar Te Kal dvayvavar Ouvarov 
elvat Statrovety: ™ pos TAX0S oé 4) 7) KaAXOS amnxpl- 
Bacbai Tigwv ols pn pvaus em éo TEUTEV év Tots 
TETAYMEVOLS éreot xaipew egy. mpos be 87 
pabnpara addupa TowmTav Kel wera, év ypappact, 
Tois ev peta HET POD, tois 6 dvev pub wav 
THNMAT OV, & 8) ouyypappara Karta ovyov eipn- 
péva povor, THT@weva prdpod Te kal appovias, 
C odarepa ypdppal? nuiv é€otl Tapa twev TOV 
TOAOv TOLOUT@D av0 poTrav Karaneherppeva' 
ols, @ mavTov Berra ro8 vowopuraxes, Tt xpn- 
cece; 7) Ti 70? dpiv o vowoberns xphoGas 
mporragas op0as dv rafee ; Kal wdda atrophcety 
avTov mpoa done. 
KA. Té more Tout, w Eéve, haiver mpos cavTov 
évT@s HTOPNKOS Neyer ; 
AQ. "Opbas iTédafes, 2) Knreuvia, mpos de 
5 Kotv@vors dpas ovTas mept vom@v avayKn TO 
TE pawvopevov eUTopov Kal TO pa ppaterv. 
D xa. Ti odv; ti tepl tovTwv viv Kal Toidy Tt 
meTrov0as héyers ; j 
ao. ‘Epa 67: oTopmact yap ToNAdKLs puptows 
évaytia ubclone ovdapes eUTropop. 
KA, Ti dat; opixpa Kat drtya Soxet cor Ta 


1 girds Ritter ; abrd MSS. 
74 


er ee 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


of study contrary to the law; and anyone who dis- 
obeys shall be disqualified for the school honours 
which we shall mention presently.1 And, during 
these periods, what are the subjects which the 
children must learn and the teachers teach—this 
you yourself must learn first. They must work at 
letters sufficiently to be able to read and write. But 
superior speed or beauty of handwriting need not be 
required in the case of those whose progress within 
the appointed period is too slow. With regard to 
lessons in reading, there are written compositions not 
set to music, whether in metre or without rhythmical 
divisions—compositions merely uttered in prose, void 
of rhythm and harmony; and some of the many 
composers of this sort have bequeathed to us 
writings of a dangerous character. How will you 
deal with these, O my most excellent Law-wardens? 
Or what method of dealing with them will the law- 
giver rightly ordain? He will be vastly perplexed, 
I verily believe. 

cin. What does this mean, Stranger?  Evi- 
dently you are addressing yourself, and are really 
perplexed. 

aTH. You are right in your supposition, Clinias. 
As you are my partners in this investigation of laws, 
I am bound to explain to you both what seems easy 
and what hard. 

cuin. Well, what is it about them that you are 
now alluding to, and what has come over you ? 

atu. I will tell you: it is no easy matter to 
gainsay tens of thousands of tongues. 

cin. Come now,—do you believe that the points 


1 Cp. 832 E ff 
75 


PLATO 


éutrpoobev nuiv eipnueva trepi vopwv KeioOat Tots 
moXXois UrevarTia } 

Ao. Kai pdra ares todo ye Aéryets* KEeNevELs 
yap 84 pe, ws éeuol daivetat, THs avTHs 0800 
exGoborr0d ryeyovutas Torois, isws 8 ovK éXat- 

E Toow érépous mpoo probs, ei O€ €XaTTOGLY, ObKOUY 
xetpoot ye, pel” wv Siaxedever pe Tapaxtvou- 
vevovTd Te Kal appoovra THY vov ék. TOV 
TapovT@y Aoywv TeTHNLEVNY odov THs vowobecias 
Tropever Gar pnder a avievTa. 

KA. Ti pyv; 

Ae. Od Toivuy avinu. RAéyo pny StL mointai 
Te nui eiot tives errav éEapéeTpwv TapeTroARoL 
Kal Tptétpov Kal wavtav 8) TOV Reyouéevwv 
HETpwr, ot pev éml omrovdny, of & ém yédora 
@pynKores, év ols gaci Seiv of TOXRaKes peupiot 
Tous op0as marSevouevous Tov véewy Tpedew Kat 
Staxopeis Tovetv, moAunKoous T ev Tals dvayvarert 

811 rovotytas Kai Todvpabeis, 6Aovs TomTas éxpav- 
Gavovras: ot &é éx TavTOV xepddata exréEavtes 
Kat Twas bras prices eis TAUTO Evvaryaryovres 
expavOavewv pact deiv els penny, TiWWepéevous, €b 
péAXAEL Tis Gyabds Huiv Kal coos ex ToAurretpias 
kal Twodvpabias yevéoOar. Ttovtois 8) od KedeveLs 
éue Ta viv Tappnotatouevoy atropaivecOar Ti TE 
KAXOS A€eyouar Kal ti py} 

KA. lds yap ov ; 

ao. Ti d9 mor av oy meph dm dvT@v TOUT@Y 

Bévt Aoyo dpdlov eirouw av ixavov; olpar pév 





1 Cp. Heraclitus’s saying (Frag. 16): wodvuabin vdov ob 
d:ddoxer; and the contempt shown for the versatile smatterer 


74 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


in which our previous conclusions about laws con- 
tradicted ordinary opinion were few and trifling ? 
_aTH. Your observation is most just. I take it 
that you are bidding me, now that the path which 
is abhorrent to many is attractive to others possibly 
not less numerous (or if less numerous, certainly not 
less competent),—you are, I say, bidding me adven- 
ture myself with the latter company and proceed 
boldly along the path of legislation marked out in 
our present discourse, without flinching. 

ciIn. Certainly. 

ata. Then I will not flinch. I verily affirm that 
we have composers of verses innumerable—hexa- 
meters, trimeters, and every metre you could men- 
tion,—some of whom aim at the serious, others at the 
comic ; on whose writings, as we are told by our tens 
of thousands of people, we ought to rear and soak the 
young, if we are to give them a correct education, 
making them, by means of recitations, lengthy 
listeners and large learners, who learn off whole 
poets by heart. Others there are who compile select 
summaries of all the poets, and piece together whole 
passages, telling us that a boy must commit these 
to memory and learn them off if we are to have him 
turn out good and wise as a result of a wide and 
varied range of instruction.1 Would you have me 
now state frankly to these poets what is wrong about 
their declarations and what right ? 

cun. Of course. 

atu. What single statement can I make about 
all these people that will be adequate? This, 


in Phaedr. 275 A (xoAdvhkoon .. . d0fbcopar yeyovdres aytl 
copa). 


77 


PLATO 


TO ToLvovde aYEOOY, 0 Kal Tas av wor TUYKwpHoELE, 
TONAA ev EKATTOV TOUTMY EL PNKEVAL KANWS, TOAAL 
dé xal tovvavtiov. ei 8 obtw Todt’ éxeu, xivdvvev 
pnt elvar pépovear trois tract Thy Todvpaiav. 

KA. Il@s ody xal ti tapawvoins av TO vopo- 
PvAaKt ; 

Ao, Tod méps réyers 5 

KA. Tod mpds ti mapdderyya mote aToBréyas 
dy TO ev éon TavTas wavOavely Tods vEduS, TO 

C8 amoxwdvor. Réye eal undev arroxver Néyov. 

Ao. °Q,’yabé Krewia, xivdvvedo Kata yé Twa 
TpOToV EevTUYNKEVAL. 

KA. Tod ss Tépt } 

Ao. Tod ui) wavtamract mapadelypatos atro- 
peiv. viv yap amroBdéwas tpds Tovds AOyous ods 
€& &w péxpe Sedpo 5) SveAnAVOapev Hpels, Os pev 
€uol hawdpeOa otx dvev Twos émuimvoias Oedr, 
édokav & ody por mavtdtact Toijoet TLVl TMpoco- 
poiws eipncba. Kai por tows ovdév Oavpacrov 

D dos érHrOe, Aoryous olkeious olov aOpoous émi- 
Br¥xpartt para noOfvar- tov yap 8) TreicTwY 
Aoyor, ods év Toinpacw 7 XVdnV OUTS eipnuevous 
beudOnxa Kal axnkoa, TavT@V por peTpL@TaTot 
ye elvar KaTehavyncay Kal TpOTHKOVTES TA wadoTA 
axovew véows. T@ 51) vomopvAaki Te Kal TaLdevTH 
Tapdderypwa ovx ay xo, @s olwat, TovTOU 
Bérriov ppakerv, ) tavta te didacKev Tapake- 
NevecGar Toigt SidacKddro1s Tovs Taidas, Ta TE 

E rovtwv éyoueva cal 6uora, av dpa srov tept- 
TuyXavn ToinTay Te Tonpata bueEt@v Kal yeypap- 


78 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


perhaps,—in which everyone will agree with me,— 
that every poet has uttered much that is well, and 
much also that is ill; and this being so, I affirm that 
a wide range of learning involves danger to children. 

cun. What advice then would you give the 
Law-warden ? 

aTH. About what? 

cin. About the pattern by which he should be 
guided in respect of the particular subjects which he 
permits or forbids all the children to learn. Tell us, 
and without scruple. 

atu. My good Clinias, I have had, it would seem, 
a stroke of luck. 

cLIn. How so? 

aTtH. In the fact that I am not wholly at a loss 
for a pattern. For in looking back now at the dis- 
cussions which we have been pursuing from dawn 
up to this present hour—and that, as I fancy, not 
_ without some guidance from Heaven—it appeared to 
me that they were framed exactly like a poem. 
And it was not surprising, perhaps, that there came 
over me a feeling of intense delight when I gazed 
thus on our discourses all marshalled, as it were, in 
close array; for of all the many discourses which I 
have listened to or learnt about, whether in poems 
or in a loose flood of speech like ours, they struck 
me as being not only the most adequate, but also 
the most suitable for the ears of the young. No- 
where, I think, could I find a better pattern than 
this to put before the Law-warden who is educator, 
that he may charge the teachers to teach the 
children these discourses of ours, and such as 
resemble and accord with these; and if it should 
be that in his search he should light on poems of 


79 


PLATO 


eva xatahoyadnv ) Kal ihas odtas avev Tod 
yeypagbar Nevyoueva, aedpa Tov TOoUT@Y TOV 
Oyo, BN peOevaae TpoT@ pndevi, ypader bar 5é 
Kal mp@Tov pev Tovs bidacKddous avTous avaryKa- 
Sew pavOdvew Kai émawetv, ods 0° ay py dpéony 
TOV ddacKddwr, a) xphnabas TOUTOLS ouvepyots, 
ods 6 ap 7 erative cupyipous €xn, TOUTOLS 
Xpa@pevov Tovs véous avrois Tapadidovat SudadoKew 

812 Te Kal Tadeverv' o0TOS pot pdG0s évtava Kal 
ore TehevTdTa, Tepl ypapmatioT@v Te eipnuevos 
dua cal Ypauparov. 

KA. Kara pév thv tbrodecw, @ Eéve, Euouye ov 
pawvopeba exT Os mopever Oat Tov vmoreévrov 
orev" ei 6€ TO GNov KaTopOodpev 7) wn, KadeTrOV 
lows Sucxupiferbar. 

ao, Tote yap, Knrevvia, TodTO y avTo éorat 
Katapavéctepov, ws eikds, Stay, 6 ToARAKIS 
eipnxapev, érl tédos adixoueOa maons THs b- 
e£0dou Trepi vor. 

Bre peas. 

Ae. "A ovy ov pera TOV YpaupatioTHy oO 
xapiorns 7} Hypiv Tpoapntéos ; 

KA. Ti pnv; 

ae. Tots KBaprorais fev Toivuy pas d0x@ 
TOV eum poadev NOyor dvapwnadévras TO Tpoahxov 
veluar THS Te SidacKkadias dpa Kal Tdons THS 
Tepl Ta TOLAvTA matdevoews. 

KA. Ilotw@y 67 mépt éyers ; ; 

A@. "Edapev, oiwat, rods rod Arovbeov' 7604 
éEnovTovtas pdods Sag epov Tas evata Onrous beiy 

C yeyovevar mept TE Tobs pvOpovs Kal ras TOV dp- 
povidy cveTacels, iva THY TOV MENOV plpnoLy THY 
80 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


composers, or prose-writings, or merely verbal and 
unwritten discourses, akin to these of ours, he 
must in no wise let them go, but get them written 
down. In the first place, he must compel the 
teachers themselves to learn these discourses, and 
to praise them, and if any of the teachers fail to 
approve of them, he must not employ them as 
colleagues ; only those who agree with his praise 
of the discourses should he employ, and entrust to 
them the teaching and training of the youth. Here 
and herewith let me end my homily concerning 
writing-masters and writings. 

cin. Judged by our original intention, Stranger, 
I certainly do not think that we have diverged from 
the line of argument we intended; but about the 
matter as a whole it is hard, no doubt, to be sure 
whether or not we are right. 

atu. That, Clinias, (as we have often said) will 
probably become clearer of itself, when we arrive at 
the end of our whole exposition concerning laws. 

cuin. Very true. 

atu. After the writing-master, must we not 
address the lyre-master next ? 

cin. Certainly. 

atu. When assigning to the lyre-masters their 
proper duties in regard to the teaching and general 
training in these subjects, we must, as I think, bear 
in mind our previous declarations.” 

cuin. Declarations about what? 

atu. We said, I fancy, that the sixty-year-old 
singers of hymns to Dionysus ought to be excep- 
tionally keen of perception regarding rhythms and 
harmonic compositions, in order that when dealing 


1 Cp. 799 D. 2 664 E ff., 670 Af. 


81 
VOL, II, G 


PLATO 


ev Kal THY KaKOS LeuLunuerny, év TOIs TAOHpacWW 
otav Wuyy yiyvntat, Ta Te THS yas Opotmpara 
Kal Ta THS évaytias énréEac Ba duvaros ov Tes Ta 
pev anoBadry, Ta be mpopépav eis pécov turf 
kal émadn Tats Tay véwy puxais, m™poKkadovpevos 
éxdotous els aperijs érecbar KTHolW TUVAaKOXOU- 
Oodvtas Sia TOV pincer. 
KA, "Adnbéotara A€yers. 

D ao. Todtwr toivur dei Xapev 3 Tots PO oryyous THS 
Avpas mpoaxypha bat, cadnvetas & &vexa TOY yopoor, 
TOV Te KBaporny Kal TOV TaLOevouevov, a amo wSov- 
Tas T poo xopoa 7a pOeypara TOLS pOeypacu THY 
S /Etepopaviay Kal TorKiMay THS Mpas, adha bev 
MéeAn TOV xopdav t leva dv, adda dé Tob Tay pe- 
Awdiav EvvPévtos Tontod, Kal 67) Kal TuKVvOTHTA 
pavoTnt Kal Tdxos BpadutAre cal o€vTHTa Bapv- 
TTL Evppavov Trea avtipavor]* TapeXopevous, 

E «ai tav pub wav @cavTws TavTobaTa Toucihwara 
Tpooapuorrovras toiot POoyyous Tis AUpas, 
mavra ouv Ta TowaiTa it) mpoo pé pew Tois Hed Qov- 
ow év tpioly erect TO TIS ovals XProLpov 
exhareo Bar 51a Tayous. Ta yap évavtia adda 
TapdTTovTa dvopabiay Trapexet, bel b€6 ore pdduora 
evpabels élvat Tovs véous" Ta yap avaycaia ov 
opLKpa ovo oAlya avTois éorl TpooreTaypeva 
padnuara, Setter dé aura mpoiay 0 ayos apa TO 
Ypov@. GAAA TAUTA pey OUTW TEpL THS movaLKTs 
Hiv O TaLdevTHS eTLperciaOw* TA SE WEN@V AVTOV 


1 [xa avrlpwvov] bracketed by England. 





1 7.¢. the notes of the instrument must be in accord with 
those of the singer’s voice. ‘‘ The twne, as composed by the 


82 


LAWS, BOOK VII : 


with musical representations of a good kind or a 
bad, by which the soul is emotionally affected, they 
may be able to pick out the reproductions of the good 
kind and of the bad, and having rejected the latter, 
may produce the other in public, and charm the souls 
of the children by singing them, and so challenge 
them all to accompany them in acquiring virtue by 
means of these representations. 

cin. Very true. 

aTH. So, to attain this object, both the lyre- 
master and his pupil must use the notes of the lyre, 
because of the distinctness of its strings, assigning 
to the notes of the song notes in tune with them ;? 
but as to divergence of sound and variety in the 
notes of the harp, when the strings sound one tune 
and the composer of the melody another, or when 
there results a combination of low and high notes, 
of slow and quick time, of sharp and grave, and all 
sorts of rhythmical variations are adapted to the 
notes of the lyre——no such complications should be 
employed in dealing with pupils who have to absorb 
quickly, within three years, the useful elements of 
music. — For the jarring of opposites with one another 
impedes easy learning ; and the young should above 
all things learn easily, since the necessary lessons 
imposed upon them are neither few nor small,— 
which lessons our discourse will indicate in time as 
it proceeds. So let our educator regulate these 
matters in the manner stated. As regards the 


poet, is supposed to have comparatively few notes, to be in 

slowish time, and low down in the register ; whereas the 
complicated variation, which he is condemning, has many 
notes, is in quick time, and high up in the register.” 
(England. ) 


83 
a2 


D PLATO 


ad Kai pnudtar, ola tos yopodidackddovs Kal & 
813 def SiddoKew, cal tadta npuiv év Tois mpoobev 
dvetpntar tava, & 8) Kabrepwbevta epapev Seip, 
tals éoptais Exacta adpuottovta, noovyy evTVYH 
Tais Todeot Tapabidovta wpeneiv. 
KA. °Ad769 wai tadta Sceipynxas. 
ay a 
ao. “AdnOéctata Toivur. Kal Tad hiv mapa- 
AaBav o epi tHv Movcav adpxwv aipebeis 
émipedeicOw eta TUYNS eEvpevods, jets Sé 
dpxnoews Te Tépt Kal OAns THs Twepl TO capa 
yupvacTikhs Tpos Tois EumpooVev eipnuévols atro- 
B dapev Kabarep povarkis TO S:dacKadcKov brro- 
Aovrrov dv arrédopev, @oavTws Tordmev Kata 
yupvaoTikhs. Tous yap Taidas Te Kal tas Taidas 
> cr \ lal \ / , 
opxeicbas 52 Set cal yupvalecOar pavOavew. 4 
/ 
yapp 
KA. Nai. 
° \ , 4 > / a \ 
ao. Tols wey toivvy maow dpynorai, tals dé 
opynotpioes av elev pds TO SiaTroveiy OK avEeTtL- 
TNOELOTEPOV. 
v ‘ , 
KA. “Eota@ 87 tavtn. 
ao. Iladw 6) tov Ta Trelota EEovtTa Tpday- 
C pata Kadapev, TOY TOV Taideyv éemipednTHy, Os 
a lal \ 
TOV TE TEPL MOVCLKNY TOV TE TEL yUpVYAaTTLKHY 
> 4 > \ / 
erlpeNovpevos ov Toddny er cyoAHp. 
KA. Ilds ody Suvatos éotar mpecButepos av 
TocovTw@p émipedciabat ; 
ae. ‘Padiws, @ dire. 0 vomos yap avT@ 
dédmxe kal SHcer mpocdhauBavew eis TaUTHY THY 
eriperelay TOY TOMTOY avdpav Kal yuvaLKav ods 
Kn > / / A A fal , x 
dy €0édy, yveoetar 6€ ods Se?, kal BovdAncetat pH 
1 nata: wat MSS., edd. 
84 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


character of the actual tunes and words which the 
choir-masters ought to teach, all this we have 
already} explained at length. We stated that in 
each case they should be adapted to a suitable festival 
and dedicated, and thus prove a benefit to the States, 
by furnishing them with felicitous enjoyment. 

cin. This, too, you have explained truly. 

atu. Yes, most truly. These matters also let 
the man who is appointed our Director of Music 
take over and supervise, with the help of kindly 
fortune ; and let us supplement our former state- 
ments concerning dancing and bodily gymnastics 
in general. Just as, in the case of music, we have 
supplied the regulations about tuition that were 
missing, so also let us now do in the case of gymnastics. 
Shall we not say that both girls and boys must learn 
both dancing and gymnastics? 

cLIn. Yes. 

atu. Then for their practices it would be most 
proper that boys should have dancing-masters, and 
girls mistresses. 

cin. I grant it. 

atH. Let us once more summon the man who 
will have most of these duties to perform, the 
Director of the Children,—who, in supervising both 
music and gymnastic, will have but little time to 
spare. 

cun. Howwill he beable, at his age, to supervise 
so many affairs? 

ATH. Quite easily. For the law has granted him, 
and will continue to grant him, such men or women 
as he wishes to take to assist him in this task of 
supervision : he will know himself the right persons 


1 799 A ff, 802 A. 
85 


PLATO 


D mAnppedeiv els TavTa aidovpevos éudhpoves Kal 
yeyorkov THS apxns TO péye0os, Aoyir wp TE 
Evvev os ev pay Tpaéevtov Kal Tpepopevev Tov 
véwy mdvtTa Hpiv Kar opOov Tel, Bn) 8é, ouT 
elmety aétov ovl” pets A€éyopev éml Kah Todet 
Tous opodpa prdopavTevTas oeBopevor, TOANG 
pev obv ply ral mept TOUTOY. elpytar Tov mepl 
Tas OpxXycels kal mept macay THY TOY quevaciov 
Kivnow: yupvdowa yap Tienev Kat Ta TEpl TOV 
moeLov amavra TOUS TOpATe Siatrovnwata Tokl- 
KAS Te Kal Taons piryews Kal meXTagTiKhs Kat 

E waons oTAopayias Kal dveEodwv TAKTLROY Kab 
andons Topelas oTparoméowy Kai oTpatome- 
devoemy Kal doa eis immixny padnuata ouvreivel. 
TavT@Y yap ToUT@V didacKxdrovs te evar Set 
KoLvous, apvupévous pc Bov mapa THS Toews, 
Kal TOUT@Y pabnras Tous €p TH TOAEL maids Te 
Kal avipas, wal Kopas Kal yuvaixas TAVT@DY 
TOUTO@Y eTla Tn LOVaS, KOpas bev ovoas eT. Tacav 
THY év Ordos Opynolw Kat paxny fMepeNETN- 
Kuias, yuvaixas de SieEodwy kal TaEewv Ka 

814 Jévews Kal dvatpécews Omrov Humevas, eb pnod- 
evos EveKa <addou>;} aX» el Tote denoece mavon- 
pel [waon TH Suva pec] 2 KaTaXelTovTas Tiy mohw 
ef otpateverOau Tous puddatarras maidas Te Kal 
THY addnv TOM, ixavous elvat TO ye tocovrov, o 
Kab TowvarTiov, oy 34 ovdev aT @ LOT Ov, efwOev 
monrepious elomec ovTas pop Tul peyaryn Kai Big, 
BapBdpous elite “EXXnvas, avayeny Trapacxelv 


1 Cédrovy I add. 
sd [don 7H duvduer] bracketed by Burges, England. 
3 gy: av MSS., edd, (sv Badham). 


86 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


to choose, and he will be anxious to make no blunder 
in these matters, recognizing the greatness of his 
office and wisely holding it in high respect, and 
holding also the rational conviction that, when the 
young have been, and are being, well brought up, 
all goes “swimmingly,’ but otherwise—the conse- 
quenees are such as it is wrong to speak of, nor will 
we mention them, in dealing with a new State, out 
of consideration for the over-superstitious.! Con- 
cerning these matters also, which relate to dancing 
and gymnastic movements, we have already spoken 
at length.2 We are establishing gymnasia and all 
physical exercises connected with military training,— 
the use of the bow and all kinds of missiles, light 
skirmishing and heavy-armed fighting of every 
description, tactical evolutions, company-marching, 
camp-formations, and all the details of cavalry train- 
ing. In all these subjects there should be public 
instructors, paid by the State; and their pupils 
should be not only the boys and men in the State, 
but also the girls and women who understand all 
these matters—being practised in all military drill 
and fighting while still girls and, when grown to 
womanhood, taking part in evolutions and rank- 
forming and the piling and shouldering of arms,— 
and that, if for no other reason, at least for this 
reason, that, if ever the guards of the children and 
of the rest of the city should be obliged to leave the 
city and march out in full force, these women should 
be able at least to take their place; while if, on the 
other hand—and this is quite a possible contingency 
—an invading army of foreigners, fierce and strong, 


1 i.e. they would regard the mere mention of possible evil 
. in connexion with anything new-born) as of ill-omen. 
* 795 D ff.. 
87 


PLATO 


Tepl avThs THs Toews THY Stapayny yiryveoOat, 
Boddy Tov Kakia ToNTEias obtasS aicypas Tas 
yuvaixas eivat teOpappévas, os und waTrep dpve- 
Pas wept téxvay paxyouévas pos oTLody Tov 
ioxupotatewv Onpiov éérew aroOvncKew te Kab 
mavtas Kiwodtbvouvs Kivduveverv, GNX evOds pos 
iepa hepopévas mavtas Bwpovs Te Kal vaods éumt- 
Twravat Kal dd€av tod TOY dvOp@TrwY yévous KaTa- 
xeiv ws Tdvtwy SevdoTatov puaer Onpiwv éotiv. 

KA. Ov wa tov Ala, & Eéve, oddapuas evoynpov 

C yiyvorr’ dv, Tod Kaxod yewpis, TodTO év TOXEL 6TrOU 
ylryvowto. 

Ae. Odxodv TiOaGpev Tov vomov TodTOV, wéxXpL 
ye TocoUvTOUV pn awedcioOar TA TEpl TOY TOAEMOY 
yuvavkl Seiv, émipereioOar 5¢ rdvtas Tovs TrodiTas 
Kal Tas TOALTLOAS ; 

KA. 'Eyo yotv cvyxapa. 

Ao. IldAns troivuy ta peév etrropev, 6 & éotl 
péyioTtov, as eyo hainv av, ovK eipnkaper, ovd 
€oTt padivoy avev ToD TH copate Secxvivta apa 

D kai 76 roy Ppdkerv. TodT’ ody Tore Kptvodpmer, 
dtav epy@ oyos aKodovOncas wnvion TL cadées 
TOV TE GAY Ov eipnKe Tépt Kal OTL TH TodEMLKH 
HaXn TAaTOY KiWHcEwr dvT@s eat Evyyerns TOAD 
padic® auiv 9 TovavtTn Tardy; Kal 8H Kal Gre Set 
TAUTHY Exelyns XapLy emiTNOEvELY, AA’ OvK ExeivnY 
TaUTHS Evexa pavOaveww. 

KA. Kadgas Todt ye Aéyets. 

Ao. Nobv dn Tis ev repli maraiotpay Suvauews 





1795 D, E. 2 Op. 832 E. 
88 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


should force a battle round the city itself, then it 
would be a sore disgrace to the State if its women 
were so ill brought up as not even to be willing to 
do as do the mother-birds, which fight the strongest 
beasts in defence of their broods, but, instead of 
facing all risks, even death itself, to run straight to 
the temples and crowd all the shrines and holy 
places, and drown mankind in the disgrace of being 
the most craven of living creatures. 

cun. By Heaven, Stranger, if ever this took 
place in a city, it would be a most unseemly thing, 
apart from the mischief of it. 

atu. Shall we, then, lay down this law,—that up 
to the point stated women must not neglect military 
training, but all citizens, men and women alike, 
must pay attention to it? 

cin. I, for one, agree. 

aTH. As regards wrestling, some points have 
been explained ;! but we have not explained what 
is, in my opinion, the most important point, nor 
is it easy to express it in words without the help 
of a practical illustration. This point, then, we 
shall decide about? when word accompanied by 
deed can clearly demonstrate this fact, among the 
others mentioned,—that wrestling of this kind is 
of all motions by far the most nearly allied to 
military fighting ; and also that it is not the latter 
that should be learned for the sake of the former, 
but, on the contrary, it is the former that should 
be practised for the sake of the latter. 

cuin. There, at any rate, you are right. 

atu. For the present let this suffice as an 


* Cp. 803 D, 
89 


PLATO 


TO peéexpe Sedp’ Hpi eipyja Boo mept dé Tis ars 
E xuvjoews mavTos ToD cwpmaTos, 7s TO TEtoTOV 
Hépos bpxnoiv Twa Tis Tpocayopevov opOas av 
POéyyorto, Svo pev adths eidn ypn vouitew etvas, 
THY MeV TOV KANALOVOV GwomaTeV él TO TEmVOV 
futoupévnv, tiv d5& Tdv aicyiovwy érl Td 
padrov, kal mddw tod dhavrov te Sv0 Kal Tod 
omovdaiov dvo étepa. tod 8) omovdaiov tH 
bev KaTa TOAE“ov Kal év Bralots éumraKkévTwv 
Tovols TwpLdToY ev KAadOV, uxs 8 avdpiKfs, 
Ty 8 év evrpayiats Te ovaNS uyts s@dppovos év 
ndovais Te EupeTpols* elpnvixny av TIS Aéyov KATA 
gicw thy tovavTnv dpynow Réyou. THY TodeE- 
815 puxnv 8% TovT@v, a\rAnV odvoaY THs EipnUiKhs, 
Tuppixyny av TLs OpOas Tpocayopevot, Tas TE EVAG- 
Beias macdv mAnyav Kal BoraOv éxvedceot Kal 
bmeiEer Tacn Kal éextndynceow év twee Kal Edv 
TaTevocel pimouperny, Kal Tas TavTaLs évarTias, 
tas érl ta Spactixa pepopévas ad oynuata ev TE 
tats tav Tofwv Borais kal axovtiov kal Ttacav 
TANYOV pinata émuxetpodoav? pyweioOar. TO 
te opOov év tovTois Kal TO evTOVOY, TAY ayalav 
coudTov Kal wuyav omoTay yiyyntat pipnya, 
B evOudepes ws TO TOAD THY TOD TwpuaTOS pmeEedOv 
yuyvopevor, opOdv pév TO ToLodTOV, TO dé TOUTOLS 
Touvaytiov ovK opbov’ amodexouevov. Thy é 
eipnuixny dpxnow THe ad Oewpntéov ExdoTor, 
elte OpO@s elite pu Kata pow Tis THs Karts 
1 émxeipotcay Badham: émxeipotcas MSS. 
go 


a ——— 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


aecount of the functions of the wrestling-school. 
Motion of the whole body, other than wrestling, 
has for its main division what may be rightly termed 
dancing! ; and we ought to consider it as consisting 
of two kinds,—the one representing the solemn 
movement of beautiful bodies, the other the ignoble 
movement of ugly bodies ; and of these again there 
are two subdivisions. Of the noble kind there 
is, on the one hand, the motion of fighting, and 
that of fair bodies and brave souls engaged in 
violent effort; and, on the other hand, there is 
the motion of a temperate soul living in a state 
of prosperity and moderate pleasures; and this 
latter kind of dancing one will call, in accordance 
with its nature, “pacific.” The warlike division, 
being distinct from the pacific, one may rightly 
term “ pyrrhiché”?; it represents modes of eluding 
all kinds of blows and shots by swervings and duck- 
ings and side-leaps upward or crouching; and also 
the opposite kinds of motion, which lead to active 
postures of offence, when it strives to represent the 
movements involved in shooting with bows or darts, 
and blows of every description. In all these cases 
the action and the tension of the sinews are correct 
when there is a representation of fair bodies and souls 
in which most of the limbs of the body are extended 
straight: this kind of representation is right, but 
the opposite kind we pronounce to be wrong. In 
pacific dancing, the point we must consider in every 
case is whether the performer in his dances keeps 


1 Here a wide term, embracing all kinds of bodily gestures 
and posturing. {ns 

2 The technical name for a ‘ war-dance” (“‘ polka”) in 
quick time (possibly connected by_P. wi 5 Wuperos). 


gt 


PLATO 


Opxnoews avTiiawBavopevos év Yopelais TpeTrov- 
T@S evo wey avdpav Svatenel. 

Ti toiwuv aupioBntoupéevnv dpynow Set Tpa- 
Tov xepis Ths dvapdiaByrirov Siatepeiv. Tis 
obv aitn, kal mH Set yopls téuvew éxatépar ; 

Cécn pev Baxxeia 7 éotl Kal tTdv TavTats éro- 
péverv, als }[Nvpudas te xal] Tdvas cal Levrnvods 
kal Latvpous [érovopatortes], Os Pact, wrpovv- 
Tal KaT@VMpévous, TeptKaBapmoUs TE Kal TEAETAS 
Twas atotedouvTar, Eiuray TodTO THs OpxYnTEws 
TO yévos 0vO ws eipnrikoy OVP ws TrorEmLKOV OVO” 
5 ti mote BovAeTar padiov adopicacbar: Sdzopi- 
sacar pv por tatty Soxet ayedov dpOoratov 

D adro eivat, ywpls pév ToreutKod, yepls 8 eipnviKod 
Oévtas eitreiv @s OvK éoTL TOALTLKOY TOUTO THS 
opxncews TO yévos, évTad0a Sé Keiwevov édcavTa 
KeicOas vov ert TO ToAEuLKOY Ga Kal elpyviKon, 
as avapdiaBntynTws iuétepov bv, éraviévat. 

Td S€ tis adroreuov Movons, ev dpynoect 5é 
tous Te Deovs Kal Tos THY Oedy Taidas TLLaYTOY, 
év pev Evyrray yiyvort adv yévos ev S0&n tod 
TpaTTeEw Ev yiyvouevov, TOVTO: Sé Sux Starpotwev 

E av, TO pev €« Tovwv tivav avTod Kal Kivdivev 
Siatrepevyotav eis ayabd, peifovs Hdovas exov, 
70 5€ Tov EuTrpodVev ayabav cwtnpias ovoNs Kal 
eT aveNS, TpaoTepas TAS HOOVAS KEKTNMEVOV EKELVOY. 
év 5€ 82) Tois ToLvovTOLs Tou Tas avOpwTros TAS KIWN}- 
Tels TOD TMpmaTOS perLoverv pev TOV HOOVOV OVEaV 
peilous, €Xattover 5é éXdTTOUs KLVElTAL, Kal KoT- 
92 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


always rightly, or improperly, to the noble kind of 
dancing, in the way that befits law-abiding men. 

So, in the first place, we must draw a line between 
questionable dancing and dancing that is above 
question. All the dancing that is of a Bacchic kind 
and cultivated by those who indulge in drunken 
imitations of Pans, Sileni and Satyrs (as they call 
them), when performing certain rites of expiation 
and initiation,—all this class of dancing cannot easily 
be defined either as pacific or as warlike, or as of any 
one distinct kind. The most correct way of defining 
it seems to me to be this—to separate it off both 
from pacific and from warlike dancing, and to pro- 
nounce that this kind of dancing is unfitted for 
our citizens: and having thus disposed of it and 
dismissed it, we will now return to the warlike 
and pacific kinds which do beyond question belong 
to us. 

That of the unwarlike Muse, in which men 
pay honour to the gods and the children of the 
gods by dances, will consist, broadly speaking, of 
all dancing performed under a sense of prosperity : 
of this we may make two subdivisions—the one 
being of a, more joyful description, and proper to 
men who have escaped out of toils and perils into 
a state of bliss—and the other connected rather 
with the preservation and increase of pre-existent 
blessings, and exhibiting, accordingly, joyousness of 
a less ardent kind. Under these conditions every 
man moves his body more violently when his joys 
are greater, less violently when they are smaller ; 
also, he moves it less violently when he is more 





2 als England: &: MSS. [Néupas te cai] and [éxovoud- 
(ovtes] I bracket. 


93 


PLATO 


HiwTEpos peéev Ov mpds te avdpiay padXov yeyup- 
816 vacpévos EXaTTOUS av, Setcdos O€ Kal ayvpvacTos 
yeyovas mpos TO cwppoveiv peifous Kal apodporé- 
pas Tapéyetar petaBoras THs kwnoews bras Sé 
POeyyopevos, elt’ ev @dais eit’ ev NOyots, Hovxiav 
ov wavu duvatos TH cdpatt TapéxecOat Tas. 810 
pipnots TOV Aeyouévov oynpact yevouévn THY 
opynotixny éEepyacato téxvnv EvuTacay. o 
bev odv EUMEXaS Hudv, Oo OE TWANUPEADS €v TOUTOLS 
Brdot xwettat. tmoAd\a pev 8) Tolvuy ad\Xra Hiv 
TOV TAahal@v ovou“aTav ws ed Kal Kata hvow 
keipeva dei Svavoovpevoy érraiveiv, TovTwy dé év 
Kal TO Tepl Tas OpxXyoEls TAS TOV ED TPATTOVTAY, 
évtwy Sé€ petpioy adTayv mpos Tas Hdovds, ws 
Opbas dua Kal wovolKas @vopacey GaTLs TOT Hy, 
Kal KaTa NOyov avtais Oéuevos dvoua Evprdacais 
éuperelas éetravopuace, cal Sto 5) TOY OpynoewY 
Tov Karov eldn KaTEecTHoAaTO, TO pev ToNEmLKOY 
C ruppixyny, To 5é eipnvixov éupérevav, éxatép@ TO 
mpétrov Te Kal dppottov émiels dvoua. a by det 
Tov pev vomobétny éEnyeicOat tUrois, Tov Sé 
vowopvnraka Enteiv Te Kal avepevynodpevor, meTa 
Tihs GANS povoiKs THY Opynow ouvOévTa Kal 
velwavta éml macas éoptas Tav Ovatav éxdaTy TO 
mpocpopor, ovTw Kablepwoayta avTa TavTa év 
Taker TOW NoLTOD py KLVElY pNndeVv [TE OpYnTEws 
éxouevov pnte @dys, év tais 8 avtais ndovais 
D @cattas tiv aitiy TOAW Kai TONTAS SiayovTas, 
opotous eis Ovvaptv dvTas, Chved Te eal eddatmovas. 





1 A decorous, stately dance (‘‘ minuet”’), 





94 


a 


Ve eee 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


sedate and better trained in courage, but when he 
is cowardly and untrained in temperance, he in- 
dulges in greater and more violent changes of 


motion ; and in general, no one who is using his 


voice, whether in song or in speech, is able to 
keep his body wholly at rest. Hence, when the 
representation of things spoken by means of gestures 
arose, it produced the whole art of dancing. In 
all these instances, one man of us moves in tune 
with his theme, another out of tune. Many of the 
names bestowed in ancient times are deserving of 
notice and of praise for their excellence and de- 
scriptiveness: one such is the name given to the 
dances of men who are in a prosperous state and 
indulge in pleasures of a moderate kind: how true 
and how musical was the name so rationally be- 
stowed on those dances by the man (whoever he 
was) who first called them all “Emmeleiai,”! and 


established two species of fair dances—the warlike, 


termed “ pyrrhiché,” and the pacific, termed “em- 
meleia”’—bestowing on each its appropriate and 
harmonious name. These dances the lawgiver 
should describe in outline, and the Law-warden 
should search them out and, having investigated 
them, he should combine the dancing with the 
rest of the music, and assign what is proper of it 
to each of the sacrificial feasts, distributing it over 
all the feasts; and when he has thus consecrated 
all these things in due order, he should thenceforth 
make no change in all that appertains to either 
dancing or singing, but this one and the same city 
and body of citizens should continue in one and 
the same way, enjoying the same pleasures and 
living alike in all ways possible, and so pass their 
lives happily and well. 


95 


PLATO 


Ta ev obv TOV Kadaov TOMATOY kal yevvaiov 
yuxav eis Tas Xopeias, olas elpnTar Sety auras 
elva, Siatvetépavtar Ta be TOV aiaypav Y TOMAT OY 
Kal Stavonudtoyv Kal TOV éml Ta TOU yéAwTOS 
Kopednuara TeTPAaU LEVEY, Kara réEw Te Kal ony 
Kal kara opxnow Kal Kata Ta TOUT@Y TavT@Y 
Heprjpara Kecopnmonpéva, a avaryen pev Gedcacbar 
kal yrepiterv® divev yap yedotwv Ta omovoaia ral 

E raytev TOV évavtiov Ta évavtia pabeiv pev ov 
Suvarov, ef méAXEL TLS Ppovepos doea@as, qrovety 
6é ovK av} Suvarov auporepa, el TLS apa’ 2 wédnree 
kal outKpoyv apeTHs pebeEew, anra avtav évexa 
TOUT@Y Kal pavO avery aura Sel, TOD pon tote bv 
dyvoiav Spav i héyew boa vyedota pndev Séov, 
dovdous dé Ta to.adta kal Févors éppia Bors 
T pooTar Tew ptpeta Bat, omovdny dé mepl avta 
elvat pndérore pnd Hr wwoby pndé Tia paV- 
Gavovra avTa yiyver Bar pavepov TOV edevBépov, 
pajre yuvaica pyre avopa, Kav be dei Tt mepl 
aura paiver Bar TOV Hipnparor, boa HEY ovv 
meph yehora €oTL maiyia, a a on Ko ppdtay TavTEs 

817 Aéyouer, OTH 7 vouw Kal ove Keiac0w* TOY 
dé orovdaioy, @ as pact, TOV meph Tparypdiav 1) jpty 
TOTO, édv mor€ TUVES avTav Tpmas Er ovTes 
eTravEeparyir@ow obTwat mas, *O, Eévor, morepov 
porrdpev tpiv eis TH Tod TE wal X@pay | *) BM, 
Kal THY Toinow pépopev Te Kal dry@ per, i) TOS 
opiv déS0xrat Tepl ta Toradta Spav; ti odv av 
mpos tadta bp0as amoxpwaineba tots belots 


1 ad H. Richards: &v MSS. 
2 tpa: ad MSS., edd, 


96 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


What concerns the actions of fair and noble souls 
in the matter of that kind of choristry which we 
have approved as right has now been fully discussed. 
The actions of ugly bodies and ugly ideas and of 
the men engaged in ludicrous comic-acting, in © 
regard to both speech and dance, and the repre- | 
sentations given by all these comedians—all this | 
subject we must necessarily consider and estimate, 
For it is impossible to learn the serious without the 
comic, or any one of a pair of contraries without 
the other, if one is to be a wise man; but to put | 
both into practice is equally impossible, if one is 
to share in even a small measure of virtue; in 
fact, it is precisely for this reason that one should 
learn them,—in order to avoid ever doing or saying 
anything ludicrous, through ignorance, when one 
ought not; we will impose such mimicry on slaves 
and foreign hirelings, and no serious attention shall 
ever be paid to it, nor shall any free man or free 
woman be seen learning it, and there must always 
be some novel feature in their mimic shows.1 Let — 
such, then, be the regulations for all those laugh- 
able amusements which we all call “comedy,” as 
laid down both by law and by argument. Now 
as to what are called our “serious” poets, the 
tragedians,—suppose that some of them were to 
approach us and put some such question as this,— 
“Q Strangers, are we, or are we not, to pay visits 
to your city and country, and traffic in poetry? 
Or what have you decided to do about this?” 
What would be the right answer to make to these 


1 i.e. lest the public taste should be debased by the 
repeated exhibition of any one piece of vulgarity. 


97 
VOL. II. iu 


PLATO 


avdpacw 3 €wol pev yap doxel Tade, "O adpiorot, 
B dava, tav Eévor, jets: éo ev Tpayodias avtol 
mountal KaTa Sivapen © ort KaddMarns dpa Kal 
apiotns’ aca yodv* Hiv a) mohrela Evvér rye 
piunors TOU KaddMaTou kal aptoTou Biou, & 87 
apev Huels rye ovT@s elvat Tpaypoiay THY aXy- 
eoTaTny. moral pev obv Dpels, Tota 6é 
Kal Hpeis éo ev Tov avTav, div dytirexvol TE 
cal avtayovicral TOU KANN oTOU Epaparos, 0 ) én 
vOMOS arn Ons povos dmoreneiv TEPVKEY, & @s ) Tap 
C jpov éorly éXmis. 2) 87) dofnte eas padias 
ye OUTS bas more Tap’ Hiv édoew oxnvas Té 
mntavTas KaT aryopav Kai Kaddpe@vous vo- 
Kpitas eloayaryopevous, petfov pleyyouevous 
pov, emu peyrewv bpiv Snunyopeiv Tpos maidds 
Te Kal yuvaikas Kal Tov mayra dxNo», TOV avrav 
Néyovras émutndevparov ™épt py TA adTa dtrep 
7 wets GNN’ @S TO ond Kal évavtia Ta mretoTa* 
oxedov yap Tow Kav patvoiweBa TEAEwWS HUES TE 
D Kal amaca 7 TONS, iyres obv bpiv emit pérrot Spay 
Ta vov Aeyoueva, ™ piv Kpivar Tas apxas cite 
pyra cal émriTnoeta TeTOLNnKaTE Aéyewy els TO 
pécov elite wy. viv odv, @ Taides HaraKav 
Move ap Exyovor, emOeiEavtes ois apxouet 
7 p@Tov Tas dpetépas mapa Tas HmeTepas: weds, 
av bev Ta auTad ye 7) Kal Berrie Ta map’ Ouay 
paivyrar Aeyopeva, Swcopev tyuiv yopov, ei Se 
By, @ iron, ovK av Tore Svuvaipeba. 
E Taidr’ ody éotw mepi wacav xopeiayv Kal pa- 
Onow TovtTwv tépt ouvtTetaypéva vopots €0n, 








1 yotv Bywater, England: ody MSS. 
98 








LAWS, BOOK VII 


persons regarding the matter? In my 
judgment, this should be the answer,/—* Most | 
excellent of Strangers, we ourselves, to the best 
of our ability, are the authors of a tragedy at once 
superlatively fair and good ; at least, all our polity 
is framed as a representation of the fairest and best 
life, which is in reality, as we assert, the truest | 
tragedy. Thus we are composers of the same 
things as yourselves, rivals of yours as artists and 
actors of the fairest drama, which, as our hope is, 
true law, and it alone, is by nature competent to 
complete. Do not imagine, then, that we will 
ever thus lightly allow you to set up your stage 
beside us in the market-place, and give permission 
to those imported actors of yours, with their dulcet 
tones and their voices louder than ours, to harangue 
women and children and the whole populace, and 
to say not the same things as we say about the 
same institutions, but, on the contrary, things that 
are, for the most part, just the opposite. In truth, 
both we ourselves and the whole State would be 
absolutely mad, were it to allow you to do as I have 
said, before the magistrates had decided whether or 
not your compositions are deserving of utterance 
and suited for publication. So now, ye children and | 
offspring of Muses mild, do ye first display your 
chants side by side with ours before the rulers ; and 
if your utterances seem to be the same as ours or 
better, then we will grant you a chorus,” but if not, 
my friends, we can never do so.” 
Let such, then, be the customs ordained to go 
with the laws regarding all choristry and the learning 
* Cp. Rep. 398 A, B 
? i.e. grant you leave to “ stage” your play. 


99 
H 2 


-PLATO 


yopis pv Ta Tov Sovdav, xwpls SE Ta Ta 
deotroTtav, ei Evvdoxel. 
KA. lds & ob Evvdoxel viv ye ov tas ; 
ao. “Ere 8) Toivuy Tots ehevO Epos éorl 
tpla pabijpara, oyta pot pep Kal Ta mTepl apio- 
pods év wdOnua, peTpnTexi dé pyjKous kal émi- 
aésou Kal Ba@ous ws év ai SevTepov, tpitov 6é 
THS TOV GoTpeV Teptddov Tos adda os mépuce 
818 mopever Oat. Tavta 6é€ Evuravta ovy os axkpt- 
Beias éxyopeva Set Siatroveiy Tovs toAXOdS GAG 
TWas odyous" ods 8é, Tm poiovres ent TH TEdet 
ppda oper" ovTw yap m perrov av ein: TO mrdet 
dé, doa avTav avayKaia OS * dp0orara Réyerau 2) 
ériotacGat péev Tois monnois aicy por, bv aK pt- 
Betas 6é nreiv mayra ore pgocov ouTe To 
mapaTray dvvarov' TO be dvarykatov avTav Ux 
olov TE amroBdadnrew, Grd’ Gotxev 6 Tov Oedv Tm parov 
B Taporplac dWEvos eis tabra amroBheas etrely @s 
ovde Oeds dvayen 7) OTE parh HAXOpEVOS, boat 
Octai ye, oimat, TOV [re] dvaryKxav eiciv, érrel TOY 
ye avOpworiver, els is ot Tool Bdérovtes ré- 
yovot TO TovodTor, oUTOs TavT@Y TOY Oyo 
evnbéatatos éoTl paKpeO. 
KA. Tives ovv, ® Eéve, ai yur TOLadTaL avayKat 
TOV pabnuatov, Geta dé; ; 
Ae, Aone nev, as pe} THs mpatas unde ad 
C pabor TO TapaTrav ouk av ToTE yévorro av- 
Opwmots Oeds ovb€ Baipov ovee 7jpws, olos 
[Svvaros]2 avOporav éripéderav ody omroven 


1 &s: kal mws MSS. (8rws W.—Miéllendorff). 
2 [dvvards] bracketed by Badham. 


rIoo 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


thereof—keeping distinct those for slaves and those 
for masters,—if you agree. 

cin, Of course we now agree to it. 

atu. There still remain, for the freeborn, three 
branches of learning: of these the first is reckoning 
and arithmetic; the second is the art of measuring 
length and surface and solid ; the third deals with 
the course of the stars, and how they naturally 
travel in relation to one another. All these sciences 
should not be studied with minute accuracy by the 
majority of pupils, but only by a select few—and 
who these are we shall say when we have come 
near the end,—since that will be the proper place :1 
but for the bulk of the pupils, while it would be 
shameful for most of them not to understand all 
those parts of them that are most truly termed 
“necessary, yet it is not easy nor even at all _ 
possible for every student to go into them minutely. 
The necessary part of them it is impossible to reject, 
and probably this is what was in the mind of the 
original author of the proverb,” “ Not even God will 
ever be seen fighting against Necessity,’"—meaning 
by this, I suppose, all kinds of necessity that are 
divine, since in relation.to human necessities (to 
which most people apply the saying when they 
quote it) it is of all sayings far and away the most 
fatuous. 

cun. What necessities then, Stranger, belong 
to these sciences, that are not of this sort, but 
divine ? 

atu. Those, as I believe, which must be practised 
and learned by every god, daemon, and hero, if 
he is to be competent seriously to supervise man- 


1 Cp. 962 0, 965 A ff, 2 Cp. 741 A. 
Iol 


PLATO 


moveic0at. moddod 8 av Senocevev avOpwros ye 
Deios yevérOar pte ev ponte SVo pHnte Tpia HO 
dAws dptia Kal mepitTa Suvapevos yiyvoOoKe, 
pndé dpiOyuetv To wrapdrav cides, unde victa Kal 
Hpépav SrapO peta Oar Suvaros av, cednvns Sé Kal 
HALoU Kal TOY GANwY AoTpwY TEepipopas aTeElpws 

Déyov. tadr ody 57) mavTa ws péev OvK avayKaid 
éote pabnuata Te wéAXNOVTL aYEdOY OTLOUY TOV 
KaAMoTov padnuatov 5 pb TOA) Kal 
pwpia tod dsavonuatos: mola dé éxacta ToUT@Y 
Kal Toca Kal Tote pabntéov, Kal Ti peTa Tivos 
kal ti xwpls TOY GAXNoV, Kal Tacav THY TOUTOD 
Kpaow, Tadta éotwy & Set AaBdvTAa bpOas mpaTa 
él TadXa iovta TOUT@Y Hyounevarv TOV waOnud- 
tov pavOdverv’ odtw yap avayKn pvoe KaTeirn- 

E dev, 4} paper oddéva Oedv ovte payeorOar Ta viv 
ovTe payeloOai Tore. 

KA. “Korké ye, @ Eéve, viv ottTw tas pyOevta 
6p0as eiphcOar Kal Kata piow & Réyers. 

Ao. “Eyer wev yap ots, ® Krewia, yarerrov 
8 avta mpotakduevoy TovT® TO TpoT@ vopo- 
Oeteiv' GAN eis Gddov, ef SoKel, Xpovoy axKpt- 
Béatepov av vopobeTncatpeba. 

KA. Aoxeis muiv, & Féve, hoBeicPar TO Tis 
Hpetépas Tept TOV ToLovT@Y amretpias eOos. ovK- 
ouv opPas poPer: Teip@ 67 Déyery pondev atro- 
KpuTTopevos veka TOUTMY. 

819 Ao. DoBodpar pév cal tadta & od viv réyeLs, 
parrov & err déSouna Tods upévovs ev adTav 





4 i.e. arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy: some ele- 
mentary (‘‘ necessary”) knowledge of all three is indispens- 
able for a thorough study of any one branch of science, 

102 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


kind: a man certainly would be far from becoming 
godlike if he were incapable of learning the nature 
of one and of two, and of even and odd numbers in 
general, and if he knew nothing at all about 
counting, and could not count even day and night 
as distinct objects, and if he were ignorant of the 
circuit of the sun and moon and all the other 
stars. To suppose, then, that all these studies? are 
not “necessary’’ for a man who means to understand 
almost any single one of the fairest sciences, is 
a most foolish supposition. The first thing we must 
grasp correctly is this—which of these branches of 
study must be learnt, and how many, and at what 
periods, and which of them in conjunction with 
which, and which by themselves apart from all 
others, and the method of combining them; this 
done, and with these studies as introductory, we 
may proceed to the learning of the rest. For such 
is the natural order of procedure as determined by 
Necessity, against whom, as we declare, no god 
fights now, nor ever will fight. 

cin. Yes, Stranger, this account of yours does 
seem to be in accord with nature, and true. 

atu. That is indeed the truth of the matter, 
Clinias; but to give legal enactment to this pro- 
gramme of ours is difficult. -We will, if you agree, 
enact this more precisely on a later occasion. 

cLin. You appear to us, Stranger, to be seared 
by the neglect of such studies which is the habit 
in our countries; but you are wrong to be scared. 
Do not be deterred on that account, but try to 
proceed with your statement. 

aTH. I am indeed seared about the habit you 
mention, but I am still more alarmed about the 


103 


PLATO 


TovTov Ttav pabnuatov, Kaxas 8 upévovs. 
ovdapod yap Sewov ovd  ohodpa atretpia Tav 
TAVT@V OVE LEYLOTOY KAaKOV, GAN % ToAUTELpia 
Kal Todvpabia peTa KaKis aywyhs yiyvetat TOA 
Tovtwy peilwov Enuia. 

KA. *Ad7O% Néyers. 

Ae. Toodde toivuy éxdotav xp davar pav- 
Oavew Seiv tovs édXevOépous, Oca Kal Tapmodus 
év Aiyitt@ taidwv dydos Gua ypdupact pav- 

Bava. mp@tov pév yap Tepl oyiopovs aTeXVaS 
mais é€evpnuéva pabnwata peta Tmardids Te 
Kai noovas pavOdvey, unrwv Té Tivav Sravopas? 
kal otehbdvev, mrEioow Gua Kal édaTToow 
appLoTrovtay apiOuav TaV avTav, Kal TUKTOoV Kal 
Tadaotav épedpeias Te Kal avrAdHEews ev péper 
kat épeEns [kal]? ws medixace yiyverOa. Kal 
5) Kat taifovtes, fidras dua ypvood Kal yarKod 

Cai apyvpov kal tovovTay Tidy adv KeEpav- 
vuvtes, of S€ Kal Gras mas Stabdid0vTes, Strep 
el7rov, eis mradidy évapmoTtovTes Tas TOV av- 
ayKxaiwv apiOuav xphces, aperodat TOS papv- 
Oavovtas eis Te TAS TY oTpaTOoTébwy TakeLs Kal 
ayoryas Kal oTparelas Kab els oixovopias ad, 
kal TdavT@s XpnolwwTépovs avtods avTois Kal 
éypnyopotas paAdov tovs avOpwrovs amepyd- 

D Sovrar. peta dé tadra év tais petpiceciy, boa 
éxes punkn kal wAdtn Kal BaOn, wept aravta 
Tata évodody twa pice yeroiay TE Kal aloxpav 


1 088 4 cpodpa Badham: odd cpodpdv MSS. 
2 Siavouds W.—-Mollendorff: S:avoual MSS. (d:avouats Bad- 
ham). 


104 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


people who take up these very sciences for study, 
and do so badly.1_ Complete and absolute ignorance 
of them is never alarming, nor is it a very great evil ; 
much more mischievous is a wide variety of know- 
ledge and learning combined with bad training. 
cun. That is true. 

_ atu. One ought to declare, then, that the free- 
born children should learn as much of these subjects 
as the innumerable crowd of children in Egypt? learn 
along with their letters. First, as regards count- 
ing, lessons have been invented for the merest 
infants to learn, by way of play and fun,—modes of 
dividing up apples and chaplets, so that the same 
totals are adjusted to larger and smaller groups, 
and modes of sorting out boxers and wrestlers, in 
byes and pairs, taking them alternately or consecu- 
tively, in their natural order. Moreover, by way 
of play, the teachers mix together bowls made of 
gold, bronze, silver and the like, and others dis- 
tribute them, as | said, by groups of a single kind, 
adapting the rules of elementary arithmetic to play ; 
and thus they are of service to the pupils for their 
future tasks of drilling, leading and marching armies, 
or of household management, and they render them 
both more helpful in every way to themselves and 
more alert. The next step of the teachers is to 
clear away, by lessons in weights and measures, a 
certain kind of ignorance, both absurd and disgrace- 


1 Cp. 886 A ff. 
e Egyptian priests are said to have specially drilled 
their scholars in arithmetic and geometry—partly with a 
view to their use in land-mensuration. 





* [xal] bracketed by W.—Mollendorff. 
105 


PLATO 


” > al > a La lal vd 1 > 
ayvouav év Tois avOpwrois Tao. TavTn* aTrar- 
NaTTOVELW. 

KA. Ilotav 5%) xal tiva Aévers TavryD ; : 

Ao. “0. pire Kyevvia, Tavraract ye piv Kal 
avTos akovaas owe more TO mepl TabTa, pay 
mados eCavuaca, Kal edofe pot TOUTO OUK aDv- 
Opwmivov arArAa Unvav TWoV elvat badXov Opep- 
paTov, nox vvOny Te ovux mép éwauTov povor, 
adda Kal umrép amravT@v TOV EXMjvov. 

Eka. Tod wépt; réy’ 6 Th kal bus, ® @ Eéve. 

AQ. Aéyo 8° padKov dé EpwTav cor detEw* 
Kal [Lol OMLKpOVY aTOKpLVaL. YyLyV@oKELS TOV 
MIyKCOS ; 

KA. Ti pny; 

ao. Tt dé; mAdros; 

KA. Ildvras. 

ao. "H «al tadra bri 80 éorov Kal Tpitov 
tovtav Babos ; ; 

KA. Ids yap ov; 

AO. "Ap obv ov Soxel cor TavTa evar TavTa 
HETPNTA TPOS AAANAG| ; 

KA. Nat. 

Ae. Mijxos Te, oiuat, T pos PiKOs, Kal TaTOS 

820 mpos ThaTOS, kal Bad0os woavtws Suvaroy eivat 
MeTpety pucel. 

KA. >podpa rye. 

ao. Eid é éort bare apodpa pay Tipe wa. duvara 
évia, adda Ta bev, Ta 5€ un, ov S€ TavTa Hye, 
TOS ol€L TOS TavTa dtaxeto Bat ; 

KA. Ajarov bt Patras. 


1 raitn: tadtns MSS., edd, (radrny ci. Stallb.). 
106 


—s « 


i POR? al 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


ful, which is naturally inherent in all men touching 
lines, surfaces and solids. 

‘curn. What ignorance do you mean, and of what 
kind is it? 

aTH. My dear Clinias, when I was told quite 
lately of our condition in regard to this matter, I 
was utterly astounded myself: it seemed to me to 
be the condition of guzzling swine rather than of 
human beings, and I was ashamed, not only of my- 
self, but of all the Greek world. 

cin. Why? Tell us what you mean, Stranger. 

_ ata. Iam doing so. But I can explain it better 
by putting a question. Answer me briefly: you 
know what a line is? 

cLIn. Yes. 

atu. And surface? 

cin. Certainly. 

atu, And do you know that these are two things, 
and that the third thing, next to these, is the solid? 

cun. I do. ; 

atH. Do you not, then, believe that all these are 
commensurable one with another? 

cin. Yes. 

atu. And you believe, I suppose, that line is 
really commensurable with line, surface with surface, 
and solid with solid ? 

cin. Absolutely. 

ATH. But supposing that some of them are 
neither absolutely nor moderately commensurable, 
some being commensurable and some not, whereas 
you regard them all as commensurable,—what do 
you think of your mental state with respect to them ? 

cun. Evidently it is a sorry state. 


1 Op. Rep. 528 Cf. 


107 


PLATO 


AQ. T 8 av; pies Te Kal mWAaTOS mpos 
Babos, 7)  WAATOS TE Kal piycos ™ pos adda, ap 
ov Svavoovpeba mept TavTAa OUTwS “EdAqves 
mavres, as duvata éott petpetoOar mpos anda 
apas yé Tas; 

B ka. Mavrdéract pev ovv. 

Ae. Ei & éorw av pnbapas pndaph duvara, 
mavtes 8’,  oTrep elroy, "Eddyves SiavoovpeOa ws 
duvara, pay ovK akvov t vmép TAVT@V aicxvv0evta 
elmrety T pos avTous, Ke) Berriaroe TOV ‘EdAjver, 
év éxeivov Toor’ éoTly wv epaper, aioxpov jmev 
yeyovéva TO 1) eriatacbau,” 70 0 émiotacOa 
TavayKaia ovdev wavy KaXov ; 

KA. Ilds & ov; 

ao. Kal mpos tovros ye adda éotl tovT@r 
C Evyyevh, év ols a TONKA dpapTipara éxelvav 
aderApa Hiv éyyiyverar TOY auapTnpator. 

KA, Ilota 8 5 ; 

Ae. Ta TOV petpnT ay Te Kal awer pov ™ pos 
ardnra, nT pvoe yéyove. TavTa yap 8 
cxoTrobyTa dvayiyveoKery avayKxaiov 7 TavtTa- 
mao Ww elvat pavror, mpoBddhovta TE adAijrows 
del, StatpiBnv THs meTTELas ToD Xaprearépav 
mpeo BuTav diatpiBovta, piroverxety €v Tais TOv- 
TOV afiaror cxonais. 

D_ Ka. “Ios: €oLKe your q Te TeTTEla Kal TadTA 
GAAnAOV TA pabnpara ov map ohv Kexwpiobar. 

Ao. Taita toivuv éyo per, @ Kreuwia, pnp 
Tovs véous deiv pavOdvey: Kal yap ovTeE BraBepa 
ouTeE Naren éoTl, pera 6é mardias & aya pavbave- 
peva arpeArjoret hey, Brarper 6é Hpiv THY TONW 
ovdév. ef O€ TIs GANwS A€yeL, akovaTéor. 

108 


lal rl lean 


I ee SS ey 


25 Tan eee 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


atu. Again, as regards the relation of line and 
surface to solid, or of surface and line to each other 
—do not all we Greeks imagine that these are 
somehow commensurable with one another? 

cuin. Most certainly. 

atu, But if they cannot be thus measured by 
any way or means, while, as I said, all we Greeks 
imagine that they can, are we not right in being 
ashamed for them all, and saying to them, “ O most 
noble Greeks, this is one of those ‘necessary’ things 
which we said * it is disgraceful not to know, although 
there is nothing very grand in knowing such things.” 

cin. Of course. 

ATH. In addition to these there are other matters, 
closely related to them, in which we find many errors 
arising that are nearly akin to the errors mentioned. 

cin. What are they? 

aTH. Problems concerning the essential nature of 
the commensurable and the incommensurable. For 
students who are not to be absolutely worthless it 
is necessary to examine these and to distinguish the 
two kinds, and, by proposing such problems one to 
another, to compete in a game that is worthy of 
them,—for this is a much more refined pastime than 
draughts for old men, 

ctiIn. No doubt. And, after all, draughts and 
these studies do not seem to lie so very far apart. 

atu. I assert, then, Clinias, that these subjects 
must be learnt by the young; for they are, in truth, 
neither harmful nor hard, and when learnt by way 
of play they will do no damage at all to our State, 
but will do it good. Should anyone disagree, how- 
ever, we must listen to him. 


1 818 A: ep. Ar. Pol. 1338 9 ff. 
109 


PLATO 


KA. Ils & ob; 
ao, *AXXA py dy otT@ TadTa eXovra gaivnrar, 
dfjArov ws éyxptvodpev adTa, wn TavTy dé pawopmeva 
every atroxpiOnoerar. 
n /, / 
E KA. Ajrov: ti pn; 
Ao.! Ovdxody viv, ® Eve, kelcOw Tadta ws 
évta Tav Seovtav pabnudtarv, iva py SidKeva 


¢ 


jpiv 7 Ta TOV vouwv. KelcOw jevtoL KabdTrEp 
_ 7 13 0% a yA /. \ 
eveYupa AvoLlwa EK THS AAANS ToALTElAs, €ay 7 
tovs Oévtas Huds Kal tors Oeuévous tmas 
pndapas piroppovAtat. 
KA. Acxaiav Néyeus THY Oéow. 
” \ \ \ a e id \ 
ao. “Aotpwyv 6) Td peta tadta bpa TV 
paOnow tots véows, av nuds apéoxn rexXOcioa 7 
Kal TovvayTiov. 
KA. Aéye povov. 
\ a / \ > / / 
ao. Kal pov Oadua ye wepl atta éott péya 
Kal ovdapuas ovdaun avextor. 
821 Ka. Tod rotov dy ; 
‘ / X Yio o- \ / 
ao. Tov péyiotov Oedv nal 6dov Tov Koco 
gapev ovte Enteiv Seiv ovre trodvTpaypovely 
Tas aitias épevvavtas: ov yap ovd Sbcvov eivat, 
To 5€ ote Tay TovTOV TodvayTioy ryuyvdpevor 
op0as adv yiyverOar. 
KA. Ids eizes ; 
ao. Llapadofov pév TO Aeyouevov, Kal ovK av 
mpecBvrais Tis oinBein mpérerv: TO dé errerday 
Tis TL Kadov Te 010 Kal adynOes wabnpa ecivar 
kal more Evudépov Kal TO Ged TavtTdmace 
B didov, ovdevi 6) tpom@ Svvatoy éotw ert pr 
ppaterv. 
1 Oixoty . . . véuwy is wrongly assigned by Zur. to Clin. 
110 











LAWS, BOOK VII 


cuun. Of course. 

atu. Well then, if this is clearly the case, ob- 
viously we shall adopt these subjects; but if it 
seems clearly to be otherwise, we shall rule them 
out. 

cin. Yes, obviously. 

aTH. Shall we not, then, lay these down as 
necessary subjects of instruction, so that there may 
be no gap in our code of laws? Yet we ought to 
lay them down provisionally—like pledges capable 
of redemption—apart from the rest of our constitu- 
tion, in case they fail to satisfy either us who enact 
them or you for whom they are enacted. 

cun. Yes, that is the right way to lay them down. 

atu, Consider next whether or not we approve 
of the children learning astronomy. 

cin. Just tell us your opinion. 

atu, About this there is a very strange fact— 
indeed, quite intolerable. 

cuin. What is that ? 

atu. We commonly assert that men ought not 
to enquire concerning the greatest god and about 
the universe, nor busy themselves in searching out 
their causes, since it is actually impious to do so; 
whereas the right course, in all probability, is exactly 


> the opposite. 


eux. Explain yourself. 
aTH, My statement sounds paradoxical, and it 
might be thought to be unbecoming in an old man ; 


but the fact is that, when a man believes that a 


Science is fair and true and beneficial to the State 
and altogether well-pleasing to God, he cannot 


bY possibly refrain any longer from declaring it. 


1 Cp. 779 B. 
Ii!t 


PLATO 


KA. Eixora Aeyers* arn’ dotpev Tépt wadOnwa 
Tt ToLodTov aveupnooper ; , 

ao. “O ayaboi, catawevdopeda voVv ws €Tros 
elrrety "EXAnves mavtes peyddwov Geav, ‘HXiov 
Te dua Kal Lehyvys. 

KA. To 7rofov 87 ped8os ; : 

A@. Papev aura obdérore THY avTHY Odo 
iévat, Kal aX atta dotpa peta ToUTwD, 
errovouatovres TravynTa avuTda. 

Cc «Ka. Np» tov Ala, @ Eéve, arn bes TOUTO Aéryers" 
év yap 87 TO Bio TohAdKLs éopaka Kal avTos 
TOV TE ‘Eoodopor Kab Tov “Eorepov wal aidXovs 
TWAS ovdérore lovras eis TOV avtTov dpdpor, 
aXXAa TavTn TaV@pLEVOUS, Tov dé “Hoy Tou 
Kal Lernvnv Spavtas tadra? del wavtes Evveri- 
oTapeba. 

ao. Tadr’ éore Toivuy, @ Méyirnré Te Kal 
Knrewia, vov a x) onus Sei mepl Oeav Tov 
Kar ovpavov TOUS ye HmeTepous ToNiTas TE cal 
Tovs péovs TO EXPL ToooUToU pabety mept 

Da am dvTov TOUTMD, HEX pL TOU [1 Brachnpetv Tept 
aurd, evpnpeiv dé aet Ovovtds Te Kai év edyais 
evxXouevous evoeBas. 

KA. Todro pev opOov, et 7e 7 p@Tov pep 
duvarov éoTw 0 Déyets pabeiv: eita, ei p41) NEyo- 
pév 7s Tepl avTov Opbas vov, pabovres bé 
AێEoner, ovyxXopea Kayo TO ye TocobTov kat 
totovTov Ov pabnréov civat. TavdT ody as éxovTa 
éo0’ ottw, Treipd od peéev éEnyeicOar mavtas, 
nets 5€ EvvérrecOai cor pavOdvorTes. 

E ao. "AAN gore pev od padiov 0 Aéyo padeir, 





~~. ~~ 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


cun. That is reasonable; but what science of 
this kind shall we find on the subject of stars? 

atu. At present, my good sirs, nearly all we 
Greeks say what is false about those mighty deities, 
the Sun and Moon. 

cin. What is the falsehood ? 

atu. We assert that they, and some other stars 
along with them, never travel along the same path ; 
and we call them “ planets.” 1 

cuin. Yes, by Zeus, Stranger, that is true; for 
I, during my life, have often noticed how Phosphorus 
and Hesperus and_other stars never travel on the 
same course, but “wander” all ways; but as to the 
Sun and Moon, we all know that they are constantly 
doing this. 

aTH. It is precisely for this reason, Megillus 
and Clinias, that I now assert that our citizens and 
our children ought to learn so much concerning all 
these facts about the gods of Heaven as to enable 
them not to blaspheme about them, but always to 
speak piously both at sacrifices and when they pray 
reverently at prayers. 

ciix. You are right, provided that, in the first 
place, it is possible to learn the subject you mention ; 
and provided also that learning will make us correct 
any mistakes we may be making about them now,— 
then I, too, agree that a subject of such importance 
should be learned. This being so, do you make 
every effort to expound the matter, and we will 
endeavour to follow you and learn. 

aTH. Well, the matter I speak of is not an easy 


1 i.e. ** wanderers.” 





1 ratta Paris MS.: ravé’ & Par. marg., Zur., al. 


113 
VOL, II. I 


PLATO 


ovS ad Tavtdwact yaderov, ovdé yé TiVOS 
Xpovou TapoAdov. Texunprov dé éym TovTaV 
ovTe véos oUTE Tdhat axnKows chev av viv ovK 
€v TOAXD xXpdve dnradcar Svvaiuynv. Kai Toe 
Xarera ye dvta ov dv Tote olds 7 Hv Snrodv 
THALKOUTOLS OVTL THALKOUTOS. 

KA. "AAnOH Aéyers. GANA Ti Kal dys TodTO 
TO wadOnua, 6 Oavpactov péev EyetS, mpoahKov 
& ad pabeiv trois véors, od yryvooxe Sé has ; 

822 meip@ Tepl avTodD TO ye Tocodrov dpalew ws 
cadéctata. 

Ao. Llespatéov. ov yap éott TodT0, @ apiorou, 
TO Soyua opOov mepl cerdnvns Te Kal HALov Kal 
TOV ad\AwY doTpwY, ws apa TravaTat ToTe, 
mav Sé tovvavtiov éxer TovTov: Ti avTHVY yap 
avta@v oddov éxacrov Kal ov Todas GAA plav 
det Kikr@ SieEpyetar, paiverac 88 ToAddas 
hepopevov’ TO 5é TayioTov avTav bv Bpadvtatov 
ov opbas ad So€alerar, 7d 8 évavtiov évavtias. 

Bradr’ otv ef mépuxe pev obtws, tpyels S€ py 
7n So€dlomer,s ef pev ev ‘Odvpria Geovtwv 
ravrn do€dlope fe pri 
immo obras i) Sod xobpopav avbpov dtevootpeba 
mépl, Kal mpoonyopevouevr TOY TaXLaTOV peY wS 
Bpadvtatov, tov b€ Bpad’tatoy as TdyLcTO?, 
eyx@uld TE ToLlodyTES FOOMEev TOV TTwpLEVvoV 
VEVLKNKOTA, OUTE OPO@s Av OUT olwar TpOTHIADS 
Tots Spomedow was av Ta éyxomia TpocaTrey 
avOperros ova viv bé€ 8) Tmepi Ceods Ta ada 
Cratra éfayaptavorvtav uav ap’ ovK« oidpeOa 
<0d> yedolov Te Kal ovK opOov éxei yiyvopevoy Fv 
dv Tote, viv évtavOot Kai év TovTOLoL yiyverOat 
1 dotdCouey Ast: ddfouev MSS. 
114 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


one to learn; nor yet is it altogether difficult and 
demanding very prolonged study. In proof of this 
—although I was told of it neither in the days of 
my youth nor long ago, I may be able to explain 
it to you in a comparatively short time. Whereas, 
if it had been a difficult subject, I should never have 
been able to explain it to you at all—I at my age to 
you at yours. 

cuin. Very true. But what is this science which 
you describe as marvellous and fitting for the young 
to learn, and which we are ignorant about? Do 
try to tell us thus much, at least, about it, with all 
possible clearness. 

ata. Imusttry. The opinion, my friends, that the 
Sun and Moon and the rest of the stars “ wander” 
is not correct; the truth is precisely the opposite : 
each of them always travels in a circle one and the 
same path,—not many paths, although it appears to 
move along many paths; and the quickest of the 
stars is wrongly opined to be the slowest, and vice 
versa.t If these are the real facts and we imagine 
otherwise,—well, suppose we held a similar notion 
about horses racing at Olympia, or about long- 
distance runners, and proclaimed the quickest to 
be slowest and the slowest quickest, and sang chants 
lauding the loser as the winner, why, then, the 
laudations we bestowed on the runners would be 
neither right nor acceptable, though they were but 
mortal men. But in the present case, when we 
commit the same error about gods, do we not think 
that what would have been ludicrous and wrong 
there and then is, here and now and in dealing with 
this subject, by no means ludicrous and assuredly 


4 Cp. Tim. 39 D ff. 


115 
12 


PLATO 


ryeAotov pev ovdapés," ov pay ovde Geopirés ye, 
arevdh pyeny Lav Kara Oeap & UpvouvTo ; ; 

KA. ‘Ady béorara, elmep ye o0T@ TavT gotiV. 

ae. Odxody av bey detEw@pev otto TtadT 
éxovra, pabyréa pexpt ye TouToU Ta tovabra 
mavTa, 7) SerxDevrav 5é €atéov ; Kal TadTa Hpiv 
ovT@ Evynetobo ; ; 

D_ xa. Lavv bev ou. 

Ao. “Hédn toivuy xpi pavar todos. éxew Ta 
rye matbeias pabnpatov mépt VO [Ll dt mepl Oé 
Onpas w@cavtas StavonOjvar ypyn, Kal epi 
atdavTov oTroca TowatTa, KW uvever yap Sy 
vowobérn TO TpootaTTomevov emi peifov iévar * 
TOU vopwous evra amnrrax Oat, repov bé TL mpos 
Tois vopols elvan peTagy TL vouderirews Te 

E reduxds Gua kal vopwv, 6 &y morrdus OV 
EUTEn TOKE Tois Royols, olov meph Ty TOV 
opddpa véwv rraidev Tpopry" od yap appnra, 
gapev elvat, déyovtés TE aura OS vopmous olec0at 
TUepéevous eivat TON As avoias yEHELD. YEypape- 
pévov 2) TavTy TOV vOmev te kal Ody Tihs 
modTelas ou TEAEOs 0 TOU Svapépovtos moNiTou 
™pos aperiny ylyverat ET ALVOS, dTay avTov Tis 
oj Tov vrnpetycavta ois yopwous dpiota Kab 
mecOouevov uddora, TOOTOV elvat Tov ayabou: 
TEAE@TEPOV 5é wde eipnuévov, @s dpa ds ay Tos 
TOU <vopobérou>8 vouolerovvTds Te Kal émrat- 
voodvTos Kal éyoutos: mecOopevos | Ypdupace 

823 dueFEAOn Tov Biov axpatov. ovTos 6 TE OYOS 

1 Zur. assigns yeAotoy wey oddauas to Clin. (omitting the 

<b> after oiéue@a). 


* iévas Stephens: eltvat MSS. (2: for ér) England). 
3 <yvouobérov> added in best MSS.; om, Zur., vulg. 


116 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


not pleasing to the gods, when concerning gods we 
repeat a tale that is false ? 

cun. Very true, if the facts are as you say. 
_ atu. Then, if we demonstrate that they really 
are so, shall all these subjects be learnt up to the 
point mentioned, and, failing that demonstration, be 
left alone? Is that to be our agreement? 
_ etn. Certainly. - 

aTH. We may now say that our regulations con- 
cerning subjects of education have been completed. 
The subject of hunting, and similar pursuits, must 
now be dealt with in a similar manner. The duty 
laid upon the lawgiver probably goes further than 
the bare task of enacting laws: in addition to laws, 
there is something else which falls naturally between 
advice and law—a thing which has often cropped up 
in the course of our discussion,! as, for example, in 
connexion with the nurture of young children: such 
matters, we say, should not be left unregulated, but 
it would be most foolish to regard those regulations 
as enacted laws. When, then, the laws and the 
whole constitution have been thus written down, our 
praise of the citizen who is pre-eminent for virtue 
will not bé complete when we say that the virtuous 
man is he who is the best servant of the laws and 
the most obedient; a more complete statement will 
be this,—that the virtuous man is he who passes 
through life consistently obeying the written rules 
of the lawgiver, as given in his legislation, approba- 
tion and disapprobation.* This statement is the 


2 788 A ff., 793 A ff. 

? i.e, for perfect virtue there is required not only obedience 
to statute law, but also conformity with all the other rules 
of conduct laid down by the lawgiver in the less rigid form 
of advice (‘‘ approbation ” and ‘“disapprobation ”), 


117 


C 


PLATO 


> > y¥ , , / 
opPotatos eis Ematvov troditov, Tov Te vowobéeTNnV 
val , 

ovtws* det wy povov ypagerv Tovs vopmous, mpos 
5é Tois vopois boa Kara adT@ Soxel Kal ph Kar 
elvar vowols eumreTreypeva ypaderv, Tov dé axpov 
ToAiTHY pndey ArTov Tadta éumedovy i) Ta Tails 
Enuiais rd vopwv KaTecAnppmeva. 

To dé 6% rapov nuiv ta viv olov wadptupa éma- 
yopevor Snrotpev® dv 6 BovrAdpeOa padAXrov. Onpa 
yap TapTorAd TL Tpadyud éoTt, TWepletAnupévov 
ovopaTt viv oyedov évi, moAAH pev yap % TOV 
evvdpwv, TOAA) OE 7) TOV WTNVOV, TapTrory Oé Kal 

\ \ \ \ , > , / > 

TO Tepl Ta mela Onpevpwarta, ov wovov Onpiov ara 
Kal thy TOV avOpwrrev atvov évvoeiv Onpav, THY 
TE KATA TOAEMOV, TOAANH Se Kal  KaTa hirlav 
Onpevovea, 7 ev errawov, 7 6é >royov exer’ Kal 
KNoT Eat Kal AnoToV Kal oTpaToTrédwv [oTpaTo- 
médois|® Ofpar. Onpas S& mwépr Tete Te 
/ \ / ” \ lol ry? 
vomolétn tovls vomovs ovte pn Syrodv tadO 
olov te, ovte emt maot td&es Kal Cnplas éme- 
4 > A , / 7 \ 
Ti0évTa ametAntixa voupa Tibevar. ti Sy 
Spactéov wept Ta ToLadTa ; Tov pév, TOV vouobé- 
Tv, érrawécar Kal Wear ypewv Ta Tepl Onpas 
mpos TOVS TOV véwy Tovous Te Kal éemiTNHSevpaTa, 
\ > 2 / > , (6 6 i 50” 

Tov © avd véov axovcavta TreifecOat, Kai py 
nboviy pnte Tovov eFeipyew avtov, Tov b€ Tept 
éxacta ametdnOevtoy peta Enpias Kal vomo- 


1 ofrws W.-Millendorff: tvtws MSS., edd. 

2 érayduevor Snrotuey Badham: éraydueda: Snot wiv Zur., 
al, (SnAomev Paris MS.). 

3 [orparomédois] I bracket. 


118 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


most correct way of praising the citizen ; and in this 
way, moreover, the lawgiver must not only write 
down the laws, but in addition to the laws, and 
combined with them, he must write down his 
decisions as to what things are good and what 
bad; and the perfect citizen must abide by these 
decisions no less than by the rules enforced by legal 
penalties. 

The subject now before us we may adduce as a 
witness to show more clearly what we mean. 
Hunting is a large and complex matter, all of which 
is now generally embraced under this single name. 
Of the hunting of water-animals there are many 
varieties, and many of the hunting of fowls; and 
very many varieties also of hunts of land-animals— 
not of beasts only, but also, mark you, of men, both 
in war and often, too, in friendship, a kind of hunt 
that is partly approved and partly disapproved ;1 and 
then there are robberies and hunts carried on by 
pirates and by bands. When the lawgiver is making 
laws about hunting, he is necessarily bound to make 
this point clear, and to lay down minatory direc- 
tions by imposing regulations and penalties for all 
these kinds. What then ought to be done about 
these matters? The lawgiver, for his part, will be 
right in praising or blaming hunting with an eye to 
the toils and pursuits of the young ; and the young 
man will be right in listening and obeying, and in 
allowing neither pleasure nor toil to hinder him, and 
in holding in greater respect the orders that are 


1 Cp. Soph. 222 D where 4 raév épdéytwy Ohpa (‘the lovers’ 
chase”) is mentioned as a sub-species of @npevrixh: and in 
Sympos. 203 D the God of Love is described as ‘‘a mighty 
hunter” (@npevths Sewds). 


tI9 


PLATO 


D GernOévtwy ta pet erraivov pnOévta padrov 
Tiav Kal mpootaxGévta arroTenelv. 
4 be re 4 ten x , ” 
Tovtov 5) mpoppnbévtav é&fs av yiyvotto éupe- 
” / ‘ 4 7 \ / 
Tpos émavos Onpas Kat Yroyos, HTts pev Bedtlous 
aTroTeXel Tas uy as TOV véwp, ETAaLVOdYTOS, Yreyov- 
tos 6¢ 4) Tavartia. éywpev Toivuy TO pEeTAa TODTO 
tern vA Seca n \ / s - 
é&fs mpoaayopevovtes b1’ evy fs TOvs véous, QO pirot, 
cl0” pas ponte Tis emiOvpia pnt Epws THs Tepl 
Odratrav Onpas moté AdBou pyndé ayxroTpeias 
E uno dros Tis TOV evddpov Cowr, pjTE éypnyopoct 
pre evdovat KUpTols apyov Onpav SvaTrovoupévots. 
und avd aypas avOpoTav Kata OddatTav 
Anotelas Te iwepos erreOwv bpiv Onpevtas @povs 
Kal avopmous amotedol. KAwTelas 8 ev yopa 
Kal mode pnde eis Tov EaxaTov érédOor vodv 
avacOa. pnd ad mrnvev Onpas aipvros épws 
824 od ahodpa érevOépros érérXOot Tiwi véwv. Telav 
53) ovov Onpevois te Kal dypa dowry Tots Tap 
hpiv dOAnTais, Ov h pev TOV evdovT@Y ad KaTa 
pépn, vuxtepela KrnOcica, apyav avdpav, ovK 
akia éraivov, ov8 7 tot dSvaravpata Tovey 
” ba / , > > > / 
éyouca, dpkuol Te Kal Tayats,adrX ov didoTrovov 
aruxiis vikn xerpovpévor tiv ayptov Tov Onpiov 
pounv. povn 8) maov Nout Kal apiotn 4 TOY 
tetpatoo@v tmmros Kal Kkvol Kal Tois éavToY 
Opa copacw, ov aTavtav Kpatodat Spopots 
Beal mAnyais cal Borais, avtoxerpes Onpevortes, 
Scos avdpias THs Oeias émiperés. 


1 4 ro: 4 Tav MSS. (fjrrov Burnet). 
120 


va ae a T 


PET REN ere Te 





Ri ee 


LAWS, BOOK VII 


- sanctioned by praise, and carrying them out, rather 


than those which are enacted by law under threat of 
penalties. 

After these prefatory observations there will 
follow adequate praise and blame of hunting—praise 
of the kind which renders the souls of the young 
better, and blame of the kind which does the 
opposite. Our next step will be to address the 
young people with prayer—“O friends, would that 
you might never be seized with any desire or craving 
for hunting by sea, or for angling, or for ever pur- 
suing water-animals with creels that do your lazy 
hunting for you, whether you sleep or wake. And 
may no longing for man-hunting by sea and piracy 


_ overtake you, and render you cruel and lawless 


hunters; and may the thought of committing 
robbery in country or city not so much as cross your 
minds, Neither may there seize upon any of the 
young the crafty craving for snaring birds—no very 
gentlemanly pursuit! Thus there is left for our 
athletes only the hunting and capture of land- 
animals. Of this branch of hunting, the kind called 
night-stalking, which is the job of lazy men who 
sleep in turn, is one that deserves no praise; nor 
does that kind deserve praise in which there are 
intervals of rest from toil, when men master the 
wild force of beasts by nets and traps instead of 
doing so by the victorious might of a toil-loving soul. 
Accordingly, the only kind left for all, and the best 
kind, is the hunting of quadrupeds with horses and 
dogs and the hunter's own limbs, when men hunt in 
person, and subdue all the creatures by means of 
their own running, striking and shooting—all the 
men, that is to say, who cultivate the courage that 
is divine,” 

121 


PLATO 


Tovtwr 6) mavtwv ératvos pev mépt Kal yroryos 
0 Siecpnuévos av ein Novos, vomos Se b0e* TOvTOUS 
pnoels Tods lepods dvTws OnpevTas KadvETM, BrroU 
Kal brn Tep av €0é\wor KuVnyeTeiv’ vUKTEpEUTHY 
dé dpxvot Kal wAextals mucTov pndels pwndéroTe 
édon pndapod Onpedoar: tov opvidevtiy Se év 
apyots wev Kal dpeot pi) KwAvETO, ev Epyacipors 
8€ Kal iepots aypois? éEerpyérw 0 mpoctvyxavey’ 
GQ évuypoOnpeutiy Sé, mrAnv ev Aypéoe Kal lepois 
motamois te kal édXeor Kal DAipvatss €v Tos 
arros dé ééctw Onpevery pi) Yp@pevov oTrav 
avaborwce. povoy. viv ow Hon mavTa xpH 
havat tédos exew Ta ye Taidelas TrépL vOomLa. 
KA. Kardds av déyots. 


1 G@ypots Badham: ayplois most MSS., Zur.; al. aylois (kal 
feparixois England, with one MS.). 


122 





LAWS, BOOK VII 


Concerning the whole of this subject, the exposi- 
tion we have now given will serve as the praise 
and blame; and the law will run thus,—< None 
shall hinder these truly sacred hunters from hunting 
wheresoever and howsoever they wish; but the 
night-trapper who trusts to nets and snares no one 
shall ever allow to hunt anywhere. The fowler no 
man shall hinder on fallow land or mountain ; but 
he that finds him on tilled fields or on sacred glebes 
shall drive him off. The fisherman shall be allowed 
to hunt in all waters except havens and sacred 
rivers and pools and lakes, but only on condition 
that he makes no use of muddying juices.”+ So 
now, at last, we may say that all our laws about 
education are complete. 

cin. You may rightly say so. 


1 i.¢. vegetable juices which taint the water and paralyse 
the fish. 


123 


H 


828 Ao. Tovtrav pny éxopueva éote tabacbar pev 
Kai vopwoberncacbat éoptas peta Tov ex Aeddav 
Havtet@v, aitives Ovoiat ai Oeots ola tic apetvov 
Kat A@ov Ovovcn TH TorEL yiyvowT dv: woTe be 
kai Tocat Tov apiOwov, ayxeddv icws HuéeTEepov av 
vomoberety [éua x]! adta@r ein. 

KA. Tay’ dv Tov apiOuov. 
Ae. Tov apiO pov 8) Aéyouev Tp@Tov? écTacav 
B yap tov pev mrévte kab éEnxovta Kal tTpraxociov 
Mndev aroreiToVvcal, OTTws dv pia yé TIS apxX? 
Gun Oey 7) Satpovewy Tiwi ael brép Toews TE Kal 
auTov Kalktnuatov. tadta dé EvveOovtes eEnyn- 
Tai Kai (epels (éperat Te Kal wavTers peTa VoMopuAd- 
ov TabdvT@v, & TapareiTey avayKn TO vomobéTn: 
kal & Kal abtod rovTov yp yiyverOar éemuyvo- 
fovas TOD TaparelTrouévou TOUTOUS TOUS AUTOS. O 
bev yap 81 vowos épet Swdexa pev éoptas evar 
Tots dwdexa Oeois, av av 7) puvAr éExdaoTy err@vupos 
C 7, Gvovtas TovTwy éExdoTtos Eupnva iepa, Yopovs 
TE Kal ay@vas povatkovs, Tovs dé yuuViKOds KaTa 
TO mpérov mpogvépovtas Tots Geis Te avrois dua 
Kal Tais wpais Exdorais, yuvatcelas Te EopTas, 
Goats xopls avdpav Tpoonker kai boats wn, Siavé- 
povtas. ért dé kal TO TOY XOoviwy Kal bcos ad 


1 [%d y’] bracketed by England. 





1 Cp. 771 Df. 
124 
























BOOK VIII 


--aTH. Our next task is, with the help of the 
_ Delphic oracles, to arrange and ordain by law the 
_ festivals, prescribing what sacrifices, and to what 
_ deities, it will be good and right for the State to 
_ offer: the times and the number of them, however, 
it is, no doubt, our own business to ordain by 
_ cin. Very likely, as regards the number of 
_ them. 
ata. Then let us first state the number. There 
_ shall be not less than 365 feasts, so that some one 
_ Official may always be doing sacrifice to some god or 
_ daemon on behalf of the State, the people, and their 
_ property.t The interpreters, the priests, the priest- 
_ esses and the prophets shall assemble, and, in com- 
_ pany with the Law-wardens, they shall ordain what 
the lawgiver is obliged to omit: moreover, these 
Same persons shall determine wherein such omissions 
consist. For the law will state that there are twelve 
feasts to the twelve gods who give their names to 
_ the several tribes: to each of these they shall per- 
form monthly sacrifices and assign choirs and musical 
_ contests, and also gymnastic contests, as is suitable 
_ both to the gods themselves and to the several 
_ Seasons ot the year; and they shall ordain also 
_ Women’s festivals, prescribing how many of these 
Shall be for women only, and how many open also to 
“men, Further, they must determine, in conformity 
_ with the law, the rites proper to the nether gods, 


125 


PLATO 


Deods ovpavious érrovopactéov Kal ti1 TOY TOvTOLS 
érrouévav ov EvapiKxtéov GAXA ywpiotéov, ev TO 

D rod Tdovtwvos punvi td SwdexdT@ KaTa TOY VOmoV 
amodievtas, Kal ov dvoyepavtéoy TodemcKois 
avOpwtois Tov ToLodTov Oeov, GANA TLpNnTéoV ws 
dvTa del TO TOV avOparTrwr yéver apLoTOV" KoWwavia 
yap Wuxn Kai c@pate Siadicews ovK EoTW H 
KpeitTov, ws eyo hainv adv omovd# Néywv: pos 
TovTos 5é Sidvotay xpn oxeiv Tors SiatphoovTas 
ixavas Tadta ToLdvee, ws éoO Huiv TONS Olav 
ovK av Tis éTépay evpor THY Viv TEpl YpovoU 
oXoAHS Kal TOV avayKxaiwr éEovaias, det 5é adTny, 
829 cabatrep Eva avOpwrov, Chv eb. Tois b€ evdaimo- 
vos Coow vmdpyew avdyen mpa@Tov TO pte 
adtxely dNXovs ui bd’ érépwv adtovs adixetoOat, 
TovTow S€ TO péev ov Mayu yxareTov, TOD Sé pur) 
adixeicOar KktncacOar Sivapiv TayxddreToOP, Kal 
ovK ExT AUTO Teéws aYElV Ara 7) TEAEWS YEVO- 
pevov ayabov' tavtov 61 TodTO éoTL Kal TodeEL 
bmdpxew, yevouéevn pev ayaln Bios eipnycxds, 
Trodeuixos d¢ ewbev te kal evdobev, av # Kan. 
TouTwy S&¢ TavTn axedov exOVT@Y OvK év TOAEMM 
B tov moAepov éExaa Tors yupvacTéov, AN ev TO TIS 
cipnuns Bio. Sel toivyy modw éxdotov pvos 
voov KexTnuevny otpateverOar un EXaTTOV plas 
npépas, mrelovs €, ws av Kal Tols apxovet 
Evvdony, wndev xeiwavas 4) Kavpata dvevhaBov- 
Mévous, avTovs Te dua Kal yuvaikas Kal raidas, 
Stav ws tavonpiay éEayew d0&n Tois apyovet, 


1 rf W. R. Paton: 7d MSS., edd. 
1 Cp, 832 C ff, $85 D, E. 





126 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


and how many of the celestial gods should be in- 
voked, and what of the rites connected with them 
should not be mingled but kept apart, and put them 
in the twelfth month, which is sacred to Pluto; 
and this god should not be disliked by men who are 
warriors, but honoured as one who is always most 
good to the human race; for, as I would assert in 
all seriousness, union is in no way better for soul 
and body than dissolution. Moreover, if they are to 
arrange these matters adequately, these persons 
must believe that no other State exists which can 
compare with ours in respect of the degree in which 
it possesses leisure and control over the necessities 
of life ;+ and believe also that it, like an individual, 
ought to lead a good life. But for a good and blessed 
life, the first requisite is neither to do wrong oneself 
nor to suffer wrong from others. Of these, the 
former is not very hard, but it is very hard to secure 
immunity from suffering wrong ;? indeed, it is im- 
possible to gain this perfectly, except by becoming 
perfectly good. So likewise a State may obtain a 
life of peace if it becomes good, but if bad, a life of 
war both abroad and at home, This being so, all 
men must train for war not in war-time, but while 
they are living in peace. Therefore, a judicious 
State must carry out a march, every month, for not 
less than one whole day, or more (according as the 
rulers decree),* paying no heed to cold weather or 
hot: all shall join in it—men, women and children 
—whenever the rulers decide to march them out 


2 Cp. 663 A, 904 Ef. ‘‘Perfect goodness” helps to 
secure this ‘“‘immunity” because it includes the virtue of 
“courage”: people do not lightly provoke the brave warrior. 

® Cp. 803 D, 814 D. * Cp. 830 D. 


127 


PLATO 


tote 5€ Kal Kata pépn* Kai Twas del adidas 
pnxavacba Karas dua Ovoiais, bras dv yiyvov- 
Crat payar tives éoptacrixal, pipovpevat Tas 
TOE MLAS bre parLoTa € evapy@s paxas. veenry pra 
6é cal apioreia éxdotoiot ToUT@Y Set Svavépev 
eyk@puia Te Kal Yoryous troteiy aXXsjAoLs, OTrOlOS 
TLS ay éxagTos yeyyntat KaTa Te Tous ay@vas év 
mavré te ad TO Bia, TOY Te dpiorov SoxovvTa 
civat Koopobvras Kal Tov en Wéyovras. TOLNTNS 
5é €otw THY ToLovTMY pI amas, GNA Yyeyovas 
7 payrov bev 7) éhatTov TEVTHKOVTA eran, pnd? ai 
TOV oTOcoL Toinow ev Kal Modoav ixavas 
KeKTNMEVvOL ev avTois eiai, Kaddov bé Epyov Kal 
D émipaves pn de Spdcavres momrore: bao dé 
aryaboi Te avrol kal tiwsor év Ti) moXet, epyav 
dvtes  Snpsoupyot KanaY, Ta TOV TOLOUT@Y 
adécbw ToupaTa, éav Kal fa) povatKa Tepukn. 
Kpiots dé a’tay éotw Tapa Te TH TravdevTH Kal 
Tots arrows vopopurak, TOUTO érobidovrov 
avrois yepas, Tmappnatav év Movcats eivar povors, 
Tois 5€ aAXols pndepiay eFovciay yiryver Bat noe 
Twa TOApEY ade adoxipov Modcap [42 Kpway- 
E Tov Tov vopopurdcav],} pnd av notov BD TOV 
Oapupov TE Kal ‘Opdetov duvor, arn boca TE 
iepa Kpibevra Toujpara €500n Tois Geis kal doa 
ayabav 6. dvTa avdpav peyovta » i) €rawovvTd Twas 
éxplOn per pics Spay TO TovobTov. 
Ta avira de héyo orpareias Te mee Kal THS év 
Toujcert mappynoias yuvarki te Kal avdpaow 
Opolws yiyvecOar Seiv. ypn Sé dvadépev mapadet- 


1 [uh . . . vopopvddkwy] bracketed by England. 
128 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


en masse, and at other times they shall go in sections. 
Along with sacrifices, they must continually devise 
noble games, to serve as festival-contests, modelled 
as closely as possible on those of war. At each of 
these they must distribute prizes and awards of merit, 
and compose for one another speeches of praise and 
blame, according to the character each one exhibits 
not only in the contests, but in his life generally, 
magnifying him who is accounted most good and 
blaming him who is not. Such speeches not everyone 
shall compose ; for, first, no one who is under fifty 
years old shall compose one, and further, no one 
shall do so who, though he may be fully proficient in 
poetry and music, has not as yet performed any noble 
or notable deed. But, even though they be not 
musical, those poems shall be sung which are com- 
posed by men! who are personally good and honoured 
in the State as performers of noble deeds. The 
adjudication of these shall lie with the Educator and 
the rest of the Law-wardens, who shall grant them 
the sole privilege of free speech in song; whereas to 
the others no permission shall be given; nor yet 
shall anyone venture to sing an unauthorised song— 
not even should it be sweeter than the hymns of 
Orpheus or of Thamyras,—but only such sacred 
poems as have won the judges’ approval and have 
been presented to the gods, or those by good men 
which have been adjudged to have duly distributed 
praise or blame. 

In regard both to military operations and to 
freedom of poetic speech I state that the same 
rules shall apply equally to both men and women. 
The lawgiver ought to commune with himself and 


1 Cp. 936 A, 


129 
VOL. II. K 


PLATO 


KVOYTA éavT@ Tov vomobérny TO NOY" Dépe, tivas 
830 more Tpépw TI TOA odqy TapacKevdcas ; ; ap 
ovK GOT as Tov peylotov a aryaver, ols a avrayovi- 
oral pupiou Umadpxovor ; Kai mavu ye, pain Tus adv 
opbds héyor. Te dra; ef TURTAS U} marykparta- 
oras eTpéhomey Te TOY ToLovTev Erepov ayovt- 
opdrov aOrobvras, a apa els avTov av amrnvT@ ev 
Tov ayava ev TO mpoaGev Xpove ovdevi Kal meepav 
T poo wary seve ; i) TUKTAL YE OvTes TauTOAAas a ay 
Huépas Eutrpoa Ger TOD ayavos ewavOdvopev Té av 
B payer Bar Kal dueTrovovpeba, HL HOUpEvoL mavra 
éxeiva orocos éwéAXopev eis TOTE xpnred Oat mepl 
Tis vikns Stapaxopevor ; 3 Kal @s eyyitara Too 
Opotou iovtes av ipavto@v opaipas av meptedou- 
peOa, Tras ai Tryyat TE Kal ai TOV mrnyav evda- 
Beat OreweheTavTo eis TO Ouvatop & ixav@s ; el Te Tus 
hiv ouyyupvacTev ouveBawver a drropia Treiov, & ap 
av SeicavTes Tov TOV avontav yéXwra ovK ay eTOA- 
pa pev Kpepavvevres eldwrov aypuxor yupvdtec Bar 
Tm pos avro ; Kal é ere TavT@v TOV Te eurvyov Kal 
C tev arpuxov amropncavrés TOTE, €V PNG ouy- 
yupvacr ay apd ye ovK eToAunoapen & ay avtol T™ pos 
meas avTous oKLaLayxely BVT OS ; 9 Tl mote ddXo 
THY TOU Xetpovopety MedeTnv av Tis Hain yeyovenae 5 ; 
KA. Lyedov, @ Eéve, ovdév AAXO YE TARY TODTO 
avTo 0 od vov EpbeyEar. 
AG. Te ovv; TO THs Toews typi MaXLpov 
7 xelpov Th TapacKevacdmevov TOY TowoUT@Y 
ay@vicT@v eis TOV péyloTOV TOV ayoveY ExdoTOTE 
ToApnoer Taplévat, Siapayovpevoy tept ~ruyhs 
[re] xai traidwv kal yxpnudtev Kxal brs Tis 
D rodeos ; Kal tadta 87 hoBynOcis aditadv o vopo- 
130 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


reason thus—‘ Come now, what men am I to rear 
up, when I have made ready the whole State? Are 
3s not to be competitors in the greatest of con- 
tests, wherein their antagonists will be numberless?”’ 
“ Most certainly,” one would rightly reply. What 
then? Suppose we had been rearing boxers or pan- 
cratiasts or competitors in any similar branch of 
athletics, should we have gone straight into the 
contest without previously engaging in daily combat 
with someone? If we were boxers, for a great many 
days before the contest we should have been learning 
how to fight, and working hard, practising in mimicry 
all those methods we meant to employ on the day 
we should be fighting for victory, and imitating the 
real thing as nearly as possible: thus, we should don 
padded gloves instead of proper ring-gloves, so as to 
get the best possible practice in giving blows and 
dodging them; and if we chanced to be very short 
of training-mates, do you suppose that we should be 


deterred by fear of the laughter of fools from hang- _ 
ing up a lifeless dummy and practising on it? * 
Indeed, if ever we were in a desert, and without | 


either live or lifeless training-mates, would we not 
have recourse to shadow-fighting of the most literal 
kind, against ourselves? Or what else should one 
call the practice of pugilistic posturing ? 
extn. There is no other name for it, Stranger, than 
the one you have just given to it. 
atu. What then? Is the fighting force of our 
State to venture to come forward every time to fight 
for their lives, their children, their goods, and for the 
whole State, after a less thorough preparation than 
the competitors we have been describing? And so 
is their lawgiver, through fear lest these training- 
131 
K 2 


phe 


PLATO 


Oérns Ta Mpds GAAHAOUS yusVadoLa pH haivnTat 
Tlat yeNoia, OVK apa vomoleTHaGEL oTpaTevecOat 
TpooTarTay Hadora bev éxdorns Hpépas Td i ye 
ok pa Xewpls TOV Show, Yopovs Te cis TadTa 
dja Kal yupvacTtiKny macav Euyreiveoy ; ; Tas 5é 
oiov twas peifous Te Kal évoTALous+ yuuvacias 
fy) EXaTTOV 7) KaTa phva Exactov Toreicbar 


E mpoorager, apihdas te mpos add ous TT OLov- 


831 


pévous KaTa Tacav THY Xwpay, eT Karanyypey 
Xoplov dpiheopévous Kal évédpas, Kal Tacav 
pLpoupwevous TH Toe eK ny 6vT@S oparpomaxeiv 
Te Kal Borais ws éyyitata TOV adnOav xpwpevous 
dmoKwvOvvors _Bédeow, mas Ln) TwavTadTacw 
apoBos 1 mpos adios yoyyntas maria, dei- 
para dé mapexn Kak TW TpoTrov Snot TOV TE 
evYuxov Kal Tov pH, Kal Tois pev TUGS, Tois 6é 
Kal aripias Svavepov op0as THY TOALY OAnY eis 
TOV adn Owov ayava d1a Biov mapacKevdty xpn- 
otuny" Kal 81 Kal TLWOS am oP avovtos ovTws, os 
aKkovatov Tob povou yevomevou, TUOH TOV amoKrel- 
VaVTa Kara VOMOV cabapbéevta ‘a0 apov elvat 
xelpas, HyoupEvos avOpareov jen TedeuTNT dV TOY 
it) TOAN@Y ETEpOUS TAALY Ov _xetpous pucerbar, 
poBov Sé ofov TENEUTHTAVTOS, év maou Tois ToLOv- 
TOLS Bacavov ovx ebpnoew TOV TE cpervovev Kal 


B yxetpover, ov TMLKPD TONEL peifov KaKOV éKxeivou. 


KA. Fupdaiper a dy jpets ye, @ Eéve, Ta Towra 
deiv cal vopobereiv Kal érrerndevew moh dnacay. 
ao. “Ap ody yuyyooKouev Gtravtes THY aiTiav 

1 évorAlous ci. Stallb., England : éAdrrovs MSS. 





1 “Sphaeromachia ” was a (hand) ball contest between 
opposing sides (something like our hockey or polo matches). 


132 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


bouts may appear ridiculous to some, to refrain from 
laying down laws whereby he will ordain field- 
operations, of which the minor kind, without heavy 
arms, will take place daily, if possible,—and to this 
end both the choristry and all the gymnastic shall be 
directed,—-while the others, as a major kind of 
gymnastics in full armour, he shall order to be held 
at least once amonth? In this latter kind they will 
engage in contests with one another throughout the 
whole country, contending in the capturing of forts 
and in ambuscades and in all forms of mimic warfare ; 
in fact, they shall do literal fighting with balls} and 
darts as nearly real as possible,—though the points 
of the darts shall be made less dangerous,—in order 
that their games of combat may not be devoid of 
some element of alarm, but may provide terrors and 
indicate to some extent who is stout-hearted and 
who not: to the former the lawgiver shall duly 
assign honours, to the latter degradation, that thus 
he may prepare the whole State to be serviceable 
throughout life in the real contest. Moreover, if a 
man gets killed in these sham fights, inasmuch as 
the murder is involuntary, he shall pronounce the 
slayer to be pure of hands, when he has been legally 
_ purified; for he will reflect that, when a few men 
_ die, others equally good will grow up in their place, 
whereas, once fear is, so to speak, dead, he will be 
unable to find a test to distinguish, in all such cases, 
the good from the bad,—and that is a far greater 
evil than the other for a State. 

cin. We, at least, Stranger, would certainly 
agree that every State should both ordain and 
practise these things. 

ATH. Are we all aware of the reason why such 


133 


PLATO 


516Tt Tote viv év Tals TONETW H TOLA’TH Yopeia 
Kal ayovia oxedov ovdayn ovdapas éoriv, ei pn 
mavu Tt opixpa ; 7 dadpev d: awablay Tov ToAX@V 
Kal Tov TiWévtmy avTois TOs vomous ; 
KA. Tay’ av. 
Ae. Ovdapuds, @ waxapie Krewia: dvo0 8é yp7 
C ddvar tovTar aitias civat, Kali wdda iKxavds, 
KA. Llotas ; 
ao. Ti pév, im’ épwtos mAOUTOU TavTA XpOVvOY 
aaYorov movvtos Tav adrAwY émipedeiaOat 
TAnY TOV idiwv KTHudToV, €E OY Kpeyauévn Taca 
Wux?) TodiTou mavTos ovK av Tote S¥vatTo TaV 
adrov éeripérerav icyew mrAHY TOD Kal? hyépav 
Képdous* Kal 6 TL wey pds TODTO Péper waOnpua 7) 
Kal éritHnoeupa, idia Tas pavOdvew Te Kal doKeiv 
éroumotatos éott, Tov S€ adrXRwv KaTayeEnd. 
D rodTo per év Kal TavTHy piay aitiav ypn pavat TOD 
/ n 4 9 \ \ > ‘\ t 
pte TOUTO nT Gro pndev Kadov Kayab ov EO érewv 
emriTnoeuma mohw orrovbatetr, ara bia TH Tob 
Xpucod te Kal apytpov amhyotiay macav pev 
TéeXVNV Kal unxXaviy Kadriw Te Kal adoxXnwoverTé- 
pav eOédev UTopévew Tavta avdpa, ei pédre 
mrova.os éoccOa, Kal mpakw mpatrew dovov TE 
Kal avooLov Kal TavTa@s aicxpar, undev SvaxXepat- 
E vovta, éav povoy éyn Siva Kabarrep Onpim Tod 
hayeiv TavtodaTa Kal Tueiy @oavTws Kal adpo- 
Suciov Tacav TdvTws Tapacxeiy TANT MOHD. 
KA. ‘Op@ds. 
ao. Airy pev toivuv, iv réyo, pia KeicOw 
S:axwdvovea aitia Tod pte dAXO KAaXOV pHTE TA 
mpos Tov TroAEwov ixavas €doar’ doxeiv Tas 
1 aca: éaoa MSS., edd. (bracketed by Hermann). 
134 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


choristry and such contests do not at present exist 
anywhere in the States, except to a very small 
extent? Shall we say that this is due to the 
ignorance of the populace and of those who legislate 
for them? 

-cLin. Possibly. 

ATH. Not so, by any means, my ingenious Clinias! 
What we ought to say is that there are two causes, 
and both most weighty ones. 

cin. What are they ? 

atu. The first springs fromalustforwealth ! which 
allows aman no leisure time for attention to anything 
else save his own private property ; and when the soul 
of every citizen hangs upon this, it is incapable of 
attending to matters other than daily gain. What- 
soever science or pursuit leads to this, every man 
individually is most ready to learn and to practise; 
but all else he laughs to scorn. This we must assert 
to be one particular cause why a State is unwilling 
to be in earnest about this, or any other, fine and 
noble pursuit; and why, on the other hand, every 
individual, because of his greed for silver and gold, 
is willing to toil at every art and device, noble or 
ignoble, if he is likely to get rich by it,—willing, too, 
to perform actions both holy and unholy—nay, 
utterly shameful—without a scruple, provided only 
that he is able to sate himself to repletion, like a 
beast, with all manner of foods and drinks and 
wenchings. 

cin. True. 

atu. Then let this which I describe be laid down 
as one cause which hinders the States from adequately 
practising either military operations or any other 


1 Cp. 705 A, 742 D. 
135 


PLATO 


TOhES, GAN €umopous Te Kal vavEAHpous Kab 
Siakovovs wdvtws Tos Pvoet Koopiovs Tav avO- 
poteov amepyatopuévn, Tods 5é avdpeiovs AnoTas 
Kal Torywpvyous Kal iepotvNoUS Kal TrorEmLKOUS 

832 kal Tupavyixods ToLtovca, Kal par éviote ovK 
agueis dvtas, dSvotuyodvTads ye un. 

KA. Ids Aéyers ; 

Ae. Ilas pev ody avtovs ov Aéyouw’ ay TO 
mapanav Svotuyels, ols ye avayen dia Biov 
Tew@o THY Wuxny del THY avTav dueEeOeiv ; 

KA. Adtn mév toivuv pias tHv dé 8 Sevtépav 
aitiay tiva Néyes, @ Eéve ; 

A®. Karas trréuvnoas. 

ME. 1Adryn pev 67, dys ov, pla Siva Biov 
amAnatos Entnows, wapéxovca adoxoXov ExacTor, 
EuTroo.os yiryveTat TOD U7 KANOS aoKely TA TrEpl TOV 

B ro\epov Exdotous. éxtw* Tv dé 61 Sevtépav réEye. 
ao. Mav ov réyew adra SiatpiSew Sona ov 
atropiav ; , 

ME. OUdx, ad\X4 olov pic av Soxeis Huiv KoNaCew 
TO ToLlovTov 00s waAdov Tod SéovTos TO Tapa- 
TENTWKOTL AOYY. 

ao. Kdrdora, & Eévor, éremAjEate: Kal TO 
MeéTa TOUTO AKOVOLT AY, WS EOLKED. 

KA. Aéye povov. 

ao. Tds ov morstelas éywye aitias elvai dnut 
ds moddadxis elpnxa év Tois mpocbev Noyous, Snuo- 

Cxpatiay cal dd\vyapxiav Kal tupavvida. tovTev 
yap 6% modcTeia pev ovdeuia, otaciwwreiat Oé 

1 Airn ra. I assign this reply and the next to Meg. (with 


Apelt and W.-Méllendorff), not to Clin., as Zur. and most 
edd. 


136 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


noble paregite and which turns men who are of a 
uiet nature ! into traders, ship-owners, and servants, 

while of the bold it makes pirates, burglars, temple- 
robbers, fighters and despots,—and that though, in 
some cases, they are not ill-natured, but merely ill- 
fortuned. 

cuin. How so? 

atu. Well, how could I describe otherwise than 
as utterly unfortunate men who are compelled to go 
through life with hunger? always in their own souls? 

cuin. This, then, is one cause : what is the second 
cause you speak of, Stranger ? 

atu. You are right in reminding me. 

mec. One cause, as you assert, is this lifelong 
insatiable pursuit, which wholly engrosses each man, 
and hinders each and all from rightly practising 
military operations. Be it so: now tell us the second 
cause. 

aTH, Do you think that I am delaying to do so 
because I am at a loss ? 

mec. No; but we think that, owing to a sort of 
hatred against the character you describe, you are 
castigating it more severely than is required by the 
argument now on hand. 

atu. Your rebuke is just, Strangers; you want, 
it seems, to hear what comes next. 

eLtn. Only say on. 

atu. There lies a cause, as I affirm, in those non- 
polities which I have often mentioned* in our 
previous discourse,—namely, democracy, oligarchy, 
and tyranny. For none of these is a polity, but the 


? Cp. 691 B, Rep. 410 C, 
2 i.e. for gold. Cp. Virgil’s “‘auri sacra fames.” 
$712 C ff., 713 E ff. 


137 


PLATO 


Tacat NéyouT’ av opOoTata: éExdvTwy yap éxodoa 
ovdeuia, aX’ aKovTwv Exodca ape: odv dei TLE 
Bia 8B 4 be ” > ’ ” ‘ 
a, poBovpevos Sé dpywv apyopevoy ovTE KaNOv 
” 4 ” , > a 
oUTEe TAOVGLOY OUTE LaYUpPOY OUT avdpeiov OUTE TO 
TapdtTav TodeuiKoy éExwv éacer yiyverOai morte. 
tavt ovv éotl ta Sto mavT@v pev opeKpod 
Suadepovtws aitia, TovTwy 8 ody dvtas dSiadéper. 
\ be a a , a a1 
To 5€ THS vod ToXtTElas, jv vopobeTodper, 
Aéyowev Extréhevyer aupotepa ayoAryy Te yap 
” / > 7 / > ? > , 
ayes tov peyioTnv, édevOepot Te am adAAnA@Y 
2 / Gat 4 , ” . 4 ’ 
cial, Prroxpnmator S€ HKicT av, oipat, yiyvouT 
av x TovT@Y TOY vo“@V WOT eiKoT@S Gua Kal 
KaTa NOYoV 7) TOLAUTN KaTdoTAGLS TONTELAsS “OV 
déEait av tov viv THY SiaTrepavOcioay ratdeiav 
Te Gua Kal Tatdtav Toeuiknv atroTtedeo Oeicay 
an lo , 
op0as TO oye. 
KA. Kandds. 
ao. "Ap’ ody ov Tovtous epeEns éotl pvncOhvai 
Tote Tepl dTavT@V TOV ayovaV TOV YULYLKOY, 
Os boa pev adTay pos TOAELOY eoTLY ayavicpaTa 
> by , \ 6 / a0 la bid be 
émiTnoevtéov Kal Oetéov GOrAa vienTHpia, dca Sé 
7 a x 
un Xaipew éatéov; a & éotw, €€ apyis apewvov 
pnOjvai te Kal vowoPeTnOhvat. Kal TP@Tov pev 
\ \ / \ / ¢ a> > fa] / . 
Ta Tepl Spopov Kal taxXos 6kws ap’ ov Oeréov ; 
KA. Q@eréov. 
w r / 7, c 
ao. “"Eott yotv mavtwy modeuixwtatoy 4 
' n a 
cwpatos o£UTHS TaVTaS, ) ev ATO TOV TOSaD, 
4 S¢ nal amd Tov yelpav uyeiv pev Kai Ereiv 
1 youoberovuer, & Badham: vouoderotuevor MSS. 
138 


oe 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


truest name for them all would be “ faction-State ” ; 
for none of them is a form of voluntary rule over 
willing subjects, but a voluntary rule over unwilling 
subjects accompanied always by some kind of force ; 
pr the ruler, through fear of the subject, will never 
voluntarily allow him to become noble or wealthy or 
strong or brave or in any way warlike. These, then, 
are the two main causes of nearly everything, and 
certainly of the conditions we described. The polity, 
however, for which we are now legislating has 
escaped both these causes ; for not only does it enjoy 
a great amount of leisure, but the citizens also are 
free from one another’s domination, and as a con- 
sequence of these laws of ours they will be the least 
likely of men to be money-lovers. Hence it is both 
natural and logical that of all existing polities this 
type alone should welcome the system above de- 
scribed, which combines military schooling with sport, 
when we have rightly completed that description. 

cin. Very good. 

atu. The next step, then, is to remind ourselves, 
with regard to all gymnastic contests, that all such as 
afford training for war should be instituted, and 
should have prizes assigned to them, but all that do 
not do so must be set aside. What these contests con- 
sist in, it will be well to have described and ordained 
at the beginning. First, then, should we not ordain 
contests in running and speed in general ? 

etin. We should. 

_ ATH. Most important of all things for war is, no 

doubt, general activity of the body, of hands as well ~ 
as feet—activity of foot for flight and pursuit, and of 


2 Cp. 806 D, 828 D, E, ete. 
139 


PLATO 


833 7 Tey Today, 7 n 5° ép Tats cuuTAoKkais wadyn Kat 
avoTacts tox bos Kal pouns Seouévn. 

KA. Ti HAY § ; 

ao. Ov pay xepis ye Omdwv ovdetépa tH 
peyioTny exer Xpelav. 

KA. Ilds yap av ; 

Ae. Lradiodpduov 8) mpatov 6 KhpvE hyuiv, 
Kabarep viv, év toils ay@ot wapaxadel? 6 8é 
elcetow Omrra éxwv? Wide Se GOra od Oncopev 
ayovicTh.  mpatos b& eicecw o To otdbd.ov 
aptdrAnoopevos adv Tois drdows, Sevtepos Sé 6 

B rov diavrov, Kai tpitos 0 Tov édimmov, Kal dH 
kal téraptos 0 Tov Sodxov, Kal méumTos Sé dv 
abyoouev mp@Tov w@mrcpévov, éEnKovta ev 
oTadioy phKos mpos iepov “Apeos Tt wal maruy, 
Baputepov, orAitny érovomatovtes, NetoTépas od00 
StaptAXR@pevov, Tov S5é aAXov TokoTHY Tacav 
tokicny éxovta oToAHy, oTadiwv dé éxaTov Tpos 
"ArroAX@vos Te Kal Apréutdos iepov tHv dv’ dpav 
TE Kal TavTolas yw@pas auiAr@Opevov. Kat TIEévTES 

Crov ayava pevodpev tovTous, ws av €XOwat, Kal 
TO ViK@VTL TA VixnTHpLa SMoomeV ExadoTor. 

KA. “Op0ds. 

ae. Tpitta 6) tatdta aOAnpata StavonOaper, 
év pev tradixov, ev dé ayeveiwv, ev 5é avdpar' 
Kal Tos pev TOV ayevelwv TA SV0 TOY TpLa@V TOD 
pnkous Tod Spouov Oncopuev, tois dé maol ra 
TOUT@Y Huicea, TokoTaIs TE Kal OTAITaLs aptr- 
Awpévors’ yuvackl 8é, kopars ev avnBows yupvais 
140 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


hand for the stand-up fighting at close quarters which 
calls for sturdiness and strength. 

cuin. No doubt. 

aTH. Yet, surely, neither of these is of the 
greatest service when it lacks weapons. 

cLin, Certainly not. 

aTu. So at our contests the herald (as is now the 
practice) shall summon first the short-distance 
runner: he shall enter fully armed; and for an 
unarmed competitor we shall offer no prize. First, 
then, there shall enter the man who, with his arms, 
is to run the furlong,—second, the runner of the 
quarter-mile—third, the half-miler,—fourth, the 
runner of the three-quarters,—and fifth, that runner 
whom we shall despatch first, fully armed, to run a 
distance of four miles to a temple of Ares and back ; 
he shall be in heavier armour, and be called a hoplite, 
and he shall run over a smooth course, while his 
antagonist? shall be dressed in the full equipment of 
an archer, and shall run a course of twelve miles over 
hills and varied country to a temple of Apollo and 
Artemis. And having thus set up the contests, we 
shall await the return of these runners, and to the 
winner of each race we shall award the prize. 

cuin. Very right. 

atu. Let us plan these contests in three divisions 
—one for children, one for youths, and one for men. 
We shall ordain that the course for the youths’ races 
shall be two-thirds of the full course, and that for 
children one-half, when they compete either as 
archers or as hoplites. In the case of females, we shall 

1 In this 5th race the hoplite, running the shorter course 


competes (on time) against the archer, running the longer 
course, 


141 


PLATO 


or adiov Kal diavov Kal epimmvov Kal Soduxov, 
D év ait TO Spopm apd pevars” Tais be Tpla- 
naidexérect EXPL ydpou pevovons Kolv@vias, (7) 
paxpotepov elkoow étrav pnd eXaTTov oKTwKai- 
dexa’ TpeTovon oe oTONH TavTas éoradpévas 
cataBatéov é érl THY duthrav TovT@Y TOV dpdpev. 

Kai Ta pev meph Spomous avdpaat Té Kal yuvargt 
rabra éotw ta bé Kat loxur, avTt pev mahns 
Kal TOV TOLOUT@Y Ta vUV boa Bapéa THV ev Tos 

E Om Aous Maxny, éva TE _™pos é&va Siapaxopuévous 
Kat dvo pos Sdvo, Kal HEX pL déxa T pos déxa 
SapthrwpEvous addi ro1s, a Oe Tov py TabovTa 
a TOUjoavra Sei vixdv Kal éis omroca., Kabdrep 
vov €v TH mary Sevopoberijcavro ol rept Tay 
madqy auTiny Tt TOU Karws maatovTos Epyov kal 
p23) KAAS, TavToV 57 Kal Tovs mepl omAopayiav 
&k pous TapaxadobvTas xen TOUTOUS ovvvopo- 
Oereiv Kehevely ris vixdv apa Sixatos Tept Tavras 

834 ab Tas paxas, 6 Te pn madev 7 bpacas, Kal Tov 
HTT WeVvov ooatTws res Suan piver Takis. TavTa 
dé kal epi tov OnreELdv ctw vopoleTovpeva 
TOV mex pt yapou. 

Hedracrenny dé Onn avTLa THT aVTAS bet TH 
Tob maryKpatiou paxn, Tofos Kal TENT ALS Kal 
axovtios Kat Ow [Born] &« xeupos Té Kat 
a pevdrns * dpidopéver, drabepévous av mept 
TOUTWY VOMOUS, @ Kamora amodibovrt Ta Teph 
TavTa vouLmba TA “yépa Kal tas vinas dvavéperv. 

To dé pera tadta immav 6) Tepl ayavos 


1 Al6m Schneider: Aféwy MSS. (omitting Borg). 
2 cpevddrvns ci. England: opevddvais MSS., edd. 


142 


Se 





ee ad ts a 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


ordain races of a furlong, a quarter-mile, a half-mile, 
and a three-quarters for girls under the age of puberty, 
who shall be stripped, and shall race on the course 
itself ; and girls over thirteen shall continue to take 
part until married,} up to the age of twenty at most, 
or at least eighteen ; but these, when they come 
forward and compete in these races, must be clad in 


Let such, then, be the rules concerning races 
for men and women. As to trials of strength, 
instead of wrestling and the other “strong-man” 
events now in vogue, we shall ordain fencing in 
armour,both in solo-contests and in team-competitions 
of anything from two to ten a side. As regards the 
hits which a winner is to make or avoid, and how 
many points he must score,—just as now in the case 
of wrestling, those who deal with this art have fixed by 
law the points of good wrestling and bad, so likewise 
we must summon the experts in fencing under arms, 
and bid them help us to draw up laws by which to 
decide the proper winner in such fights, what he must 
do and what he must avoid,—and similarly the riles 
for determining the loser. For females also, up to 
the age of marriage, the same laws shall be laid down. 

And in the place of the pancratium we must estab- 
lish a general tourney for peltasts, who shall com- 
pete with bows, targes, javelins, and stones flung 
either by hand or by sling; and for these, too, we 
shall prescribe laws for assigning the rewards and 
prizes to the man who best conforms to the rules 
governing such contests. 

_ After these, the next thing to ordain will be 


1 Cp. 785 B. 
143 


PLATO 


B yiryvorro éfijs av vopoberovpeva. immov Oe Hpiv 
xpela je oure TLS TONG ouTE ToXXn, KaTa ye 
6 Kpytnv, aote avaryKxatov Kal Tas omrovbdas 
éhatrous yeyver Bar tds Te €v TH TpOdH Kal Tas 
qepl dryoviav aitav. Gpuatos pev odv Kal Td 
mapatav ovTe Tis Tpopeds Huilv éeotly ovTE TIS 
irotipia mpos TavTa ovdevl yiryvoit av Abyov 
Exovea, Gore TOUTOU ev dryovias, <d>? ovK 
émLX@pLov ExTas, Ti evtas voov pte exe pnTE 
Ooxeiv KexTHabar: povirr mots 6€ a0Xa TLOévtes, 

C TODOS TE aBorous Kal Ted\ElwY TE wal aBorwv 
Tots pérous Kal avrois én Tots Téhos éyouvcl, KaTa 
pvow TiS xeopas av THY iarmruKay TaLoLav arobi- 
doimev. eoT@ ca) TOUT@Y TE aUT@V KaTa vopov 
apidda Te Kal iNovekia, purdpxors Te Kal 
immapyots dedouern Keown Kpliois aTavT@Y TOV 
Te Spopwv avT@v Kal Tov kataBawovtov pe?” 
oho apinois 5é Orov ovr’ év Tots yepexots 
ovT évtadOa TiWévtes ayovias opbas a ay vopole- 

D rotuev. To£orns dé ad’ intav Kpns ovK a&ypnoTos, 
ove” aKOVTLOTNS, dare éorw xal TOUT@V mard.as 
Xap épis Te Kal ayovia.  Onretas be Tept 
TOUT@V vopors pev Kal émitateot ovK akva 
BiatecOar ths Kowwvias: édv dé €& avtav TOV 
éumrpoo ev madevpaTov eis €00s lovtwy  pvoww 
evdexnT at Kal Hi) SuaxXepaivy maidas i) Tmapbévous 
Kowwovely, €av Kal 427) peyew. 

*Ayovia 5) viv HOn. Kal wdOnols yunvacTiKhs, 
doa Te év ayaot Kal boa Kae Hype pav év bibacKd- 

E XAwy éxrovovpeba, mavT@s non mépas exer Kal 
6) Kal povoikhs Ta ev TrAEioTA Woa’Tas Sia- 


144 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


horse-racing. Here, in a country like Crete, there 
is not much need of horses—not in great numbers, 
—so that inevitably less attention is paid either 
to the rearing or the racing of horses. As to 
chariots, we have no one who keeps them, nor is 
anyone here likely to cherish any great ambition 
respecting them, so that to establish contests for 
them would run counter to native custom, and would 
not only seem, but be, a foolish act. — If, however, 
we establish prizes for races of riding-horses—both 
for young colts, and for three-year-olds, and for those 
of full age—we shall be adapting the sport of horse- 
racing to the character of the country. Of these 
horsemen there shall be established by law a com- 
petitive contest, and the phylarchs and hipparchs 
shall act as public judges both of all the races and of 
the armed competitors. For unarmed competitors 
we should be wrong in establishing prizes, either 
here or in the gymnastic sports. And for a Cretan 
there is credit in being a mounted archer or javelin- 
man, so we shall have contests and matches of a 
sportive kind between these also, As to women,—it 
is not worth while to make compulsory laws and 
rules about their taking part in such sports ; but if, 
as a result of earlier training which has grown into a 
habit, their nature allows, and does not forbid, girls 
or maidens to take part, let them do so without blame. 

So now at length we have reached the end both 
of competition and instruction in gymnastic, so far 
as concerns our education by means of contests and 
of daily teaching. Most of our account of music has 
likewise been completed; the regulations about 





} @yevias my conj. (and England, independently) for 
aywviaras of MSS.: <dt> I add, after Ast. 


145 
VOL. Il. L 


PLATO 


TeTrépavrat, Ta 6é payrpdav Kal TOV TOUTOLS 
érropuévor, Kai dca év €éoptais &purrar xopav 
dvayKaiat yiyverBar Tax Oevrov Tois Bevis Te Kal 
Tois peta Oeay Enver Kal Tuepav Kat éviauT@v 
Koo unOjcovrat TOTE, ele Tpretnptdes elte abd Kal 
835 d1a TELTrT OY eTav el? Sry Kal Straws av évvovav 
bidovte@v Tay Oedy takews mépt SiavennOdor 
TOTE kal TOUS povolKhs ayavas xP? BROT DOESY 
Kara Hépos ayovieicbar taxGevtas v vmo TE a 
Gerav Kal tod maroevTov Tov véov Kal Tov 
vomopuhaxer, ets Kouvov Tepl avT@y TOUT@Y 
guven Bort ay kal yevoneven vopober ay auTan, 
Tob Té mote Kal Tives kal peta Tivey Tous ayavas 
TOLnCOvT ae meph amdyTov xopav Kal Xopetas. 
ola 5é Exacta aura elvau def KaTa Royov Kal 
Kar’ edas Kai Kal? dppovias pub pois xpabeicas 
B kai opyyoect, mohhaxes elpnTat TO TPOT@ VoLo- 
Oérn, xa? a Tovs deutépous det ‘peradvaxovtas 
vopobereiy, kal TOvS ayavas TpeTOvT@s éxaoTols 
Pvpacw év xpovors mpornKovat velwavtas éopTas 
atrobobvat 7H TONEL éopratewy. 

Taira pev obp Kal aha toatra ouTe Xarerov 
yvevat Tiva _TpoTov xp” Takews évvopou Aayxa- 
vey, OVO av petariéyeva év0a 7 7) évOa péya TH 

C rroder xépdos 7) Snpiay av pépoe: a 6é Hy o pLK pov 
Stadéper meiGew TE xarer ov, beod wer Madde Ta 
epyov, el ms olov Te hw émitakers avtas Tap’ 
exeivou yiryverOa, viv be av6 pexrou TOAMNpPOD KLV- 
Suvever beta bai TLVOS, OS mappa tay Stapepovtas 
Toa épet ta Soxodrvta apiot elvat monet ral 
moritais, év uyxais SvepOappévais TO Tpétrov Kal 


146 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


rhapsodes, however, and their retinue, and the 
choral contests which must accompany festivals are 
matters to be arranged after the gods and demi- 
gods have had their months, days and years assigned 
to them; then it will be seen whether they should 
be biennial fixtures or quadrennial, or what mode 
and manner of arranging them the gods may suggest. 
Then also, one expects, the musical contests will be 
held in sections, as arranged by the Masters of the 
Games and the Educator of the youth and the Law- 
wardens, meeting for this special purpose and acting 
in person as legislators to determine what persons, 
and when and with whom, are to frame the contests 
for all the choruses and choristry. Of what charac- 
ter each of these ought to be in respect of words, 
songs and tunes, blended with rhythm and dance, 
has frequently been stated+ by the original law- 
giver; the secondary lawgivers should follow him in 
their enactments, and they should arrange the con- 
tests at convenient times to suit the several sacrifices, 
and thus appoint festivals for the State to observe. 
Now as to these and the like matters, it is 
by no means hard to perceive how they should be 
given legal regulation, nor indeed would a shift- 
ing of their positions cause much gain or loss to 
the State. But the things which do make no small 
difference, and of which it is hard to persuade men 
—these form a-task especially for God (were it 
possible that orders should come from him): as it 
is, they are likely to require a bold man who, 
valuing candour above all else, will declare what he 
deems best for city and citizens, and in the midst 
of corrupted souls will enjoin what is fitting and 


1 In Books VI and VII. 


147 
L2 


PLATO 


Em Omevov TACH TH ToALTELA TATTOD, evayTia Neyo 
tals peyiotaow ériOupiats Kal ovK éywv BonOov 
»” 0 > / ‘ ¢ , fh , 

A) ) Oyo €770 @ : 
avOporrov ovséva, Oyw ETopevos Move pdvOS. — 

D_ xa. Tw’ ad viv, @ Eve, Adyov Aéyomer; ov 

7, / 
ydp wo pavOdvoper. 

Ao. Elxotws yer adda 8 Treipdcopar éy@ 
dpavew tyiv ett cahéotepov. ws yap eis Tradeiav 
HAOov TO NOVO, eldov véous TE Kal Véas OptodYTAS 

/ > / > a / - > f 
hiroppovws aAAnAoLS. clare by Ee, olov Eixos, 

n / a 
goBnOivar Evvvojcavta ti Tis xXpHoeTar TH 
TowavTn Toner ev 7 On véor ev veal TE EdvTpEdels 
eict Tovav te ododpav Kal avedevOépwr, of 

/ ef "4 > / , 

E panuota bBpw cBevvvacw, apyoi, Ovoiar 88 Kai 
€optal cal yopol maou pédXovor Sia Biov. tiva 
dn Tote tpotov ev tavTn TH Tore apéEorTas 

nr \ Py x Kab > 0 nr > »v 
T@VY TOANOUS On TOAAA”~ ETrLOUMLOV Els EaYaTA 
r e , 
Barrove dy, dv av 6 Novos TpocTaTTy aTéxer Oat, 
vomos émixerpav yiyvecOa ; kal TOV péev TOANOY 
ov Oavpactov ériOupidy ei Kpatoin ta mpdcbev 

/ / \ \ \ a > fal 

836 voutpa TayOevTa’ TO yap un TOUTE Te eEcivat 

UmepBadrovtws ayabov mpos TO swdpoveiy ov 

cal 4 \ 
opikpov, Kal Taca 7) Tatdela peTplous Tpos TA 

a \ Ms rn 

ToLavT eiAnhe vomous, Kal mpos ToOUTOLS 1) TOV 

> / 
apyovtav dis Sunvaykacuévn pn atoBXérewv 
Lal a> 
adrooe, Thpeiv 5é adel Tos véovs. TadT od 
/ 
mpos pev TAS adras éerrOupias, doa ye avOpwrwa, 
fal 4, / 
pétpov eye ta de by TeV époTav Taidwr Te 
lal n > n 
appévov Kal Onredv. Kal yuvatkav avdpav Kal 


1 woAAd Paris MS. : kal roAAds Zur. 





1771 E fi. 
148 





5 ee ae 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


in keeping with all the constitution, and gainsay the 
mightiest lusts, acting alone by himself with no 
man to help him save, as his solitary leader, Reason. 

cuin. What is it we are reasoning about now, 
Stranger? For we are still in the dark. 

atu. Naturally: but I will try to explain myself 
more clearly. When in my discourse I came to the 
subject of education, I saw young men and maidens 
consorting with one another affectionately; and, 
naturally, a feeling of alarm came upon me, as I 
asked myself how one is to manage a State like 
this in which young men and maidens are well- 
nourished but exempt from those severe and menial 
labours which are the surest means of quenching 
wantonness, and where the chief occupation of 
everyone all through life consists in sacrifices, feasts 
and dances. In a State such as this, how will the 
young abstain from those desires which frequently 
plunge many into ruin,—all those desires from which 
reason, in its endeavour to be law,? enjoins ab- 
stinence? That the laws previously ordained serve 
to repress the majority of desires is not surprising ; 
thus, for example, the proscription of excessive 
wealth is of no small benefit for promoting tem- 
perance, and the whole of our education-system 
contains laws useful for the same purpose; in ad- 
dition to this, there is the watchful eye of the magis- 
trates, trained to fix its gaze always on this point 
and to keep constant watch on the young people. 
These means, then, are sufficient (so far as any 
human means suffice) to deal with the other desires. 
But when we come to the amorous passions of 
children of both sexes and of men for women and 


2 A play on vduos = vots; cp. 836 E, 714 A. 
149 


PLATO 


B avdpar yuvaikav, d0ev by pupia yeyovev avOpwmrous 
idia Kat oraus moder Kand, TOS TUS TOUTO Siev- 
ha oir" ay, kal Ti Tepov pappaxov Touro 
éxdarols Tob TovovTou KivOuvou Seaduryny evpnoet ; 
mavT@s ov pddwor, a & Krewia. kat yap obv mpos 
Hey adAXa ovK ordiya H Kpyrn Te piv oAn Kal 
) Aaxedaipov BonPevay ETLELK@S OU o wLKpav 
EvuBarrdovtas retort VOMOUS ad otous Tey TOh- 
AOv TpoT@v, mept Sé TaY épwTwV, av’Tol yap 

Cécpev, evaytiodvtat Tavtdmacw. e¢ yap Tis 
dxodovd av TH. pucer Orjoe TOV To Tod Aaiov 
vopov, Aéyoor @S 6pOas elye TO TOV appevev Kab 
véov ph Kowovely Kabamep Onreray T pos pikw 
adppodialon, paptupa Taparyopevos Tay TeV Onpiov 
puow Kal Serevos mpos Ta ToladTa OVX dm 6 pevov 
adppeva appevos dua TO pA) pice TOUTO eivat, Tax’ 
av xp@to amiOave* roy Kal tats bperépats 
Toheow ovda pds Evppove.? mpos S€ ToUvToLs, 
o Ova mavTos paper dey Tov vomobérny Siarnpety, 

D todo ev TOUTOLS ovx ouodoyel. Snrobpev yap 
ael 7) Tl Tov TiHewevary Tpos apeTHy Pépet Kab 
7 bn. pepe on, ToUTo €av cuyxwpapev xahov 
ue pndapas alox pov vowobereia bat Ta vv, Th 
pépos hpi EvpBarrat’ av mpos aperiy 3 j TOTEpoV 
év TH TOD Teva Gévros vuxn yuyvomevov eupvoerat 
TO THs avdpias 700s, y) év 7H Tob meigavTos TO 
Tis cap povos i8éas yévos ; ue Tatra mev ovdels 
dp twevoOein woté, waAXov Sé &tav TovTOV TovV- 


1 am6dv~ Badham : mé6avg MSS. 
2 Eunoov@ England: tvudwvot MSS. 





1 King of Thebes, father of Oedipus. 
150 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


women for men,—passions which have been the ; 
cause of countless woes both to individuals and to 
whole States,—how is one to guard against these, 
or what remedy can one apply so as to find a way 
of escape in all such cases from a danger such 
as this? It is extremely difficult, Clinias. For 
whereas, in regard to other matters not a few, 
Crete generally and Lacedaemon furnish us (and 
rightly) with no little assistance in the framing 
of laws which differ from those in common use,— 
in regard to the passions of sex (for we are alone 
by ourselves) they contradict us absolutely. If we 
were to follow in nature’s steps and enact that 
law which held good before the days of Laius,! 
declaring that it is right to refrain from indulging in 
the same kind of intercourse with men and boys? 
as with women, and adducing as evidence thereof 
the nature of wild beasts, and pointing out how 
male does not touch male for this purpose, since 
it is unnatural,—in all this we would probably be 
using an argument neither convincing nor in any 
Way consonant with your States. Moreover, that 
object which, as we affirm, the lawgiver ought 
always to have in view does not agree with these 
practices. For the enquiry we always make is this 
—which of the proposed laws tends toward virtue 
and which not. Come then, suppose we grant that 
this practice is now legalised, and that it is noble 
and in no way ignoble, how far would it promote 
virtue? Will it engender in the soul of him who 
is seduced a courageous character, or in the soul 
of the seducer the quality of temperance? Nobody 
would ever believe this; on the contrary, as all men 


? Cp. 636 B ff., Symp. 181-2. 
151 


PLATO 


/ a a ° 
Eavtiov tod pév tais iSovais tmeixovtos Kat 
Kaptepeiv ov Suvapévov wWéber was THY wadaxiar, 
a , fol fol 
Tov & eis piunow tod Oreos iovtos THY TAS 
id 
€LKOVOS OmoloTnTa ap ov péurretar; tis obv 
avOpwrav tobTo dv ToLodTov vomobeTHoE ; ayedov 
oveeis, Exav ye €v TO VO vomov arnOH. Tas odv 
\ > ‘ fal > \ n , \ 
hapev adnOes TodTO eivar; THyv THs pidias Te Kal 
837 ériOvupias dua Kal Tov Neyouévwov epotav dow 
idety avaryxaior, et wédret TLs TADTA OpOas Siavon- 
OncecOar- dvo0 yap dvta atta Kal é& dpdoiv 
tpitov adddo eldos vy bvowa TepiiaBov macav 
atropiav Kal oKotov amepydberas. 
KA. Ids ; 
/ / le) cd e , > 
A®. Wirov pév Tov KaNoOvpEV GuoLov OmoLw KAT 
> \ \wv ” /~* ’ io \ / 
apetny Kal tcov iow, diXov 8 ad cal To dedpevov 
TOU TemTAOUTHKOTOS, evavTiov dv TO yéver. OTav 
5é éxatepov yiyyntat opodpor, épwta émovo- 
palomen. 
B Ka. "Op@ds. 
~ A®. =Didia Toivuy per ard évavtiov Sewy 
\ > / \ \ \ > 4 4 > 
Kal aYpla Kal TO KOLVOV OV TOAAAKLS EXOVTA EV 
nutv, » Oo éx TOV Opolwv Huepos Te Kal Kowi dia 
Biov. puixth bé ée TtovTwv yevouévn TP@Tov pev 
lal > c / Ul Us 35 e lol 
katapabeiv od padia, ti mote Bovdott’ av aiTa 
yevéoOa, tov Tpitov épwrd Tis EX ToOvTOD, 
émerta els tovvavtiov wm apuoiy édKomevos 
atropel, Tod pév KeNEVOVTOS THS Wpas arwTecOar, 
ToD S€ amayopevovTos. oO mev yap TOU cmpmaToS 
152 


_— a ele 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


will blame the cowardice of the man who always 
yields to pleasures and is never able to hold out 
against them, will they not likewise reproach that 
man who plays the woman’s part with the resem- 
blance he bears to his model? Is there any man, 
then, who will ordain by law a practice like that? 
Not one, I should say, if he has a notion of what 
true law is. What then do we declare to be the 
truth about this matter? It is necessary to discern 
the real nature of friendship and desire and love 
so-called), if we are to determine them rightly; 
or what causes the utmost confusion and obscurity 
is the fact that this single term embraces these two 
things, and also a third kind compounded of them 
both. 

cuwn. How so? 

atH. Friendship is the name we give to the 
affection of like for like, in point of goodness, and of 
equal for equal ; and also to that of the needy for the 
rich, which is of the opposite kind ; and when either 
of these feelings is intense we call it “love.” 

cuin. True. 

atu. The friendship which occurs between op- 
posites is terrible and fierce and seldom reciprocal 
amongst men, while that based on similarity is 
gentle and reciprocal throughout life. The kind 
which arises from a blend of these presents 
difficulties,—first, to discover what the man affected 
by this third kind of love really desires to obtain, 
and, in the next place, because the man himself 
is at a loss, being dragged in opposite directions 
by the two tendencies,—of which the one bids him 
to enjoy the bloom of his beloved, while the other 
forbids him. For he that is in love with the body 


153 


PLATO 


Cépav Kal tis @pas Kabdrep omm@pas TeWwar épu- 
wrnoOhvat TapakereveTa EavT@, Tiny oddemiav 
atovésov TO THS Wuxhs Oe Tod épwpévou: 6 Sé 
mapepyov pev THY TOD copaTos ériOupiav exer, 
opav Sé uadrov % épav, TH Wuxi, S€ dvtws* Ths 
wuyis émiteOupneas bBpw tryntac tTHy Tept TO 
cHpa ToD cHpatos TANTMOYHY, TO CAPpoY 8é Kal 
avopeiov Kal peyarorperés xal TO poripov 
aidovpuevos dua Kal ceSopevos ayvevew ae pe 

D ayvevovtos tod épwpuévov BovrorT av: oO be 

\ > > a ’ 4 As , > | cal 
ptyOeis €€ apuoiv x? Epws obtds eof dy viv bu- 
ednAVOapev WS TpiTOV. OovTwy dé TOVTwY TOTOUTMY 
morepoy amavras bet e@dvew TOV vopov, amelp- 
yovta pn yiryverOar ev hpiv, ) SHrov St TOV peév 
apetns [te] dvta cal tov véov ériOupodyta ws 
apiatov yiryverOat Bovdoiped’ av hyiv év tH 
more éveivar, Tovs bé Svo, et Suvvatov ein, K@AVOL- 
pev ap 3 TAS Aéyomev, @ hire Méyirre ; 

ME. Ildvtn tot Karas, @ Eéve, Twepl adtov 

E tovtwy elpneas Ta viv. 

ao. "Eouxa ye, Sep Kal érorralov, tuxely Tis 
ons, @ hire, Evvwdias: tov S€ vopov tuav, 6 TL 
voel TWepl Ta TOLavTa, ovdev pe eEeTdlew Sel, dé- 
xerOar Sé THY TH AOYH GvyXwpnow. Knrewwia dé 
[wera tavta|® Kal eicadOis wept avtav TovT@Y 
Tetpacouar eTadmy TeiVew. TO Sé por dedomuévov 
timo of@v itw, xat buelEMwpev TavtTws Tods 
voOMoUS. 

ME. ’OpOotata réyes. 

1 3¢ dvtws Badham: dedvtws MSS. 


2  H. Jackson, England: rpiros MSS. 
3 [wera tad7Ta] bracketed by England. 


154 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


and hungering after its bloom,! as it were that of 
a ripening peach, urges himself on to take his fill 
of it, paying no respect to the disposition of the 
beloved sem pe he that counts bodily desire as 
but secondary, and puts longing looks in place of 
love,? with. soul lusting really for soul, regards the 
bodily satisfaction of the body as an outrage, and, 
reverently worshipping temperance, courage, nobility 
and wisdom, will desire to live always chastely in 


‘company with the chaste object of his love. But 


the love which is blended of these two kinds is that 
which we have described just now as third. Since, 
then, love has so many varieties, ought the law to 
prohibit them all and prevent them from existing in 
our midst, or shall we not plainly wish that the kind 
of love which belongs to virtue and desires the 
young to be as good as possible should exist within 
our State, while we shall prohibit, if possible, the 
other two kinds? Or what is our view, my dear 
Megillus? 

mec. Your description of the subject, Stranger, 
is perfectly correct. 

aTH. It seems that, as I expected, I have gained 
your assent; so there is no need for me to investi- 
gate your law, and its attitude towards such matters, 
but simply to accept your agreement to my state- 
ment. Later on I will try to charm Clinias also into 
agreeing with me on this subject. So let your joint 
admission stand at that, and let us by all means 
proceed with our laws. 

mec. Quite right. 


1 Cp. Symp. 183 D. ff. 
2 A play on the assonance épav = épar. 


155 


PLATO 


AO. Texvny x) Tw’ av TovToU Too vopov Tis 
838 Décews € €v TP vov mapovre TH pev pasiar é EX@, TH 
oS av TWA TPOTTOY TaVTaTATLY WS olév Te yane- 
TwOTAaTHY. 
ME. IIa 87 Aéyers 5 
ao. “Iopev mov Kal Ta viv Tos TACT TOUS TOV 
avOpoTav, Kaimep Tapavomous dvtTas, Ws €v TE 
Kal axpiBas eipyovTar THs TOV KaN@V cvVOUCiAS 
ovK akovTes, @S olov Te b€ wadLoTA ExOVTES. 
ME. Lote Aéyers ; 
Ao. “Oray adedpos a adergy) TO. yevovT ar 
KaXol. Kal mepl viéos y) Ouyatpos 0 avTos v0 jL0s 
B aypados ov ws olov Te ikav@TaTa puddrrer Myre 
pavepas pnte NaOpa ouryxabevsorra 7} 2) TOS addws 
aorralouevov dmrecOat TOUT@Y GXn’ ove” émriOu- 
pia TavTHS THs cuvovalas TO Tapdmay eicépxeTat 
TOUS TOAAOUS. 
ME. "“AdnO Néyets. 
ao. Ovxody cpyixpov phua KatacBévyvot 
mdaoas Tas ToLavTas nOoVds ; 
ME. TO Totov 62) A€yes ; 
ao. To tadra elvat pavar undayas boa, 
C Geomio} dé wal aisxpav aioxioTa. To} aitvov 
dp’ ov TOUT Eort, TO pndéva adrws éyeuv avta, 
arn evdvs yevomevov Heavy éxacTov aKovew TE 
AeyovT@y del kal TavTaxod TadTa, €v ryedoiots TE 
dpa év maon Te omoven TpAYLKh eyopeva * TOn- 
AdKIs, étav 7) Ovéotas 7; i) tivas Oiditrodas eioayw- 
ow, % Maxapéas Twas aderpais pix Devras 
AaOpaiws, opbévras de éToiuas Oavatov avtots 
éritibévtas Sixny THS dpaptias ; 
1 reydueva Orelli: Aeyouévy MSS. 
156 


ofl 


Ne ra 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


_ atu. I know of a device at present for enacting , 
this law, which is in one way easy, but in another - 
quite the hardest possible. 

mec. Explain your meaning. 

aTH. Even at present, as we are aware, most 
men, however lawless they are, are effectively and 
strictly precluded from sexual commerce with 
beautiful persons,—and that not against their will, 
but with their own most willing consent. 

mec. On what occasions do you mean ? 

atH. Whenever any man has a brother or sister 
who is beautiful. So too in the case of a son or 
daughter, the same unwritten law is most effective 
in guarding men from sleeping with them, either 
openly or secretly, or wishing to have any connexion 
with them,—nay, most men never so much as feel 
any desire for such connexion. 

mec. That is true. 

atu. Is it not, then, by a brief sentence that all 
such pleasures are quenched ? 

mec. What sentence do you mean ? 

atu. The sentence that these acts are by no 
means holy, but hated of God and most shamefully 
shameful. And does not the reason lie in this, that 
nobody speaks of them otherwise, but every one of 
us, from the day of his birth, hears this opinion 
expressed always and everywhere, not only in comic 
speech, but often also in serious tragedy—as when 
there is brought on to the stage a Thyestes or an 
Oedipus, or a Macareus having secret intercourse 
with a sister, and all these are seen inflicting death 
upon themselves willingly as a punishment for their 
sins? 


157 


PLATO 


ME.’ "OpOorata Néyers TO ye TOTodTOY, 6TL TO 

D ris bypns Bavpacriy Tuva Sdvapuy einer, 6 orav 

pndets pndapirs adrXws avarvety eriyetpnan Tore 
Tapa TOV VoLor. 

Ao. Ovcody dpOov Td viv 87 pnOév, Sti vomo- 
Oérn Bovropeve Tiva émiOvpiay SovA@cacbat TOV 
Siabepdvtes TOUS avOparous Sovhoupever padiov 
ywavat rye OvTwva Tpomrov XElpooarT ay> ott Kab- 
lep@oas TavTnv THY dhunv Tapa Tact SovdoLs 
Te Kal ehevBépors «al maial wal yuvarkl kal ory 
TH mONEL Kata Ta aura, ouT@ TO BeBarorarov 

E areipyacpévos eorau L mepl ToDTOV Tov vowov. 

ME. Ildvu pev ow érrws 6€ av To Tovobrov 
€Oédovtas eye wdavtas Svvatov ~otat Tore 
TapacXeiv— 

AQ. Kadas oméraBes avTo yap ToUTO Hv TO 
Tap énod Ae Gev, 6 ore TEX NY eyo ™ pos TOUTOV TOV 
vojov EX OL put Tob KaTa puow phjr@ar Th Tis matbo- 
yovias cuvovaia, TOD pev ap pevos amrexopévous Me) 
xrelvovT ds Te ex mpovotas TO TOV avO parrrov yevos, 

839 pnd eis méTpas Te Kat rAiGovs omeipovtas, ov 
pyTroTe puow THY auTov D pubwO ev Mipperac yovtpov, 
amex o“evous 5é apovpas Oyrgias maons, év i] }42) 
Bodo! av oot puerbar TO oTrapév. 0 82) vo pos 
OvTOS Sunvenis pev yEvopmevos dpa Kal KpaTnoas, 
xabarep vv mepl Tas TOV yovewy ouppl&ers xpa- 
Tel, éay wal qepl Tas adras ViRHoY dicaiws, pupia 
aryaba Exel. KaTa dvow ev yeep Tp@rov Keirat, 
AvTTNs Oé é Ep@TLKTS Kal pavias Kal MovYel@v TATOV 
Kal Tepatev Kal owtiwy elpyecOar Trovit TaV 

1 BotAowo some MSS., Hermann: BovAur’ al, MSS., Zur., 
vulg. 
158 


—————- 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


wes. Thus much at Jeast you are quite right in 
saying—that public opinion has a surprising influence, 
when there is no attempt by anybody ever to breathe 
a word that contradicts the law. 
atu. Then is it not true, as I said just now, that 
when a lawgiver wishes to subdue one of those lusts 
which especially subdue men, it is easy for him at 
least to learn the method of mastering them,—that 
it is by consecrating this public opinion in the eyes 
of all alike—bond and free, women and children, 
and the whole State—that he will effect the firmest 
security for this law. 
mec. Certainly; but how it will ever be possible 
for him to bring it about that all are willing to say 
such a thing— 
aTH. A very proper observation. That was pre- 
cisely the reason why I stated that in reference to 
this law I know of a device for making a natural use 
of reproductive intercourse,—on the one hand, by 
ining from the male and not slaying of set 
_ purpose the human stock, nor sowing seed on rocks 
_ and stones where it can never take root and have 
fruitful increase; and, on the other hand, by 
ining from every female field in which you 
would not desire the seed to spring up. This law, 
when it has become permanent and prevails—if it 
has rightly become dominant in other cases, just as 
_ it prevails now regarding intercourse with parents,— 
__ is the cause of countless blessings. For, in the first 
_ place, it follows the dictates of nature, and it serves 
_ to keep men from sexual rage and frenzy and all 
kinds of fornication, and from all excess in meats 


159 


B > 


D 


PLATO 


apéTpov TavTwy, yuvarki Te avT@Y oiKELOUS EivaL 
Kal pirous, adnXa TE mTapmrodha ayaa yiryvour” ay, 
el TOU vopou THs ToUTOU Sdvarto éyKparijs eivat. 
Taxa S dy apiv THs TapacTas avip apodpos kal 
véos, TOAD om EpMaTos HEaTOs, a axovov Tiewévou 
Tov vopou Aowoprjcerer & av ws avonra Kal advvata 
TiOEvT@Y vopupa, Kal Bots wdavTa eum Nijoete. 
T™pos a 67) Kal Bréwpas € eyo TovTO eimrov 70 pyya, 
@S TLVA TEXVHVY KEKTHUNV, TH [ev peorny anac av, 
TH be Xaher@raryy, T pas 70 TOUTOV Teevra eu 
petvar TOV vopov. voroar pev yap 51) pdotov ws 
duvatov Té ore Kal ory papev yap én Kabrepeo- 
Oév TodTo ixavas TO | vopyov maoay apuxny dov- 
AdcecOat Kal Tavtatact pera poBou Tounoev 
meiOecOat tois teHeict vomowss aXAA yap «is 
TodTO mpoBéBnke viv wat ovdS av Tote yevécOat 
Soxei, Kabarep TO Tov EvooiTiov émiTHdevpa 
aT LoTELTAL, [11 duvarov eivat SvvacOat Sia Biov 
mony brAnv Chv mpatTovoav ToDTO™ éheyx Dev eS 
épyo Kal ryevopevov map opiv, bums ets TO ye 
yuvarkay ovdé év tais Dwerépais Toheot SoKxet 
pvow Exel wyiyver Bat. TavTy & av dua thy Tis 
at.iotias popny elpnka audhotepa tadta elvat 
TayXareTa peivar Kara VOMov. 

ME. ‘Op@das ve ov Aéyou. 

ao. ‘Os & obv ov« Eotw bTrép avOpwrov, olov 
TE dé yevéo Oat, Bovnreobe t vpiv merpabe Tia AOyov 
€Y.O EVO MUP GVEA TOS elTrety TLVOS ; 
KA. Llds yap ov ; 





1 838 B. 
160 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


and drinks, and it ensures in husbands fondness for 
their own wives: other blessings also would ensue, 
in infinite number, if ‘one could make sure of this 
law. Possibly, however, some young bystander, rash 
and of superabundant virility, on hearing of the 
passing of this law, would denounce us for making 
foolish and impossible rules, and fill all the place 
with his outcries ; and it was in view of this that I 
made the statement! that I knew of a device to 
secure the permanence of this law when passed 
which is at once the easiest of all devices and the 
hardest. For while it is very easy to perceive that 
this is possible, and how it is possible—since we affirm 
that this rule, when duly consecrated, will dominate 
all souls, and cause them to dread the laws enacted 
and yield them entire obedience,—yet it has now 
come to this, that men think that,even so, it is unlikely 
to come about,—just in the same way as, in the case 
of the institution of public meals, people refuse to 
believe that it is possible for the whole State to be 
able to continue this practice constantly ; and that, 
too, in spite of the evidence of facts and the 
existence of the practice in your countries; and 
even there, as applied to women, the practice is 
regarded as non-natural. Thus it was that, because 
of the strength of this unbelief, I said that it is most _ 
difficult to get both these. matters permanently 
legalised. 

mec. And you were right in that. 

atu. Still, to show that it is not beyond the 
power of man, but possible, would you like me to 
try to state an argument which is not without some 
plausibility ? 

eLin. Certainly. 


161 
VoL. It. M 


PLATO 


Ee. Tlorepov ow Ts adpodiaiov paov ay 
améXowTo, Kal TO tax ev €0éXoe rept avTa petpias 
Tov, 60 TO cama exov Kal pt ldLwTLKOS 3) 
pavras ; 

KA. IIodv mou waddov pn idt@TLKas. 
A@. "Ap ovv ovK tomer TOV Tapavrivov "Ixxov 
axon dsa Tov ‘Orvpriagt TE ayava cal TOUS [re] } 
840 adAous, ws? 1a didoverkiav Kal TéXYNY Kal TO 
pera Tod swppoveiv a6 peiov év Th Wuxh Kextn- 
pév0S, @S Aoyos, ovTE Twos T WTrOTE fyuvastos 
HYrato ovd av maidos €v OAn TH THs aoxjoews 
axpn; Kal 6) Kal Kpicwva cai ’“Actvirov Kal 
Avotroutrov Kal addXovs TapTOAXOUS 06 AUTOS TOU 
Aovos yet. Kal Tor Tay éudy Kal cOV TOMLTOY, 
@ Krewia, TONU KAKLOV Ho av TeTALOEULEVOL TAS 
B puxds, Ta d€ copara Tord padrov op puy@vres. 
KA. "AAnOH TadTa Aéyers, ore opodpa t vd TOV 
Tadaloy éotiv eipnuéva Tepl TOUT@Y TaY GOAnTaV 
@s GVTWS TOTE yevopmeEva. 
ao. Ti oby ; job per dpa vixns évexa Tadys Kal 
Spopey Kal TOV TOLoUT@Y éroAuno av Fab si 
Aeyouevov Tpaywaros UmTo0 TOV TOAN@Y Ev aL po- 
Vos, ob dé 7) MET EpOL maides ddvvaTncover kaprepely 
TOD Kadhéovos evexa viens, dv tipets KkarrALoT nv 
éKx maideov pos avrous Aéyovtes év pudors Te 

Cxal év pyyace cal év pédrcow ddovtes, ws eiKds, 

KNANTOMED ; 
KA. Iloias; 
ao. Tis trav ndovav vinns <* s>* éyxpateis 
: Lee] bracketed by Hermann. 


@s Heindorf: éyv MSS. 
3 <+ fis> added by England. 


i 


162 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


atH. Would a man be more ready to abstain 
from sex-indulgence, and to consent to carry out the 
law on this matter soberly, if he had his body not 
ill-trained, but in good condition, than if he had it 
in bad condition ? 

cun. He would be much more ready if it were 
not ill-trained. 

ata. Do we not know by report about Iccus? of 
Tarentum, because of his contests at Olympia and 
elsewhere,—how, spurred on by ambition and skill, 
and possessing courage combined with temperance 
in his soul, during all the period of his training (as 
the story goes) he never touched a woman, nor yet 
a boy? And the same story is told about Crison and 
Astylus and Diopompus and very many others. And 
yet, Clinias, these men were not only much worse 
educated in soul than your citizens and mine, but 
they also possessed much more sexual vigour of 
body. 
cin. That this really happened in the case of 
these athletes is indeed, as you say, confidently 
affirmed by the ancients. 

aTH. Well then, if those men had the fortitude 
to abstain from that which most men count bliss for 
the sake of victory in wrestling, running, and the 
like, shall our boys be unable to hold out in order to 
win a much nobler victory—that which is the noblest 
of all victories, as we shall tell them from their 
childhood’s days, charming them into belief, we 
hope, by tales and sentences and songs. 

cuin. What victory? 

atu. Victory over pleasures,—which if they win, 


1 Cp. Protag. 316 D. 
163 
mM 2 


PLATO 


évtas av Chv evdaimovas, yTT@pévous 5é TovvaV- 
tiov a&mav. T pos bé TovTous er poBos o Tob 
pn dap pndSapas Sovov avo elvat Ovvapey nwt 
ouK dpa eu xparelv @v ado KEexpaTHKact 
TOUT@D oVTES xétpoves ; ; 

KA. Eixos y’ ovv. 

AQ. ‘Exedy Toivuy évrava éo wep TOUTOU ToD 
D vopijou Tépt, dia KaKnv 6é Tay Tov Toh Oy els 
am opiav eméc oper, pnt TO wey 7)|LETE POV VOpLLpLOV 
aTEXVOS deiv mepl ¢ avTav TOUT@Y mopever Oar Aéyov 
@s ov det xetpous Huiy elvar TOUS: monritas opvidwv 
Kal GddXov Onpiwv TONABY, of KaTa pmeyddas 
ayéhas syevendbevres MEX pe pep mardoyovias niBeor 
Kal aKnparot yapov te ayvol Saou, dtav & els 
TOUTO AtKias ENOwor, cuvdvacbevres appyy 
Onreig Kara Xap kal OnrELa appevt Tov ovmov 
E Xpovov oolws Kal dixaiws Saou, EupevovTes 
BeBaiws tais TPOTALS THs pudias oHoroyiaes: 
deiv 59 Onpiwv ye avtovs apeivous eivar. éav 8 
obv UTO TOV aAXwV ‘EXAnvaV kal BapBapov Tav 
meio TOV SiapGeipwvrar, THY Aeyouenny. aTaxTov 
A dpodirny év avtois opavrés Te Kal axovovres 
péyeorov Suvapevny, Kal ovT@ 87 pi) Suvarot 
yiyvevtat KaTaxpatety, Sevrepov vopov ém avTois 
pnxavacbat xpn Tovs vouopidaKas vopwobéTas 
yevopevous. 

KA. Tiva 87) oupBourevers aitois TiecOat 
vopmov, €ay Oo vov TiEwevos abrovs enhvyy 3 ; 

ae. Ajjdov dts Tov éxopevov TovTOU SevTEpor, 
@ Knrevvia. 

KA. Tiva déyers ; 

ao. “Aytuvactov Ott wadtoTa TroLeiy THY TOV 
164 


ee 


a 





ie et Se eee 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


they will live a life of bliss, but if they lose, the very 
opposite. Furthermore, will not the dread that this 
is a thing utterly unholy give them power to master 
those impulses which men inferior to themselves 
have mastered ? 

cun. It is certainly reasonable to suppose so. 

atu. Now that we have reached this point in 
regard to our regulation, but have fallen into a strait 
because of the cowardice of the many, I maintain 
that our regulation on this head must go forward and 
proclaim that our citizens must not be worse than 
fowls and many other animals which are produced in 
large broods, and which live chaste and celibate lives 
without sexual intercourse until they arrive at the 
age for breeding; and when they reach this age 
they pair off, as instinct moves them, male with 
female and female. with male; and thereafter they 
live in a, way that is holy and just, remaining con- 
stant to their first contracts of love: surely our 
citizens should at least be better than these animals. 
If, however, they become corrupted by most of the 
other Hellenes or barbarians, through seeing and 
hearing that among them the “lawless Love” (as 
it is called) is of very great power, and thus be- 
come unable to overcome it, then the Law-wardens, 
acting as lawgivers, must devise for them a second 
law. 

curn. What lew do you recommend them to 
make if that which is now proposed slips out of their 

> 

_ atu. Evidently that law which comes next to it 
as second. 

cuin, What is that? 

aTH, One ought to put-the force of pleasures as 


165. 


PLATO 


dover poyny, THV emixuow Kal Tpopiy avris 
dua rover dddooe TpémovTa Tob _Teparos. ein 8 
av TobT9, et avaisera ra évein TH TOV ad podia tov 
Xpnoer oTaviw yap av TO ToLOUTe be alo wvny 
B Xpopevor aobeverrépav av auTiy déctrowav 
KT@VTO, odury axes PW MLEvOL. TO. 87. NavOdvew 
TOUT oY Sp@vtad Tt Kadov Tap’ avrois ear 
VOpUpLov, é0eu Kal aypade vopur dev VOM, 70 bé 
pa) AavOdvew aiaxpov, GNX’ ov TO Ha) TAVTWS 
Spav. ovT@ TodTo aiaxpov av Kal Kadov Sevtépas 
dv npiv év voip ryevdwevov KéOLTO, opbornta & exov 
Sevtépav, Kal TOUS TAS puceis Sieh Pappevous, ovs 
HT Tous ara Tpoc-aryopevouen, ép yevos 6 dv, mEpt- 
C AaBovta’ tpia yévn Bidforr’ av pw Tapavopeir. 
KA. Tlota 6n ; 
ao. To Te JeoreBes dpa Kal prdorepov Kal 
TO [1) TOV TOLATMV ara TOV TpoT@V THS 
puxis dvT@Y Kahov yeyoues év ércOupia. TavTa 
on Kabamep tows ev Hv Ta ov Aeyouer’ 
éorly euxal, TOW ye pny apiora, elrep yiyvorto, 
év Tacals TONEot yliyvotto av. TAX 8 av, el 
D Beds e0édoL, Kav duo Odtepa Bracaipuefa trepi 
EPWTLKAY, ” pndéva Tokmay pndevos antec Oat 
TOV yevvatay dpa Kal éerevbépaov TAY yaueThs 
éauTov yuvarros, abura dé mahaxav omrépwara. 
kal vo0a pn amet pew pnde ayova appévov 
mapa piow 7) TO wey Tov appéveov Tapray 
aberoiped” av, To 5é YuvarKay, ev THs ouyyiryvorro 
Tive wAHY Talis peta Oedv Kal lep@v yauov 


1 reptAaBdvra Stallb.: meptAaBdy ra. MSS. 
1 Cp. 626 E ff. 





166 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


far ible out of gear, by diverting its increase 
and nutrime another part of the body by méans 
of exercise. This would come about if indulgence in 
sexual intercourse were devoid of shamelessness ; for 
if, owing to shame, people indulged in it but seldom, 
in consequence of this rare indulgence they would 
find it a less tyrannical mistress. Let them, there- 
fore, regard privacy in such actions as honourable— 
sanctioned both by custom and by unwritten law; 
and want of privacy—yet not the entire avoidance of 
such actions—as dishonourable. Thus we shall have 
a second standard of what is honourable and shameful 
established by law and possessing a second degree of 
rectitude ; and those people of depraved character, 
whom we describe as “ self-inferior,’ 1 and who form 
a single kind, shall be hemmed in by three kinds of 
force and compelled to refrain from law-breaking. 

cin. What kinds? 

atH, That of godly fear, and that of love of 
honour, and that which is desirous of fair forms of 
soul, not fair bodies. The things I now mention 
are, ‘perhaps, like the visionary ideals in a story; yet 
in very truth, if only they were realized, they would 
prove a great blessing in every State. Possibly, 
should God so grant, we might forcibly effect one of 
two things in this matter of sex-relations,—either 
that no one should venture to touch any of the noble 
and freeborn save his own wedded wife, nor sow 
any unholy and bastard seed in fornication, nor any 
unnatural and barren seed in sodomy,—or else we 
should entirely abolish love for males, and in regard 
to that for women, if we enact a law that any man 
who has intercourse with any women save those who 
have been brought to his house under the sanction 


167 


PLATO 


EénOovcas eis thy oixiav, @vntais elite GAO 
OT@ODY TpoOT@ KTHTaIs, un AavOdvwY avdpas TE 
Kal yuvaixas Tacas, TAY av aTiymov avToVv TOV 
év TH Wore émraivav vowobeTovvtes opOas av 
doFatpev vomobeteiv, as dvTas dvta Eevixov. ovTOS 
57) vopos, elite els cite SUO avTovs ypH) Tpocayo- 
pevewv, KeicOw Trepl adpodiciwy Kal dm@dvT@V TOV 
EpwTLKOV, Goa TPOS GAAHAOUS Sia TAS TOLAVTAS 

842 éiOupias opirodvtes opOds Te Kal ovK oplas 
1 paT TOME. 

ME. Kail toivuv, @ Eéve, éym pév tor ohodpa 
Seyoiunv av TodTov Tov vomov, o bé 67 Krewias 
autos dpatérw ti mote wept avtav Siavoetrat. 

KA. "Eora: tadta, ® MéyidXe, orotav ye 8% 
pot S0€n Tis TapateTTwKevar Katpos' viv phy 
éauev Tov Eévoy ett eis TO mpdabev Tpoiévar TOV 
voMov. 

ME. ‘Op@ais. 

B ao. “AdXAA pv viv ye TpoidvTes dn oyedoV 
éopev ev TO KaTecKevacOat pev Evooitia, 6 papev 
adroOt pev dv Yarerrov elvat, ev Kpyrn Sé ‘ovdeis 
ddrws dv trordBo Seiv yiyverOar. to 5é tiva 
TpoTtov, ToTepov ws evOdde 7) Kabarep év Aaxe- 
Saipovt, ) Tapa TadTa éott Tt TpiTov Eidos Evoat- 
Tiav audoiv TovTow dwevov av Exov, TOTO our 
éFeupeiv or yaderrov elvar Soxei péya Te ayabov 
evpebév ovdey adrepydcecOary Kal yap viv 

C éuperds exer KaTecKevacpEeva. 

Tovtois 8 éotly axddovbov 4 Tod Biov Kata- 
oKeu, tiv avtois av tpdmov Erotto. Bios 87 
ddrdais pev rodeo. TavTobaTas av Kal ToANAXO- 

x 


Bev ein, pddrota Sé éx Sitdaciwy 7 TovTOLS' Ex 
168 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


of Heaven and holy marriage, whether purchased or » 
otherwise acquired, if detected in such intercourse 
by any man or woman, shall be disqualified from 
any civic commendation, as being really an alien, — 
probably such a law would be approved as right. So 
let this law—whether we ought to call it one law or 
two—be laid down concerning sexual commerce and 
love affairs in general, as regards right and wrong 
conduct in our mutual intercourse due to these 
desires. 

MEG. For my own part, Stranger, I should 
warmly welcome this law; but Clinias must tell 
us himself what his view is on the matter. 

cuin. I shall do so, Megillus, when I deem the 
occasion suitable; but for the present let us allow ~ 
the Stranger to proceed still further with his laws, 

mec. You are right. 

aTH. Well, now we have arrived at this point in 
our progress, that common meals have been estab- 
lished—a thing which elsewhere, as we say, would 
be difficult, but in Crete no one would question its 
correctness. As concerns the manner of them,— 
whether we should adopt the Cretan fashion, or the 
Lacedaemonian, or whether we can find a third 
fashion that is better than either,—this does not 
seem to me a difficult problem to decide, nor in- 
deed would its decision prove of much _ benefit, 
since these meals are now actually established in 
a satisfactory way. 

Next to this comes the question of organising the 
food-supply,.and how to make this fit in with the 
meals. In other States this supply would include 
all kinds of food and come from many sources, 
certainly from twice as many sources as it will in 


169 


PLATO 


Lp) \ \ > 0 , ° , nr 
yns yap kat €x GCaratTns Tois TrEioTOLS TOV 
e 4 \ 

EAAnvev éoti katerxevacpéva Ta Tepl THY Tpo- 

/ / / rn a 
gyv, tovtos Sé povov éx ys. TO pev ovdv 

/ nr cn 
vomolérn TovTo paov: ov yap povov hyices avd 
‘4 , / > 
D yiyvovtas voor pétpiot, TOAD 8 ,éddtTOUS, er 8 
> , a 
€devdépars avO patois wadXov TpéTOVTES. vAaUKAN- 
lal \ \ \ nr a 
PLK@V LEV Yap Kal EuTropiK@v Kal KaTrNAEUTLKOY Kal 
mavdoKxevoewy Kal TEAWVLKOY Kal peTadrEL@V Kal 
Savetopav Kai éritéKwv ToKwv Kal Gddov pUpior 
, \ \ > , , by tal 
TOLOUT@Y TA TOAAA ATTHANAKTAL Yalpew avTots 
e 
elT@V O TEpl TAaVTHY THY TOALY vVomOOETHS, Yyewp- 
yois 6€ Kal vopetor kal peduTToupyols Kal Tots 
mTept Ta TOLADTa huraKTypiols Te Kal éemioTaTaLs 
opyavev vouobeTHoEL, TA péylaoTa HON vevopmo- 
E Oetnxa@s Tepi yapuous dua Kal yevécets Taidov Kal 
Tpopas, Te 5€ Kal Traideias apyav Te KaTacTaceEls 
> fol , rn 8 5-4 \ 4: \ ‘ \ 
év TH mode. vovd émi [tovs|! THY Tpodyy Kai 
6cot Tepl avTny TavTHY cuvYdiaTOVOdcW avay- 
Katov vouobetovrTa éott TpéTecOat. 
IIpa@rov 8%) vowor éotwocay Aeyopevor Tovvoua 
yewpytxot. Aros opiov pev mpmtos vomos O6¢ 
an , 
eipjcOw' un) KiWEiTo YAS Opa undels ponte OiKetov 
ToALTou yelTovos pHnTE OmoTépmovos, eT eExyaTLas 
/ By / n /, \ Prsa2 
843 KexTnpuevos AAXrAwW Eev@ yEelrTOVaV, vopiaas TO TAKi- 
lal > lal lal ° = 7 6 be cal 
vynta Kiveiv AXnO@s TodTO elvats BoviécOw SE TAs 
a a A / ”- 
WETpOV ETLXELpHTaL KLVElY TOV péyLoTOV aNXoV 
al / cx 7 
[ada dpov]? wadrXov 7 cpsxpov AOov opifoyvTa 


1 [rots] bracketed by England. 
2 [wAhv 8porv] bracketed by Bekker, Zur. 


170 





LL ll 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


our State; for most of the Greeks arrange for their 
food to be derived from both land and sea, but our 
people will derive it only from the land. This 
makes the lawgiver’s task easier; for in this case 
half the number of laws, or less, will suffice, and the 
laws, too, will be better fitted for free men. For the 
lawgiver of our State is rid, for the most part, of ship- 
ping and merchandise and peddling and inn-keeping 
and customs and mines and loans and usury, and 


countless matters of a like kind; he can say good- 


bye to all such, and legislate for farmers and 
shepherds and bee-keepers, and concerning the 
preservation and supervision of the instruments em- 
ployed in these occupations. This he will do, now 
that he has already enacted the most important 
laws, which deal with marriage, and with the birth 
and nurture and education of the children, and with 
the appointment of magistrates in the State. For 
the present he must turn, in his legislating, to the 
subject of food and of those whose labours contribute 
to its supply. 

First, then, let there be a code of laws termed 
“agricultural.” The first law—that of Zeus the 
Boundary-god—shall be stated thus: No man shall 
move boundary-marks of land, whether they be 
those of a neighbour who is a native citizen or those 
of a foreigner (in case he holds adjoining land on a 
frontier), realising that to do this is truly to be 
guilty of “moving the sacrosanct”; sooner let a 
man try to move the largest rock which is not a 
boundary-mark than a small stone which forms a 
boundary, sanctioned by Heaven, between friendly 


1 For the proverbial saying yu} xiveiv taxlynra (like ‘‘ Hands 
off!” or ‘“‘ Let sleeping dogs lie”), cp. 684 E, 913 B. 


17! 


PLATO 


pudiav Te Kal éyOpapv evo pkov mapa Oe@v Tod pev 
yap opopuros Zeus pdprus, Tob de Eévios, of mera 
TON MOV TOV exIiorov éyelpovta’ wat 6 pep 
Treva eis 79 vom avaic@ntos Tav am avTov 
KAKOV yyvorr’ ay, xatadpovnaas dé dittais 
dixars EvoxoS éoTo, pug Hev mapa Oedy Kal 
TpoTn, Sevtépa dé vo vOpoU. pabels yap 
EK @V xwelT@ yas dpa yerTovey ds ay Kwon, 
pnvvér@ Mev oO Bovdopevos Tots ryewmopots, ot be 
eis TO Sixacrnptov ayovtov: iy dé tis OpAn THY 
TovaUTHY Sixny, Os avdbacrov viv. AaOpa nai Bia 
movobvT os Tov apdovros, Tiare TO Sixacrijprov 
Tt av Sén Tacyel 7) AtroTivery TOV HTTHOEVTA. 
To dé peta TovTo BraBar modnal Kal opixpal 
yerrovey yuyvopevat, dua TO Oapifer ext pas 
OryKov péyav évtixtovedt, yanret iy Kat ood pa 
mixpav yetoviay amtrepydfovTar. 40 xen TavT@sS 
evraBeio bar yettova yetTove pndev moveiy Siado- 
pov, Tov Te aAX@Y Tépt Kal 6) Kal emepyacias 
Evurdons ohodpa StevhaBovpevor TO pev yap 
Brame ovdev Xarerrov, ann’ avOpa@mor ' TAVTOS, 
To 8 emg ere ovdamy & amavtos. os 8 ay emep- 
yatnrae Ta TOU yeltovos omepBaivov TOUS Spous, 
To pev BrAaBos atrotiétw, THs S€ avaidelas dpa 
Kal averevOepias evexa iatpevomevos Sumddovov 
tov BraBovs addXo éexticdtw TO PBradGévte. 
TOUT@Y dé Kal dmdvTov Tov TOLOUT@Y emruyvapoves 
Te Kal Sixacrat Kal TYynTat yeyverbor a ayypovopor, 
TOV pep perlovor, Kabdrep év Tois mpoa ev 
elpntat, aca % Tod SwoexaTnuopiov Takis, TOV 


Ow 





1 760 Aff. The “‘ phrourarchs” were the (5) officers of the 
(60) country police. 
172 





: 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


and hostile ground. For of the one kind Zeus the 
Clansmen’s god is witness, of the other Zeus the 
Strangers’ god; which gods, when aroused, bring 
wars most deadly. He that obeys the law shall not 
suffer the evils which it inflicts; but whoso despises 
it shall be liable to a double penalty, the first from 
the hand of Heaven, the second from the law. No 
one shall voluntarily move the boundary-marks of 
the land of neighbours : if any man shall move them, 
whosoever wishes shall report him to the land-holders, 
and they shall bring him to the law court. And if 
a man be convicted,—since by such an act the con- 
victed man is secretly and violently merging lands 
in one,—the court shall estimate what the loser must 
suffer or pay. 

Further, many small wrongs are done against 
neighbours which, owing to their frequent repetition, 
engender an immense amount of enmity, and make 
of neighbourhood a grievous and bitter thing. 
Wherefore every neighbour must guard most care- 
fully against doing any unfriendly act to his neigh- 
bour, and must above all things take special care 
always not to encroach in the least degree on his 
land; for whereas it is an easy thing and open to 
anyone to do an injury, to do a benefit is by no 
means open to everyone. Whosoever encroaches on 
his neighbour’s ground, overstepping the boundaries, 
shall pay for the damage; and, by way of cure for 
his shamelessness and incivility, he shall also pay 
out to the injured party twice the cost of the 
damage. In all such matters the land-stewards shall 
act as inspectors, judges and valuers,—the whole 
staff of the district, as we have said above,! in respect 
of the more important cases, and, in respect of the 


173 


PLATO 


éXaTTovev Sé oi Ppovpapyot TovTav. Kal éay TIS 
. Booknpata érwépun, Tas BXLaBas op@vtes Kpiwor- 
TOV Kal TiyuwvTwY. Kal éav Expods adXoTpiouS 
aetepifn tis TH TOV wediTTOY HOovh EvveTrdpevos, 
Exal xataxpotvwv ovtws oike@tat, tTivéT@ TV 
BraBnv. Kal éav trupevov tiv drAnv pi Sevra- 
Bn04 tiv rod yeltovos, thy Sofacav Enpiav 
tois adpxovar EnurovcOw. Kal éav putev@v pr 
aroneirn TO wétpov THY Tod yElToves ywpiwr, 
xadarep eipntat Kai TodXols vopobéTas ixavas, 
@v Tois vomows Xp) Tpocyphcbar Kal uu) TavTa 
a&tobv Toda Kai cuixpa Kal Tov émiTUYyoVTOS 
vouobétou yiryvomeva Tov peilw ToAEwS KOTLNTIVY 


844 vopobereiv: émei Kai Tov UddTwY TépL yewpyoict 


\ ‘ \ / 7 > bd 

Tahatol Kal KANOL VOMoL KELmEvOL OVK AELOL Trap- 
, i > oye \ 3 N \ e lel 
oxeTeverv Loyots, GAN oO BovrAnOels él tov abvTod 
ToTrov ayew Vowp ayéTw pév, dpyomevos ex TOV 
KoWaY vaudaTov, ui) UToTé“vaY THnyas pavepas 
> / , ? 7K A + \ > 
idt@tou pndevos, 7 8 av BovrAnTar ayew, wrAHv bt 
oixias 7) lepOv TwWaV 7} Kal pynuaTor, ayéTo, by 
Brarrov TAY adbtis THs byeTaywylas: avdpia Se 
el trot ToTros EvpdhuTos ex yns Ta éx Atos iovta 
Bamootéyes vapata, Kal édr¢ElTEL TOY avayKalov 
T@LAT@OV, OpuTTéeTW pev ev TH avTOD ywpio 
fol fol Fe. 1." na 
MéxXpe THS Kepauidos ys, eav & év tovT@ TO 
Baber pndapas vdatt tpoctvyydvyn, Tapa Tov 
yertovav UdpevécOw péypt Tod avayKaiov TepmaTos 

e a lal ? 
ExaoTOLS TOV OiKEeTaY: cay Sé St axpiBeias FH Kal 
tos yelitoot, Taki THS Udpeias TaEdpuevos Tapa 


1 +hv Stephens, England : ray MSS. 


174 


eS eee 


— a ee 


| 
. 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


less important, those of them who are “ phrourarchs.” 
If anyone encroaches on pasture-land, these officials 
shall inspect the damage, and decide and assess it, 
And if any, yielding to his taste for bees, secures 
for himself another man’s swarm by attracting them 
with the rattling of pans, he shall pay for the 

. And if a man,in burning his own stuff, 
fails to have a care for that of his neighbour, he 
shall be fined in a fine fixed by the officials. So © 
too if a man, when planting trees, fail to leave the 
due space between them and his neighbour's plot: 
this has been adequately stated by many lawgivers, 
whose laws we should make use of, instead of re- 
quiring the Chief Organiser of the State to legislate 
about all the numerous small details which are within 
the competence of any chance lawgiver. Thus, re- 
garding water-supplies also, there are excellent old 
laws laid down for farmers, which we, in our ex- 
position, need not draw upon. Let. this suffice :— 
he that desires to bring water to his own land may 
do so, commencing at the public cisterns, but he 
must not undercut the exposed wells of any private 
person: he may lead it by whatever way he wishes, 
except through a house, temple or tomb, and he 
must do no damage beyond the actual work of 
channelling. If, in any spot, the rain-water filters 
through owing to the natural dryness of the soil, and 
there is a scarcity of necessary moisture, then the 
owner shall dig in his own ground down to the 
chalk subsoil, and if he fails to find water at this 
depth, he shall procure from his neighbours just so 
much as he requires for drinking purposes for all 
his household ; and if his neighbours also are stinted 
in their supplies, he shall apply for a ration of water 


175 


PLATO 


Tois aypovomos, TavTny nuépas Exdotns Kopt- 
Copevos, o0Tw KoLvwveitw Tois yeltoow datos. 
Céav &é é« Atos data yiyvopeva, tov émrdve 
lal KX e , fal 
yewpyouvTa 7) Kal ouoToLxov oixodyTa Tov wro- 
4 / \ \ > 4 > 7, 
Kato Brann Ts, wy Sid0vs exponv, } Tovvavtiov 
6 émavw peOleis eikh TA pedpwata BrarTy TOV 
KaT@, Kal Tepl TadTa pn eOédt\wor Sia TadTa 
Kowavely GdANdoLS, ev doTeE wey aoTUVOMOY, Ev 
> a 1 > ’ a a 2 ¢ , , 
ayp@ 5é aypovopmov émaywv 6 Bovdopevos ta-acOw 
TL Xpn Tovey Exdtepov: o Sé pr) eupévov ev TH 
rater POdvov O dua kal SvcKkorov wuyis ireyé- 
D tw dixny, cal odr@v Sutraotov ro BAABos atro- 
tivéto TO BrapOertt, ur) CeAncas Tols dpyouct 
meiOec Oar. 
J , \ \ \ 7 A , 
Orwpas 5é 62) x7 Kowwwviav Trovetc Oat Tavras 
, 8 / é \ eA 5 \ € 6 ‘ > , 
Totavoe Tid. OuTTAas Huiv Swpeas 4 Beds exapi- 
1 LA \ \ bi a 10 
cato! airy, thy pev tradiay Atovveidda aOn- 
cavpiotov, THY © eis ardlecw yevouevny Kata 
dvow. éotw 51 Tept d@pas G5e vopos TayOeis* 
ds av aypoixov dm@pas yevontat, Botpvav eite 
Kal cUKwV, Tply ENMeiv THY Hpav Thy Tod Tpuyav 
E dpxrovpm Evvdpopmov, eit ev Tots avtod xwpiors 
¥ ae 4 A € \ \ ¥ / > / 
elTe Kal EV ANNOY, LEPas MEV TEVTNKOVTA OEeLAET@ 
t@ Avoviocw Spaxpuds, éav éx tTav éavTod Spérn, 
7\ ew; -3 nr , a 2\ 8’ > »y- , 
éav 8 éx Tov yetTover, pvar, éav 5 €E adrov, SvO 
bépyn THs pas. os & av tiv yevvaiay viv eyo- 
pévny oTapvrny 7) Ta yevvaia ciKa éTrovomaloueva 
om@pitey BovAntat, éay pev €x THY oiKEi@Y 
1 éyaploaro Badham : &xe: xdpitos MSS., edd. 
176 








et 


LAWS, BOOK VIII ~~ 


from the land-stewards, and fetch it day by day, / 
and so share the water with his neighbours. And_ 
if, when rain comes, any dweller on lower ground | 
the farmer above him, or the adjoining 
dweller, by preventing its outflow,—or if, con- 
versely, the man on higher ground damages the 
man below by letting out the floods carelessly,— 
and if, in consequence, they refuse to accommodate | 
one another in this matter, any person who wishes | 
shall call in a city-steward, if it is in the city, or a | 
land-steward, if in the country, and get an order | 
as to what each party is to do; and the man who — 
does not abide by the order shall be liable to be 
charged with envy and frowardness, and if convicted 
he shall pay to the injured party double the damage, 
for refusing to obey the magistrates. 
As concerns the fruit-harvest, the rule of sharing 
_ for all shall be this :—this goddess has bestowed on us 
_ two gifts, one the plaything of Dionysus which goes 
unstored, the other produced by nature for putting in 
store.t So let this law be enacted concerning the 
fruit-harvest :—whosoever shall taste of the coarse 
crop of grapes or figs before the season of vintage, 
which coincides with the rising of Arcturus, whether 
it be on his own land or on that of others, shall owe 
fifty sacred drachmae to Dionysus if he has cut them 
from his own trees, if from his neighbour's trees, a 
mina, and if from others, two-thirds of a mina. And 
if any man wishes to harvest “choice’’ grapes or 
“choice” figs (as they are now called), he shall 
gather them how and when he will if they are from 


1 i.e. (1) choice (or ‘‘dessert”) fruit, for immediate use, 
and (2) coarse fruit, of poorer quality, for storing in bulk or 
making into wine. 


177 


VOL, I. ‘ N 


PLATO 


NapuPavn, étmas av éOéry Kat omoray Botdyrai 
kaprrova Ge, éay eS e& addeov a) meloas, émopeveans 
TO vO“@ TO p11) xwveiy 6 Tt pn catébero, € éxeives 
845 dei Snusovaw. éay bé oy) Soddos pay meioas TOV 
Seamorny TOV YOpi@v anrnrat TOU TO@V TOLOUTwY, 
KaTa paya Botpvev Kal odKov ovKis igapiO uous 
TANYAS TOvTOLS paaruyovc bw. MéTotKos 5€ wvov- 
Mevos 72)V yevvatay om@payv oma pier, éav 
BovrAnta. éav 8é kévos emvdnuraas dmr@pas 
émOuph paryeiv Satropevopevos Tas od0vs, Ths 
bev yevvaias anréa be, éav BovrnTar, weO” Evos 
B dxodovov xepis TLUNS, févea Sex omevos, Tis bé 
drypoixou Reyouens Kal Tov TOLOUT@V X vopos 
eipyér@ pun) Korveoveiv jpiv tovs Eévous: éay dé Tis 
aict@p Ov avTos 7) Soddos dapnrat, TOV bey doddov 
TArAnYyais Konatery, Tov O¢€ éXevOepov arom émrelv 
voubernoavta Kal dtdaéavta Tis adAns ome pas 
antec Gar Ths eis aTOVEow actapioos oivou Te Kal 
Enpoy TUKOY dverreTndetou KexTio Oar. arri@v dé 
Tépt Kal 1 pun eov Kal poay Kal TavT@Y TOV ToLovTMD, 
C aiaxpov Bey pndev & éoT@ AdOpg AapBavew, 0 o 6é 
Anpeels € évTOs TpidKovTa erav ryeyovas tumréco 
Kat apuverda dvev tpavpatav, dicny 8 eivar 
édevbépw Tav TOLOUTM@Y ™ANYyov pndepiav® Eévo 
bé, xa drep oma@pas, ékéotw’ Kal TOV TOLOUT@Y 
pétoxov elvar éav dé mpeaBvrepos & av datnTat Tov- 
TOV, gayav avTov kal amopéepav pndev, kabarep 
0 Eévos, TaUTN KowevelT@ TOV TOLOUT@Y am avTov, 
[iy TrecOdpevos 6é 7@ vou KLVOUVEVETO a avayavia Tos 
D yiyvecOar Tepl apeTis, éay els TOTE Ta TolavTa 
Tepl aVTOU TOS TOTE KpLTaS TLS aVAapLmVHCKy. 


178 





aa ea Ne Rar ae 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


his own trees, but if they are from another man’s, 
and without his consent, he shall be fined every 
time, in pursuance of the law,! “thou shalt not shift 
what thou hast not set.’ And if a slave, without 
the consent of the master of the plots, touches any 
of such fruit, he shall be beaten with stripes as many 
as the grapes in the bunch or the figs on the fig- 
tree. If a resident alien buys a choice crop, he 
shall harvest it if he wishes. If a foreigner sojourn- 
ing in the country desires to eat of the crop as he 
passes along the road, he, with one attendant, shall, 
if he wishes, take some of the choice fruit with- 
out price, as a gift of hospitality; but the law shall 
forbid our foreigners to share in the so-called 
“coarse” fruit, and the like; and should either a 
master or a slave touch these, in ignorance, the 
slave shall be punished with stripes, and the free 
man shall be sent off with a reproof and be instructed 
to touch only the other crop, which is unfitted for 
storing to make raisins for wine or dried figs. As 
to pears, apples, pomegranates, and all such fruits, 
it shall be no disgrace to take them privily ; but the 
man that is caught at it, if he be under thirty years 
of age, shall be beaten and driven off without 
wounds; and for such blows a free man shall have 
no right to sue. A foreigner shall be allowed to 
share in these fruits in the same way as in the grape 
crop; and if a man above thirty touch them, eating 
on the spot and not taking any away, he shall, have 
a share in all such fruits, like the foreigner; but if 
he disobeys the law, he shall be liable to be dis- 
ualified in seeking honours, in case anyone brings 
these facts to the notice of the judges at the time. 


1 Cp. 913 C, D. 


179 
n 2 


PLATO 


Tdwp 5¢ mavrwv pev Td epi Tas KnTeias Suade- 
, Ud > , fh, a 
povtws Tpodpipov, evdsadpOaprov é° ovTE yap yhv 
ovTE HALOV OUTE TrVEevpaTa, Tois Udacr EVYTpOda 
Tov éx ys avaBXactavovtav, padiov POeipew 
happaxevocow } arotpoTais } Kal KNoTals, Tepl 
é thy Udatos diaw éoti Ta ToLadta Evyrayta 
dé thy UO t 


E duvata yiyverOar. 810 89 BonOod Seitar vopov. 


846 


éotw toiwuy bbe mepi avTod: av tis Siadbeipy 
éxav Udwp addoTpLor, elite Kal myyaiov elte Kal 
cuvayuptov, happaxeiass ) oKappacw 1) KAOTAIs, 
6 Brartopevos SixalécOw mpos Tos aaTuVdomous, 
Thy akiav THs BAGBys arroypadopevos: av Sé TIS 
doryn pappaxeias tici BAaTTeV, TPOS TO Tipmn- 
pate xabnpare Tas THyas 7) Tayyelov TOD VdaTos, 
éaynmep av of tov eEnynTtav vopor adnyar- 
tat Seiv yiyverOar thy KaBapow éxdotote Kab 
éxdoTols. 

Tlept dé Evyxousdis tay wpaiwy amavtor, 
éEéotw TH BovrAopévw 7O Eavtod dia TavTds 
Torov xopiterOar, Omntep av  pndev pndéva 
Eno 7 TpiTAdoLOY avTos Képdos THs TOU yel- 
tovos Cnuias Kepdaivyn: TovT@y Sé émuyv@povas 
Tovs apyovtas yiyverOal, Kal TOV GAXov aTdv- 
tov dca Tis av éExwv axovta Bramtyn Bia 7 
AdOpa, a’Tov  ToY avTod ‘TL, dia THY auUTOU 
KTnLaToOV' TavTa Ta ToLadTa Tois apYovow 
emiderxvds TimwpeicOw péexpt TPLaY pVaY dVYTOS 
tod BraBous: éav S éyxAnua to petloy aro 
mpos aAXov yiyvyntat, mpos Ta Kowa SiKacTy- 
pla dépwv thy Sixny tipwpeicOm Tov adsKodyTa. 
éay dé Tis TOV apyovTav SoKh pet’ adixov yvouns 


180 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


Water above all else in a garden is nourishing; but 
it is easy to spoil. For while soil and sun and wind, 
which jointly with water nourish growing plants, 
are not easy to spoil by means of sorcery or di- 
verting or theft, all these things may happen to 
water ; hence it requires the assistance of law. Let 
this, then, be the law concerning it :—if anyone 
wantonly spoil another man’s water, whether in 
spring or in pond, by means of sorcery, digging, or 
theft, the injured party shall sue him before the 
_city-stewards, recording the amount of the damage 
sustained ; and whosoever is convicted of damaging 
by poisons shall, in addition to the fine, clean out the 
springs or the basin of the water, in whatever way 
the laws of the interpreters declare it right for the 
purification to be made on each occasion and for 
each plaintiff. 

Touching the bringing home of all crops, whoso 
wills shall be permitted to fetch his own stuff 
through any place, provided that either he does 
no damage or else gains himself three times as 
much profit as the damage he costs his neighbour ; 
the authority in this matter shall rest with the 
magistrates, as in all other cases where a man will- 
ingly injures an unwilling party either by force or 
secretly—whether it be the party himself he injures 
or some of his chattels, by means of his own chattels ; 
in all such cases the plaintiff must report to the 
magistrates to get redress, where the damage is 
under three minas; but if a man makes a larger 
claim than this against another, he shall bring a 
suit before the public courts and punish the injurer, 
If any of the magistrates be thought to have given 
an unjust verdict in deciding the penalties, he shall 

181 


A 
> 


: 


PLATO 


Kpivey Tas Enpias, Tov dirdaciwy bodiKos EoT@ 
T@ BrapO& ta bé ad TaY apyovTwY adiKy- 
pata eis Ta Kowa SixactHnpia émavayew Tov 
Bovdopevov <év> Eéxacto! Tov éyKAnpaTov. 


v / 58 a ” } \ , Q 
, BuUplLa O€ TAVTA OVTA KAL TMLKPA VOMLMaA, KA 


& Sef Tas Tiuwwpias yiyverOar, Ajkewv Te Tépe 


] a \ 
C dixkav Kal mpockrAjncewv cal KdAnTHpev, elt’ ert 


duety elt éd’ omrocwr Sei KadeicOat, Kal TavTa 
omoca ToLadTa eat, ovT davowobéTnTa olov T 
clvar yépovTds Te ove akia vopobétov, vouobe- 
touvtwy 8 avTa ot véor mpos Ta TOV mpoabev 
VOMODETH MATA ATOMLMOULEVOL OLLKPA TrPOS MeyaAa, 
kal THS avayKaias avTav xpelas éurreipws 
iaXovTEs, méxpiTep av TavtTa ixavas dokn xKei- 
oOaur Tore bé axivnta Toncdpevor CovTwY TOUTOLS 
non XP@MEVOL peétpov * éxyoucr. 

To 5€ Tv adXwY Snpiovpyav Troveiy YpH KaTa 
Tabe. TpaTov pev eTiy@ptos pndels EoT@ TOY 
mept ta SnutoupytKa Texvnpata SiatrovovvTar, 
pndé oixétns avdpos emiywpiou Téxyny yap iKavnv 
TOAANS agkyncews Gua Kal paOnwdt@v ToAK@V 
Seouévny KéexTHTAaL ToAITNS avnp TOV KOLVOV TIS 
Toews KooTmov cwlwy Kal KTwmEVOS, OUK éV 
mapepy@ Seomevov émrutn Sevetv" dvo 6é émeTnOev- 
pata 7 dvo0 Téxvas axpiBas SiatrovetcOar oxedov 


E ovdepia vais ixavyn tov avOpwtivev, ovd av 


THY pev avTos ikavas acKelv, THv 6 adXov 
aoKovvTa émitpoTrevev. TodT ovv év TOdEL 
Umapxov Sei mpwtov yiyverOat: pndels YadKevwv 
dpa textawécbw, und ad Textawopevos YadKev- 


1 <év> Exdot@: Exdotwy MSS. (€xaorov Ast). 
182 


ON a a ae 


LAWS, BOOK VIII 


be liable to pay to the injured party double the 
amount ; and whoso wishes shall bring up the wrong- 
doings of the magistrates before the public courts 
in the case of each complaint. And since there 
are countless petty cases for which penalties must 
be laid down, concerning written complaints and 
citations and evidence of citation,—whether the 
citation requires two or more witnesses,—and all 
matters of the like kind—these cases cannot be 
left without legal regulation, but at the same time 
they do not deserve the attention of an aged law- 
giver; so the young lawgivers shall make laws for 
these cases, modelling their small rules on the great 


‘ ones of our earlier enactments, and learning by 


experience how far they are necessary in practice, 
until it be decided that they are all adequately laid 
down; and then, having permanently fixed them, 
they shall live in the practice of them, now that 
they are set out in due form. 

Moreover, for craftsmen we ought to make regula- 
tions in this wise. First, no resident citizen shall be 
numbered among those who engage in technical 
crafts, nor any servant of a resident. For a citizen 
possesses a sufficient craft, and one that needs long 
practice and many studies, in the keeping and con- 
serving of the public system of the State, a task 
which demands his full attention: and there hardly 
exists a-human being with sufficient capacity to 
carry on two pursuits or two crafts thoroughly, nor 
yet to practise one himself and supervise another in 
practising a second. So we must first of all lay 
down this as a fundamental rule in the State: no 
man who is a smith shall act as a joiner, nor shall 





2 nérpov Baiter : uérpiov MSS. 
183 


PLATO 


ovT@Y adXov emipenreio Oo padrov H THS avrod 
TEXVNS, mpopacw EX@V @S$ mToAA@Y olKeTav 
emripenovpevos éauT@ Snueoupyouvrav eLKOTMS 
paAXov em upehetrat éxeivav Sia TO THY mpoa odov 
847 éxeiPev avre melo yiryver Bar THS avTod TEXUNS, 
ar els play, ExaaTos Téxyny €v TONEL KEKTNMEVOS 
aro TAUTNS apa kal To Env xtacOw.  TovTOV én 
Tov vopov daTuvopot diarrovodpevor owlovray, Kat 
TOV meV émix@ptov, éay els Tuva TéexVNVY aTrOKNiVA 
pGAXov 4) THY THIS apeThs émipeevay, KxoralovTov 
oveldeat Te Kal aripiars, péxpuTrep ay KaTtev0v- 
vwoL Ets Tov avtod Spopov, Eévwv Sé a ay TUS émern- 
devn vo TEXVaS, deopoiot Te Kal Xpnpdrov 
B tnpucas Kab exBorats €x THS TONES kordbovres 
dvayxalovtor & eva povov Gdra pay ToXnovs elvat. 
pao Oo bé avrois TEpt kal Tov dvarpéaewy TOV 
Epyov, Kal éav TIs avrous Erepos » ‘xeivot TWa 
dddov adik@ot, EXPL 8 ax pe TEVTKOVTO 
do TUVO p01 diadixalovtwv, TO de mréov TOUTOU Ta 
Kowa SixagTnpia SvaxpivovT@y KaTa VOMOD. 
Téros dé év TH moder pn diva under TeAely prjTE 


éEaryo Ever Xpn“arov pit eigayouevov’ MBave- 
TOV 5: Kal doa mpos * Geous Ta ToabT gor Eevixa 
C Oupidpara, Kal moppupav Kat doa Banra Xpe- 
pata, my) pepovons THS Kopas, uv mept TwWa adrnv 
vnv Seouévnv Eevixay Twa eloarywryi pov 
aids avarycaiov nap pape Tes ayeT@, [NTE 
av Tov év TH yopa avaryKaiov émpévewv efaryero. 
rovtov 8 ad mdvtTov emuyveopovas elvat Kal 
emipednras TOV vopopi vrAdKwY, TEVTE AhatpEeDeVT wD 
Tav tpecButépwr, Tors EFAs Swdexa. 


1 pds MSS. : wept Zur., vulg. 
184 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


a joiner supervise others at smith-work, instead of 
his own craft, under the pretext that, in thus super- 
vising many servants working for him, he naturally 
supervises them more carefully because he gains 
more profit from that source than trom his own 
craft; but each several craftsman in the State shall 
have one single craft, and gain from it his living. 
This law the city-stewards shall labour to guard, 
and they shall punish the resident citizen, if he 
turn aside to any craft rather than to the pursuit 
of virtue, with reproofs and degradation, until they 
restore him to his own proper course; and if a 
foreigner pursue two crafts, they shall punish him 
by imprisonment, money-fines, and expulsion from 
the State, and so compel him to act as one man and 
not many. And as regards wages due to craftsmen, 
and the cancellings of work ordered, and any injustices 
done to them by another, or to another by them, the 
city-stewards shall act as arbitrators up to a value of 
fifty drachmae, and in respect of larger sums the 
public courts shall adjudicate as the law directs. 

No toll shall be paid in the State by anyone 
either on exported goods or on imports. Frank- 
incense and all such foreign spices for use in religious 
rites, and purple and all dyes not produced in the 
country, and all pertaining to any other craft requir- 
ing foreign imported materials for a use that is not 
necessary, no one shall import; nor, on the other 
hand, shall he export any of the stuff which should 
of necessity remain in the country: and of all such 
matters the inspectors and supervisors shall consist 
of those twelve Law-wardens who remain next in 
order when five of the oldest are left out. 


1 Cp. Rep. 369 Eff, 434A. . 
105 


D 


848 


PLATO 


Tlepi 6€ 6rA@v cal doa epi tov TOdEMOV 
dmavta opyava, éav Tivos 4) Téxvns eicaywryipwou 
én yiryverOas 7) puTod 7) weTadXevTLKOD KTHMATOS 
H Secpevtixod } Cowv Tivav &vexa Ths ToravTHS 
xpelas, inmmapxot Kal oTpaTnyol TOUTwY écTwcaV 
KUpltoL eloaywyis te Kal éEaywyhs, Sudovans Te 
dua Kat Sexouévns THs Toews, vopovs Sé Tepl 
TOUTwY vomodirAaKes TOvS TpérovTas Te Kal iKa- 
vods @jcovet Karnrelav 5é Evexa ypnpaTtiopav 
punte ody ToUTOU pute GAAOU pNndevos ev TH YOpA 
OAn Kal TrOrEL Huiv yiyver Oat. 

Tpodijs 5é kai Siavouhs tev éx TAS xYw@pas 
éyyvs THs ToD Kpnrixod vouov éorxev opOorns av 
TLS yLyvouéevn KaTa TpoTOV yiyverOar. SaHdexa 
pev yap 5) pépn Ta Tavta €x THs yopas yy- 
VOMEVA VEMELY YpEwV TaVTAS, ITEP Kai avaNwTEa* 
To 6€ SwdéxaTov pépos ExacTor, oloy mupav Kal 
xpiOav, ola 6) Kai Ta arravta akodovbeite Ta 
ada w@paia vepomweva, cal dca Coa Evprravra 
modo av éxdoros 4, TpLxh StarpeicOw Kata 
Rdyov, év pev pépos Tots edevOépais, ev Sé Tos 
TOUTwY olKETAaLs, TO S€ TpiTov Snutoupyots TE Kal 
mavrws Tots Eévois, of Té TES AV TOV peTOLKOUD- 
twv wot Evvoixodytes, Tpophs avaykatov Sedpuevot, 
Kal doot ypeia tivl Torews 7 Twos idLiwTav 
eloadbixvodvTal ExadoToTe’ TAaVT@Y TOY avayKalov 
atroveunbev tpitov pépos wviov é& avayKns éoT@ 
ToUTO povoy, Tav dé Svo0 pepwv pndev eTavayKes 
éoTw Torey. Tas ody 53) TadTAa OpOoTaTa Vvé“olT 
186 


— yy ae 


: 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


In regard to arms and all instruments of war, if 
there is need to import any craft or plant or metal 
or rope or animal for military purposes, the hipparchs 
and generals shall have control of both imports and 
exports, when the State both gives and takes, and 
the Law-wardens shall enact suitable and adequate 
laws therefor; but no trading for the sake of gain, 
either in this matter or in any other, shall be carried 
on anywhere within the boundaries of our State and 
country. : 

Touching food-supply and the distribution of 
agricultural produce, a system approaching that 
legalised in Crete would probably prove satistactory. 

e whole produce of the soil must be divided by 
all into twelve parts, according to the method of its 
consumption. And each twelfth part—of wheat and 
barley, for instance (and all the rest of the crops 
must be distributed in the same way as these, as 
well as all marketable animals in each district}— 
must be divided proportionately into three shares, of 
which the first shall be for the freeborn citizens, and 
the second for their servants; the third share shall 
be for craftsmen and foreigners generally, including 
any resident aliens who may be dwelling together 
and in need of necessary sustenance, and all who 
have come into the country at any time to transact 
either public or private business; and this third 
share of all the necessaries shall be the only one 
liable to compulsory sale,! it being forbidden to sell 
any portion of the other two shares compulsorily. 
What, then, will be the best way of making these 


1 For sales to foreigners, see below 849 A ff.: they had to 
buy their share of food-stuff, but the other two shares were 
not to be forced on to the market. 


187 


PLATO 


B dv ; mpatov péev Shrov Ste TH uev toa, TH 8 odK 
ioa véwomer. 

KA. II@s réyers ; 

Ae. Xeipw mov Kal Bedrtiw to’Twv Exacta 
avaykn pvew Kat éextpépew Thy yh. 

KA. Ids yap ov ; 

Ao. Te peév Toivuy TowovT@ Tay pEpaY TPLOV 
dvT@y wndev Tréov EYEeTO TE TO Tois SeawoTaLS 
% Sovrols vewouevoy, unte ad TO TOV E€vwv, ara 
THY THS OmoloTnTos icoTnTAa  voun Tac aTo- 

C &:d0Ta Thy adtyv' AaBwv & Exactos Tov TOTOV 
Ta Svo pépyn KUpLos éoTw THs vouns SovroLs TE 
Kal édevOépors, oToa’ av Kal omoia BovAntar 
Siavéweww: TO S€ mAdov TovTwY péTpols TE Kal 
apiOue tHde xXpy StavéwerOat, AaBovta Tov 
apiOuov Tavtav Tov Cwov ols éx THs ys Set THY 
tpodny yiyverOat, Siavéwerv. 

To dé peta robdto avtois oixnoes Set ywpls 
duatetaypévas eivar. Takis 5 Hde mpémet Tos 
Tovovtos’ dwdexa Ka@pas elvat ypy, KaTAa péooV 

D 70 dwdexatnpopiov exactov piav, év TH KOun Se 
ExaoTn TPO@Tov pev lepa Kai ayopav éEnphoOat 
Gedy te Kai TOV éErropévory Oeois Satpover, eite 
tives évtotrot Mayvytev eit’ addov idpvpata 
Taraav pynun Stacecwpevar cio, TOVTOLS aTrO- 
diSdvtas Tas TOV TdAaL Tipas avOpwrrwr, ‘Eortias 
dé cal Avds ’AOnvas te kal bs av apynyos 9 TAY 
GdXwv tod dwdexdtov éExaotou pépovs, iepa Tav- 
188 


CE EE 


——— 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


divisions? It is plain, to begin with, that our 
division is in one way equal, in another, unequal. 
cuin. How do you mean? 

atu. Of each of these products of the soil, 
necessarily some parts are worse and some better. 

cun. Of course. 

aTH. In respect of this, no one of the three 
shares shall have an undue advantage,—neither that 
given to the masters, nor that of the slaves, nor 
that of the foreigners—but the distribution shall 
assign to all the same equality of similarity. Each 
citizen shall take two shares and have control of the 
distribution of them to slaves and free men re- 
spectively, in the quantity and of the quality he 
desires to distribute. The surplus over and above 
this must. be distributed by weight and number as 
follows,—the owner must take the number of all 
the animals that have to be fed on the produce of 
the soil, and make his distribution accordingly. 

In the next place, there must be dwellings for 
the citizens separately arranged. A suitable arrange- 
ment for them will be this. There should be twelve 
villages, one in the middle of each of the twelve 
districts; and in each village we shall first select 
temples and a market-place for the gods and demi- 
gods; and if there exist any local deities of the 
Magnetes! or any shrines of other ancient gods whose 
memory is still preserved, we shall pay to them the 
same worship as did the men of old; and everywhere 
we shall erect temples to Hestia and Zeus and 
Athena, and whatever other deity is the patron of 


1 The original inhabitants of the site of Clinias’s new 
colony (cp. 702 B, 860 E): they subsequently migrated to 
Magnesia in Asia Minor. 

189 


PLATO 


taxov iSptoacba. mpatov 8é oixodopias elvat 
Tepl Ta lepa TadTa, Ory av 6 TOTS tnAdTATOS 
E 7, tots ppovpois trodoxnv tt padtota evepKiy 
tiv 6€ adAnv Yopavy KatacKevatew macav 8n- 
ploupy@v Tplakaldexa pépn Siedopévovs, Kal TO 
peév év adore KaTouxifew, Suehopevous avd Kal TovTO 
els Ta SWdeKa mépyn THS Toews atraons, ew TE 
kal év KUKAM KaTaveunBévtas, év TH Kopn Sé 
éxdoTn Ta Tpochopa yewpyoicr yévn tev Sy- 
puoupyav auvoixiver. tors 8 émipedntas elvas 
TOUTWY TAYTWY TOUS TOV Gypovduwr dpyovTas, 
édcwv Te Kal @YTLVwY O TOTOS ExacTos SeiTat, Kal 
érov KatoiKodvTes GduTOTAaTOL Te Kal wpedi- 
849 wwraro. Ecovtat Toiot yewpyovot. tav Se év 
adore. Kata Ta avTa eripedrnOnvar [eal éripe- 
NetcOat]* tiv Tov doTVépey apyny. 

Tots dé 5% ayopavéuors Ta Tepl ayopdv mov 
def Exacta pérerv, 1 8 érripédera peta THY TOV 
lep@v éeriokepw TOV KaT ayopay, wn Tis adiKh 
TL THS TOV avOpworrwv xpelas, TO SevTEpov ay ein 
cwppocvvns Te Kal UBpews émicKoTous dvTas 
Koraley Tov Seopevoy KoAdTEws. ToV bé wviwr, 
Tp@TOv mev Ta mepl Tous Eévous taxdevra m@hetv 
Tois aotois oxoTreiy ef yiyveTat KaTa TOV vomoV 
écaota. vomos & els Eata,” wnvos TH véa wv Set 
mpabfvar ro Epos tois Eévous eFdyew Tous emt 
TpoTrous, dao Tois aorois Eévor H) Kal dodo émre- 
TpoTrEevoval, SwSEKATHMOPLOV TIPO@TOV TOD aiTOV, TOV 
d¢ E€voy eis Tavta Tov phva wvetoPar cirov pév 


1 [kal érimedrctobat] I bracket. 
2 8 cis faotw: 38 Exdorm MSS. ; 5 €orw Zur., vulg. 


190 








LAWS, BOOK VIII 


the district concerned. First, buildings shall be 
erected round about these temples, and wherever 
the ground is highest, to form a stronghold, as well 
fenced as possible, for the garrison; and all the rest 
of the land we shall provide for by dividing the 
craftsmen into thirteen sections, of which one shall 
settle in the city (and this section shall be sub- 
divided again into twelve parts, like the whole city 
itself, and distributed round about it in the suburbs) ; 
and in each village we shall settle the classes of 
craftsmen that are serviceable to farmers. Of all 
_ these the chiefs of the land-stewards shall be the 
supervisors, determining how many and what crafts- 
men each place requires; and where they shall dwell 
so as to be of least trouble and greatest use to the 
farmers. And in like manner the board of city- 
stewards shall diligently supervise the craftsmen in 
the city. 

All matters concerning the markets must be 
managed by the market-stewards. In addition to 
supervising the temples adjoining the market, to 
prevent any damage being done to them, they shall, 
secondly, supervise personal conduct, keeping an 
eye on temperate and outrageous behaviour, so as 
to punish him who needs punishment. They shall 
watch over commodities put up for sale, to see that 
the sales which citizens are directed to make to 
foreigners are always legally conducted. There shall 
be this one law—that on the first day of the month 
the portion of the goods which is to be sold to 
foreigners shall be brought out by the managers— 
that is, the foreigners or slaves who act as managers 
for the citizens; and the first commodity shall be 
the twelfth share of corn, and the foreigner shall 


Ig! 


PLATO 


Kal doa Tepl gitov ayopa Th mpwTy’ Sexary dé 
Tob Mnvos THY TOV vypav ol pev Tpaow, ot 8e 
aviv toteicOwoay Si Gdov Tob panvos ixavny 
Tpirn * be elxddu Tay Sacv ear Tpacts, boa 
C mparéa éxdo ros i) avnréa avtots Seopévors Kat 
OTOT@Y TKEVOV i) Xenpdrov ryewpryots wey mpaors, 
olov Seppatov 1 Kal mons eoOijtos ) WOKS 7) 
TAIT ews  TWov addwv TOLOUT@Y, Eévois 8 
avaryKaiov aveioOat Tap adhov KT@WEVOLS. kamn- 
Aeias Se TOUT@Y y Kpidav 7 7) Tupa@v els adgera 
veunBevtor, 1) 7) Kal THY addnv Evpracay Tpopyy, 
aarots bev Kal TOUTEY Sovdous MATE TLS TodelT@ 
D pte wveicOw Tapa Tovovtov pydels pndevos, év 
5é tais tav Eévwy Eévos ayopais twdeltw Tols 
Snproupyois TE Kal TOUT@Y SovAots, oivou TE peTa- 
Baddopevos Kal aiTou mpaow, 6 57 Kamnrelav 
émrovonatovaty oi WAcioToL’ Kai Cowv Siapeprabev- 
TOV padryerpot Stati éa Bev Eévous te kal 6n- 
pLoupyois Kal TOUT@D oixéras. macav oe inv 
Kava ULov donwepar Eévos 0 Bovrnéels velo 
ev a0 poav Tapa Tay év ois xo pioLs eTiTpoTo, 
moreitm 6¢ avTos tois Eévois, Kab’ doov av 
E Botdyrar kal omoTay BovrAnrar. TOY dé aXhov 
XPnwaTov mavT@v Kal oKevav oT oo@Y ExdoTOLCL 
xpeta, moneiv els THY Kowiyy aryopav pépovtas 
els TOV TOTrOV ExaoTov, év ols av vowopvhaxes 
TE Kal @yopavomo. pet doTUYOMeY TEKUNPapLEVoL 
pas T peTOVTAS Spous Gavrat TOV a@viov ev 
TOUTOLS arrarred Bat vope pd TE XPnwaT ov Kal 
XPHMATa VouiopaTos, p21) TMpoiéwevov a dov 
éTép@ THY AdrAaYHVY* Oo 5é Mpoemevos ws TLATEVD, 
1 splrn W. R. Paton: rpfry MSS., edd. 
192 


E 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


buy corn, and all that goes with it, at this first 
market. On the tenth day of the month, fluids 
sufficient to last through the month shall be sold 
by the one party and bought by the other. Thirdly, 
on the twentieth day, there shall be a sale of live- 
‘stock, as much as each party can buy or sell to suit 
their requirements, and also of all utensils or goods 
which the farmers have for sale, such as skins or 
any kind of clothing or woven stuff or felt or any 
such material ; and these the foreigners must obtain 
from others by purchase. But neither these goods, 
nor barley or wheat ground into flour, nor any other 
kind. of foodstuff whatsoever, may be sold by way 
of retail trade to the citizens or their slaves, or 
, from any such retailer (but to the craftsmen 
and their slaves in the foreigners’ market a foreigner 
may sell and traffic in wine and corn by way of what 
is generally termed “ retail trade’); and the butchers 
shall cut up the animals and distribute the meat to 
the foreigners and craftsmen and their. servants. 
Any foreigner who wishes shall buy any kind of 
fuel in bulk, on any day, from the managers in the 
districts; and he shall sell it to the foreigners in 
what quantity and at what time he pleases. As to 
all other goods and utensils that each party requires, 
they shall be brought for sale to the public market, 
each kind to its appointed place, wherever the Law- 
wardens and market-stewards, with the help of the 
city-stewards, have marked out suitable sites and 
set up the stalls for market-stuff: there they shall 
exchange coins for goods and goods for coins, and 
no man shall give up his share to the other without 
receiving its equivalent; and if any does thus give 


193 
VOL. It. o 


PLATO 


édy Te Kopicntar Kal adv pH, otepyéTo as 
> / r 
ouxére Sixns ovons Tav ToLovT@Y Tépt ouVAad- 
850 Adfewv. 7TO S& wvndev  wpabev bow méov 
/ 
dv 4 Kab wréovos 7) KaTa Tov vomov, ds elpnKe 
, a 
Tocov mpooyevouévov Kal aroyevouévou Set 
, a 
pndétepa tovTav Troleiv, avaypadyte ToT Hon 
mapa Tots vowopvAaks TO mréov, CEarerhécOw Sé 
TO évavtiov. Ta avTa dé Kal Tepl peToiKay eoTw 
nr nm rf / 
THs avaypadhs mépt THs ovoias. teva bé Tov 
Bovrduevov cis THY peToixnow ert pytois, es 
oixncews ovens Tav Eévov TO BovNopév@ Kai 
B Suvapév petoxeiv, téexvny Kextnuév@ Kal émidn- 
rn % tA > a ” > ° aA 4 
podvtt wn wréov érav elxooiy, ad Hs av ypdrrn- 
Tal, feTOLKLOY puNnde TuLKpOV TEAODVTL TAnV TOD 
a \ oo» * , o , 2 oA 
cwpoveiy, unde dAXo ad Tédos Evexa TiVOS wVAS 
) Kal mpdcews* Stay & é&nxwowy oi Ypovor, THY 
c Qn / b] / > / > > > lal 
avTov ANaBovta ovciay amiévar. éav 8 év Tois 
» 4 > a fal / > gs \ > 
éTEat TOVTOLs AUT@ EvuBH Aoyou akiw mpos evep- 
yéolay THs ToAEwWS yeyovévat TWa ikavnV, Kal 
/ 
TLaTevn Teicew BovrAnv Kai exkrAnoiavy H Twa 
C avaBornv tis éEouxnoews a€idv atte yiyverOar 
kupiws 7) Kal TO waparayv dia Biov Tivad povnp, 
? \ \ / A iA cA a , 
éredOov Kal reicas Thy TOdW, atep av Teion, 
nan nr A 7 
TaUTAa aUT@ Térea yiyvécOm. Traci Sé peToiKwr, 
Snucoupyots ovat Kal yevomuévois ET@Y TEVTEKAL- 
a é Ld \ \ 
dexa, THS pev peTorKias apYEeTW YpovOS O META TO 
méumtov Kat déxatov étos, emt TovTos S€ elxoow 





1 Cp, 742C, 9155. 
194 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


it up, as it were on credit, he shall make the best 
of his bargain,! whether or not he recovers what is 
due to him, since in such transactions he can no 
longer sue. And if the purchase or sale is greater 
or more costly than is allowed by the law stating 
the limits of increase or decrease of property beyond 
which both of these transactions are forbidden, the 
amount of difference must at once (in the case of 
excess) be registered with the Law-wardens, and (in 
the case of deficiency) be cancelled. The same rule 
shall hold good regarding the registration of property 
in the case of resident aliens. Whosoever wishes 
shall enter on residence as an alien on fixed terms, 
since residence is permitted to a foreigner who is 
willing and able to reside, provided that he has 
a craft and remains in the country not more than 
twenty years from the date of his registration, with- 
out the payment of even a small aliens’ tax, except 
virtuous conduct, or indeed any other tax for any 
buying or selling; and when his time has expired, 
he shall depart, taking with him his own property. 
And if within the period of twenty years it should 
happen that he has proved his merit by doing some 
signal service to the State, and if he believes that 
he can persuade the Council and Assembly to grant 
his request and authorize a postponement of his 
departure, or even an extension of his residence for 
life, whatever request he thus succeeds in persuading 
the State to grant to him shall be carried out for 
him in full. For the children of resident aliens, 
who are craftsmen and over fifteen years of age, 
the period of residence shall commence from the 
fifteenth year, and such an one, after remaining for 
twenty years from that date, shall depart whither 


195 
02 


PLATO 


rn petvas itw brn ait@ dirovy pévew dé av 

Bovryntat, Kata Ta aita pevérw Teicas. oO Se 

> \ > 4 yy \ > / ¢ 

atuav eEadenpapevos itw Tas aToypapas, aiTivEs 
lol al ’ 

dv ait@ Tapa Tois dpyovar yeypappévar T poTEepov 

4s 

@ow. 





LAWS, BOOK VIII 


he pleases, or if he desires to remain, he shall gain 

ission in like manner, and so remain; and he 
that departs shall go after first cancelling the entries 
which were previously made by him in the register 
at the magistrates’ office. 


197 


10) 


853 ao. Aixar 8) Ta era tabra axorovBou Tais 
eum poo Bev mpageow aTdcais ovoal KaTa puow 
yiyvowro ay THY Ths diakoopnoews TOV voway. 
OUTWV@Y ovv ay) TéEpt det yiyver Oar | Sixas, TH [ev 
elpyn Tat, Ta KaTa yeopryias Te Kal boa TOUTOLS 
elrrero, Ta dé peytota ovTe elpnrat To, Kal 
év ExacTov Te eyomevov [py Gev],* ip det Aap- 
Bavev auto TLpopiav ral Tivwv ToTe Sixactav 

B Tuyxaver, pet’ exeiy ata é€fs TavTa pytéov. 

KA. ‘OpAas. 

A®. Alaxpov bev 57 Tia TpoTrov Kal vo pobe- 
Tel mavTa ordre viv méAXomev TOTO Spav év 
TOLAaUTN TONEL, Hv paper oixnoer Oat Te €v Kal 
revEeoOar maons opbornTos T pos emuToevo Ww 
apetns. é€v 5& TH Tola’Tn TO Kal akwodv Tis 
TOV ad\rAwVv poxOnpias TaV peyicTaV éupver Pat 
twa peOéEovta, dote Sev vopobeTeiy mpoxata- 
AapBavovta Kal ametNobyvTa é€av Tis TOLOUTOS 

Cyiyrntat, kal tovtwy amotpoTis te évexa Kai 
ryevo even Kohdcews Tevet er avrois vopous, 
@s éoopévots,” OTrep eitrop, aia xpov pév Twa 
TpoTrov: ered) dé ov, xabamep ot mahavot vo- 
poGétar Gedy tratol vowobeTovpevor Tois Hpwowr, 
@S 0 VOY Oyos, avTot T éx Oew@y SyTEs adXoLS 
Te €k ToLovTwY yeyovoow évouoléTouvy, adr 


s [pndév] bracketed by Ast. 
2 écouevois Steph., Hermann: écouévovs MSS. 


198 


ee ee 


BOOK IX 


atu. The method of our legislation requires that 
we should deal next with the judicial proceedings 
connected with all the transactions hitherto described. 
The matters which involve such proceedings have 
been stated! in part (those, namely, which concern 
farming and all industries dependent thereon), but 
we have not stated as yet the most important of such 
matters ; so our next step must be to state them in 
full, enumerating in detail what penalty must attach 
to each offence, and before what court it must be 
tried. 

cin. True. 

atH. It is, in a sense, a shameful thing to make 
all those laws that we are proposing to make in a 
State like ours, which is, as we say, to be well 
managed and furnished with all that is right for the 
practice of virtue. In such a State, the mere sup- 
position that any citizen will grow up to share in the 
worst forms of depravity practised in other States, so 
that one must forestall and denounce by law the 
appearance of any such character, and, in order to 
warn them off or punish them, enact laws against 
them, as though they were certain to appear,—this, 
as I have said, is in a sense shameful. But we are 
not now legislating, like the ancient lawgivers, for 
heroes and sons of gods,*~—when, as the story goes, 
both the lawgivers themselves and their subjects 
were men of divine descent: we, on the contrary, 


1 949 E ff. ? Cp. 713 B ff. 
199 


854 


PLATO 


dvO porot Te Kal avO pore om éeppace vopoberob- 
ev Ta vor, _ Weyer nrov on poBeicbar pH tis 
eyyiyuntas TOV TOMTO@V Hpi olov xepaaBoXos, 
os aTepauwv eis ToaovTov pucer ylyvour’ av @ @OTE 
pn TH KET Oat, wal xabamep éxeiva Ta oT eppara 
Tupts vOpoLS ovTOL xaimep obTas ig vpois ovo 
aTHKTOL yoyovrau. av 6) Xap ovK émixap 
Aéyoup’ av ™p@tov vo mov lepav mepl TVAITEDS, 
av TLS TOUTO Spay Tohmd. Kal TodiThy ev TOV 
Te? pappéver 6poas ovT av BovroipeOa ote 
éXmloTOY Tavy TL voohocal mote av Tav’THY THY 
voor, oikérat bé ay tovtov cai Eévor kal Eévwv 
SobXor TOG av emixerpnoeay Tovadra. ov 
évexa pev padiora, Sums o€ Kal Evpracav THY 
Ths avOparrivns dicews acbévecav evraBovpevos, 
€p@ Tov Tov iepocvda@v* mépt Vo“ov Kal TOV 
adov mayToy TOV TOLOUT@Y boa Svugiata Kal 
aviata. Tpooipea, dé ToUTOLaL Kara TOV  §eT poo Oey 
Noyov opororynGevta T poppnréov amacw as 
Bpaxurara. Névyor 57) Tus av exeive Siaheyopevos 
dpa Kai Tapapvbovpevos, ov emOupla Kak 
Tapaxadodoa pe? nwepav Te Kal émeyeipovca 
vuUKT@p emi TL TOV iep@v aryeu cvAjcovrTa, Tdbe 


B*O Gavpdore, OUK av0 peor wvov o€ KaKOoV ovde 


Geiov xwvel TO vov éml Thy lepoovriav ™ poTpeTrov 
tévat, olor pos O€ oé Tis €uduomevos ek Taharov 
Kal axabaprov tois avOpéros abdiknudtov, 
Tepupepopevos aditnptodns, ov evrAaBeicPat 
xpeov Tavtl cbéver. Tis 8 eat evradPeva pale 


1 fepocvAtav Ast: iepoovAwy MSS. 


200 






LOE TINT 


pores 


1 Ae lh gle 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


are but mortal men legislating for the seed of men, 
and therefore it is permitted to us to dread lest any 
of our citizens should prove horny-hearted and attain 
to such hardness of temper as to be beyond melting ; 
and just as those “ horn-struck’’! beans cannot be 
softened by boiling on the fire, so these men should 
be uninfluenced by laws, however powerful. So, for 
the sake of these gentlemen, no very gentle law 
shall be stated first concerning temple-robbery, in 
case anyone dares to commit this crime. That a 
rightly nurtured citizen should be infected with this 
disease is a thing that we should neither desire nor 
expect ; but such attempts might often be made by 
their servants, and by foreigners or foreigners’ slaves. 
Chiefly, then, on their account, and also as a pre- 
caution against the general infirmity of human 
nature, I will state the law about temple-robbing, 
and all other crimes of a like kind which are hard, if 
not impossible, to cure. And, in accordance with 
our rule as already approved,? we must prefix to all 
such laws preludes as brief as possible. By way of 
argument and admonition one might address in the 


_ following terms the man whom an evil desire urges 


by day and wakes up at night, driving him to rob 
some sacred object—‘ My good man, the evil force 
that now moves you and prompts you to go temple- 
robbing is neither of human origin nor of divine, but 
it is some impulse bred of old in men from ancient 
wrongs unexpiated, which courses round wreaking 
ruin; and it you must guard against with all your 
strength. How you must thus guard, now learn. 
1 i.e. “‘hard-shelled ” ; seeds struck by a beast’s horn were 
vulgarly supposed to become ‘‘ horny ” and unfit for cooking. 
2 Cp. 718 B ff. 


201 


PLATO 


étay cot mpootintyn Te TOV ToLOUTwY SoypaTor, 
ie em Tas arrodtoTroumnaels, (Oe emt Oeav 
amorpomatwy lepa ixérns, (0c éml tas TaV Neyo- 
péveov awSpav vpiv aryab oy Evvovatas, Kal Ta 
C pév dxove, Ta dé Tretp@ Aéyew avros, Os bet Ta 
Kara Kal Ta Sixata wavta dvdpa tipav: tas be 
TOV KaKay Evvovatas petye dperactperti. Kal 
éay pév cot opavte tavta Awha TL TO voonpja— 
ei 88 ju}, Kaddlo Odvatov oKxerdpevos amad- 
NaTTOV TOU Biov. 

Tabra pay adovT@y Tpoolma Tois mavTa 
TavTa emwoodaw doa avoova épya kat TOAL- 
topOopa, TO bev merB omer TOV vOmov édv avyh 
bei, TO b€ ‘drreBoovrt MeTa TO Tpooimtov Gdew 
D péya, “Os & ap iepoovr@v AndOH, éav pev 7} 
SodA0s 7 Eévos, év TO Tpoowme kal rais xepot 
aes gen THY ovppopav Kal paariyabels omroaas 
av do&n Tots dukacrais, ex 0s Tov Spav THs 
Xwpas yupvos exBrn Ojo: Taya yap av dors 
TAaUTNY THY Sieny yévour” av Bedtiov, swdpovi- 
aOeis. ov yp éml KaK®@ Sikn yiyveTas obbeula 
yevopevn Kara vomov, Suoip be arepov atrepyate- 
Tal axedov" 7) nyap Bertiova 7 7) HoxOnporepov ir Tov 
eferpyacato TOV THY Sine TapacxXovTa, ToAiTnS 
ba av tis Tore Tt ToodTov Spav avahavi}, mept Geovs. 
0 mept yoveas 7, Tepl TONW OLKNKOS TOY Meyarov 
TWa kal amoppitev adiKLav, @S aviatov dn 
TovTOV 6vTa oO Sucaarns dravoeic bw, Aoyelopuevos 
olas Tratdeias Te Kal tpodis éx Twadds TuyXavev 
ouK améoxeTo Tav peyiotov Kaxov. Sixn 87 





1 Cp. 871 A. 2 Cp. 862 Df., 934 Af. 
202 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


When there comes upon you any such intention, 
betake yourself to the rites of guilt-averting, betake 
yourself as suppliant to the shrines of the curse- 
lifting deities, betake yourself to the company of the 
men who are reputed virtuous; and thus learn, 
partly from others, partly by self. instruction, that 
every man is bound to honour what is noble and 
just; but the company of evil men shun wholly, and 
turn not back. And if it be so that by thus acting 
your disease grows less, well; but if not, then 
deem death the more noble way, and quit yourself 
of life.” 

As we chant this prelude to those who purpose 
all these unholy deeds, destructive of civic life, 
the law itself we must leave unvoiced! for him 
who obeys; but for him who disobeys we must 
suffer the law, following on the prelude, to utter 
aloud this chant: “ Whosoever is caught robbing 
a temple, if he be a foreigner or a slave, his curse 
shall be branded on his forehead and on his hands, 
and he shall be scourged with so many stripes 
as the judges decree, and he shall be cast out naked 
beyond the borders of the country ; for, after paying 
this penalty, he might perchance be disciplined into a 
better life. For no penalty that is legally imposed 
aims at evil, but it effects, as a rule, one or other of 
two results——it makes the person who suffers it — 
either better or less bad.? But if any citizen is ever 
convicted of such an act,—that is, of committing 
some great and infamous wrong against gods, 
parents, or State—the judge shall regard him as 
already incurable, reckoning that, in spite of all the 
training and nurture he has had from infancy, he 
has not refrained from the worst iniquity. For him 


203 


PLATO 


TOUTe Oavaros eAaX LOT OV TOV Kaxov, Tovs be 
855 addous mapdderypa ovrjoet ryevoevos aKnrens Kal 
virép TOUS TIS X@pas bpous apaviabeis: maol dé 
Kal ryevet, éav puyoot Ta TAT poe 70n, Kré0S 
éoT@ Kal Aoryos EVTIMOS Aeydpevos, @s ed TE Kal 
avbpeiws eis aryaBov €x KaKOD Siarepevyoror. 
Snuoota é Xpywara ovdevos TOV TOLOUT@Y 7H 
mohuret@ TpeTov ad av ein yiyvecOa, ev % Set Tovs 
avtovs ael Kal igous évtas Suatedeiy KArjpous. 
Enpias o exticers, éTav advxeiy aka Sonh TU 
XPNLATOY, éxtivery, av % ti tw) Tod KAHpOU 
KATETKEVAO MEVOU TepiTrevov, béxpt TocovTov 
B Snuwbevra, To 6€ mAéov pH. Tas 8 eis TadTAa 
axptBelas &« TOV aTroypapav vopopvraKes oKo- 
mobvres TO capes eEaryyeXKovt ov det tots Sixa- 
orais, draws av TOY KANpoVv apyos pnbels pndémore 
yoyuntar bv amopiav xpnpeaTov. Eypias dé ay Tis 
THEOvOS akvos elvat Sox, éav dpa un twes eOér\o- 
ow avtov tav dirtwv éyyvdcbai Te Kal Evver- 
tivovTes amredevOepodr, decpois te xpoviors Kat 
C eupavécs Kai Tit mpoTnrAaKio mois KoAdCEiV, 
atipov S€ Tayvtatact pndéva eivar undérrote und’ 
ep’ évl TOV dpapTnpatoy, pnd’ Urrepoptov puydsa: 
Oavarov 6é 4 i) Seo pous 7] v7 TANYAS u} Tuas apoppous 
epas 7) up oTacels 7) Tapaotacers eis (epa éml Ta Tis 
xXwpas éoxara,  XpnuaTev cabdmep éutrpoa bev 
eltropev exTicels yiyver Oar Sety tiv Sixny TAUTHY, 
yiyvécOw. Sixacral b¢ éotwoav Yavarov épi 
vowopvrNakés Te Kal TO TOY TEpvTWaY apYovTeV 


1 +l 7m W. R. Paton, England: 7: tay MSS. 
1 Cp. 745 AB. 2 Cp. 865 E ff., 877 C fff. 





204 





ares SN ae atten ae Poe 


pth nye 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


the penalty is death, the least of evils; and, more- 
over, by serving as an example, he will benefit others, 
when himself disgraced and removed from sight 
beyond the borders of the country ; but his children 
and family, if they shun their father’s ways, shall be 
honoured, and honourable mention shall be made of 
them, seeing that they have done well and bravely in 
leaving the ways of vice for those of virtue. That 
the goods of any such criminal should be confiscated 
would not be fitting in a State in which the allot- 
ments must remain always identical and equal in 
number. . Whosoever is held to have done a wrong 
which deserves a money-fine must pay the fine 
exacted when the fine comes within the limits of the 
surplus he has over when his allotment has been 
equipped, but not what exceeds this: the precise , 
facts in such cases the Law-wardens must find out 
from the registers,1 and they must inform the judges 
of the true state of each case, in order to prevent 
any allotment falling out of cultivation through lack 
of money. And if any man is held to deserve a 
larger fine, in case none of his friends are willing to 
go bail or, by clubbing together, to pay the sum and 
set him free, then we must punish him by long 
imprisonment, of a public kind, and by measures of 
degradation ; but no one shall be absolutely outlawed 
for any single crime, even though he be banished 
from the country.2_ The punishments to be inflicted 
shall be death, or imprisonment, or stripes, or seats 
or stations or exposures of a degrading kind at 
temples or at outermost boundaries, or money-fines of 
the kind we have stated,—where such punishments 
are required. In cases where the penalty is death, 
the judges shall be the Law-wardens together with 


205 


PLATO 


> / > \ /, > \ 
apiotiviny amropepicbev Sixacthpiov: eicaywryas 


\ UA 
D 8 rovtwv Kal rpockrHoes Kal boa ToLadTa, Kal 


ws Set yi=ver Oar, tois vewrépots vopobérats yp) 
/ \ / \ e /, + 
Mere THv Sialryndiow 5 tyéTepov Epyov vopuo- 
Gereiv. éotw 59 pavepda pev  Wihhos tiWewevn, 
m™po tovTov dé KaTa TO Toma Tod Si@KoYTdS TE 
Kal hevyovtos 6 Suxactns és Huiv éyydrata 
\ A tus 7, >] ec n ae 

Kata mpéo Biv iféc0w, Tavtes 8 of TON TAL, SooTrEp 
x ? fal 

dv aywou sxXoXIV, ETIKOOL EoTWTAY GTOVOH TOV 


E towovtwv ducav. réyew S& eva Aoyov, mp@tov 


856 


4 \ , \ \ , , 
Mev Tov SL@KoVTa, Tov O& hevyovta SevTEpoV" pweTa 
6é Tovs Aoyous TovUTOVs apxecOaL pev TOV yepai- 
TaTOV avaxpivovTa, iovta eis THY TOV exOevTaV 
/ e / \ 2 \ ¢ Chen 
oKéeyw ixavyy, meta S€ Tov mpecBuTatov é&js 
amavras ypn dueEedOciv 6 Tt av Tap ExaTtépou Tus 
n > / e \ Xa \ € \ > lol 
TOV avtTidikav pnGev jr) pnOev érimoOH twa 
, € \ \ fal BA \ > Pe 
TpoTrov' o O€ undev Today GAM THY avaxpiow 
TapadiooTa. Tav 5é pynb&vTav érioppayica- 
pévous Oca av eivat Kaipta Soxh, ypadupact onpeia 
> 4 Ls a n La > \ 
émiBadrovtas TavtTwv TOV dtxacTav, Geivat él 
\ ¢ , \ / BA > > \ 
Thv Eotiav, cai wdadw avpiov eis Tavtov Evyed- 
Oovtas @ca’tws Te dvaxpivovtas dveEehOeiy THY 
dixny, kal onpeta eruBarrovtas ad Tois hexyOeior 
kal tpls Spdcavras tovTO, Texunpid Te Kal 
fal n e A 
fadptupas ikavas twaparaBovtas, Wihov iepav 
>” el 
éxactov époyvta Kal wvrocxopevoy mpos Tihs 
na / 
‘Eotias eis Siva ta Sixaca Kal adnOF Kpiver, 
ad A 4 , 
ovtw TéXos ériOcivar TH ToLavTH Sin. 


1 Op. 767 D. 





206 


d 
: 
: 
i 
‘ 





if ayer erie 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


the court of last year’s magistrates selected by merit." 
In respect of these cases the younger lawgivers must 
attend to the indictments and summonses and all 
such matters, and the procedure involved, while it is 
our task to regulate by law the method of voting. 
The votes shall be cast openly, and, before this takes 
place, our judges shall be seated, facing the plaintiff 
and defendant, in a closely-packed row in order of 
seniority, and all the citizens who have leisure to do 
so shall attend and listen attentively to the trials. 
‘One speech shall be made by the plaintiff first, and 
secondly one by the defendant; and after these 
speeches the oldest judge shall lead off with his 
survey of the case, in which he shall review in detail 
the statements made ; and after the oldest, each of 
the other judges in turn must discuss every point 
which he has noticed in which either of the litigants 
has been guilty of making any kind of omission or 
blunder in his statement ; and he that has no such 
criticism to make shall pass on the task of reviewing 
to his neighbour ; and when such of the statements 
as the judges have pronounced relevant have been 
confirmed by affixing to the documents the signatures 
of all the judges, they shall lay them up at the altar 
of Hestia. On the morrow again they shall assemble 
at the same place and discuss the case, and they shall 
make their pronouncements in the same manner, and 


| shall again sign the statements. And after doing 


_ this thrice,—during which proceedings they shall pay 

_ full attention to evidence and witnesses——each of 
_ the judges shall cast a sacred vote, promising by 
Hestia to give just and true judgment to the best of 
_ his power ; and thus they shall bring to its end this 
form of trial. 


207 


ed 


PLATO 


B Mera &e Ta rept Beovs Ta mept KaTaddvow THs 
moNTetas* bs av ayov eis apxiy av pwrrov SovrG- 
TAL Mev Tous vopous, érarpetars 5é thy Toy bmi 
KOOV ToLt}, cal Biatws 6 Trav TodTO TpdTTeY Kal 
ordow érvyelp@v Tapavoun, ToOTOV 7] Siavociabat 
det Travrev TONE MLOTATOV d\n TH TONE. Tov be 
KowavovvTa bev TOV ToLovr@v _pnbevi, TOV peyt- 
oto Oé pHeTeXovTa dpxav év Th Toe, hen Gora 
Te TadTa avTov i) ) AednOora, decdia 8 wrép 

C rarpidos avtov a) TLpLe@ poUmEvor, Set Sevrepov 
nyeiaar Tov ToLovTov ToniTny Kakn. Tas 6é 
avnp ov Kal o pK pov dpedos évderxvita tas 
apxais eis Kpiow dywv Tov émuBovdAevovTa Braiou 
ToALTELasS petacTacews dpa cal Tapavouov. 
duxactal bé éoT@oay ToUvToLS olrep Tots ‘epo- 
cvAOLS, Kal TacaY THY KploLY @oa’TwS avToIS 
ylyvecOar Kabarrep éxeivors, Thy Whdov 6é Oava- 
Tov dépew THY TAHOE viKaoav. évl S€ Oyo, 
matpos oveldn Kal tipwplas traid@y pndevi Evv- 

D éreoOau, Try éav TiwWt marhp Kal TdamTos Kal 
man Tov Tarnp epetiis dphoat Bavérov Sieny: 
ToUTOUS dé 1) ods exovTas THY avTev ovgiay, 
Triyy 6 ocov KaTeT KEvaT LEVOU TOU KANpov TAVTENOS, 
els THY AUT@V dpxatay éxmreptréa Oe matpisa Kal 
mod. ols & av TOV TOMTOY viels dues TUY- 
xXavoce ™XELOUS év0s, pa) éhaTtTov Sena é eT yeyo- 
vores, KAnpOrat wey TOUT@Y déxa ods av aropnun 
TaTHp i TAT TOS O Tm pos TATpPOS 7) LNTPOS* TOV 

E be Aaxyov Tov Ta ovomara. eis Aedhous mempOevrov* 
ov 0 av o Geos aven, KAnpovesLov els Tov olKov 
KaTAOTHoaL TOV TOY EKALTOVTOY, TUXN Apetvort. 


208 


estan Ditties ie tl eee 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


Next to cases which concern religion come those 
which concern the dissolution of the polity. Whoso- 
ever enslaves the laws by making them subject to men, - 
and makes the State subject to a faction, and acts 
illegally in doing all this by violence and in stirring 
up civil strife—such a man must be deemed the 
worst of all enemies to the whole State. And the 
man who, though he takes part in none of these 
doings, yet fails to observe them, while he has a 
share in the chief offices of State, or else, though he 
observes them, fails to defend his country and punish 
them, owing to his cowardice,—a citizen of such a 
kind must be counted second in order of badness. 
Every man who is of the least worth shall inform the 
magistrates by prosecuting the plotter on a charge of 
violent and illegal revolution: they shall have the 
same judges as the temple-robbers had, and the 
whole trial shall be conducted just as it was in their 
case, and the death penalty shall be imposed by a 
majority of votes. As a summary rule, the disgrace 
or punishment inflicted on a father shall not descend 
upon his children, except in a case where not only the 
father, but his father and grandfather before him, have 
all been condemned on a capital charge: in such a 
case, the children, while retaining their own property, 
excepting only the allotment with its full equipment, 
shall be deported by the State to their original country 
and State. And from the sons of citizens who happen 
to have more than one son over ten years old, ten 
shall be chosen by lot—after application made by 
the father or by the paternal or maternal grandfather, 
—and the names thus chosen shall be sent to Delphi; 
and that man whom the oracle names shall be estab- 
lished as the allotment-holder in the house of those 
departed,—be it with happier fortune ! 


209 
VOL. II. P 


PLATO 


KA. Kandds. 
ae. Kowvos & ere tpitos KeicOw+ vopmos, rept 
' Oixacta@y te ods Set Suxdfeww adtois, Kal 6 TpoTos 
T&V SLKOY, ols dv Tpoddcews aitiay émipépwv Tus 
eis OukaoTHpLov ayn. Kal povis @cavTas éxyovots 
kai é£odouv ths tatpidos els eoTw epi Tadta 
857 vouos obtos tpici, mpodotyn Kal iepoovdw Kal TO 
TOVS THS TOAEWS VOpwouvs Bia aToAAUYTL. KrETTN 
dé, édv Te péya éay Te opiKpov KréTTH TIS, els 
ad vowos KeicOw Kal pia dikns Tymwpia Evpwrace 
TO pev yap KraTrév 52) ypewv SuTacLvov TPaTOV 
extive, €av Opry Tis THY ToradTny Sikny Kal 
ixavnvy &yn Thv addAnv odoiay arotiverw dep 
TOV KAHpov, cav Se py, SedécOar Ews av exTion 
) Teton TOV KaTadixacdpevov. éav Sé Tis BAH 
Broris Snuocla Sixnv, meicas thy TOY 7 TO 
KrNeupa exticas SitAo0vv amaddaTTéc8w THY 
dec Lav. 
KA. IIds> 87 Aéyouev, @ Eéve, pndev Svad perv 
T@ KNETTOVTL, MEYA 7) TuLKPOV UpEedomevm Kal éE 
iep@v 7) ociay Kal dca adda éeotl Tepl KrOTHV 
nacav avopoTtnta éxovta, ols Set motxirois 
ovow ErecOat Tov vomobérny undév opotars Enuiars 
Enuscodyta ; 
ao. “Apior’, & Knrewvia oyeddv ti pe borep 
C depopevov avtixpovoas aviyyerpas, évvevonkota oé 
Kal mpotepov vméuvnoas Ott Ta Tepl THY TOV 
vopov Béoty ovdevi TpoT@ TaTOTE yéyovev OpOAs 


1 xelcOw : fs forw MSS., edd. (England ci. rs for ¢is), 





1 But cp. 859 B ff., 933 E ff. 


Ee 


i ak i aa 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


cin. Very good. 

atu. Moreover, a third general law shall be laid 
down, dealing with the judges to be employed and 
the manner of the trials, in cases where one man 
prosecutes another on a charge of treason; and 
concerning the offspring, likewise, whether they are 
to remain in their country or be expelled, this one 
law shall apply to the three cases of the traitor, the 
temple-robber, and the man who wrecks the State 
laws by violence. For the thief also, whether he } 
steals a great thing or a small, one law and one | 
legal penalty shall be enacted for all alike2: first, 
he must pay twice the value of the stolen article, 
if he loses his case and possesses enough property 
over and above his allotment wherewith to pay; 
but if not, he must be put in prison until either 
he has paid the sum or has been let off by the 
prosecutor. And if a man be cast in a suit for theft 
from the State, on obtaining pardon from the State, 
or after payment of double the sum stolen, he shall 
be let out of prison. 

cuin. How comes it, Stranger, that we are ruling 
that it makes no difference to the thief whether the 
thing he steals be great or small, and whether the 
place it is stolen from be holy or unhallowed, or 
whatever other differences may exist in the manner 
of a theft; whereas the lawgiver ought to suit the 
punishment to the crime by inflicting dissimilar 
penalties in these varying cases ? 

atH. Well said, Clinias! You have collided with 
me when I was going, as it were, full steam ahead, 
and so have woken me up. You have reminded me 
of a previous reflection of mine, how that none of 
the attempts hitherto made at legislation have ever 


21 


wethe an 


pP2 


PLATO 


SiaTreTrovnpéva, ws ye &v TO viv mapaTreTTT@KOTt * 
Aéyerv. Tas 8 ad Kali ToDTO éyomev ; od KAKaS 
annxdcapev, Gte SovrAoLs ws latpevopévors 7rd 
dovA@v anrnxalouev avtas Tovs viv vopwobeTov- 
hévous. ev yap érictacbat Sei TO ToLdvde, S Et 
KataraBor toté tis iatpds Thv Tais éumrerpiats 
D dvev Noyou Thy iatpixiy petaxerpiCouévwy édev- 
Oepov érevOép@ vocodvte Siareyopuevov iatpov, Kat 
Tov dpirocodeiy éyyvs Xpopevov [uev]? Tots 
Novos, €E dpyfs Te amTouevoy Tod voojpaTos, 
mept picews Tadons éTaviovTa THs TOV Twp"d- 
Tov, Taxv Kal opddpa yerdoeev dv Kal ovK 
dv GdXous éltrot AGyous 7) TOUS TEpl TA TOLADT 
del mpoyeipouvs dvtas Tois mrEloTOLs AEyopuévots 
iatpois: hain yap av °O pape, ode iatpevers Tov 
vooobvtTa, adda oxedov Tadevers, @S taTpov AAN’ 
E oby tiyth Sedpmevov yiyver Oat. 
KA. Ovdxody Aéywv ta ToradTa opPas av 
Aéyor 5 
ao. Tay’ av, ef mpocdtiavooitd ye ws boris 
mepl vopwv ota dicképyetar, KaOdrrep Hueis TA 
viv, Twatdever TOUS ToANiTas, GAN ov vopobeTel. 
ap otv ov Kal tovT dy mpds tpoTou éyew 
paivotto ; 
KA. “Ioas. 
Ao. Evtuxes dé ua TO mapov yéyovev. 
KA. To roiov 5n ; 
ao. To pndepiav davayxnv eivat vopolertetv, 
858 GAN avtods év oKéwrer yevoévovs tepl madans 
mortelas Teipacbar KaTibeiy TO TE pioTov Kal 
1 wapamertwxdti MSS. : mapdévts MSS. marg., Zur., vulg. 
2 [ev] bracketed by W.-Méllendorff. 
212 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


been carried out rightly—as in fact we may infer 
from the instance before us. What do I mean to 
imply by this remark? It was no bad comparison 
we made! when we compared all existing legislation 
to the doctoring of slaves by slaves. For one should 
carefully notice this, that if any of the doctors who 

ractise medicine by purely empirical methods, 
ia of theory, were to come upon a free-born 
doctor conversing with a free-born patient, and 
using arguments, much as a philosopher would, 
dealing with the course of the ailment from its 
origin and surveying the natural constitution of the 
human body,—he would at once break out into a 
roar of laughter, and the language he would use 
would be none other than that which always comes 
.ready to the tongue of most so-called “doctors”’ : 
“You fool,” he would say, “you are not doctoring 
your patient, but schooling him, so to say, as though 
what he wanted was to be made, not a sound man, 
but a doctor.” 

cin. And in saying so, would he not be right? 

atu. Possibly, provided that he should also take 
the view that the man who treats of laws in the 
way that we are now doing is schooling the citizens 
rather than legislating. Would he not seem to be 
right in saying that, too? 

cuin. Probably. 

aTH. How fortunate we are in the conclusion we 
have now come to! 

citn. What conclusion ? 

atu. This,—that there is no need to legislate, 
but only to become students ourselves, and endeavour 
to discern in regard to every polity how the best 


1 720 A ff. 
213 


PLATO 


TO dvayKkardTaror, tive Tpomov av yuyvomevov 
yeryvoro. Kat 69 Kal TO vv eEeorw HuLV, WS 
EorKer, et per Bovhopeda, To BéXTLCTOV oxoTeiy, 
ei 6é Bovhopeba, TO avayKaloTaTov Trepl vomwv. 
aip@peba odv o7rdTepov doxe?. 

KA, Tedotav, a @ Eéve, mpotiOéueOa Thy aipeow, 
ral ATEXVOS domep KaTexoéevors vopoderais 

B 6movot yiryvoiue? av ord bey ans TLVOS dvaryKns 
ON vopwobereiv, @s ouKét é&op és a pLov. nip 
&, elreiy oy Ge6, efeort, xabdmep C7] AOoro- 
yous Kat Twos éTépas apxopévors cvoTagens, 
mapagopycac0ar xvdmv €& wv éxdeFo peda 7a 
Tpoapopa TH medroven yevnoecOat cveTdcel, Kal 
5n Kal kata axorny éxréEacOar. tiWdpev ovv 
? nmas vov elvau fn TOUS e& avaryKns oiKodomovrTas,. 
drra TOUS éml oXONi}s ere TH ev maparilepuévous, 
Ta 6€ umaravras, OTE opOds é el Ta pev HON 

C rap viper Néyery ws TIOéueva, TA 8 WS TapaTiOé- 
peva. 

AQ. Pevorro youv av, @ Krevvia, KaTQ pvow 
paXdov Hyiy n cvvowis TOV vomev. idmpev yap 
ovv, ® mpos Gedy, TO ToLdvde Trepl vouoeTOr. 

KA. To trotov 57 ; 

Ao. [padupara pév tov Kal €v ypaupace Noyor 
Kal ddXo@v eial ToAA@Y év Tais TOAETL Yeypap- 
Mévol, ypampata Sé Kal Ta TOD vopobéTov Kal 
Aoyor- 

KA- Ids yap ov ; ; 

A®. Il6repov obv Tots pev TOV dddov ouyypap- 

D pact, Tromtav Kal boo. dvev pétpov Kal per 
MéTpov THv avTav eis pvyunv EvpBovrnv sept 


214 


el el ied ei 


Vite s 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


form might come about, and how that which is the 
least elaborate possible. Moreover, we are now 
allowed, as it seems, to study, if we choose, the best 
form of legislation, or, if we choose, the least 
elaborate. So let us make our choice between these 
two. 
cin. The choice we propose, Stranger, is an 
absurd one: we should be acting like legislators 
who were driven by some overpowering necessity to 
pass laws on the spot, because it is impossible for 
them to do so on the morrow. But for us (if 
Heaven will) it is quite possible to do as bricklayers 
do, or men starting on any other kind of con- 
struction,—that is, to collect material piecemeal, 
from which we may sélect what is suitable for the 
edifice we intend to build, and, what is more, select 
it at our leisure. Let us assume, then, that we are 
not now building under compulsion, but that we are 
still at leisure, and engaged partly in collecting 
material and partly in putting it together; so that 
we may rightly say that our laws are being in part 
already erected and in part collected. 

atu. In this way, Clinias, our survey of laws will 
at any rate follow nature’s course more closely. Now 
let us consider, I adjure you, the following point 
about legislators. 

cLin. What point? 

aTuH. We have in our States not only the writings 
and written speeches of many other people, but also 
the writings and speeches of the lawgiver. 

cin. Certainly. 

aTH. Are we, then, to pay attention to the 
compositions of the others—poets, and all who, 
either with or without metre, have composed and 


215 


PLATO 


Biov KkatéBevto cvyypaavtes, mpocéxwpev Tov 
voov, Tots S&€ Tav vopobeTav wh Tmpocéywper ; 
) TavT@V wddLoTAa | 

KA. IIoAv ye. 

ao. 'AdXA Sita ov xpn Tov vowobéTnv povov 
TOY ypaporvtwy Tepl Kadtov kal ayabav cal &- 
katwv EvpBovreverv, diddoxovta old té éote Kab 
@s éemLTNSEeVTEOV avTa Tois wéAXOVEW eVdaimoow 
éceo Oar. 

KA. Kal ras ov; 

E ae. “AXA aicypov 8) padXov ‘Onrpo re wad 
Tuptaiw Kai tots addovs Tontais mepi Biov Te 
Kat émiTndevpdtwv Kaxds OécOar yparyavtas, 
Avxovpy@ 5 htrov Kal Yokwu Kal door 8H vopmo- 
Gétar yevopuevot ypdupata eéypawav; 7 TO ye 
opOov wavrev Set ypappdtwv Tav év tals TOdECt 
Ta Tepl Tos vdmous yeypaupéva haiverbar Sa- 
TTUTTOmeva pakp@ KadANMOTa TE Kal aploTa, 
Ta 6€ TOY GrAwov } Kat éxeiva EvveTopeva 

859} Stadwvodvta avtois elvat Katayédacta ; 
oUTw SvavowpmeOa trepl vowov Seiv ypadhs yly- 
vecOar tais Todeow, €v TaTpos Te Kal pyTpos 
oXipact pirovvTov te Kal vodv éxovtwy dai- 
verOar Ta yeypaupéva, 7) KaTa TUpavvoy Kal 
deomoTny, Takavta Kal ametdjoavTa, yparavta 
év Toxo amnrd\gaxXOat ; oKoTamev odv 5) Kai 
Ta vov hpels TOTepa Tav’Tn TetpmpeOa RéyeL 

B Svavonbévres ep) vouwv, eit’ odv SuvdueOa etre 
Hn, GX’ ody TO ye MpdOvmov Tapexopevor Kal 
Kata TavTnv Thy Oddy iovTes, av apa TL Kal dé 
Tacxew, Tdcyopev. ayabdov & ein ye,’ cal av 
eds €0€Xy, yiyvoir’ av TavTn- 

216 


Eee 


en gem IRL 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


put on record their counsels concerning life,—but to 
pay no attention to those of the lawgivers? Or 
should we not attend to them above all others ? 

cun. Yes, far above all. 

atu. But we surely do not mean that the law- 
giver alone of all the writers is not to give counsel 
about what is noble, good and just, teaching what 
these are, and how those who intend to be happy 
must practise them. 

cun. Of course he must do so. 

atu. Well then, is it more disgraceful on the 
part of Homer and Tyrtaeus and the rest of the 

to lay.down in their writings bad rules about 

life and its pursuits, and less disgraceful on thé part 
of Lycurgus and Solon and all the legislators who 
have written? Or rather, is it not right that, of 
all the writings which exist in States, those which 
concern laws should be seen, when unrolled, to 
be by far the fairest and best, and all other writings 
to -be either modelled on them or, if disagreeing 
with them, contemptible? Are we to conceive that 
the written laws in our States should resemble 
persons moved by love and wisdom, such as a father 
or a mother, or that they should order and threaten, 
like some tyrant and despot, who writes his decree 
on the wall, and there is an end of it? So let us 
now consider whether we are going to try to discuss 
laws with this intention—showing zeal, at any rate, 
whether or not we may prove successful; and if, 
in proceeding on this course, we must meet with 
mishap, so be it. Yet we pray that it may be well 
with us, and if God wills, it shall be well. 





1 ye England: re MSS, 
217 


PLATO 


KA. Kanrds elpnxas, Tor@pév Te ws éyers: 

ao. Aracxertéov dpa mpaTov, OaTEp ETEXELpH- 
caper, axpiBas Tov Tepl TOV Te LepocvAOUYT@Y Kal 
KroTHS Taons Tépt Kal adixnudtav EvuTavrov* 
cal ov ducyepavtéov & petakd vopoleTovvTes Ta 
pev Ceperv, tov & &re SuacKotovpev répt: vopo- 
Oérar yap yuyvopeba, GAN ode éopev Tw, Taxa SE 
lows av yevoimeOa. ef 52) Soxet rept wv elpynKa, 
as elpnka, oxoTreic0a, cxoT@peOa- : 

KA. LITavtdrace pév odv. 

ao, LTlepi 8) carov cal Sixatav Evpravtev 
Teipopeba Katideiv TO ToLovde, Ory TOTE Opodo- 
yoduev viv Kat Orn StadepopeOa mets Te Hiv 
avtois, ot dy hatpev dv rpobupeiabai ye, et pndev 
adXo, Stadéperv TV TrELTTwY, Of TOAAOL TE avTOL 
TMpos aUTOUS av. 

KA. Tds trotas dé 69 dsabopas uav évvoneis 
Déyers ; 

ao. “Eya tmepacouar ppavew. mepi Scxaso- 
cvvns Orws Kal Tov dixalwy avOpeTav Te Kal 
Tpaypdtov Kal mpdtewy mavTes mos Evvopo- 
Noyobuev mdvra elvat TadTa Kadd, Bote ovd 
el tis Stiayupiforto [etvar|+ rods Sixatous avOpa- 
mous, dv Kal TUyYavocwW dvTES aigxpol Ta TO- 
pata, Kat avTo ye TO Sexatotatoy 700s TavTy 
mayKddous evar, sxedov ovdels av Aéywv ovTM 
mrnumer@s Sokere Aéyerv. 

KA. Odxody op0ds ; 

ae. “lows: iSwpev- Sé ws, ei mavt éoTl Kara 
dca Sixacocvwns exeTat, TOV TAVT@Y TOL Kab Ta 
ma0nuata hpiv éotl cxedov Tots Tolnmacw ica. 

. 1 [elva:] bracketed by Hermann. 
21 


ss) Oe ~ rel el ee at! i 


ee eer 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


curn. You are right: let us do as you say. 
ata. First of all, since we have started on it, we 
must examine closely the law about temple-robbers 
and all forms of thieving and wrong-doing; nor 
should we be vexed by the fact that, although we 
enacted some points while legislating, there are 
some points still under consideration: for we are 
in process of becoming lawgivers, and may perhaps 
become so, but we are not lawgivers as yet. So if 
we agree to consider the matters I have mentioned 
in the way I have mentioned, let us so consider them. 
cLIN. Most certainly. 
aTH. In respect of goodness and justice as a 
whole, let us try to discern this,—how far we now 
agree with ourselves, and how far we differ (for we 
should certainly say that we desire, if nothing else, 
to differ at least from the majority of men), and how 
far also the majority agree or differ among them- 
selves. 
ctIn. What differences of ours have you in 
mind ? 
atu. I will try to explain. Concerning justice in 
general, and men, things, or actions that are just, we 
all agree that these are all beautiful, so that no one 
would be regarded as saying what was wrong even if 
he should maintain that just men, however ugly in 
body, are quite beautiful in respect of their very just 
character. 
cuin. Would not that be right? 
atu. Perhaps; but let us observe this that if 
all things which belong to justice are beautiful, that 
* all” includes for us passions! nearly as much as 
actions. 
1 ¢.¢, ‘* sufferings.” 
219 


PLATO 


KA. Ti odv dy; 

AQ. Tloinpa pév, OTrep av y Sixatov, oxebov 
Soovrrep ay Tod Sixaiov KOWOvi}, KaTa TOoTOUTOV 
Kal TOU Kadov peTéxov éoTiv. 

KA. Ti pny; 

AQ. Ovxodv cal raGos 6 dmrep adv StKkatou KOWevi}, 

860 Kara ToaovToOV yiryer Bar Kanov opodoyoupevor, OuK 
av Siapwvodyta Tapéxyol TOV AOYoD ; 

KA. “AAnOH. 

Ae. Rav 66 ye Sixatov ev Spodoydper, aioxpor 
dé elvar maos, Siadovices TO Te dixatov kal TO 

Kadov AeXOévtwv Tav Sixaiwv aicyioton ecivat. 

KA. Il@s tovro elpnnas ; ; 

ae. Ovdev Xarerov évvoeiv oi yap onic 
mpooOev reOévres Huiv vopor TAaVT@OV evavTLOTATA 
mapayyérrew Soferav ay Tots viv eyopevots. 

KA. Tlotous ; 

B ao. Tov lepoavdov Tou ériBepev (Sixatas av 
amoOvijaKew ral TOV TOV €v KeLpeveov vOmOV 
moréutov, Kal péAXovTes 87) voOmlma ToLadTa 
TiWévar TapToArXa éerrécyomev, idovTes ws TADTA 
éote pev arrerpa TaOnpata TAHOE Kal peyéePect,+ 
Sixacotata 5¢ mavtay Tabnudtoy Kat Evptavtev 
aioxiora. bev ou obTws pty Td TE dixava 
kal Ta Kaa TOTE pev WS TAaVTA EVwmavTa, TOTE 
5é ws évavTi@Tata paveirat ; 

KA. Kuduveve. 

ao. Tois pev toivuy todnXois oT mept Ta 
TolavTa daovudeavas Ta Karka Kal ta dixata 
Svepprmpeva Tm pocaryopeverar. 

KA. Waiverat yoo, ® Eéve. 

1 weyédeos MSS. : peyéde: Zur., vulg. 
220 


ee ee 


Ve oe 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


cuin. Well, what then? 

ATH, Every just action, in so far as it shares in 
justice, practically in the same degree partakes of 
beauty. 


cuin. Yes. 

atH. It is agreed also—if our argument is to be 
consistent—that a passion which shares in justice, 
becomes, so far, beautiful. 

cun. True. 

atu. But if we agree that a passion though just 
is unseemly, then justice and beauty will be at dis- 
cord, when just things are called most unseemly. 

ciin. What do you mean by that? 

atu. It is not hard to grasp. The laws we 
enacted a short time ago might seem to enjoin what 
is absolutely contrary to our present statements. 

cin. What statements? 

atu. We laid it down! that it is just to put to 
death the temple-robber and the enemy of the 
rightly-enacted laws; and then, when we were 
minded to enact a host of similar rules, we held our 
hand, since we perceived that such rules involve 
passions infinite both in number and in magnitude, 
and that, although they are eminently just, they 
are also eminently unseemly. Thus the just and the 
beautiful will seem to us at one moment wholly 
identical; at another, utterly eppcned; will they 
not? 

cin. I am afraid so. 

atu. Thus it is that by the multitude the beautiful 
and the just are flung apart, and inconsistent language 
is used about them. 

cin. It certainly seems so, Stranger. 


1 854 B ff. 
221 


PLATO 


ae. To toivuy jpérepov, ® Krewia, madw 
iSwmpyev, Tas ad Tepl ad’ta tTadta eye Tis 
oupdovias. 
Tl / on \ a am 
KA. Ilotas 62 pos trotov ; 
> a 
Ae. ‘Ev tots Ewrpoabev Noyors oifpar Svappydnv 
] 
€uée eipnévar Tas, ef & ovv un TMpoTepory, aA 
vov @$ AێyorTa pe TiOETE 
KA. To 7rovov ; 
€ c \ 4 > , 2% 
D ao Qs of KaKoi ravtes eis TavTa eiclv 
akovtes Kakol. TovTov dé ovTws ExoVTOS avayKH 
mou TovT@ EvvérerOar Tov EES AOyov. 
KA. Tiva réyeus ; 
¢ ¢ \ »” / J e \ \ 
ao. ‘Os 0 péev Adixds mov KaKos, 0 S€ KaKds 
dkwv towodtos. akovoiws 5é Exovoroy ovK exer 
/, / / »” 2 / / > 
mpattecbai tote Noyov: akwv ody éxeiv@ haivort 
dv adiceiy 6 adtk@v TO THY AdiKiav aKovotov 
Tiewév@ Kal 5) Kal viv oporoynréov époi, 
Evudnut yap akovtas adixety Tavtas: et Kai 
Eis diroverxias 7) pirotipias &vexa Axovtas pév 
adixous elvai dyno, adcxeiy pny ExovTas ToAXOUS, 
6 ry’ éwos Novos Exeivos, GAN ody OvTOS* TivVa 
ovv av TpoTrov éywye Evppawvoiny dy Tois ewavToo 
Aoyous ; el pe, @ Krewvia cal Méyirre, épwt@te, 
Ki 6) tadta ottws éyovtd éotw, @ Eve, Ti 
na io] / lol n 
cupPovrevers Huiv tepl Tis vomolecias TH TOV 





———— 








1 rotov Ast: motay MSS. 





1 731 C, 734 B: ep. Ar. Zth. N. 1109? 30 ff. 

2 Tn what follows, the Athenian, adopting the Socratic dictum 
that “‘ vice is involuntary ” (cp. Tim. 86 E ff.), applies it to the 
special vice of injustice ; but here his view is found to conflict 
with the popular view which distinguishes between voluntary 





222 





2. LL, ee 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


arn. Then let us look again at our own view, and 

see how far it is consistent in this respect. . 
_cuin. What kind of consistency, and in respect of 

what, do you mean? 

atu. I believe that I expressly stated! in our 
previous discourse,—or, if I did not do it before, 
please assume that I now assert 

cum. What? 

aTH, That all bad men are in all respects un- 
willingly bad ; and, this being so, our next statement 
must agree therewith. 

cin. What statement do you mean ? 

aTH. This,—that the unjust man is, indeed, bad, 
but the bad man is unwillingly bad.? But it is illogical 
to suppose that a willing deed is done unwillingly ; 
therefore he that commits an unjust act doés so 
unwillingly in the opinion of him who assumes that 
injustice is involuntary—a conclusion which I also 
must now allow; for I agree that all men do unjust 
acts unwillingly ; so, since I hold this view—and do 
not share the opinion of those who, through conten- 
tiousness or arrogance, assert that, while there are 
some who are unjust against their will, yet there are 
also many who are unjust willingly,—how am I to 
prove consistent with my own statements? Suppose 
you two, Megillus and Clinias, put this question to 
me—“ If this is the state of the case, Stranger, what 
counsel do you give us in regard to legislating for 





_ and involuntary acts of injustice, and assigns to them dif- 


ferent legal penalties. If this aan distinction is wrong, 
the lawgiver must either (a) simply apply the Socratic rule, 


_ and enact that all unjust acts are involuntary and deserve 


therefore equal penalties, or (6) draw a new distinction, which 


_ Ath, proceeds to do in 861 Eff. (see note ad Joc.). 


223 


PLATO 


Mayvytev moder; motepov vomobeTteiv * un ; 
a 4 , a a 
Ils yap ov ; dijcw. Aropseis odv avtois axovard 
Te Kal éxovota abixnpata, Kal TOV péev Exovoiwy 
dpapTnuatoyv te kal adixnuatov pelfous Tas Enuias 
861 Ojcoper, Tav 8 éXaTTOUS ; } TavTwv eF ions, ws 
ovK OvT@Y AdiKNUaTwY TO TapaTray ExoUCiwD ; 
’ lal 
KA. ‘OpOds pévtoi réyeis, @ Eéve. Kal TovTo.s 
\ lal la 
57 Ti Xpnoopueba Tots vdv Aeyomévots ; 
Ao. Karas pov. mpatov ev Toivuy avtois 
Tobe XpNT@peVa—— 
KA. To qoitov ; 
ae. “AvaurvnoOapev ws éEurpoacber viv 63) 
r > / wv \ \ /, y / 
KAN@S edXEyomev STL Tepl TA Sixara ein TapTOAry 
TLS Huav Tapayyn Te Kal aovudwvia. TodTO bé 
, , ’ a iia > Ais > * 
B XaBovres radiv épwtapev Huds avrovs,’Ap’ ovv 
mTept tv TovTwy atopiay ovT é£evTopynaarTes 
” , s , ? > \ a > , 
ovTe Svopioduevor TL TOT éoTl TAUTA addAHAOV 
Aq a \ \ 4 \ ‘ OFS 
duadépovta, & 57) KaTa Tdcas Tas Todes VTO 
vouoleTav TavTaY THY TwTOTE Yyevouévav ws 
S00 eldn Tav abdienudtoy dvTa, TA wey Exovora, 
Ta 5€ adkovola, TaUTH Kal vomobeTeiTar o 5é Tap 
€ la a on € 0 \ ld oe a 6 n 
Hua viv On pnOels ROyos, @oTEp Tapa Oeod 
a / a 
Nev Geis, ToroUTOV movoy eitwy aTaddd&eTat, Sovs 
Sé ovdéva AOyov Ws OpOAs cipynKe KaTavopoleTHCEL 
\ / > ” > » Bae , rn 
C tTiva Tpotror ; Ovk ctw, adXAa avayKn Tes TADTA 
&umpoa0ev tod vopobeteiv Snr@oat dvo Te dvta 
Kai tHv Siahopay addnrowv,) iva, btTav éExaTép@ 
Tis THY Sixny éritiOn, was émaKxoNovOh Tots Aeyo- 
1 ZAAfA@y Hermann: &AAnv MSS. 
224 


? 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


the Magnesian State? Shall we legislate or shall 
we not?” “Legislate by all means,” I shall reply. 
“Will you make a distinction, then, between volun- 
tary and involuntary wrong-doings, and are we to 
enact heavier penalties for the crimes and wrong- 
doings that are voluntary, and lighter penalties for 
the others? Or shall we enact equal penalties for 
all, on the view that there is no such thing as a 
voluntary act of injustice?” 

cu. What you say, Stranger, is quite right: so 
what use are we to make of our present arguments ? 
atu. A very proper question! The use we shall 
make of them, to begin with, is this —— 

cin. What? 

atu. Let us recall how, a moment ago, we rightly 
stated that in regard to justice we are suffering from 
the greatest confusion and inconsistency. Grasping 
this fact, let us again question ourselves,—< As to 
our perplexity about these matters, since we have 
neither got it clear nor defined the point of difference 
between those two kinds of wrong-doing, voluntary 
and involuntary, which are treated as legally distinct 
in every State by every legislator who has ever yet 
appeared,—as to this, is the statement we recently 
made to stand, like a divine oracle, as a mere ex 
cathedra statement, unsupported by any proof, and to 
serve as a kind of master-enactment +?’ That is im- 
possible ; and before we legislate we are bound first 
to make it clear somehow that these wrong-doings 
are two-fold, and wherein their difference consists, in 
order that when we impose the penalty on either 
kind, everyone may follow our rules, and be able to 


1 Literally, “to legislate down” (i.¢. over-rule the popular 
objection to our Socratic view). 


225 
VOL. II. ¥ 


PLATO 
pévats Kal Suvaros 7 TO Te wperovTas TeéOey auH 
yé 1 Kpivar Kal TO pn. 

KA. Karas nuiv paiver réyerv, @ Eéver dvoiv 
yap Odtepoy twas ypewv, 7) uy AéyeLY Ws TavTa 
axovota Ta abixjpata, } TodTO ws dpOds elpnTar 

D tparov di0picartas byroeat. 

ao. Tovtow toivuy toiv svoiv to pev ovK 
avextov éuol mavtTws tov yiyverbar, TO ye 87 
pn Aéyey obTwS oidpevov Exe TadNOES* Ov yap 
av voupov ovd séarov av ein Kata tiva 6é 
TpoTov é€atov Svo, ei pw) TO TE aKovoiw Kal TO 
e Ne , € “ >? \ »” “ ‘ 
éxovoim Suapépetov Exatepov, [ddra]+ arr Tivi 
5 Tote Te:patéov auas yé Tas Snrodv. 

KA. LIlavtdrace pév obv, & Eéve, TOOTS ye OvX 
olov Te dAXwWS THs Hwas ScavonOAvat. 

E ao. Taira éorar. épe dy, BraBar pév, ws 
éorxev, GAANAMY TOY TOALTOY ev Tals KOLVwVIALS 
Te Kal opmsdiais roddal yiyvorvtat, Kal TO Ye 
éxovoloy Te Kal axovotov év avtais adOovor 
éoTLV. 

KA. Ils yap ov ; 

ae. M?) toivvy tis Tas BXaBas macas abiKias 
TUels OUTS olntar Kal Ta dodiKa ev avTaiar 
TavTn yiyvesGar SumrG, Ta pev Exovota Oy, TA 
8 axovovwa BrAdBar yap akovoto. Tov TavT@V 
ovT aptOuois ovte weyéOeow édXaTTOUS eiol THY 

1 [@AAa] bracketed by W.-Mollendorff. 


PO 








1 The proper distinction to be drawn (as Ath. proceeds to 
argue) is not that between voluntary and involuntary acts of 
injustice (since there are no such voluntary acts), but that 
between ‘‘ injuries” (BAdBa, ‘‘ acts causing loss”) and ‘‘ acts 
of injustice.” Injustice is really a quality of the agent rather 


226 








LAWS, BOOK Ix 


form some judgment regarding the suitability or 
otherwise of our enactments. 
- etin. What you say, Stranger, appears to us to 
be excellent: we ought to do one of two things,— 
either not assert that all unjust aets are involuntary, 
or else make our distinctions first, then prove the 
correctness of that assertion. 

atu. Of these alternatives the first is to me quite 
intolerable—namely, not to assert what I hold to be 
the truth,—for that would be neither a lawful thing 
to do nor a pious. But as to the question how such 
acts are two-fold,—if the difference does not lie in 
that between the voluntary and the involuntary, 
then we must try to explain it by means of some 
other distinction. 

euin. Well, certainly, Stranger, about this matter 
there is no other plan we can possibly adopt. 

atH. It shall be done. Come now, in dealings 
and intercourse between citizens, injuries committed 
by one against another are of frequent occurrence, 
and they involve plenty of the voluntary as well as 
of the involuntary. 

cin. To be sure! 

atu. Let no one put down all injuries as acts of 
injustice and then regard the unjust acts involved as 
two-fold in the way described, namely, that they are 
partly voluntary and partly involuntary (for, of the 
total, the involuntary injuries are not less than the 
voluntary either in number or in magnitude); but 


than of the act, and (like all vice) is a form of un-reason: as 
the slave of un-reason, the unjust man is never a free agent. 
Hence the task of the lawgiver is two fold, (1) to make good 
the “‘injuries,” and (2) to cure the agent of his ‘‘ injustice ” 
by restoring the power of reason (‘‘ moral sense’’) in his soul. 


227 
Q2 


PLATO 


éxovol@v’ oKometabe be el Té Te eyo: Aéyor a 


862 pedro Eyer, Eire Kal pndev 70 mapaTay. ou 
yap pnwe eye, @ Krewia Kab Méyerre, et Tis 
TIWa TL mn patver pay Bovdopevos, GN aKov; 
adiceiy pév, akovta pny, Kal TavTn perv 51) vopo- 
OetHow ToiTO Ws aKovcLoy adiknua vopmobeTar, 
arn’ ov6dé adixiay TO Tapdmav Ojow TY TOLavTHY 
BraBnp, ovte av pelfwv ovte av éddtTov Te 
yiyunrat. moAnrakis Sé opédevay ovK opOny ryevo- 
pevny, TOV Ths apedetas aitvov adicetv picoper, 

B éav i) y éun viKd. oxedov yap, @ iron, our’ 
el Tis T@ OlOwot TL TOY OVTOV, OUT €L TouvavTiov 
adarpetrar, dixatov ams a adtcov. Xpn TO 
TovovTov ovTw eye, arn’ éav Oe kal dixal@ 
TpoT@ Xpa@pevos TL apert TW TL Kal Brann, 
TOUTO é€oTt TH vomoGéTn Oeatéov, Kal mpos dvo 
tadta 67 Brerréov, Tpos Te adixiay Kal BrABnv, 
Kal To pev BraBev aBraBes} roils vomors eis TO 
Suvatov Tointéov, TO Te GTrOAOpEVOY GwLoVTA Kal 
TO mwecdv wo tov mardiv é€opPodvTa Kai TO 

C Oavatwbév } tpwev byes, TO O€ dmotvous éftha- 
aOev ois Spas Kal maaxovow éxdoras Tov 
BraWewv €x Siapopas els didiav meipatéov ael 
Kkabiotavat Tos vopmots. 

KA. Kards rabta rye. 

ao. Tas TOLVUY adikous av Br4Bas Kal xepdn 
éay Tes adixay Tia xepdaiver TOU, TOUT@Y 0 orroga 
pev lard, @s ovoay ev Wuyh vorwr, iaoGar 70 
dé THS lacews Huty TAS adixias THE pete xXpH 
pavat 

1 BraBty &BaaBis Badham: aBaAaBis iyiés MSS. (BAaBev in 
marg.): BAaBey byes Zur., al. 
228 





ed Se aie A i 


aed 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


consider whether in saying what I am now going to say 
Tam speaking sense or absolute nonsense. For what 
I assert, Megillus and Clinias, is not that, if one man 
harms another involuntarily and without wishing it, 
he acts unjustly though involuntarily, nor shall I 
1 ate in this way, pronouncing this to be an in- 
voluntary act of injustice, but I will pronounce that 
such an injury is not an injustice at all, whether it be 
a greater injury or a less. And, if my view prevails, 
we shall often say that the sSises of a benefit 
wrongly done commits an injustice ; for as a rule, 
my friends, neither when a man gives some material 
object to another, nor when he takes it away, ought 
one to term such an act absolutely just or unjust, but 
only when a man of just character and disposition 
does any benefit or injury to another—that is what 
the lawgiver must look at; he must consider these 
two things, injustice and injury, and the injury 


inflicted he must make good so far as possible by 


legal means ; he must conserve what is lost, restore 
what has been broken down, make whole what is 
wounded or dead; and when the several injuries 
have been atoned for by compensation, he must 
endeavour always by means of the laws to convert 
the parties who have inflicted them and those who 
have suffered them from a state of discord to a state 
of amity. 

cin. He will be right in doing that. 

aTH. As regards unjust injuries and gains, in case 
one man causes another to gain by acting unjustly 
towards him, all such cases as are curable we must 
cure, regarding them as diseases of the soul. And 
we should affirm that our cure for injustice lies in 


this direction 





229 


PLATO 


KA. 19; 

Dae. “Ores 6 Ti Tus av adienon péya 4 oMLKpor, 
0 vO m0S avrov bidder 1 Kal dvaryKages TO Tapatrav 
eis abbus TO TOLOUTOV % wNndéTroTE ExovTAa TOAM IO aL 
Tovey 7) Siagepovtas Ayrrov TONY, mpos ™ THS 
BraBns éxtice. tadta elite epyous n Aoyots, 7] 
ue? HdSovdv 7 AUTOY, } TLLOV } aTYMaY, Kal 

PNLaT@V Syias ) Kal dapon, 7 Kal TO TapaTav 
@TWL TPOT@ Tou} aes TUS pLoHo aL ev THY adexiar, 
oréptau dé 7 a) Huge THY Tov dtKatou puow, 
auto ert ToUTO epyov TOV KadMoTov VOM@V. 

Eév & av avudtos els tabra eXovTa aicOnrat 
vowobérns, dixny TovTOLGL Kal vomov Ones rive. § ; 
ylyvecK@VY ov Tols ToLOVTOLS TaoW ows ovTE 
avtois ére Shy apeivov Tovs Te adXous adv SuTAH 
@pedoievy atradrXaTTopevor TOD Biov, mapadderypa 
pev Tod pun Adixeiv Tois AdAois yevomeEvoL, ToL- 

863 odytes 5€ avdpav KaxOv Epnuov Thy TodALY* OUT@ 
[ev] 82 tev ToLOVTwY Tepe vopobéTH KoNaTTHY 
TOV dpapTnudtwy Oavatov avayKn vépewv, dXKws 

é ovdapydrs. 

KA. "Eotke péev tras AéyeoOar Ta Tapa oov 
Kal para peTpios, jorov © av éte cadéotepov 
aKovo ape TavTa pndevra, TO _THS abixias Te 
Kal BraBns Sudpopov Kal TO TOV Exovoiwy Kal 
axovalwv ws év TOUTOUS SvaTreTolKinrat. 

Ae. Ilecparéov Toivuy Ws KEeXEVETE Spay Kal 

B Aéyew. djov yap éTL ToaOVeE ve mepl wuxis 
Kal Aéyere T pos addi ous Kal axovere, ws év 
pev ev adth Tis picews elite TL maOos eite TL 





1 Cp. 957 E, Rep. 410-A. 
230 


ee eT 2 


i 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


cun. What direction? 

atu. In this—that whenever any man commits 
any unjust act, great or small, the law shall instruct 
him and absolutely compel him for the future either 
never willingly to dare to do such a deed, or else to 
do it ever so much less often, in addition to paying 
for the injury. To effect this, whether by action 
or speech, by means of pleasures and pains, honours 
and dishonours, money-fines and money-gifts, and in 
general by whatsoever means one can employ to 
make men hate injustice and love (or at any rate 
not hate) justice,—this is precisely the task of laws 
most noble. But for all those whom he perceives 
to be incurable in respect of these matters, what 
penalty shall the lawgiver enact, and what law? 
The lawgiver will realise that in all such cases not 
only is it better for the sinners themselves to live 
no longer, but also that they will prove of a double 
benefit to others by quitting life—since they will 
both serve as a warning to the rest not to act un- 
justly, and also rid the State of wicked men,1—and 
thus he will of necessity inflict death as the chastise- 
ment for their sins, in cases of this kind, and of this 
kind only. 

ciix. What you have said seems very reasonable ; 
but we should be glad to hear a still clearer state- 
ment respecting the difference between injury and 
injustice, and how the distinction between the 
voluntary and the involuntary applies in these cases. 

atu. I must endeavour to do as you bid me, and 
explain the matter. No doubt in conversing with 
one another you say and hear said at least thus much 
about the soul, that one element in its nature (be it 
affection or part) is “ passion,’ which is an inbred 


231 


PLATO 


pépos av 0 Oupos, Svcept Kat Siopayov KTHwa 
éuTmepukos, droyict@ Bia Tora avaTtpéret. 

KA. Ilds 8 ov; 

ae. Kal pny idovny ye od tadrov TO Oupd 
mpocayopevomev, €€ évavtias S€ aiT® dapev 
pouns Svuvactevovcav eiWot peta amatns 
[Svaiouv]* rpatreww 6 ti rep dv adths % BovrAnats 
eOerjon. 

KA. Kal pddra. 

C ao. Tpitov phy dyvorav Aéyov av Tis TOV 
dpaptnuatwy aitiay ov av Yevdorto. Suxh wav 
dueAOmevos avTO oO vowobétns av Bedtiwv ein, TO 
bev atAodv avTod Kovpav auapTnuaTtey aitiov 

Hryovpevos, TO 5é Sutrrovy, Gtav apuabaivyn tis py 
povov ayvoia Evvexopuevos, adra Kal S0En codias, 
ws eld@s TavTEN@s Trepl a undapuas olde, pera pev 
isxvos Kal popns éEtomévns peyadov Kal apotvowr © 
apapTnuatov Tels aitia Ta ToLadTa, aoOeveias 

D 8é érropévns, maidera Te duaptnuata Kal tpec Bv- 
Tépov yuyvoueva, Onoet Bev auapTnmata Kal ws 
dpaptavover vopovs tafe, mpaotdtovs ye pv 
TavTov Kal cvyyvouns TrAELTTHS Exoméevous. 

KA. Eixora Néyets. 

ao. “Héovijis per toivuy cat Oupod réyopev 
oyedov amaytes ws 6 pev KpeiTT@Y Huav, Oo é 
ATtTov éoti: Kal éver TAVTY. 

KA. Lavtdzaci pév odv. 

ao. "Ayvoias 5é ye as 0 wey uav KpeiTTa@Y, O 
5é HrTwY, OK HKOVTApEV THTOTE. 


1 [Bialov] I bracket (od Big England). 





1 Op. 864 Df., 908 E; Ar. Eth. N. 1110 18 ff. 
232 


ip Peer we 7 be OT 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


quality of a contentious and pugnacious kind, and 
one that overturns many things by its irrational force. 

cin. Of course. 

atu. Moreover, we distinguish “pleasure” from 
passion, and we assert that its mastering power is 
of an opposite kind, since it effects all that its inten- 
tion desires by a mixture of persuasion and deceit. 

cun. Exactly. 

atH. Nor would it be untrue to say that the third 
cause of sins is ignorance.1 This cause, however, 
the lawgiver would do well to subdivide into two, 
counting ignorance in its simple form to be the 
eause of minor sins, and in its double form—where 
the folly is due to the man being gripped not by 
ignorance only, but also by a conceit of wisdom, as 
though he had full knowledge of things he knows 
nothing at all about,—counting this to be the cause 
of great and brutal sins when it is joined with 
strength and might, but the cause of childish and 
senile sins when it is joined with weakness; and 
these last he will count as sins and he will ordain 
laws, as for sinners, but laws that will be, above all 
others, of the most mild and merciful kind. 

cun. That is reasonable. 

atu. And pretty well everyone speaks of one 
man being “ superior,” another “ inferior,’ to pleasure 
or to passion; and they are so. 

cin. Most certainly. 

aTH. But we have never heard it said that one 
man is “ superior,’ another “inferior,” to ignorance.* 


2 Cp. 732 A, Phileb. 48 E. 
3 7.e. ignorance is not —— as an active force (like 


passion or pleasure) capable of opposing reason and tyrannizing 
over the soul. 


233 


PLATO 


E xa. *Adnbéotata. 

ao. Ildvta b€ ye rpotpémeay tadtd haper eis 
THv avTod BovAnow émicT@pmevoy ExacToV €is 
TavavTia TONAGKIS apa. 

KA. TI\evrtaxis peév odv. 

Ao. Nov 87 cou to Te dixatov Kal TO AdiKov, 6 
ye €ym réyw, cadas av Siopicaiuny ovdev trot- 
Kirov. THY yap Tod Oupod Kal goBov Kal 
noovns Kai NUTS Kal POdvav Kal éribumiav ev — 
ux tupavvida, éay té Te BAaTTH Kal éav pn, . 
TAVT@S AdiKiaY TpogayopevM, TV O& TOU apiaToU 

864 dofav, Sanmep av éepécOat tovtov! Hynowvra 
Toms ete idvMTal TWes, av a’TH Kpatodca év 
Wuyh Siaxooun mavta avdpa, Kav ohadrnTAaI Th, 
dikatov ev wav eivac hatéov TO TavtTn mpaxOev 
Kal TO Ths TovavTns apyYAs yuyvowevov vrnKoov 
éxdot@y Kal él Tov adnavta avOporwv Biov 
aptatov, do€dfecOar S& vd TOAA@Y aKOvaLOV 
adixtav eivar THY ToLravTHY BraBnv. Hyiv 8 ovK 

Béore Ta voy dvopatwv mépi Svcepts AOYOs, GAN 
ered) TOV auaptavopevar Tpia eldn SedHrwTAL 
yeyvoueva, TAUTA eis pYHnNY Tpa@Tov ETL wadXov 
avarnrréov. AvTNs ev ovdv, HY Ovpov Kai PoBov 
érrovopatoper, év eldos nui eoTiv. 

KA. LIdvu peév odv. 

ao. “Héovis & ad xal émiOuvpsdv Sevrepor, 
érmideay 6é Kai Soéns tis <p>? admOods Tepl 
TO <T0U> apiatov epéabar® Tpitov Erepov. TovToOV 
dé ad tod tpitov Suv TunOévtos Tévte eldn yéyo- 





1 épécbat trovrov: Zcca0a trovTwy MSS. 


* <uh> added by Ritter (auatods for aanbois England), 
234 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


cLIN. Quite true. 

aTH. And we assert that all these things urge 
each man often to go counter to the actual bent of 
his own inclination. 

cin. Very frequently. 

atu. Now I will define for you, clearly and with- 
out complication, my notion of justice and injustice. 
The domination of passion and fear and pleasure and 
pain and envies and desires in the soul, whether 
they do any injury or not, I term generally “ in- 
justice’; but the belief in the highest good—in 
whatsoever way either States or individuals think 
they can attain to it,—if this prevails in their souls 
and regulates every man, even if some damage be 
done, we must assert that everything thus done is 
just, and that in each man the part subject to this 
governance is also just, and best for the whole life 
of mankind, although most men suppose that such 
damage is an involuntary injustice. But we are not 
now concerned with a verbal dispute. Since, how- 
ever, it has been shown that there are three kinds 
of sinning, we must first of all recall these still more 
clearly to mind. Of these, one kind, as we know, is 
painful ; and that we term passion and fear. 

cLIN. Quite so. 

atu. The second kind consists of pleasure and 
desires; the third, which is a distinct kind, consists 
of hopes and untrue belief regarding the attainment 
of the highest good. And when this last kind is 
subdivided into three,? five classes are made, as we 


1 Cp. Phileb. 40 D, E. 2 Cp. 863 C, D. 





8a €rot> aptorou épécbar: 7d kpiorov epecis MSS., edd. 
(&pegis ci, Grou, dpeors H. Jackson). 


235 


> ‘ 


PLATO 


vev, ws viv gdapév' ols vopouvs Siadhépovtas 
C adAnrov Tévte eldeor Oeréov év Svoiv yéveow. 
KA. Tiou rovtois ; 
ao. Td pév da Biaiwv cal Evpghavaey+ mpakewv 
TpaTTomevoy éxdoToTe, TO Sé peTa aKOTOUS Kal 
atatns NaOpaiws yuyvopuevov, éote 8 Ste kal Sv 
apo tovtow mpaxbév' 6 87 Kal vomor tpa- 
XUTATOL yiyvoUWTO dV, Ei TO TPOAHKOY pépos EXoLED. 
KA. Eixds yodv. 
Ao. “lwpyev 6) Ta peta TadTa éexeioe oTOOEV 
eEEBnuev Sedpo, mepaivoytes thy Oéow TaV VoOmwr. 
D Hw O€ Hpiv Keiweva wept Te TOV CUAOYTOY, Olmat, 
Tous Oeodvs Kal Ta Tepl TOY TpodoTar, ett Se TAY 
Tovs vopous SiapGerpovtwy emt KaTadvoe THs 
Tapovans tmodTelas. TovT@v 6H Ts av lows 
mpage Te paveis, 7) vooos ) yipa vTepueTp@ 
Evvexomevos 7) Tatdia ypepevos, ovdév TH TeV 
TotovTav Siadépwv' av av yiyvntal te pavepov 
tots éxrexOeiow éExdotote Sixactais avapépovtos 
Tov Spacavtos Tod oKynmTomévou vrép TOD 
moioavTos, KpiOn dé ot Tw SiaTeels Tapavopjoat, 
Erny pev BraBnv iv dv twa cataBrayn wavtos 
anny amotwéta, Tov b€ dd\XNov Sikatopdtev 
adbeicOw, ANY av dpa Twa aTroKTeivas pH Ka0a- 
pos 9 Tas yelpas fovov: ottw & eis GAANY XOpav 
Kal TOTOV aTreNOwy oiKeiT@ TOV EvLaVTOV exOnway, 
™ porepov dé éhOwv Tod xpovov Ov 0 vopos @pLoeD, 
}) kal mwaons ériBas Tis oiKelas Kwpas, év Snuoai@ 
1 tuupavav Faehse: tunpévev MSS. : atuupovev Zur. 
236 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


now assert; and for these five classes we must enact 
distinct laws, of two main types. 

cin. What are they? 

atu. The one concerns acts done on each occa- 
sion by violent and open means, the other acts done 
privily under cover of darkness and deceit, or some- 
times acts done in both these ways,—and for acts 
of this last kind the laws will be most severe, if they 
are to prove adequate. 

cin. Naturally. 

ATH. Let us revert next to that point from which 
we digressed,} and proceed with our enactment of 
the laws. We had, I believe, laid down the laws 


_ dealing with those who plunder the gods and with 


. : 






u 


y 
‘ 


rare eT ae 


traitors, and also with those who wreck the laws 
with intent to overthrow the existing constitution. 
An act of this kind a man might commit when mad, 
or when suffering from some disease or from excessive 
senility, or in a state of childishness, whereby he is 
no better than a madman. If any case of this kind 
is ever brought to the notice of the selected judges, 
either on the information of the doer of the act or 
on that of him who is pleading for the doer, and if 
it be judged that he was in this state of madness 
when he broke the law, then he shall certainly pay 
for the damage he has done, but only the exact sum, 
and he shall be acquitted of the other charges, unless 
it be that he has killed a man and has not purged 


_ his hands from blood: in this case he shall depart 
_ into another country and place, and dwell there as 
_ an exile for a year; and should he return within the 
_ time fixed by the law or set foot at all within his 


own country, he shall be put in the public gaol by 
1 7.¢, 857 B. 
237 


PLATO 


Seoud SeBeis bd TOV vouwoduAdKkwv S00 éviav- 
\ n lal 
865 rods ot tws aTadrdaTrécOw Tov Secuar. 
/ / 

DPOdvos ovdeis xabdmrep npkaueOa, [me- 
sweOal2 bia L \ Se , , 
powelal*® dia tédous tavTos eldovs mépr hovov 
Geivas tovs vosous, kal mp@tov pév ta Biaca 
Kal akovota éyoper. ef tis ev ayén Kal 

” 
aOrows Snuociows dkov, elre tmapayphua elite 
kal év tarépows xXpovows ex TOV TANYOV, até 
/, / x \ / ig FF a 
KTEWE TIVa Pidiov, 7) KATA TOAEMOY MOAaVT@S FH 
\ 
KaTa pedéTHVY THY Wpos ToAEMOV, TroLOUMEeV@Y . 
Badoxnow tév axovtiov® Widrois copacw 4 peta 
tieov STAY aTroppoumevaY Thy TOAEMKIY 
a ‘ \ \ > cal 
mpakivy, Kabapbeis kata tov éx AeXpav Kop- 
obévta Tepl ToOVTwY vomov écTw KaBapos. LaTpaV 
dé mépt tavrwv, av 6 Oeparevopevos tm avTov 
aKovTwy TedevTa, KaGapos Ectw KATA vomor. 
*nD\ \ a 6 / Ard, salt 
Kay 8€ attoxyerp pév, dev O€ aroKteivyn TIS 
érepos Erepov, elite TH EavTodD cwHpati Wid elite 
, , x t a , a , , rN \ 
opydve@ i) Bede 7) T@maTos 7 ciTov SoceL 7 TuUpOS 
) XEl“@vos TpocBor\W 1 oTEpHoEL TVEVpPATOS, 
: a ¢ a Ud x Le Bee / 
autos TO éavtod cwpare 7) be érépwy copdran, 
/ ” e > 
Cravtws éotw pev ws adtoxep, dixas 5é TwétT@ 
fa \ 
Tas Ttordode: éav pev Sodrov KTeivyn, vouifwv Tov 
Eavtod Sverpydobar Tov Tod TeAXevTHoavTOS Sec- 
/ > a / ‘ A / a / 
moTny aBvaBn TapeyéTo Kai abnor, } Sixny 
eis THY akiay TOD TeXeUTHOAVTOS UTEYEéTW OiTTARV: 
tis 6é akias of Sixacral didyvoow Troeicbwcay 
Kkabappois 5¢ ypnoac0ar peifoot Te Kai TAELOTL TOV 


1 SOdvos ovdels, : pOdvov 5) MSS. : pdvov 5h Zur., vulg. 
238 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


the Law-wardens for the space of two years, and not 
let out of gaol until after that time. 

We need not hesitate to enact laws about every 
class of murder on similar lines, now that we have 
made a beginning. First we shall deal with the 
eases that are violent and involuntary. If a man 
has killed a friend in a contest or in public games 
—whether his death has been immediate or as the 
after-effect of wounds,—or similarly if he has killed 
him in war or in some action of training for war, 
either when practising javelin-work without armour 
or when engaged in some warlike manceuvre in 
heavy armour,—then, when he has been purified as 
the Delphic rule on this matter directs, he shall be 
accounted pure. So too with respect to all doctors, 
if the patient dies against the will of his doctor, the 
doctor shall be accounted legally pure. 

And if one man kills another of his own act, but 
involuntarily,—whether it be with his own unarmed 
body, or by a tool or a weapon, or by a dose of drink 
or of solid food, or by application of fire or of cold, or 
by deprivation of air, and whether he does it himself 
with his own body or by means of other bodies,—in 
all cases it shall be accounted to be his own personal 
act, and he shall pay the following penalties. If 
he kill a slave, he shall secure the master against 
damage and loss, reckoning as if it were a slave of 
his own that had been destroyed, or else he shall be 
liable to a penalty of double the value of the dead 
man,—and the judges shall make an assessment of 
his value——and he must also employ means of 
purification greater and more numerous than those 





® [we:psueda} I bracket, as wanting in best. MSS. 
* axovtiwy : apxévrwy MSS. (Burnet brackets tay apyédvtev). 


239 


D 


E 


866 


PLATO 


jTepl Ta GOXNa atroKtewavtov' tovTav & éEnyntas 
eivat Kuptous ods av 0 Beds avérn: édv Se abtod 
SodXov, KaOnpdpevos atadrXattécOw Tod dovov 
KaTa vopov. éav dé TIS EXEUOEpoY AKwY aToKTElYn, 
Tovs pev KaBapyors Tos avdTods KalapOytw TO 
Tov SodAov amoxteivaytt, wadatoy Sé Tia TeV 
apxaiwv wwOwv Neyopuevov wi atipavéero. AéyeTar 
5é @s 0 OavatwOels dpa Biaiws, év édevOépw 
dpovnpatt BeBiwxas, Ovpodtai te TH SpadcayTt 
veoOvns wv, kal PoBov Kal Seiwatos dua Sia thy 
Biatov 7aOnv adtos TeTANp@pévos, Opav Te TOV 
éavtov hovéa év Tois HOect Tots THs EavTOD cuVy- 
Oeias avactpepopevov Serpaiver, Kal TapaTTopevos 
avTos TapaTTet KaTa Sivapw Tacav Tov dpdcavTa, 
punpnv Eiupaxov éxov, adtov te kal Tas mpdkers 
avtov. S10 5) xpewv éotw apa vrekedOeciv TO 
maQovTs Tov Spacavta Tas pas Tdoas TOU 
évautod Kal épnud@oar mavtTas Tods olKetous 
Totous Evpymrdons ths matpidos: éav bé Eévos oO 
Tedevtncas 7, Kal THs ToD Eévou yopas eipyéoOw 
TOVS aVTOVS YpovoUS. TOUT@ 5) TO VOUw éav meV 
éx@v metOntai Tis, 0 TOD TEAEUTHOAaVTOS YyéveEL 
eyyUtTata, éricxoTos @v TOUTwY TayT@Y ‘YyEvO- 
pévav, éxyéTo ovyyvopunv Te Kal dywv mpos avTov 
elpnvnv wétpios ay ein Travtws: éav O€é Tis amrelO7 
kal mp@Tov wev akdbaptos ov eis TA iepa TOApa 
mopeverOar Kat Ovew, ete 5é Tods Ypovous pi) 
€Oédyn wAnpodv atrokevovpevos Tovs Elpnuévous, 6 
ToD TedEUTHGAVTOS yéver eyyUTaTa éreEiTw pEV 
240 











LAWS, BOOK IX 


employed by persons who kill a man at games, and 
those interpreters' whom the oracle names shall 
be in charge of these rites; but if it be a slave 
of his own that he has killed, he shall be set free 
after the legal purification. And if anyone kill a 
free man involuntarily, he shall undergo the same 
purifications as the man that has killed a slave ; and 
there is an ancient tale, told of old, to which he 
must not fail to pay regard. The tale is this,—that 
the man slain by violence, who has lived in a free 
and proud spirit, is wroth with his slayer when newly 
slain, and being filled also with dread and horror on 
account of his own violent end, when he sees his 
murderer going about in the very haunts which he 
himself had frequented, he is horror-stricken; and 
being disquieted himself, he takes conscience as his 
ally, and with all his might disquiets his slayer— 
both the man himself and his doings. Wherefore 
it is right for the slayer to retire before his victim 
for a full year, in all its seasons, and to vacate all the 

ts he owned in all parts of his native land ; and 
if the dead man be a Stranger, he shall be barred 
also from the Stranger’s country for the same period. 
If a man willingly obeys this law, he that is nearest 


ye 


of kin to. the dead man, having the supervision of | 
the performance of all these rules, shall pardon him | 


and live at peace with him, and in doing so he will 
be acting with perfect propriety ; but if a man dis- 
obeys, and dares, in the first place, to approach the 
altars and to do sacrifice while still unpurified, and 
if he refuses, further, to fulfil the times appointed 
in exile, then the next of kin to the dead man shall 


1 Cp. 759 C. 


241 
VOL. Il. R 


PLATO 


dovov T@ xTeivayti, Sitrda S€ wWavta ~otw Ta 
TiuL@pHmaTa TO OprAovts.. éav 8 oO mpoonKwy 
éyyttata pn érekin TO TaOnpati, TO piacwa ws 
eis AUTOV TrEepLeANAVOOS TOV TaDdYTOS TpoaTpETTO- 

/ \ , e , ? \ / 
pévou thy TaOnv, 0 Bovropevos ereEeAOwv TOVT@ 
Sicny wévte Tn aTorxéc0a THs avTod TaTpioos 
avayxaléTw KaTa vomov. 

Ba de , ” ¥ / a bl an / 

av 5& Eévos dxwv Eévov xteivy TOV ev TH TONE, 
émekitw ev 0 Bovddpevos emt Tois avTois vomors, 
C pétorxos 5€ ov arenavtncata, Eévos Sé dv 7H 
TavTamact, Tpos Te Ka0apua, éav Te Eévov édv 
Te “éTOLKOY éadv Te doToY KTElvn, TOY Biov dTavTA 
TIS YOpas Ths TOV vowwyv Tovde Kuplas eipyécOw 
2\ 2 "9. r ¢ , ‘ 
éav & €@n Tapavopuas, of vowopvdakes OavaTo 
fnuovvtwy avTov, Kal éav éyn ovoiay Tid, TO 

a / > / / / > 

D 10d mabovtos éyyvtata yéver TapadidovTer. éav 
dé dkwv On, av pev kata Oddattav éxrinty 
Tpos THY Y@pav, cxnYnTdpevos ev OadaTTy Téeyyov 
Tovs m0das TAodY émupvAaTTéTo, KaTAa yy OE 
av Bia bro tivev axOH, 7) TpwTH MpoaTvYodca 

a an , 4 
apxn Tov év TH Tore AVoaca eis THY UTEpopiay 
éxTreTréT@ AovAoV. 

"Edy & dpa tis avtoxerp pév KxTetvy edevOepor, 
Ouud Sey TO Tempaypévov éextrpaxOér, dixh Set 
mpatov To Torodtov SiaraBelv. Ovpd yap 82 
mémpaxtar kal toils boo. ay eEaibyns pev Kal 

E ampoBovrevtws Tod atoxteivar TANyais 7 TLL 

n fol € fol 
totovTw SiadGeipwoi Twa Tapaxphua THs oppis 
242 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


prosecute the slayer for murder, and in case of con- | 
viction all the penalties shall be doubled. And | 
should the nearest relative fail to prosecute for the > 
crime, it shall be as though the pollution had passed 
on to him, through the victim claiming atonement 
for his fate ; and whoso pleases shall bring a charge 
against him, and compel him by law to quit his 
country for five years. 

And if a Stranger involuntarily kills a Stranger 
who is resident in the State, whoso pleases shall 
prosecute him under the same laws; and if he be 
a resident alien, he shall be exiled for a year, while 
if he be altogether a Stranger—whether the man 
slain be a Stranger or resident alien or citizen—in 
addition to the purifications imposed, he shall be 
barred for all his life from the country which ordains 
these laws; and if he transgresses the law, and 
comes back to it, the Law-wardens shall punish him 
with death ; and if he has any property, they shall 
hand it over to the next of kin of the victim. And 
should he come back unwillingly, in case he be 
shipwrecked off the coast of the country, he shall 
camp with his feet in the sea, and watch for a ship 
to take him off; or in case he be brought in by 
people forcibly by land, the first magistrate of the 
State that meets with him shall loose him, and send 
him out over the border unharmed. 

If a person with his own hand kills a free man, 
and the deed be done in passion, in a case of this 
kind we must begin by making a distinction be- 
tween two varieties of the crime. For murder is 
committed in passion by those who, on a sudden and 
without intent to kill, destroy a man by blows or 
some such means in an immediate attack, when the 


243 
R 2 


PLATO 


yevouerns, meTapérera Te evOds TOD mempaypyevov 
yliyvntat, Ovpe Sé Kal dcot mpoTnraxicbértes 
Adyors 7) Kal aTipors Epryous, peTadi@KovTes THY 
Tiuwplav, VeTEepov aToKtelvwal Tiva BovrnOertes 
KTELVAL, KAL TO TETPayLéVOY AVTOLS amEeTameANTOV 
/ 
yiyvntar. Sitrods pév 52 Todvs dovous, ws EouKe, 
867 Geréov, Kal oxeddv apporépous Oupe yeyoveras, 
petakd) O€ mov tod te éxovciov Kal aKxovatov 
duxaoTaT ay Reyouévous. ov pny GA eixov 
> eA ¢ e A x 4 / \ > 
éof Exadtepos 0 wev TOV Ovpov durAdTT@Y Kal OvK 
> fol fel b f > \ \ 3 a 
€x TOU Tapaxphua cEaidyns ara peta EriBovrs 
vatepov ypovw@ Tiwpovpevos Exovai@ Eo.xev, 6 5é 
na. > an a) a 
ataplevtws Tails opyais Kal éx Tod Tapayphua 
evOds ypw@pevos ampoBovrevTws Spotos meV aKov- 
ai@, ott 5é ovd obTos ad TavTdTacw aKovatos, 
B aw eixwv axovaiov. 810 yarerrol diopivew of TO 
Xx Pp ‘ 
na , 
Oued mpaxGévtes Povo, ToTEpov Exovaious avTovs 
 Tlvas @s aKovatlovs vouobeTnTéov. PBédXTLCTOV 
\ A239 / > > / \ v lal 
py Kat adrnBéoratov eis eixova pev aude Oeivar, 
tepelv 5é adtw ywpls TH éeTLBovnrH Kal ampoBovria, 
Kal Tois wey wet erriBovartns Te Kal opyh KTELvact 
Tas Tiywplas yareTa@répas, Tots Sé ampoBov- 
AevTws Te Kal €Eaidyns mpaotépas vopoleTeiv: TO 
yap éotxos peifovr Kax@ perfovas, To 8 eXaTTOVE 
C tuuwpntéov édatToves. toimrtéov 6 Kal Tois 
HMETEPOLS VOMOLS OUTS. 
KA. Lavtdmacz pér odv. 
Ao. Lldduv éravedOortes toivuy Aéyopev’ “Av 
” > , \ / 4 XN be 
dpa tis avToyep pev Kteivy édevOepov, TO 
244 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


deed is at once followed by repentance; and it is 
also a case of murder done in passion whenever men 
who are insulted by shameful words or actions seek 
for vengeance, and end by killing a man with 
deliberate intent to kill, and feel no repentance for 
the deed. We must lay it down, as it seems, that 
these murders are of two kinds, both as a rule done 
in passion, and most properly described as lying 
midway between the voluntary and the involuntary, 
None the less, each of these kinds tends to resemble 
one or other of these contraries ; for the man who 
retains his passion and takes vengeance, not suddenly 
on the spur of the moment, but after lapse of time, 
and with deliberate intent, resembles the voluntary 
murderer; whereas the man who does not nurse his 
rage, but gives way to it at once on the spur of the 
moment and without deliberate intent, has a likeness 
to the involuntary murderer; yet neither is he 
wholly involuntary, but bears a resemblance thereto. 
Thus murders done in passion are difficult to define, 
—whether oné should treat them in law as voluntary 
or involuntary. The best and truest way is to class 
them both as resemblances, and to distinguish them 
by the mark of deliberate intent or lack of intent, 
and to impose more severe penalties on those who 
slay with intent and in anger, and milder penal- 
ties on those who do so without intent and on a 
sudden. For that which resembles a greater evil 
must be more heavily punished, that which resembles 
a lesser evil more lightly. So our laws also must do 
likewise. 

cin. They must, most certainly. 

aTH. Returning, then, to our task, let us make 
this pronouncement :—If a man with his own hand 


245 


868 


PLATO 


mempayuévov atpoBovrevTws opyh Til yévntat 
/ 
mpaxdév, Ta pev adda, KaOdrep dvev Ovpod 
t n 
KTELWAVTL TPOTHKE TH TacyYeLV, TaayYéeT@, SV0 5 
> > , »” , / X e A 
€€ avaykns étn hevyétw xorabov tov avtod Ov- 
t ¢ \ a 4 Sh a \ , 
pov. 0 S€ Oued pév, wet erruBovdrAns Sé xTeivas, 
Ta ev GANA KATA TOV ™ poo bey avd, tpia dé érn, 
Kabarep & depos épevrye Ta Sve, ghevyéTo, weyers 
Ovpod TrELw Tiopnbels Xpovev. xabodou 5é 
Tépt TovTos WO ~otw. yadeTov pev axprBas 
vomolerety: éats yap OTe TOVTOW 6 TH VOMM 
Taxdels YadeTT@TEpOS HuEpwTEpos av, O O€ Ape- 
pwTepos YareTr@Tepos av ein, Kal Ta Tepl TOV 
ovov aypiwtépws av mpakevev, 0 5é Huepwrépas’ 
¢ be \ \ \ a > , , 
ws 5€ TO TOAD KaTa Ta Vvbv eipnuéva EvuBaiver 
yuyvoueva’ TovTwY ody TavTwY émLyy@pmovas 
ty \ / : a \ \ © , 
eivat yen vopoptdaxas, érevdav Sé 0 xXpovos 
EOn THs huyhs éxatépw, wWéuTEL avTOY SiKaTTas 
4 n , 
dwdexa él Tovs Spous THs Kwpas, €aKempévous ev 
TS Xpove ToUT@ Tas ToV huyovT@Y mpakes ETE 
acapéotepov, Kal THs aldods Te Tépt Kal KaTa- 
Soxyhs TovtTwy dixactas yiryverOat Tovs dé ad 
tots Sixaceiow bro TaY ToLOUT@Y apYoVT@Y 
> / 2\ ’ 5 f/ Oa ¢ / 
éupevery. éav 0 adOis mote KatehO@v omdTEpos 
avtoiv irTnOels opyn mpdEn Tadtov TodTO, Puyav 
finxéte KaTérOn, katehOwv 5& Kata THY Tod Eévou 
BA 4 / a \ € , 
apiEw, tavtn twacyéto. SodAov O€ Oo KTELVaS 
e a \ / . % ee! / a 
éauvTod pev KabnpdcOw, éav S€ addOTpLoOv Ovum, 





1 Cp. 855 C. 
246 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


slay a free man, and the deed be done in rage with- | 
out deliberate intent, he shall suffer such other 
penalties as it is proper for the man to suffer who 
has slain without passion, and he shall be compelled 
to go into exile for two years, thereby chastising his | 
own passion. And he that slays in passion and with 
deliberate intent shall be treated in other respects 
like the former, but shall be exiled for three years— | 
instead of two, like the other,—receiving a longer 
period of punishment because of the greatness of his — 
passion. As regards the return home, in such cases 
it shall be on this wise. (It is a difficult matter to 
legislate for with exactness; for sometimes the more 
dangerous of the two murderers in the eye of the 
law might prove the more gentle and the gentler | 
the more dangerous, and the latter might have com- ' 
mitted the murder more savagely, the former more 
gently; though as a rule matters turn out in the 
way we have stated: so, regarding all these regu- 
lations the Law-wardens must act as supervisors), 
When the period of exile in each case has elapsed, 
they must send twelve of their number to the borders 
of the country to act as judges—they having made 
during the interval a still closer investigation into 
the actions of the exiles; and these men shall serve 
also as judges in regard to the matter of giving them 
pardon and admitting them back; and the exiles 
must abide by the verdicts of these magistrates. 
And if either of them, after his return, again yields | 
to rage and commits the same act, he shall be> 
exiled, and never again return; and if he returns, 
he shall suffer the same fate as the returned Stranger.+ | 
He that slays a slave of his own shall purify himself ; 
and if he kill another man’s slave in rage, he shall 


247 


PLATO 


Sumy TO BraBos é exticar@ 7@ KEKTNMEVO.. boTIs 

av TOV aTrOKTELVaYT@Y mavTov 7) mreibainis TO 
voue, aN’ axdBapros @ ov aryopav TE Kat a0ra wal 
Ta adda lepa puaivn, o Bovdopevos Tov TE éTL- 
B TpémovTa TOY mpoonKdvrov TO TeNMeUTHCAaYTL cal 
Tov amoxteivayta eis Sieny KATATTHOAS THY 
dumaciav Xpnparov TE Kat Tov addwy mpafewy 
dvarynater a mpaTrew Te Kal exrivey, TO 6€ €xtio- 
pa avTos avuT@ KomlécOw Kara TOV vomov. éav 
b€ Tis June SoiXos Seomorny avTov KTeivy, TOUS 
TpoarjKovras 7 ToD TedEUT IO aVTOS Ypwpévous TO 
KTelwavTse xpelav vy av ێXwo1, TAnY pndayn 
} pndapars Cwypovvras, xabapovs elvan. day &¢ 
aXXov_ Tis dobdos édevd pov amoxretvy bun, 
mapadidovTwv oi dea mortar TOV dodNov Tots ™poo- 
HKOVOL TOU TENEUTITAVTOS, oi bé ef dvayKns pev 
Gavatwodvtwy Tov dSpdcavta, tpoT@ b€ @ av 
eOédwow. 

"av 86, 6 yiyverat péev, oruyakis 8é, dia Oupov 
Tarp i) payrnp viov n Ovyarépa mryyais Tove 
TpoT Biaip Kreivn, xabapoets pev Tas avTas 
tois adAows KabaipecOar1 Kal éviavtods pels 
ameviauteivy, KkateAOovtwy Sé TOV KTEWaYT@V 
dmanrarreo Ba yuvaind Te ar avdpos Kat Tov 
avOpa amo yuvaikdos, Kal j) TOT ere Kowy matoo- 
moimoacbar unde Evvéatiov @y Exyovov 7) aber ov 
dmeotépyke yiyvec Bat TOTE poe KOLV@VOV LEepav" 
0 6¢ dveP@y Te Tepi TadTa Kal amePav vTddiKOS 
aceBetas yeyvéa bon 7 eOédovTe. yuvaixa be 
yaperiy éav avnp dv opyny KTelvn TW TUS, 7) ) yur” 
abe dvipa taitov Todt wcatTas épydonrat, 

1 xadalpecOa: Euseb., Hermann: xaSatpéc@w MSS. 


248 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


pay to the owner twice the damage. And if anyone 
of all these types of slayers disobeys the law and, 
being unpurified, defiles the market and the games 
and other sacred assemblies, whoso pleases shall 
prosecute both that member of the dead man’s 
kindred who permits this and the slayer himself, 
and shall compel the one of them to exact, and the 
other to pay, double the amount of the money-fines 
and of the other exactions!; and the sum so paid he 
shall keep for himself as the law directs. If a slave 
kills his own master in rage, the kindred of the dead 
man shall treat the slayer how they please,—save 
that they must not in any wise let him live,—and 
shall be held guiltless. And if a slave kill a free 
man (other than his master) in rage, his masters 
shall hand over the slave to the kindred of the dead 
man, and they shall be compelled to put the criminal 
to death, doing so in whatever manner they choose. 
If in a fit of rage a father or mother slays a son 
or daughter by means of blows or some kind of 
violence,—an occurrence which, though rare, does 
sometimes happen,—the slayer must make the same 
purifications as the other slayers, and be exiled for 
three years ; and when the slayers have returned, the 
wife must be separated from the husband and the 
husband from the wife, and they must never again 
have a child, nor shall they ever share a home with 
those whom the slayer has robbed of child or brother, 
nor shall they take part in their worship; he that is 
disobedient and impious concerning this matter shall 
be liable to an action for impiety at the hands of 
whoso pleases. And if a husband in a fit of rage 
kills his wedded wife, or if a wife in like manner 


1 Such as the costs of the purification-rites. 
249 


E 


869 


PLATO 


KabaiperOar yév tos avtovs Kabappovs, Tpeerels 
dé ameviautnces Siatedeiv. KatehOwv S€ 6 TL 
Totodtov Spacas toils avtod matoly lepav py 
Kowewveita pndé opotpatetos yiyvécOw rorté: 
ameWay Sé o yevvntap 7) 6 yevynbels aveBeias av 
c lf la tie J Le x > \ 
bTodtKos yiyvecOw TO COédovTL. Kal éay adeApos 
aderdov 7) adeAdiv 7 adeAdH adeApov 7) AdeApHv 
June xreivy, TQ ev TOY cabappav xa dmreviav- 
THTEWV OTAUTWS, KADdTEp ElpnTat TOs yovedat Kal 
Tois éxyovols, eipnoOm Seiv yiyverOat Kat TovToLs 
av aderpovs te adeAdav kal yovdas éatépnKe 
Tatdowv, ToUToLs dé Evvér tos avTOS + wnd€érroTeE YLYy- 
vécOw ndé Kowwvds iepav: éav Sé Tis aTretOH, TO 
THS TEepl TADTA aaeBelas eipnpev@ VOww VTOdLKOS 
6p0@s> av yiyvorto peta Sixns. 

"Eav & dpa tis eis Tocodtovy axpatis Ovpod 
yeyentar Tos TOUS yevvijcavras, dare pavias 
Opyis TOY yernTOp@y TOALAoaL KTElval Tia, av 
bev 0 TeNE’THGAS Tply TeXeUTHOAL TOV SpdcavTa 
ovov adih éxwv, xabarep of Tov axovoov Povov 
eFepyacapevor kabapbels kai TaAAa OoaTep Exel- 
vo. Tpakas Kabapos goto, éav 5é un) ahh, TOOLS 
évoxos €oTw vomols 6 Spdcas TL ToLODTOY* Kal yap 
aixias Sixais tais éoydtais eEvoxos av yiryvorto 
Kail aceBelas woavTws Kal iepocuAias, THY TOU 
yevuntou Wuyi cudjoas, dot elrrep oldv 7’ Hv TO 
ToAraKs aToOVHGKELY TOV aUTOY, Kal TOV TaTpO- 
hovov %) pntpoxtovov éFepyacdpevov Oud TodTO 
duxacoratov Oavdtwyv ToAraV Hv TUyXadvew. O 
yap povm ovd’ apvvopueve Oavarov [wedrovtt 7rd 


1 airds: abrots MSS., edd. (ad ci. England). 
250 








a es ee 


LAWS, BOOK. IX 


kills her husband, they must undergo the same 

tions, and remain exiled for three years. 
And. when one who has committed such a crime 
returns, he shall never take part in worship with his 
children, nor sit at table with them; and if either 
the parent or the child disobeys, he shall be liable to 
a charge of impiety at the hands of whoso pleases. 
And if in rage a brother kill a brother or a sister, or 
a sister kill a brother or a sister, it shall be declared 
that they must undergo the same purifications and 
banishment as have been ordained for parents and 
children,— namely, that the homicide shall never 
share in the house or in the worship of those brothers 
or parents whom he has robbed of brothers or of 
children ; and if anyone disobeys, he will rightly and 
justly be liable to the law laid down concerning such 
cases of impiety. 

If any man gets into. such an uncontrollable rage 
with his parents as actually to dare to kill a parent 
in the madness of his rage, then, in case the dead 
person before dying voluntarily acquits the culprit 
of murder, he shall be held pure, after he has 
purified himself in the same manner as those who 
have committed an involuntary murder, and done 
as they in all other respects; but in case the dead 
person does not so acquit him, then he that has 
done such a deed is liable to a number of laws: for 
outrage he will be liable to most heavy penalties, 
and likewise for impiety and temple-robbing, since 
he has robbed his parent of life; so that if “ to die 
a hundred deaths” were possible for any one man, 
that a parricide or a matricide, who did the deed 
in rage, should undergo a hundred deaths would 
be a fate most just. Since every law will forbid 


251 


PLATO 


TOV yovéwv TehevTno eo Gau}, 1 rapé&et vomos ovdels 
C xreivas TOV marépa 9) untépa, Tovs els has THY 
éxeivou gvow ayayovtas, adn’ bropelvavra, Ta 
wavTa maoxew m piv te Spav tovodrov vopo- 
Gernoet, TOS TOUT@ dixns ye adws 7 poanKov 
Tuy avery av yiryvorro év vow; KeicOw On 7 
TaTepa » pntépa atroxteivayts Ovup@d Odvatos 7 
pia. 

'Adehgos é éay aber pov ereivyn év ortdoeot 
pans ryEvo evs 7) Tee TpoT~ TOLOUT@, GpLUVOME- 
vos apXovta _xetpav T POTEpOV, xaldmep TONEMLLOV 
amoxrelvas éoT@ cabapos® Kat éav montrns T0- 
Aitny @cavtws 7 Eévos Eévov: éav b€ aarods Eévov 
}) Eévos aoroy dpuvopevos Kteivn, KaTa TavTa 
éotw Tod KaOapos eivat. Kai éav doddos SodXopr, 
woavtas: éav dé ad Soddos éXeVOepoy apvvopevos 
atroxreivn, KabaTep 0 KTElvas TaTépa, Tois avTOTS 
Evoxos éoT@ vopots. 6 6é mepl TAS apérews 
elpnrat povov marpi, Tavtov TodTo éoTw mepl 
anaons TOY TOLOUT@Y adecews, éav ooTicoby 
oT@oDY adi TodTo Ex@V, @S akouvalou yeryovoros 
Tov dovov ot TE cabappol yeyvéc Booav TO 
Spacarte Kal éviavTos els Eotw THs Exdnpias év 
VOLO. 

Kal ta pev o7) Biata te Kal axovo.a Kal Kata 
TOV Oupov yoyvopeva Tepl povous eT pions eipno Oa: 
Ta 6é epi Ta éxovowa Kal Kat adikiay Tacav 
yeryvopeva TOUT@Y mépt Kal <ée&>* értBounis be 
iyrras dover Te Kal émiOupiav Kal POover, TadTa 
pet’ exeiva tiv NexTéov. 

1 [uéAAovTt . . . TeAevThoeoOa] bracketed by England. 

2 <e> Ladd. 

252 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


the man to kill father or mother, the very authors 
of his existence, even for the sake of saving his 
own life, and will ordain that he must suffer and 
endure everything rather than commit such an act,— 
in what other way than this can such a man be 
fittingly dealt with by law, and receive his due 
reward? Be it enacted, therefore, that for the man 
who in rage slays father or mother the penalty is 
death. 

If a brother kill a brother in fight during a civil 
war, or in any such way, acting in self-defence 
against the other, who first started the brawl, he 
shall be counted as one who has slain an enemy, and 
be held guiltless ; so too, when a citizen has killed 
a citizen in like manner, or a Stranger a Stranger. 
And if a citizen kill a Stranger in self-defence, or a 
Stranger a citizen, he shall be accounted pure in the 
same way. So likewise, if a slave kill a slave; but 
if a slave kill a free man in self-defence, he shall be 
liable to the same laws as he that kills a father. 
And what has been said about remission of the 
charge in the case of the murder of a father shall 
hold equally good in all such cases—if any man 
voluntarily acquit any culprit of this charge, the 
purifications for the culprit shall be made as though 
the murder were involuntary, and one year of exile 
shall be imposed by law. 

Let us take this as an adequate statement re- 
specting murder-cases that involve violence, and are 
involuntary and done in passion. Next to these we 
must state the regulations regarding such acts when 
voluntary and involving iniquity of all kinds and 
premeditated,—acts caused by yielding to pleasure 
or lust or envy. 


253 


PLATO 


KA. 'Op0ds réyers. 

ao. Ilddev 8) mwpatov mepl tdY ToLoOvTwY 
870 els Stvauwv elrwpev oTdca av ein. To pev 
péytorov énOupia Kpatodca puxis eEnrypromevns 
tro ToOwv. TodTO eS orl padiora evrabla ov 
ThelaTos TE Kal loxupoTaros: (mepos ay TUyXdvEr 
Tots TonnXois, 7) TOV YpPnuUdTov (THS am XnoTou 

»” 
Kal atreipov KTHTEWS epatas puptous evTixtouga 
dvvapus oud pvawv. TE Kat arratevatay THY KAKHD. 
Ths Oe arraidevoias iy TO KAK@S érrawweto Oat 
TrovTOV aitia pyunt mpdos tov “EXAjvev Te 
kal BapBdpev: mpOtov yap Tav ayabav avdTo 
B qpoxpivovtes tpitov dv Tovs Tt €rriyiryvoméevous 
AwBavrar Kab éavTovs. TO yap anrnbes AéyeoOar 
meph Tod TrovTOU KaTa Tones mdoas, mavTov 
KaXMoTOv Kal dpuarov, ws évexa F@MATOS éort, 
Kal capa Wuyi everas ayabay pev ov OvT@Y @Y 
evera 0 Thobros eivau mépuke, TpiTov av ein pera 
TW MATOS dperny Kal unis. diddoKanros ov av 
0 Rayos ovTOS ylyvoro @S ov xP mroutev Enrety 
TOV evdatpova. eo opuevor, arnra Sixaiws mouTety 4 
C kal oop povas: Kal povot ovtTws ovK ay yiyvowro i 
év Tohert povors Seopevor xabaipes Ban. vov éé, ; 
Omrep apXopevor TOUTO@Y elmopen, év Mev Tob . 
éore Kal péyicTov 6 Trovet povov Eéxovoiou Tas 
peyioTas dixas: devTepov dé prroripov puis 
é€is, POovovs évtixtovca, yadrerrods EvvoiKxovs 


Ljvrd... ohunt i Tod... . phun MSS., edd. q 








1 Cp. 697 B, 831 C; Ar. Pol. 1323 25 ff.; Eth. N. 1098» 
13 ff. 


254 





me 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


cin. You are right. 

atu, First, let us once more state, as best we 
can, how many these causes are likely to be. The 
greatest is lust, which masters a soul that is made 
savage by desires; and it occurs especially in con- 
nexion with that object for which the most frequent 
and intense craving afflicts the bulk of men,—the 
power which wealth possesses over them, owing to 
the badness of their nature and lack of culture, to 
breed in them countless lustings after its insatiable 
and endless acquisition. And of this lack of culture 
the cause is to be found in the ill-praising of wealth 
in the common talk of both Greeks and barbarians; 
for by exalting it as the first of “ goods,’ + when 
it should come but third, they ruin both posterity 
and themselves. The noblest and best course of all 
in all States is that the truth should be stated about 
wealth,—namely, that it exists for the sake of the 
body, and the body for the sake of the soul; so 
that, while the objects for which it really exists are 
“ goods,” yet wealth itself will come third, after 
goodness of body and of soul. So this law will 
serve as an instructor, to teach that the man who 
intends to be happy must seek not to be wealthy, 
but to be justly and temperately wealthy; and if 
this were so, no murders that needed purging by 
murders would occur in States. But, as things now 
stand, this love of riches is—as we said? when we 
began. this subject—one cause, and a very great 
cause, which produces the most serious of trials for 
wilful murder. A second cause is the temper of 
the ambitious soul, which breeds enyies that are 


2 831 C ; op. Ar. Pol. 12714 17. 
255 


D 


871 


PLATO 


padtoTa péev av’T@ TH KEexTHuEve Tov POdvor, 
Sevrépors 8€ toils apiotors Tov ev TH Tédet. 
tpitov Sé€ oi Sevrot Kal ddixor hoBor torXods 
59 ovous eioly éEerpyacpévor, Otay 4 T@ TpATTO- 
péva 1) TeTpaypeva & pndéva Bovrovtai oduct 
Evvedévar yryvopeva %) yeyovota’ Tovs obv TOUT@Y 
BnvuTas avaipovet Oavatois, dtav GrAdw pndevi 
SvvavTas TPOTY. 

Tovtwy 6) Tavtey mépt mpooima per eipn- 
péva Tait éotw, Kal mpos rtovtois, bv Kab 
TOANol Adyov TeY ev Taig TedXeTAis Tepl Ta 
TolavTa éoTOVdaKdoTwY aKovovTes opodpa rei- 
Govtat, TO TOV ToLOvT@Y Ticww év “ Atdou yiryver Bat 
kal Tadiv adixopévors Sedpo avaryKaioy eivar Tiv 
kata vow dixny éxticat, thy tod mabortos 
amep autos édpacev, br’ addov ToLra’Tn poipa 
Tedeuthoat Tov Tote Blov. reOouéva pev i 
Kal TwavtTws poBovpévw €& avdtod Tod mpootpmiou 
Thy ToLtavTny dicny ovdev Set Tov éml TOUT@ VOmoV 
vuvetvy, ateGodvTe Sé vomos O6e eipjclw TH 
ypady; “Os dv é« mpovoias te Kal dadixas 
ovTwaobdy TOV eudvriwy avToxYeEp KTELYn, TPATOV 
bev TOV vopipwv eipyécOw, pnte iepa unre 
ayopay pnte Aiuévas nTe aArov Kowov EVAXOYoV 
pndéva puaivav, éav Té Tis ‘aTrayopedn TO Spa- 
cavtt TadTa avOpwoTrav Kal éav pH 6 yap vomos 
amayopever, Kal amayopevov trép maons Tis 
Toews ael haivetai te kal haveirat. o dé pH ér- 





1 Cp. 722 D: whereas the law coerces, its ‘‘ prelude” 
seeks to persuade, 

* This implies the (Pythagorean) doctrine of re-incar- 
nation: cp. 904 C, Rep. 614 Eff., Tim. 90 E ff. 


256 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


dangerous associates for the man that feels the 
envy, in the first place, and dangerous also for the 
best citizens in the State. Thirdly, fears bred ot 
cowardice and iniquity have wrought many murders, 
—in cases where men do or have done things con- 
cerning which they desire that no one should share 
their secret; consequently, if there are any who 
might expose their secret, they remove them by 
death, whenever they can do so by no other 
means. 

Concerning all these matters, the preludes men- 
tioned shall be pronounced, and, in addition to 
them, that story which is believed by many when 
they hear it from the lips of those who seriously 
relate such things at their mystic rites,—that 
vengeance for such acts is exacted in Hades, and 
that those who return again to this earth? are 
bound to pay the natural penalty,—each culprit the 
same, that is, which he inflicted on his victim,—and 
that their life on earth must end in their meeting 
a like fate at the hands of another. To him who 
obeys, and fully dreads such a penalty, there is 
no need to add to the prelude by reciting the law 
on the subject ; but to the disobedient this is the 
law which shall be stated in the written code :— 
Whosoever of deliberate intent and unjustly slays 
with his own hand any of the tribesmen shall, 
in the first place, be debarred from the lawful 
assemblies, and shall not defile either temples or 
market or harbours or any other place of meeting, 
whether or not any person warns off the doer of 
such deeds—for he is warned off by the law, which 
is, and always will continue, warning him thus 
publicly, on behalf of the whole State; and the 

257 


VOL, Il, s 


PLATO 


B eftwv S€éov 7) un mpoayopetwv eipyecOa Tov évTos 
averoTnT os, Tpos avdpav Te Kal yuvatKaY Tpoc- 
HKOY TO TENEUTHTAVTL, TP@TOV pev TO piacpa els 
avTov Kal thy Tov Ocdv eyOpay SéxorTO, ws 1 

a U \ \ 
TOU vouov apa Tv diyuns’ mporpémetar, TO Sé 
, , rn lal lel 
SevTepov UTodiKos TH EOAOVTL TLuwpetyv UTep TOD 
€ lal 
TerxeuTHoavTos yiyvécOw. Oo 5é COéXov Tipwpeir, 
Tav te él TovTOLS AoUTpaY urakhs mépt Kal 
Sowv dy érépwv oO Oeds wept tadta vopipa 

Crapaso, wavta amotedOv Kal THY Tpoppnow 
Tpoayopevav, itw avayxalwy tov Spacavta vT- 
éxey THY THS Sixns mpaEw Kata vouov. tadra dé 
bre pev yiryverOar ypewr eats Sid Twav érevyav 
kal Ovotdv Oeois ticiv, ols TOY ToLOVT@Y péXeL, 
govous pu yiyverOat Kata Toes, paddioy atro- 

7 / / > wish e A \ \ 4 
gaivecOar vonobérn: tives 8 eiciv of Oeol kai Tis 
[0]? tpomros Tay ToLovT@Y SiKdy THs eicayoyys 
opOotata mpos TO Oeioy ay yuyvomevos ein, vomo- 
pvraxes pet eEnynTo@v Kai pavtewy Kal Tod Oeod 

D vouobernodpmevor tas Sixas eicayovtwy Tavtas. 
dixactas 5é abtav eivat Tods avtovs ovaTeEp Tols 

es \ Lon , 23¢7 s G 
Ta iepa avra@ar diabixafery éppyOn Kupiws. o 
\ > \ / / \ \ > ol a 
6é opdav Gavar@ Enpuova Ow Kat py. ev 7H Tob 
maQovtos ywopa OartécOw, avaideias &vexa Tpos 
an > tal \ \ \ Vi 2 / s 
TO aceBeiv. ghuywv S& Kal pH "OedXnoas Kpiow 
trocyeiv pevyéto aepuyiavy éav 5é tis émiBH 
1 onuns: ohuny MSS., edd. 
2 [6] bracketed by England. 


1 Op. 877 ©, D. 2 855 Cf. 








258 











LAWS, BOOK IX 


man who fails to prosecute him when he ought, or 
fails to warn him of the fact that he is thus de- 
barred, if he be of kin to the dead man on either 
the male or female side, and not further removed 
than a cousin,! shall, first, receive upon himself the 
defilement and the wrath of the gods, since the 
curse of the law brings also upon him that of the 
divine voice, and, secondly, he shall be liable to the 
action of whosoever pleases to punish him on behalf 
of the dead man. And he that wishes to punish 
him shall duly perform all that concerns the ob- 
servance of the purifications proper therefor, and 
whatsoever else the god prescribes as lawful in these 
eases, and he shall recite the pronouncement of 
warning; and thus he shall go and compel the 
culprit to submit to the execution of the penalty 
according to law. That it is necessary that these 
proceedings should be accompanied by certain in- 
yocations and sacrifices to those gods whose concern 
it is that murders should not occur in States, it is 
easy for the lawgiver to demonstrate: who these 
gods are, and what method for bringing such prosecu- 
tions would be the most correct in point of ritual,— 
this the Law-wardens, in conjunction with the inter- 
preters and seers and with the god, shall ordain; 
and so they shall bring these prosecutions. And 
the judges in these cases shall be the same persons 
who form—as we described*—the final court of 
trial for robbers of temples. He that is convicted 
shall be punished by death, and he shall not be buried 
in the land of the victim, because of the shameless- 
ness as well as impiety of his act. If the culprit 
flees and refuses to come up for judgment, he shall 
be exiled with an unending exile; and if any such 


259 
s 2 


PLATO 


ToUT@Y TS TOD hovevOevTos Ywpas, 0 TpoaTUXaV 
Tpatos ToY oixetov Tob arb avevtos i) cal TOV 
E Toner av avatlh KTEWETO 7) Snoas Tots dpxovet 
Tov thy Sixkny KpwavT@v xreivat mapasoro. 0 
be Emig kT TOMEVOS aya Kal KareyyvdT@ TOV @ 
ay eTLeKHTTNTAL’ O O€ Tapexéro zpeis* éyryun- 
Tas akio pews, ods ay 1) Tov Tepl TavtTa uKkacTov 
appx? Kpwn, [tpeis € eyyuntas afvoxpews] of mapéefew 
éyyvapévous eis Sixny éay dé e) a eOérn 7 
aduvatn tis KaSiotdvat, TH apxny Tapana- 
Bodcay Sioacay pudarrew Kal Tapexew els 
872 thy Kpiow Ths Sixns. é€av bé auToxerp ev pa}, 
Bovrevon Sé Oavarov TUS aos éTép@ Kal TH 
Boumijcet Te Kal émtBovdevoet aTroxTeivas aitvos 
ay Kal pn KaGapos Thy yuxny Tou povov év 
Trohet EVOLKT, yuyvér Bow Kal TOUT@ Kara TavTa 
ai Kpicets TovT@D TEpt, mhyy Tis eyyvns, TO 06 
aprovte Tapis THs oixelas efor tuxelr, Ta de fj 
dda kara TavTa acalTas 7@ _Tpoa bev pnPévre 
mepl avrov yeyver Bao Ta avra 6€ éotw TatTa 
Eévorct te mpos Eévous Kal aoroior Kal Eévors aa 
B pos aGXdrOUS, dovdars Te av T™ pos dovXous, Tis 
TE avToxerpias Tépt Kal émiBovrevoews, mV Tis 
éyyuns: tavTny oé, xabdrep elpntat Tovs auro- 
xelpas Kateyyvac Gat, tov [de]® T poayopevovTa 
Tov dovov apa kateyyvdy Kal TOUTOUS. éav 6é 
SodX0s édevPepov EKO, €lTE avToxetp €lTE _Bov- 
Aevoas, aroxtelyn Kal OhdrAn THY SiKnY, O THS 





1 tpeis: tous MSS., plait 
® [rpeis eyyuntas bid xpeeos] I bracket (Hermann brackets 


the previous trois éyyunras atidxpews). 


260 





LAWS, BOOK Ix 


person sets foot in the country of the murdered 
man, he of the dead man’s relatives or of the 
citizens that first meets with him shall slay him 
with impunity, or else bind him and hand him over 
to those magistrates who have judged the case, to 
be slain. The prosecutor, in a murder-charge, must 
at once demand bail from the defendant; and the 
latter shall provide three substantial securities—as 
approved by the court of the judges in such cases—, 
who guarantee to produce him at the trial; and if a 
man be unwilling or unable to provide these sureties, 
the court must take, bind and keep him, and produce 
him at the trial of the case. Ifa man does not slay 
another with his own hand, but plots death for him, 
and after killing him by design and plotting resides 
in the State, being responsible for the murder and 
not innocent or pure of heart in respect of it,—in 
his case the prosecutions on this charge shall proceed 
in the same way, except in the matter of bail. And 
the person convicted shall be allowed to have burial 
at home; but all else shall be carried out in his case 
in the same way as in the case last described. And 
these same regulations shall govern all cases where 
Strangers are at law with Strangers, or citizens and 
Strangers at law with each other, or slaves with 
slaves, in respect both of actual murder and of 
plotting to murder, except as regards bail; and as 
to this, just as it has been said that the actual 
murderers must be secured by guarantors, so these 
persons too must provide security to the person 
who proclaims the murder. If a slave wilfully slay 
a free man, either by his own hand or by plotting, 
and be convicted at the trial, the public executioner 


3 [3¢] bracketed by England. 





‘261 


PLATO 


TOAEWS KOLVOS SHLLOS aywVY TpOS TO pWhwa TOD 
avoGavovtos, 60ev av opa tov tvpBov, pwaote- 
Cywcas ordcas adv 0 ékov Tpooctatty, édvrep 
Bid taopevos 0 dovets, Oavatwodtw. éav é 
Tis SovAOY KTelyn pndev adcKodyta, PoBw Sé ju) 
EqvuTns alox pay Epyov Kal Kaxay avtod ylyyn- 
TAL, 2) TLVOS EVEKA AAXOV TOLOVTOU, Kabatrep av 
€l TOiTHY KTELVaS UTELXEe Hovou SiKas, BTAa’TMS 
kat TOD ToLovTov SovAoU KaTa Ta avTa atroba- 
VOVTOS OUTWS UTEXETO. ; 

"Eay 6€ 81 yiywntas éb? ofor Kal vopoberety 
Sevov Kal ovdapas tpoadirés, pr) vomoberetv 
de advvatov, Evyyevav avtoyerpas dovovs 4) 
D &/ émiBovdevcews yevouévous, Exovciovs Te Kab 
adixous mavtes, of Ta pev TOANA ev KaKasS 
oixovoas Kal Tpepomévars yiyvovtat ‘Todeat, 
yévowvto © av Tov tt Kal év % pH Tote Tis av 
mpocdoxncee Ywopa, réyew pev 6) Ypewv ad 
Tddw Tov éumpoocbe cuixp@ pnOévta Royov, av 
apa Tis akovwov hudv olos amoayécOar yévyntat 
HadXov éExov Sia TA ToLadTa hovwyv TV TavTH 


avootwTaTav. o yap 5) “dOos %) AOyos, HO TL 
7 > 


Xp?) TMpocayopevery avTov, éx Taralav ‘epéwy 
eipntat cados, as 7 Tov EvyyevOv aiuatov 
Timwpos dikn étiakoTTOs vou@ xXpHTaL TO viv by 
exGevte Kai étakev apa Spacavti tv ToLovTov 
maleiv TavTa avayKaiws admep édpacev’ ei TaTépa 
anTéKTELVE TOTE TLS, AUTOV TOUTO UTO TéKVOV 
Torpnoar Bia waoxovta év tTiat xXpovows, Kab* 


1 kat: Kav MSS. 


262 


ee re 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


of the State shall drag him in the direction of the 
tomb of the dead man to a spot from which he 
can see the tomb, and there scourge him with as 
many stripes as the prosecutor shall prescribe ; and 
if the murderer be still alive after the beating, he 
shall put him to death. And if a man kill a slave 
when he is doing no wrong, actuated by fear lest 
the slave should expose his own foul and evil deeds, 
or for any other such reason, just as he would have 
been liable to a charge of murder for slaying a 
citizen, so likewise he shall be liable in the same 
way for the death of such a slave. 

Should cases occur of a kind for which it is a foratid- 
able and most unwelcome task to legislate, and yet 
impossible not to legislate,—such as murders of kins- 
folk, either by a man’s own hand or by plotting, which 
are wholly wilful and wicked,—crimes that occur for 
the most part in States with bad organisation and 
nurture, but may occur at times even in a country 
where one would not expect them,—we must again 
recite the story we uttered! a moment ago, if 
haply anyone, on hearing us, may become more 
strongly disposed in consequence voluntarily to 
abstain from murders of the most impious kind. 
The myth or story (or whatever one should call it) 
has been clearly stated, as derived from ancient 
priests, to the effect that Justice, the avenger of 
kindred blood, acting as overseer, employs the law 
just mentioned, and has ordained that the doer of 
such a deed must of necessity suffer the same as 
he has done: if ever a man has slain his father, 
he must endure to suffer the same violent fate at 
his own children’s hands in days to come; or if he 


1 870 D, E. 
263 


PLATO 


> / / 9 4X , , 
et pntépa, yevéoOar Te avTov Onrelas pweTacyovrTa 
picews avaykaiov yevopevov te bro TaV yevvn- 
Oévrwy AuTreiy TOV Biov év xXpovols baTépows: Tod 
\ a , F , 
yap Kowod piavOévtos aipatos ovK« evar KaBapow 
” 
adv, ode ExtrrAvTov eOérew vyiryverOat Td j- 
\ \ , , e / 
873 avOev mpiv dovov Pove@ opoi@ Suoroy 4 Spdcaca 
\ , \ / a 
Wux) Ticn Kal waons Ths Evyyevelas Tov Ovpov 
apitiacapévn Koipion. tadra 8) wapa Seay péev 
4 
tiva poBovpevov Tas Tiwwpias elpyerOar yp Tas 
, > , ee > , \ 
Totavtas' et S€ Twas obtws aOdia Evpdhopa 
KaTaraBol, @oTE TaTpOs 1) pNnTpOS 7 adeA dav 
# Téxvov €k Tpovolas éExovoiws Wuynv ToAMA- 
ca aTootepely cw@patos, 0 Tapa tod OvnTtod 
vopobérou vomos @Se Tept THY TOLOVTMY vomoOeTE!, 
B rpoppices pev Tas wept TOY vouipwv eipyer Oa 
Kal éyyvas Tas avtas elvat, xabatrep éppnOn 
lal ” 2\ / ” / 4 
tois éumpoaber, éav Sé Tis OpAN Hovov ToLovTOU 
TOUT@Y KTelvas TW, Of wev TOY SixacTaY UInpé- 
Tat Kal dpYovTes atroKTeivayTes eis TETaypéevnY 
/ »” io] , > , , 4 
tplodov &&w THs Toews ExBadrOvTwY YyuULVOY, ai 
\ > \ cal e \ <4 fol / , 
d€ adpxyal macat vTép Ons THs Todews, ALGov 
éxagtos épwv, eri tHv Kepadnv tod vexpod 
Badrryev adocioitm THY TOkW SdHnV, peta 6é 
ToUTO eis Ta THS Xwpas Gpra pépovtes éxBad- 
Crovtwy TH vopw dradov. tov 5€ 8) TavTov 
oixewoTaTov Kal Aeyopevoy PirtaTov os av atro- 
Kteivn, TL xp) Taaxelv ; Aéyw Se Os av éavTov 
KTELVY, THY THS eipappevns Big atooTepav poipar, 
pte morews Takdons Sixn, ponte Tepi@dive 
264 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


has slain his mother, he must of necessity come to birth 
sharing in the female nature, and when thus born be 
removed from life by the hands of his offspring in 
afterdays ; for of the pollution of common blood there 
is no other purification, nor does the stain of pollution 
admit of being washed off before the soul which com- 
mitted the act pays back murder for murder, like for 
like, and thus by propitiation lays to rest the wrath of 
all the kindred. Wherefore, in dread of such 
vengeances from Heaven a man should refrain him- 
self; if, however, any should be overtaken by a 
disaster so lamentable that they have the audacity de- 
liberately and of free will to reave soul from body 
for father, mother, brethren or children, in such cases 
the ordinance of the law of the mortal lawgiver 
stands thus :—The warnings of exclusion from cus- 
tomary places, and the sureties, are the same as 
those prescribed for former cases; and if any man 
be convicted of such a murder, and of having slain 
any of the persons named, the officers of the judges 
and magistrates shall-kill him and cast him out 
naked at an appointed cross-roads outside the city ; 
and all the magistrates, acting on behalf of the 
whole State, shall take each a stone and cast it 
on the head of the corpse, and thus make atonement 
for the whole State; and after this they shall carry 
the corpse to the borders of the land and cast it 
out unburied, according to law. 

Now he that slays the person who is, as men say, 
nearest and dearest of all,—what penalty should he 
suffer? I mean the man that slays himself,—violently 
robbing himself of his Fate-given share of life, when 
this is not legally ordered by the State, and when he is 
not compelled to it by the occurrence of some intoler- 


265 


PLATO 


3 4. F , 
abvKT@ TpooTEedovan TUXn avayKacbeis, pwndé 
> 4 
aisxuyns Tivos amopov Kal aBiov meTadaxor, 
> / \ \ > / / e lol , ” 
apyia 6€ Kal avavpias Sethia éavt@ Sixnv adtKxov 
émi0n. tovt@ 6) Ta wev ara Oeds oidev & Yn 
/ i 4 
D vouipa yiyverOas rept xabappovs te Kal tadas, 
av éEnyntas Te dwa Kal Tovs Twepl TadTa vopous 
eTravepopévous yp Tovs eyyUTaTa yévet Troveiv 
al / 
avToict Kata Ta TpocTaTToueva’ Tadous 8 eivat 
Tots oUTw POapeion TpaTov pev Kata pmovas nde 
wr el iN ¥. ° > al n , vcr 
pe? Evos Evytagou, eita év Tois Trav Swdexa opt- 
Olol MEepO@v TAV Oca apya Kal avovupa, Oartew 
akrecls avTous, uyTEe oTHAaLS NTE dvopac n- 
hobytas Todls Tapous. 
"Kav § dpa brofiyiov 7 CHov GX TL Hhoveton 
E tiv, trip Tov boa ev ayaui TOV Snwooia TWEunevav 
aOrevovTa TL ToLodTOv Spacy, émeFit@cay pev ot 
TpoanKkovTes TOD povou TO KTeivayTt, SiadicalovtT@y 
lal e 
5é Tay aypovopev olow av Kal orocots mpocTtaEn 6 
TpoarnKwv, TO dé dprov Ew TV Spwv THs Yapas 
, N) Ld fol 
aroxreivavtas Siopicat. éav Oé airuxov Te Wuyts 
avOpwrov otepnon, TAY Oca KEpavvos 7} TL Tapa 
lal lal f 7 a \ » ica \ 
Qeov tovodtTov BéXos Lov, TOV 6€ GAX@v boa TLVOS 
\ , 
TpooTEesovTOS, 7) AUTO euTecoV KTELVn Tid, O.- 
a a / \ 
KaoTHVv pev avT@ Kabilér@ TeV yeEelTOVwY TOV 
b] , e / / 3 7 € \ 
874 éyyUTaTa 0 Tpoonkwy yével, ahoclovpeEvos UTEP 
rn rn , a X \ 
avtod te Kal wep Tihs cuyyevelas OAns, TO O€ 
/ A nr Ld 
oprov éFopifew, xaldrep éppnOn to Tav fwowv 
a 2\ 8e 6 N \ S a 16 Xo 
yévos. éay 5€ TeOvews pev ad Tis havy, adnros 
r a 4 
dé 0 KTElvas 7 Kal 1) ameN@s EnTtodow avevpeTos 
266 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


able and inevitable misfortune, nor by falling into some 
disgrace that is beyond remedy or endurance,—but 
merely inflicting upon himself this iniquitous penalty 
owing to sloth and unmanly cowardice. In this 
case, the rest of the matters—concerning the rules 
about rites of purification and of burial—come within 
the cognizance of the god, and regarding these the 
next of kin must seek information from the inter- 
preters and the laws dealing with these matters, 
and act in accordance with their instructions: but 
for those thus destroyed the tombs shall be, first, in 
an isolated position with not even one adjacent, and, 
secondly, they shall be buried in those borders of 
the twelve districts which are barren and nameless, 
without note, and with neither headstone nor name 
to indicate the tombs. 

If a mule or any other animal murder anyone,— 
except when they do it when taking part in a public 
competition,—-the relatives shall prosecute the slayer 
for murder, and so many of the land-stewards as are 
appointed by the relatives shall decide the case, and 
the convicted beast they shall kill and cast out beyond 
the borders of the country. Ifa lifeless thing rob a 
man of life—except it be lightning or some bolt from 
heaven,—if it be anything else than these which kills 
someone, either through his falling against it or its 
falling upon him, then the relative shall set the 
nearest neighbour to pass judgment on it, thus 
making atonement on behalf of himself and all his 
kindred, and the thing convicted they shall cast 
beyond the borders, as was stated in respect of 
animals. 

If anyone be found evidently dead, and if 
his slayer be unknown and undiscoverable after 


267 


PLATO 


, \ \ > \ 
ylyyntat, Tas ev TpOppHoEs TAS avTAS yiyverOaL 
0 / al »”. 4 \ A , 
KkaGarep tots adXots, Tpoayopevery Sé TOV Povov 
B 7@ dpdoavti kal éridixacdpevov ev ayopa xnpdtar 
a / 
T® KTEelvavTL TOV Kal Tov Kal @PAnKOTL ovov 
pn éemtBaiver iepdv nde brANs YXwpas Tis TOD 
, fol a 
madovtos, as, av hava xal yvooOh, aobavov- 
pevov Kal éEw tis Tod TaPdvTos yopas éxBAN- 
Onodpmevov atadov. ovTos 5x vopos els Huiv EoTw 
Kupiws wept povou Keipmevos. 
Kai ra peév wrepi ta ToradTa péxpt TOUTwY oUTwS* 
, fal 
av 6 0 Kteivas ef’ ols Te OpO as av KaBapos ein, TAS’ 
écTw. vUKTw@p Papa eis oikiav eicLovTa em KAOTH 
Xpnudtav éav éXov Kteivn Tis, KaBapds éoTo* 
Cral éav Awrod’tTHY Gyvvduevos aToKTEiVn, Ka- 
Oapos éotw: Kal éay édevOépav yvvaixa Biatntai 
Tis ) Taida Tepl Ta adpodiota, vnTOWi TeOVaTw 
e , fa] ¢e / / \ e \ \ aA 
vo te Tod UBpicOévtos Bia Kai bro Tatpos 7 
> a x er 27 e. 2% > , a 
aderpav % viéw. éay Te avnp émiTVYN YapmeTH 
yuvatxt Brafouevyn, xteivas tov Brafouevov éotw 
\ > n , 77 \ a“ 
xabapos €v TO vopw. Kal éadv Tis Tatpl BonOav 
Oavatov, pndev avociov Spavtt, KTeivn Twa, 7 
mntpt % Téxvois % adeAdois 4 Evyyevynrops 
D Téxv@v, TWavTws xalapos éoTo. 

Ta pev toivuy mepl Tpopmy TE Saons Wuxis 
kal tradelay, av avrh TUXovon pev Biwror, 
atuxnodon 5é Tovvartiov, Kai Tept Oavdtwv TaV 
Biaiov as Set tTimwpias yiryverOar, vevonoberncOa: 

lal \ 
Ta Sé mepl THY TOY copdtov Tpodiy pev Kal 
268 





ee a 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


careful search, then the warnings shall be the same 
as in the other cases, including the warning of death 

to the doer of the deed, and the prosecutor, when 
he has proved his claim, shall give public warning 
in the market-place to the slayer of So-and-so, 
convicted of murder, not to set foot in holy places 
nor anywhere in the country of the victim, since, 
if he appears and is known, he shall be put to death 
and be cast out from the country of the victim 
without burial. So let this stand as oné section of 
our code of law dealing with murder. 

Thus far we have dealt with crimes of the kind des- 
eribed ; in what follows we shall describe the cases and 
the circumstances under which the slayer will rightly 
be pronounced guiltless. If a man catch and slay a 
thief who is entering his house by night to steal 
goods, he shall be guiltless; and if a man in self- 
defence slay a footpad, he shall be guiltless. The 
man who forcibly violates a free woman or boy shall 
be slain with impunity by the person thus violently 
outraged, or by his father or brother or sons. And 
should a man discover his wedded wife being violated, 
if he kills the violator he shall be guiltless before 
the law. And if a man slay anyone when warding 
off death from his father (when he is doing no 
wrong), or from his mother or children or brethren, 
or from the mother of his own children, he shall be 
wholly guiltless. 

Thus let it be laid down by law respecting the 
nurture and training of living souls,—which when 
gained make life livable, but when missed, unlivable, 
—and respecting the punishments which ought to 
be imposed in cases of violent death. The regula- 
tions regarding the nurture and training of the body 


269 


PLATO 


madeiav elpntat, To 8 ex opevov TOUTO@Y, ai Siavoe 
mpafeus im’ addjhov dxovatot TE kal ExovatoL 
yuyvopevat Stopia téoy es Sivapw ai ré eiot nal 
dcai, Kal ov av TYyXdvoveat TPO pr} EoD TO 
mpoadpopor & Exorev av &eactat’ TadtTa wet éxeiva, 
@s Eouxer, OpOas a ay vopoberoiro. 

Tpavuara 67) Kal Typadets ex TPAVMATO@Y TA YE 
SevTepa pera Gavarous Kal o pavroTaTos dy Tageve 
TOV em VOo“wV TpeTromevooy <taEw>.) ra dn Tpav- 
para, xabamep oi povot Sun pnvTo, Siacperéor, ° Ta bev 
aKxovoua, Ta be Oupe, Ta de po8o, Ta dé 0 om oad ek 
Tpovoias éxovova EvpBatver yeyvopeva. Tpoppn- 
Téov on} TL TEpl TaVYT@Y TOV TOLOUTwWY TOLOVEE, as 
apa VOMOUS a0 parr ous avaykatov tiWecOar Kai 
fv Kata vopmovs, 7 pndev diahépery tadv tavTy 

875 ayploaTr ar ov Onpiov. 1 6é airia TOUT@V de, OTL 
puous avOparav ovdevos ixavy puerat @OTE 
yavat Te Ta _ouphépovta dvO pwrrous els ToONL- 
telavy Kal yvovoa To BéAticTOY ael SvvacOai Te 
kal €OéXew TpadTTeVv. yvavat pev yap TpaToV 

ademrov OTL TodTiKH Kal adnOei Téyvy ov TO 
idvov GAXA TO KoLVOY avadyKHn péXELV—TO eV yap 
Kowvov Evvdel, To b€ idsov Saad Tas TodELS—Kal 
ore Evppéper TO KOW®@ TE Kal idie, Tolv audoiv, 
HY TO KOLVOV TB frau KarOS” Hadov vi TO tdLov 
B Sevtepov dé, av dpa Kai TO yavat TUS OTL TabTa 
ottw mépuce AABN inavas év TéxVn, pera dé 
TOUTO dvuredOvv6s te xal avToKpaTop apEn 
TONEWS, ove ay Tote Sdvarro eupeivar TOUT@ TH 
Soypate cal SvaBra@var TO ev Kowov HyouUpevov 

1 youwv . <7rdtw> : vduwv MSS.: véuov Zur., vulg. 
(Winckelmann adds dew before rpenopueveov). 

270 


i i 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


have been stated!: but what comes next, namely, 
violent actions, both voluntary and involuntary, done 
by one against another,—these we must define as 
clearly as we can, stating their character and number 
and what punishment each duly deserves: such 
enactments, as it seems, will rightly follow on the 
foregoing. 

Next in order after cases of death even the 
least competent of those who essay legislation would 
place cases of wounds and maiming. Wounds, just 
like murders, must be classed under several heads,— 
the involuntary, those done in passion, those done in 
fear, and all those that are voluntary and deliberate. 
Concerning all such cases we must make a prefatory 
pronouncement to this effect :—It is really necessary 
for men to make themselveslaws and to live accord- 
ing to laws, or else to differ not at all from the most 
savage of beasts. The reason thereof is this,—that 
no man’s nature is naturally able both to perceive 
what is of benefit to the civic life of men and, 
perceiving it, to be alike able and willing to practise 
what is best. For, in the first place, it is difficult to 
perceive that a true civic art necessarily cares for the 
public, not the private, interest,—for the public 
interest bind States together, whereas the private 
interest rends them asunder,—and to perceive also 
that it benefits both public and private interests alike 
when the public interest, rather than the private, is 
well enacted. And, secondly, even if a man fully 
grasps the truth of this as a principle of art, should 
he afterwards get control of the State and become 
an irresponsible autocrat, he would never prove able 
to abide by this view and to continue always fostering 


1 813 Df. 
271 


PLATO 


, b] , a 
Tpédwy év tH Tore, TO S€ idvoy Eémopevov TO 
a > > + Ay /, \ > , e 
Kow@, GAN éti treovekiay Kal idiorpayiav 1 
\ 
Ovntn gvows avtov opunoer del, devyouca ev 
> La lo] 
C aroyas THv AVTHY, Si@xovca Sé THY HSoviyV, TOD 
, 
dé Sixasotépou te Kal apeivovos énimpocber ado 
TOUTW TpotTHaEeTat, Kal KOTOS aTrepyalomévn év 
auth wdytwv KaKdv éumdyjoe mpdos TO TédoOS 
e / \ , cx4 > \ lal ” , 
auTny Te Kal THY TONY SANV* eel TadTa El TOTE 
’ , / e / / , , 
Tis avOpwrrav hice ixaves, Oeia poipa yevynOeis, 
a ‘ ‘ > 
maparaBeiy Suvatos ein, vowwv ovdev av déorTo 
lal LU a 
T@v apkovTwy éavTod' éemicTHuNS yap OUTE vomos 
” / > , / > \ / > \ nr 
ovte Takis ovdepia KpeiTT@YV, Ovde Oéuts éoTi vodvV 
ovdevos wmrnKkoov ovdé SodAOV ada TdvToOY 
, / 

D dpxovta elvat, édvrep adnOivds édevOepds Te 
évTws 4 KaTa giow. viv dSé—ot yap éotw 
ovdapod ovdauas, AX 7) Kata Bpayd: S10 8) TO 

\ 
Sevtepov aipetéov, takwv te Kal vowov, & 52 TO 
A e a, * A Te a \ 4 \ 9 92 4 a 
MEV WS ETL TO TOV OPA Kal Bréret, to 8 eri wav 
aduvatel. tadta 5) Tavde civexa elpntar viv 
Hpets TAEOpev TL XpH TOY TpwcavTa H TL BrAaav- 

tad , / 
Ta €tepov GdXov Traety 7 arotivew. mpoxerpov 
\ \ \ ‘ ig n ? 08 apt / 
69 wavtl wept tavtos UTodaBelv opOas, Tov ti 
lal / , 
E tpecavta 7) Tiva 7) TOS 1) TOTE NEyELs ; pupia 
/ 

yap xaoTd éott TOUTwY Kal Taptroru SiadépovTa 

2 4, nan? Ss \ , > / 
adAnrov. tavT odv 8) Sicactypios émitpérrery 
4 \ 
Kpivey TavTa 7) pndev advvatov, év pev yap 
Pal lad X 
KaTa TavT@Y avayKdiov émiTpéTew Kpivat, TO 





1 Cp. Protag. 352 Bf. ; Ar. Eth. N. 11450 24 ff. 
272 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


the public interest in the State as the object of first 
importance, to which the private interest is but 
secondary ; rather, his mortal nature will always 
urge him on to grasping and self-interested action, 
irrationally avoiding pain and pursuing pleasure ; 
both these objects it will prefer above justice and 
goodness, and by causing darkness within itself it 
will fill to the uttermost both i and the whole 
State with all manner of evils“ Yet if ever there 
should arise a man competent by nature and by a 
birthright of divine grace to assume such an office, 
he would have no need of rulers over him; for no , 
law or ordinance is mightier than Knowledge} nor is it 
right for Reason to be subject or in thrall to anything, | 
but to be lord of all things, if it is really true to its 
name and free in its inner nature. But at present 
such a nature exists nowhere at all, except in small 
degree; wherefore we must choose what is second 
best, namely, ordinance and law, which see and 
discern the general principle, but are unable to see _ 
every instance in detail. A 
This declaration has been made for. the sake 
of what follows: now we shall ordain what the 
man who has wounded, or in some way injured, 
another must suffer or pay. And here, of course, 
it is open to anyone, in regard to any ease, to 
interrupt us, and quite properly, with the question 
—* What wounds has the man you speak of inflicted, 
and on whom, and how and when? For eases of 
wounding are countless in their variety, and they 
differ vastly from one another.” So it is impossible 
for us either to commit all these cases to the law 
courts for trial, or to commit none of them. Yet in 
regard to them all there is one point that we must 
of necessity commit for decision,—the question of 


273 








VOL. I, T 


PLATO 


WOTEpoV eyEeveTo 7) OVK eyéveTO ExaCTOY TOUT@V" 


876 TO Sé pndéy erritpémew ad tepl tod ti Set Enps- 


ovabat Kal Taoxew Ti ype@y Tov adiKicaVTa TOU- 
T@Y Tl, GX avTov TEpl TavTev vopmoleTHaaL 
oMLKp@v Kal peyaddav, oxedov advyaTor. 
KA. Tis ody 6 peta TodToY NoOyos ; 
ao. "Ode, Ste Ta per eritperrtéoy SixacTnpiots, 
x > > /, > > > an f 
Ta Sé ovx eritperrtéov, GNX’ avT@ vopoleryTéEov. 
KA. Ilota 67 vopobetntéov te Kal moia amobo- 
téov Kpivew Tols Suxactnpiots ; 
ao. Tade 5) peta tadta dp0orat av eizeiv 
cin, ws é€v mode év % SixacTHpia Padra Kal 
” / \ ig lal , UA A 
apava krértovta tas avTay dofas KpvBdnv tas 
Kpioes Stabseater, Kal 0 TovTov Sewortepoy, Stav 
\ n > \ , , , 
pndé avyavtTa adda GopvBov pecta, xabarep 
Oéatpa, émawodvta te Bon Kal wéyovta Tav 
pntopwv éxatepov év péper Kpivn, Yaderrov OTE 
maOos Sdn TH TOAEL yiyverOar pire?. Tots otv 
8) TocovTots Stxactypiots vouobereiy bd Tivos 
> / , > > x 4 ia A b] 
avaykns AnPOévta ovK evtvxes pév, Guws be EF 
avayKns eiAnppévoy OTL TEpl OutKpoTaTa émLTpeE- 
C mtéov avtois tattew tas tnpias, ta Sé TrEloTA 
avtov vopnobereiy Stappyndny, dv tis apa ToravTy 
/ lol / > e Von Gj 
monteta vopobeTh toré. ev 4 5é dv mode bu- 
Kaotnpia eis SUvapuv Gp0@s KabecTaTa 4 Tpapér- 
Tv Te Ev TOV perXroVToV Sixakery SoxtpacbévT@Y 
\ , > Sees > a > \ \ » 
Te Sia Taons axpiBelas, évtadla opHov Kal Exov 
ev Kal KaX@S TA TOAAA émiTpéTTELY Kpivety Tois 
lal nr / 
totovTos Suxactais tay oprovtTwv Tépi, TL XP? 


274 


eee 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


fact, whether or not each of the alleged acts took 
place ; and it is practically impossible for the lawgiver 
to refuse in all cases to commit to the courts the 
question regarding the proper penalty or fine to be 
inflicted on the culprit, and himself to pass laws 
respecting all such cases, great and small. 

cuin. What, then, is to be our next statement? 

atu. This,—that some matters are to be com- 
mitted to the courts, while others are not to be so 
committed, but enacted by the lawgiver. 

cuin. What are the matters to be enacted, and 
what are to be handed over to the law courts for 
decision ? 

atu. It will be best to make the following state- 
ment next,—that in a State where the courts are 
poor and dumb and decide their cases privily, secret- 
ing their own opinions, or (and this is a still more 
dangerous practice) when they make their decisions 
not silently but filled with tumult, like theatres, 
roaring out praise or blame of each speaker i in turn, 
—then the whole State, as a rule, is faced with a 
difficult situation. To be compelled by some neces- 
sity to legislate for law courts of this kind is no happy 
task ; but when one is so compelled, one must com- 
mit to them the right of fixing penalties only in a 
very few cases, dealing oneself with most cases by 
express legislation—if indeed one ever legislates at all 
for a State of that description. On the other hand, 
in a State where the courts have the best possible 
constitution, and the prospective judges are well- 
trained and tested most strictly, there it is right, 
and most fitting and proper, that we should commit 
to such judges for decision most of the questions 
regarding what penalties convicted criminals should 


275 
T2 


PLATO 


/ > \ x > f Leo) \ \ A 
Tacxelv avtovs 7 amotivev. piv 8) Ta vov 


D > ‘ X \ tal > a / - 
AVEMETHTOV TO [A1) vopobereiy auTols Ta peylota 


E 


877 


Kal TrelatTa, & Kal havrotépws ay memratoev- 
pévor Sixacral dvvaiwTo Kat ioety Kal mpoodmre.y 
éxdorT@ TOV apapTnuaTov TH agiav tov ma0ous 
Te Kal mpakews* ered?) Oé ols Hweis vowoOeTodpED, 
ovx WRT. éupereis avrous oloped” av Tov 
TOLOUT@Y yoyver Bau Kputds, émetpem Téov & Ta 
mhetoTa. ov pany GNX’ rep ToANaKis el TOmeV 
te Kal € doapev év TH Tov eum poo dev vopo- 
Gerioer vopwr, TO mepypadiyy Te Kal TOUS TUTOUS 
TOV TLULWPLOV ElTTOVTAS Sobvar Ta Tapaselypara 
ToIGL Sixacrais TOU MajTore Baivew eo Tis 
dixns, TOTE TE Hv opborara é exov Kal 57) Kal vov 
Toor auto mointéov, émavedOovtas On madu 
éml Tovs vo“Lous. 

‘H 89 ypad2 tepi tpavpatos wd Hpuiv KeicOo. 
éav Is dtavonbels TH Bovrjoe Kreivat Twa 
pidcov, | TAY OV O VvOLOS épinat, Tpw@on meV, 
dmoKreivat de aduvarnon, tov diavonbévta Te 
kal tpwcavta ovtws ovK aEvoy édeciv, ovde 
aidovpevov adrkws 7 Kabdmep aroKTeivayta 
oméxely Thy Sixnv povou avayKager’ Thy &é ov 
TavraT ace KaKiyy TUXNY avTod oeBopevov Kal 
Tov Saipova, 0 os autor ai TOV Tpadevta édenoas 
amoTpoTos avTois éyéveTo pu) TO pev aviator 
&X Kos yevéo Gar, TO be émdpatov TuxXny Kal 
Evppopar, TOUT@ 57 Xap 7™@ daipov didovta 
Kab p) évavTLovpevor TOV [ev Bdvaroy ageneiv 
Tov TpwcavTos, petadotacw 5é eis Tal yelTova 


1 ets rwa H. Richards: eis rhy MSS., edd. 
1 Cp. 770 B, 846 B, C. 





276 








LAWS, BOOK IX 


suffer or pay. On the present occasion we may well 
be pardoned if we refrain from ordaining for them 
by law the points that are most important and most 
numerous, which even ill-educated judges could 
discern, and could assign to each offence the penalty 
merited by the wrong as suffered and committed ; 
and seeing that the people for whom we are legis- 
lating are themselves likely, as we suppose, to 
become not the least capable of judges of such 
matters, we must commit most of them to them. 
None the less, that course which we frequently 
adopted! when laying down our former laws, both 
by word and action—when we stated an outline and 
typical cases of punishments, and gave the judges 
examples, so as to prevent their ever overstepping the 
bounds of justice,—that course was a perfectly right 
one then, and now also we ought to adopt it, when 
we return again at last to the task of legislation. 

So let our written law concerning wounding run 
thus :—Ifany man purposing of intent to kill a friendly 
person—save such as the law sends him against,— 
wounds him, but is unable to kill him, he that has 
thus purposed and dealt the wound does not deserve 
to be pitied; rather he is to be regarded exactly as 
a slayer, and must be compelled to submit to trial 
for murder; yet out of respect for his escape from 
sheer ill-fortune and for his Genius ?—who in pity 
alike for him and for the wounded man saved the 
wound of the one from proving fatal and the fortune 
and crime of the otherfrom proving accursed,—in grati- 
tude to this Genius, and in compliance therewith, the 
wounder shall be relieved of the death-penalty, but 


2 For ‘‘daemon” in this sense of ‘‘tutelary Genius” or 
**Guardian-angel,” cp. 732 C, Rep. 619 D, E, 


277 


PLATO 


Brorw adt@ yiyverOar bia Biov, Kkaprovpevov 
dnmacav Thy abtod KThaw. BrdBos 8é, ei Karé- 
Brave tov tpwbévta, éxtiver TO Bradbévte: 
Tidy O€ To Sixacrtipiov Strep av Thy SiKny Kpivy* 
kpivew 8€ oitep dv Tod dovov édixacay, ei éte- 
AeUTHTEV Ex THS TANYHS TOD TpavpaTos. 

Tovéas & av rrais 7) SodX0s Seorrotny MaavTus ex 
mpovotas Tpwcn, Oavartov eivar Thy Cnuiav. Kal éav 
adedpos adehdhov 1%) dderpipy 1) adeApy adeAov 4) 
aerPpiv w@cavtws tpwcyn, Kal OhdrAN Tpavpatos 
€x Tpovoias, Oavatov eivar thy Enulav. yuvh &é 
avopa éavtis é€& émiBovdns Tod amoxteivas 
Tpwcaca, i) avnp Thy éavTod yuvaixa, hevyéTw 
aevpvyiay’ thy bé KTHowW, éav pev vieis 4) Ovya- 
Tépes avtois wot Traides Ett, Tovs €miTpomToUs 
émitpoTevery Kal ws ophavav TeV Tatowy émi- 
peretoPat, av b€ dvdpes Hon, éravayKes éoTo 
tpépecOat tov hevyovta bro Tov éxyovwv, THY 
S€ ovciay [édv] avtods KexthcOar. amas be 
datis av tovavtais Evpdopats mepitéan, Tovs 
avyyevets cuveOovtas péypt averi@v Taidwv 
Tov Tepevyotos audotépwber, Tmpos Te avopav 
Kal pos yuvaikav, KANpovdmov eis TOV OiKOV 
TOUTOV TH TOL TETTAPAKOVTAKALT EVTAKLO XLALOG = 
Tov KaTaothoa, Povdevopuévovs peTa vopodu- 
AdKwv Kai iepéwv, Siavonbevtas TpoT@ Kal Aoyo 
TOL@OE, WS oOvdEls Oikos THY TETTapdKoVTAa Kab 
TEVTAKLGXIAL@Y TOD evotKOdYTOS eoTW oOvde Evp- 
TavTos TOD yévous oUTwS ws THS TOAEWS SnwootOs 
Te Kat idtos. Set by THv ye TodLY TOds av’THS 
oiKOUS @sS OglwTdTOUS TE Kal EvTUXETTATOUS 
KexThoOar Kata Svvapiy. Stay ovv Tus Gpa 


278 


es 


a 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


shall be deported for life to a neighbouring State, 
enjoying the fruits of all his own possessions. If he 
has done damage to the wounded man, he shall pay 
for it in full to him that is damaged ; and the 

shall be assessed by the court which decides the case, 
which court shall consist of those who would have 
tried the culprit for murder if the man had died of 
the wound he received. 

If in like manner, deliberately, a son wound his 
parents or a slave his master, death shall be the 
penalty ; and if a brother wound in like manner a 
brother or sister, or a sister wound a brother or 
sister, and be convicted of wounding deliberately, 
death..-shall ..be -the penalty. A wife that has 
wounded her husband, or a husband his wife, 
with intent to kill, shall be exiled for life : if 
they have sons or daughters who are still children, 
the guardians shall administer their property, and 
shall take charge of the children as orphans; but if 
they be already grown men, the offspring shall be 
compelled to support their exiled parent, and they 
shall possess his property. If any person overtaken 
by such a disaster be childless, the kinsfolk on both 
sides, both male and female, as far as cousins’ 
children, shall meet together and appoint an heir for | 
the house in question—the 5040th in the State,— 
taking counsel with the Law-wardens and priests ; 
and. they shall bear in mind this principle, that no 
house of the 5040 belongs as much, either by private 
or public right, to the occupier or to the whele of his 
kindred as it belongs to the State; and the State 
must needs keep its own houses as holy and happy as 
possible. Therefore, whenever any house is at once 





1 Svdpes H3n, Jernstedt, England: &rdpes, uh MSS. 
279 


PLATO 


dvotuyjont Kai aceBnOH Tov oikwv, BoTE TOV 
KeKTnévoy év avT@ traidas pev pr) KaTadcTrely, 
nideov dé %) Kal yeyaunKkota ataiba TeXeUTHCAL 
gdovov oprovta éxovaiov Tivos dpapTiwatos 
addov TaY Tepl Jeovs 7) TON Tas, OY av OdvaTtos 
év TO vouw Enpia Siappydnv 7 Ketpévyn, 7) Kal ev 
aerpuyia tis hevyn Tav avdpav arrais, TOUTOV 
mpatov pev kaOnpacba Kal atodioTopryicacbar 
TOV Olkov Ypewy EcTw KATA VOmOV, ETELTA TUVEN- 
878 Bovtas, KaBaTep cimopev viv 5%, Tos oiKeious Gua 
vowopvraks cxéyracbar yévos 6 ti Tep av 7 TOY 
€v TH TONE EVSoKLULw@TATOV TPds apeTHY Kal Gua 
evtuyxés, ev @ dv Taides yeyovoTes Wat TeEious: 
60ev Eva TO TOU TEeXEUTHOAYTOS TraTpl Kal ToOlS 
dvw Tov yévous viov ws exeivywy eiomroLoUYTas, 
dypyns Evexa eTrovomalovtas, yevvntopa TE avTois 
kal éotLovyov Kai OeparrevTiy ociwy TE Kal lepav 
én’ apeivoot TUXaLs yiryverOat Tod TaTpos TOUT@ 
Br@ TpoTw érevEapévous adtov KAnpovopov KaTa- 
oThoat Kata vopov, Tov & é€apaptovta aveve- 
pov éav Kai amaida Kal dpoipov KeicOat, oroTav 
avtov KatadaBwow ai Troraitar Evudopat. 
“Eott 5€ od TavTev, ws EoiKe, TOV OvT@Y Gpos 
Spw mpoocpiyvus, AN ols éoti peOdpiov, TodTO ev 
péow Opwv mporeivov® Eéxatépw mpocB8ddXov 
yliyvorr av apudoty petakd. Kat 8) Kal Tov 
axovolwy te kal éxovoiwy TO Ouue@ yyvopevor 
1 §uervxhon H. Richards: dvervxn6i MSS. 


" 2 gpoteivoy : mpérepovy MSS., edd. 
280 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


unhappy and unholy, in that the owner thereof 
leayes no children, but—being either unmarried or, 
though married, childless—dies, after having been 
convicted of wilful murder or of some other offence 
against gods or citizens for which death is the 
penalty expressly laid down in the law; or else if 
any man who is without male issue be exiled for life ; 
—then they shall be in duty bound, in the first 
place, to make purifications and expiations for this 
house, and, in the next place, the relatives, as we 
said just now, must meet together and in consulta- 
tion with the Law-wardens consider what family 
there is in the State which is pre-eminent for good- 
ness, and prosperous withal, and containing several 
children. Then from the family selected they shall 
adopt one child on behalf of the dead man’s father 
and ancestors to be a son of theirs, and they shall 
name him after one of them, for the sake of the 
omen—with a prayer that in this wise he may prove 
to them a begetter of offspring, a hearth-master and 
a minister in holy and sacred things, and be blest 
with happier fortune than his (official) father; him 
they shall thus establish legally as lot-holder, and 
the offender they shall suffer to lie nameless and 
childless and portionless, whenever such calamities 
overtake him. . 

It is not the fact, as it would seem, that in the case 
of all objects boundary is contiguous with boundary ; 
but where there is a neutral strip, which lies 
between the two boundaries, impinging on each, it 
will be midway between both. And that is pre- 
cisely the description we gave! of the passionate 
action as one which lies midway between in- 


1 867 A. 
281 


PLATO 


épapmev elvar ToLodTOV. TpavpuaTev ovv éota TOV 
opyn yevouévov éav dprAn TIS, TPATOV pev Tivetv 
C rob BraBovs tHv Sumdaciav, av To Tpavpua 
idotpov ano8h, Tov Se aviary THY TETPar 
mraciay. édv bei ido tmov pév, aicyvvny Sé peydday 
Tid mpooBarry To tpodevre Kal émoveldia TOV, 
TD Tpithaciav . ExTIVELD. dca Sé Tis Tpacas 
Twa 7) povov BrYawTn TOV mafovra, ara Kal 
THY TOMY, Toisas advvatov TH mrartpibe 7 pos 
Tohepious Bonfeiv, TouTov oé pera TOV addwv 
tnusdv éxtivev Kal Th mode THY BAAR ™pos 
yap tais avtod otpateias Kal vmép Tod advva- 
Tobvtos atpatevécOw Kai Tas Urép exeivov Tode- 
puxas tTatTécOw Ta£ers, 7) uw Sp@v TAadTA UTOdiKOS 
T@ €OédovTt THs aotTpatetas yeyvécOw KaTAa Vomov. 
tiv bé 8) THs BrAaBns akiav, eite Simdhv cite 
TpiTAHW elite Kal TeTpaTrAACLAY, Of KATA piod- 
pevor dtxacral TATTOVTOY. éay dé | Omoryovos 
omoryovov TOV auTov TpoTrov TOUT@ TPOON, TOUS 
ryevynTas Kal TOUS ouyyeveis, Mex pt aveyiav 
maiSov 7 pos yuvarkav Kal avdpav, yuvatkds TE 
Kal _avepas cuvehOovras, Kpivaytas Ta padtdovar 
Tiuav Tots yevnoact Kara puow: éav 6é apdio- 
Bytjorwos 7 H Thunoes yoyyntat, TOUS pos avopav 
elvat TL@VTas KUpious* éav Sé aduvaTacw avrol, 
Tots vowopuhage TeMeUTOVTAS emt perety. €K- 
yovols dé mpos yovéas eivat TOV TOLOUT@Y Tpav- 
patov Stxactas péev tovs vTép EEnKovTA ETN 


1 forw tov MSS.: éveorétwy Zur. vulg. 
2 +o.rAkaclay Sydenham, Orelli: rerparAactay MSS. 


282 


NS eee 


a 


_ 


el 





rig: 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


voluntary and voluntary actions. So let the law 
stand thus respecting woundings committed in 
anger :—If a person be convicted, in the first place 
he shall pay double the damage, in case the wound 
prove to be curable, but four times the damage in 
case of incurable wounds. And if the wound be 
curable, but cause great shame and disgrace to the 
wounded party, the culprit shall pay three times the 
damage. And if ever a person, in wounding anyone, 
do damage to the State as well as to the victim, by 
rendering him incapable of helping his country 
inst its enemies, such a person, in addition to the 
rest of the damages, shall pay also for the damage 
done to the State: in addition to his own military 
service, he shall do service also as a substitute for the 
incapacitated man, and carry out his military duties 
in his place, or, if he fails to do so, he shall by law be 
liable to prosecution for shirking military service, at 
the hands of anyone who pleases. The due propor- © 
tion of the damage payable—whether two, three, or 
four times the actual amount—shall be fixed by the 
judges who have voted on the case. If a kinsman 
wound a kinsman in the same way as the person just 
mentioned, the members of his tribe and kin, both 
males and females, as far as cousins’ children on both 
the male and female side, shall meet together and, 
after coming to a decision, shall hand over the case 
to the natural parents for assessment of the damage ; 
and if the assessment be disputed, the kindred on 
the male side shall be authorized to make a binding 
assessment ; and if they prove unable to do so, they 
shall refer the matter finally to the Law-wardens. 
When woundings of this kind are inflicted by children 
on parents, the judges shall be, of necessity, men 


283 


PLATO 


/ lal 
yeyovotas émrdvayxKes, ols av maides pu) Tomnrol 
> \ \ > x / ” a 3 
adnOivoi 6 aow: av 8é Tis Opry, TiYmav Ei 
/ \ \ na Lal 
teOvdvat xpr Tov TovovToV elite TL pettov Erepov 
TovUTOV maaxeW 7) Kal pH TOAND opLKpOTEpOV" 
kal tov Evyyevav tod Spacavtos pndeva Sixakerv, 
» sehen | \ 4 \ , ied e , 
879 und’ dav yeyovws 4 Tov xXpovoy Gaov oO voMoS 
” a oF oe: 3 4 ? lol , 
eipnxe. Sovdos 5’ ay tis éhevOepov opyn TpwaN; 
TapadsoTtw@ Tov SodrAOV 6 KEKTHMEvOS TO TPwOEVTL 
xphaba: & te av Ody: cay S€ pH Tapacdido, 
autos tiv BraBnv éfiacOw. éav dé x cuvOnkns 
aitiatat Tod SovrAov Kal Tod tpwOévTos unyavinv 
? , \ , > , 2\ \ 
elvat Tis TO yeyovos, audiaBntncdTw* éav Sé pL) 
€Xn, TpiTAaclav exticdtw THY BraBnv, Edov Sé 
avopaTodiapod vmddikoy éxéTw Tov TexvatovTa 
B peta tod Sovrov. O¢ 8 av dxwv adXos adXov 
, X / e lo) > / UA \ 
Tp@an, TO BAaBos atrAOUY aTrOTLVETW: TUYNS Yap 
/ by \ Ms \ ” \ A 
vomobétns ovdeis ikavos apyew: OvKactal dé 
dvT@Y oiTEp Tois ekyOVOLs TMpoS TOUS YyevynTOpas 
99¢ 7 \ , \ > / n /, 
eppnOnoar, kai timovTwr thy akiay Ths BAABys. 
, \ \ , p ec own \ , , 
Biaa pev 82 wav? yuiv Ta tpoeipnuéva an, 
Biaov dé Kal To THs aixias wav yévos. woe odv 
Xp) Tept TOV ToLovTwY TavTa avdpa Kal Taida 
kal yuvaixa del StavoctcOat, TO mpecBiTepov ws 
OU TMLKP@ TOU vewTépou éaTl mperBevomevoy ev TE 
Geoior nal év avOpwrrots Tois pédAdoVaL calerOar 
Crai evdaimoveiv. aixiav odv tept mpecBvtepov 
€v ToAEL yevouévny Urd vewTépov ideiv aiaxXpov 
284 


v6 al ei 


LAWS, BOOK Ix 


over sixty years of age who have genuine, and not 
merely adopted, children of their own; and if a 
person be convicted, they shall assess the penalty— 
whether such a person ought to be put to death, or 
ought to suffer some other punishment still more 
severe, or possibly a little less severe: but none of 
the relatives of the culprit shall act as a judge, not 
even if he be of the full age stated in the law. If a 
slave wound a free man in rage, his owner shall hand 
over the slave to the wounded man to be dealt with 
just as he pleases; and if he do not hand over the 
slave, he shall himself make good the damage to the 
full. And if any man alleges that the deed was a 
trick concocted by the slave in collusion with the 
wounded party, he shall dispute the case: if he fail 
to win it, he shall pay three times the damage, but 
if he win, he shall hold liable for kidnapping the 
man who contrived the trick in collusion with the 
slave. Whoever wounds another involuntarily shall 
pay a single equivalent for the damage (since no law- 
giver is able to control fortune), and the judges shall 
be those designated to act in cases of the wounding 
of parents by children; and they shall assess the due 
proportion of damage payable. 

All the cases we have now dealt with are of suffer- 
ing due to violence, and the whole class of cases of 
“ outrage” involve violence. Regarding such cases, 
the view that should be held by everyone,—man, 
woman and child,—is this, that the older is greatly 
more revered than the younger, both among the gods 
and among those men who propose to keep safe and 
happy. An _ outrage perpetrated by a younger 
against an older person is a shameful thing to see 
happening in a State, and a thing hateful to God : 


285 


PLATO 


Kal Geopices: éotxe 5& véw travtl bd _Yepovtos 
TIYEVTL PqOipos opyiy umopé perv, avuT@ web e- 
pevep TEND TAUTHY els. yipas. be ody ecto: 
TAS jpiy aideiadw TOV éavtod mpeaBurepor & epyo 
Te kai eres" TOV dé T poeXovTa eikoow puxias 
erTerw, appeva 7 Onrvr, vopitay @$ Tatépa 1 
Entépa duevda Bead, Kal maons THs Suvatis 
D nrtKias adtov  pitdoar Kal Texely dm éxorro del Gewv 
yeveO Koy Xai as 8 abtws Kal gévou amreip- 
youTo, elite méahar evorKoovTOS cite vejAvdos 
adiypévou: bnre yap vTapyov pare &puvopevos 
TO Tapatay TOXpaT@ Tryyats Tov TOLODTOV 
voubereiv. Eevov d€ ap do ehyaivovta Kat Opacvvo- 
pevor, éavTov TUrTovTa, oinrat deiv Kohaa Oivat, 
AaBeov Tpos THY apYnv Top doTuvopov arrayer@, 
Tob Tome 8 eipyécOw, iva roppw yiyyntat Tod 
E Tov em LX @pLov av ToAuhoal rote Taragat. oi & 
aoruvopot mapahaPovtes Te Kal dvaxpivaves, 
tov fevixoy ad Geov _evAaBovpevot, éav dpa 
adixas boxy 0 Eévos TOV emrex@pLov TUTTTELD, TH 
faotiye TOV Eévov, 6 dcas ay avTos mardén, Togau- 
tas Sovtes THs Opacvéevias TavovT@DV: €ay bé 7) 
adieh, amreinoavrés Te Kal ovedicaytes TO ATra- 
yayoure peOrévt@v apo. HALE Oé ipuKa <i> 1 
Kal Tov dmada TpoévovTa Hruxia éavrob éay 
880 rumTn, yépwy Te ‘yépovta, Kal éay véos véor, 
apuvéc0w xara diow dvev Bédous Widais Tats 


1 <> added by Ast, Burges. 





1 For the respect due to Strangers as a religious duty, ep. 
729 E ff. 


286 


WR + 


a 





AAS Ce Teal 


a List bs 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


when a young man is beaten by an old man, it is 
meet that, in every case, he should quietly endure 
his anger, and thus store up honour for the time of 
his own old age. Therefore let the law stand thus :-— 
Everyone shall reverence his elder both by deed and 
word ; whosoever, man or woman, exceeds himself in 
age by twenty years he shall regard as a father or 
a mother, and he shall keep his hands off that person, 
and he shall ever refrain himself, for the sake of the 
gods of birth, from all the generation of those who 
are potentially his own bearers and begetters. So 
likewise he shall keep his hands off a Stranger, be he 
long resident or newly arrived ; neither as aggressor 
nor in self-defence shall he venture at all to chastise 
such an one with blows. If he deems that a Stranger 
has shown outrageous audacity in beating him and 
needs correction, he shall seize the man and take him 
before the bench of the city-stewards (but refrain 
from beating him), so that he may flee the thought 
of ever daring to strike a native. And the city- 
stewards shall take over the Stranger and examine 
him—with due respect for the God of Strangers ;* 
and if he really appears to have beaten the native 
unjustly, they shall give the Stranger as many strokes 
of the scourge as he himself inflicted, and make him 
cease from his foreign frowardness; but if he has 
not acted unjustly, they shall threaten and reprove 
the man who arrested him, and dismiss. them 
both. If a man of a certain age beat a man of his 
own age, or one above his own age who is childless, 
—whether it be a case of an old man beating an 
old man, or of a young man beating a young man, 
—the man attacked shall defend himself with 
bare hands, as nature dictates, and without a weapon. 


287 


PLATO 


xepaty. 0 5é brép TerTapdKovTa yeyovas ern eay 
TOAwG TO paxer Bar elTe dpxov elite dpvvouevos, 
aypotkos Kal dvehevdepos a av eyopevos avdparro- 
Sadns Té, dixkns av érovediotov tuyyavev Td 
mpétrov eX ol. kal cay pév TLS TovovTouS Tapapu- 
Oiots evrrerOns yiyyntat, eunvLos dv ein: o 6é 
Sua merBns kal undev mpooiuiou ppovtifwv déyoir 
dv Tov ToLovee Eéroipas vOHOV" éav TLS TUnTY TOV 
pea BuTEpor elKoow ereow » theioow éauTov, 
7 p@Tov bev 0 TpoctuyxXaver, éav py ug poe 
VE@TEPOS [tov Haxopever], 2 Suerpyéto@ 1) 1) KAKOS 
éoTo Kara vopov" éay 5é év TH ToD MANYEVTOS 
Hprexia 4 ért  VETEOS, apuveT@o WS AEX 7) H Tatpe 
y] ére avortépo 7 adixoupever” mpos © ere Sixny 
breveT@ Tis aixias 0 TOV mpeaBureponr, os elpn- 
Tal, TOAUHoAS TUTTELY, Kal éav _ Ophy TH Sieny, 
C dedéc0w pndéy éviavtod outxpotepov? éav Sé of 
Sixacrai  TLMT Oo TE€lovos, €aTw KUPLOS 0 TLLN- 
Beis aute Xpovos. éav 5é Eévos 2 TOV petoixwy 
TIS TUTTY TOV mpeo BuTEpov elxoow érecw 7 
TELOoLY éauTod, Tepl bev TOD Tmaparyevomevov 
THS Bonfetas 0 avTos vomos €xXéT@ THY AUTHV 
Svvapwy, 6 o be THY TOLAUTHY Steny nr7Geis, Eévos 
pHev ay Kat HH Evvosxos, duo € eTN Sedepevos € exe véT@ 
TAUTHY auTiy TH Sixny, 0 0 dé wéTouKas Te ov kal 
aTreiav Tots vopols Tpla a) bedéc0a, é éay [1 70 
duxactnptov mdelovos are Xpovov TYLNoN THY 
D dteny. Enpiova Ow dé Kal o Taparyevopwevos oT @odY 
ToUT@Y Kal “2 BonOnoas KaTa vopor, 6 pev peyio- 
Tov Tiunpatos av wd, Sevrépov Oé Hv wevTHKOVTA 


1 [ray pa xopéevwr | I bracket. 
288 


ce 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


But if a man over forty ventures to fight, whether as 
aggressor or in self-defence, he shall be called a knave 
and a boor, and if he finds himself incurring a 
degrading sentence, he will be getting his deserts. 
Any man who lends a ready ear to such exhortations 
will prove easy to manage ; but he that is intractable 
and pays no regard to the prelude will hearken 
readily to a law to this effect :—If anyone beats a 
person who is twenty or more years older than him- 
self, in the first place, whoever comes upon them, if 
he be neither of equal age nor younger, shall try to 
separate them, or else be held to be a coward in the 
eyes of the law; and if he be of a like age with the 
man assaulted or still younger, he shall defend him 
who is wronged as he would a brother or a father or 
a still older progenitor. Further, he that dares to 
strike the older man in the way described shall be 
liable also to an action for outrage, and if he be 
convicted, he shall be imprisoned for not less than a 
year ; and if the judges assess the penalty at a longer 
period, the period so assessed shall be binding on him. 
And if a Stranger or a resident alien beat a man older 
than himself by twenty or more years, the same law 
regarding help from bystanders shall be equally 
binding ; and he that is cast in a suit of this kind, if 
he be a non-resident Stranger, shall be imprisoned for 
two years and fulfil this sentence ; and he that is a resi- 
dent alien and disobeys the laws shall be imprisoned 
for three years, unless the court assess his penalty at 
a longer period. And the man whoisa bystander in | 
any of these cases of assault, and who fails to give help 
as the law prescribes, shall be penalised—by a fine of 
a mina, if he be a man of the highest property-class ; of 
fifty drachmae, if he be of the second class ; of thirty 

289 

VOL, IL. u 


PLATO 


Spaxpais, tpitov dé tptdxovta, elxoot Sé Tov 
tetaptov. bsixaothpiov dé yiyvécOw Tots ToLov- 
Tost otpatnyol Kal takiapyor PvAapyxol Te Kal 
immapxot. 

Nowot 6, ws orxev, of pev Tov ypnoTav 

E avOporav &veca yiyvovta, Sidayfs yapiv Tod 
tiva TpoTov oputrodvTes AANAOLS av didoPppo- 
ves oiKoiev, of O€ THY THy Tradeciav SiabuydrTar, 
aTepapovt ypwpévwv Tiwi dvoer Kal pndev Tey- 
yOévTwv, @aoTE wn OvK emt Tacay iévat KaKnV. 

2 \ A f c , 
ovToL TOvs wéAXOVTAS AOyous pHOncETPaL TreTrOL- 
nKoTtes av elev: ols 5% Tovs vowous e& avayKns 
6 vouobérns av vopoberoi, Bovdéopevos auTov 
pndémore xpelav yeyveo Pat. Tatpos yap 7) “NTPs 
q) TOUT@Y ETL Tporyoveov bo71s TOApNT EL dpacbai 
mote Bialopevos aixia Tiwi, wyTEe TOV avw deioas 

na n / al e \ a lal 
Ocay uhviv wnte TOV UTO YAS TLLwpav + Aeyouevar, 

881 addra ws cida@s & undayds olde, Kkatappovayv TaY 
Taraav Kal vo TayTwY eipnuévovy Tapavopel, 
tovtT@ Sef Tivos amotpoTAs éaxydtys. Oavatos 

. 

\ = > ” »” e be 3 a 5 
bev odv ovK eat Ecxatov, oi be év “Ardov 
ToUTOLGL AEyomevor Tovar ETL TE TOUTOV? Eici 

a ? > , \ 34° bé / 
paAXoV Ev EoYaTOS, Kat adnlEeoTaTa ReEyorTES 
ovdey avvTovaet Tais ToLavrais Wuyais atroTpoTris* 
ov yap av éyiyvovTo Tote pnTpadotal Te Kai TOY 

B a\Awv yevyntopwy avooto TWAnyav ToApas. Set 
67) Tas evOade KoNacgeEls TEPL TA TOLAVTA TOUTOLCL 


1 tiuwpdv Winckelmann : timwpidy MSS. 
290 


ae 


a. 


i 


PADD ies etd oe 


oe 





with a Ge eee 





LAWS, BOOK IX 


drachmae, if of the third; and of twenty drachmae, 
if of the fourth class. And the court for such cases 
shall consist of the generals, taxiarchs, phylarchs, and 
hipparchs. 

Laws, it would seem, are made partly for the 
sake of good men, to afford them instruction as to 
what manner of intercourse will best secure for them 
friendly association one with another, and partly also 
for the sake of those who have shunned education, 
and who, being of a stubborn nature, have had no 
softening treatment! to prevent their taking to all 
manner of wickedness. It is because of these men 
that the laws which follow have to be stated,—laws 
which the lawgiver must enact of necessity, on their 
account, although wishing that the need for them may 
neyer arise. Whosoever shall dare to lay hands on 
father or mother, or their progenitors, and to use out- 
rageous violence, fearing neither the wrath of the gods 
above nor that of the Avengers (as they are called) of 
the underworld, but scorning the ancient and world- 
wide traditions (thinking he knows what he knows 
not at all), and shall thus transgress the law,—for 
such a man there is needed some most severe deter- 
rent. Death is not a most severe penalty ; and the 
punishments we are told of in Hades for such 
offences, although more severe than death and 
described most truly, yet fail to prove any deterrent 
to souls such as these,—else we should never find 
cases of matricide and of impiously audacious assaults 
upon other progenitors. Consequently, the punish- 
ments inflicted upon these men here in their lifetime 


1 Cp. 853 D. 





2 rovrov my conj. (so too Burges): tovtwy MSS., edd. 


291 
v2 


PLATO 


tas év TO Shy undev trav ev" Adov reitrecOat 
Kata Sivauw. &oTw On AEyomevov TO peTAa TODTO 
7H0€ Os av TOAMIHOD marépa 7 pnTépa y TOUT@Y 
TaTépas i pntépas TUTTE LH mavials EXOHEVOS: 
Tp@Tov pev oO mpoaruryyxdvav kabatep év ois 
éutrpoo bev Bonbeita, kal 6 pev pétorxos [7H] Eévos 
els mpoedpiay tay ayovev KxareicOw Bonbdr, 
pn BonOycas Sé adevpvyiav ex Ths yYwpas 
devyéta@: 0 S€ un pétorxos BonOav pev ematvov 
exéto, uy BonPav Sé wroyov: Soddos 5é BonOynoas 
bev €reVOepos yiyvécOw, ur) BonOnoas dé mAnyas 
éxaTov TH pdotiys TuTTEécOw, ev ayopa mév av 
yiyyntar TO yuyvopmevov, bm’ ayopavopwv, éav & 
€xTOS ayopas év doTEel, TOV aoTUVOMwY KoNatelW 
Tov émidnuodvta, éday S& Kat aypovs THS ywpas 
TOU, TOUS TOV Aypovopwyv apyovtas. éay 8 €ri- 
YOpLos O TapatvyxXdverv H Tis, €dv Te Tais édy Te 
avip éav 7 ody yuvy, auvvét@ Tas Tov avdctov 
errovondtw 6 Sé un) aptvev apa évexécOw Aros 
Ouoyviov Kal TatTpwov Kata vouov. éav é TIS 
dprAy Sixny aixias yovéwv, mpatov pev peuvyéTo 
aeduyiav é& daoteos eis THY GANV yYopaVv Kal 
mavtav lepav eipyéc Ow pt) 68 eipyouevov Kodalor- 
TwY avTOY aypovomot TAN Yais Kal TavTws ws av 
€OérXwor xatedOwv Sé Oavat@o Enuovcbw. éav 
Sé tis TO TowvT@ baot EédevHepor oupdayy 7) 
cupnin  Tiva ToLavTHY aAXAnY KOoWeviay KOLWw- 


1 [4] bracketed by England. 


292 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


for crimes of this kind must, so far as possible, fall in 
no way short of the punishments in Hades. So the 
next pronouncement shall run thus :—Whosoever 
shall dare to beat his father or mother, or their 
fathers or mothers, if he be not afflicted with mad- 
ness,—in the first place, the bystander shall give 
help, as in the former cases, and the resident Stranger 
who helps shall be invited to a first-row seat at the 
public games, but he who fails to help shall be 
banished from the country for life ; and the non-resi- 
dent Strangershall receive praise if he helps,and blame 
if he does not help ; and the slave who helps shall be 
made free, but if he fails to help he shall be beaten 
with 100 stripes of a scourge by the market-stewards, 
if the assault occur in the market, and if it occur in 
the city, but outside the market-place, the punish- 
ment shall be inflicted by the city-steward in 
residence, and if it occur in any country district, by 
the officers of the country-stewards. And the 
bystander who is a native—whether man, woman, or 
boy—-shall in every case drive off the attacker, 
crying out against his impiety ; and he that fails to 
drive him off shall be liable by law to the curse of 
Zeus, guardian-god of kinship and parentage. And 
if a man be convicted on a charge of outrageous 
assault upon parents, in the first place he shall be 
banished for life from the city to other parts of the 
country, and he shall keep away from all sacred 
places ; and if he fails to keep away, the country- 
stewards shall punish him with stripes, and in any 
other way they choose, and if he returns again he 
shall be punished with death. And if any free man 
voluntarily eat or drink or hold any similar intercourse 
with such an one, or even give him merely a greet- 


293 


PLATO 


E vnon, 7 ral povov evtuyxavov mou MpooamTnrat 
EK@V, pajre els iepov EXOn pndev pnt ets ayo pap 
pnt eis modu dws TpoTepov 7) xadnpnrat, 
vouitov KEKOLW@UNKEVAL aduTnpr@dous TUXNS” éav 
6é arreO ov vou lepa. Kal TON peaivy mapa- 
voLws, ds av TeV (apXovTev aicBopevos pa) 
emrayn Sixny TO TOLOUTO, év evduvars € éoT@ TeV 
KaTNYOPN LAT OV TOV | HeytoTeov év tovto! auto. 

882 dav dé a Sobhos TUTTH TOV _eAevbepov, eit ovv 
Eevov cite dorov, Bon Beir bev 0 TporTuyxavev 
7) KATA TO Tibnpa THY elpnuévnv Enuiav a amoTwweTo, 
cuvdnoarvtes O€ ob mpootuyxavovTes pera Too 

B rAnyevtos mapadovrmv TO adixoupeve o &é Tapa- 
haBon, dnoas év médats Kal partey@oas oTrocas 
av e€dy, pndev BratTeV Tov (Searorny, mapa- 
Sor exciv KexTHoOaL KaTa vojov. 0 6é V6 }.0S 
ore" “Os av éXevGepor dodXos av TUnTY pn TOV 
apxovTov KENEVOYTOV, mapahaBov 0 KERTNEVOS 
mapa Tob TANYEVTOS dedeuevov avTov py Avon 
mpiv av 0 dodXos melon Tov TANYEVTA dEos eivat 

C Tob AeAupevos Civ. Ta auta 6é yuvarki Te éoT@ 
™ pos addphas TEepl TAVT@V TOV ToLoUT@Y VOpLpuer, 
Kal pos avdpas yuvartl xal avdpacr mpos 
yuvaixas. 


1 é@y rodto Bekker: év rourm MSS., Zur. 


294 


LAWS, BOOK IX 


ing when he meets him, he shall not enter any holy 
place or the market or any part of the city until he 
be purified, but he shall regard himself as having 
incurred a share of contagious guilt ; and should he 
disobey the law and illegally defile sacred things and 
the State, any magistrate who notices his case and 
fails to bring him up for trial shall have to face this 
omission as one of the heaviest charges against him 
at his audit. If it be a slave that strikes the free 
man—stranger or citizen—the bystander shall help, 
failing which he shall pay the penalty as fixed 
according to his assessment;+ and the bystanders 
together with the person assaulted shall bind the 
slave, and hand him over to the injured person, and 
he shall take charge of him and bind him in fetters, 
and give him as many stripes with the scourge as he 
pleases, provided that he does not spoil his value to 
the damage of his master, to whose ownership he 
shall hand him over according to law. The law shall 
stand thus :—Whosoever, being a slave, beats a free 
man without order of the magistrates,—him his owner 
shall take over in bonds from the person assaulted, 
and he shall not loose him until the slave have 
convinced the person assaulted that he deserves 
to live loosed from bonds. The same laws shall hold 
good for all such cases when both parties are women, 
or when the plaintiff is a woman and the defendant 
a man, or the plaintiff a man and the defendant a 
woman. 


1 Cp. 880 D. 


295 


884 


885 


B 


I 


Ao. Mera S€ tas aixias mepl mavtos & 
eipynoOw towvee Tt voutpmov Biaiwv mépt: Tov 
> ld / \ / \ * , 
adXoTpiov undéva pndev hépery pndée aye, und 
ad xphobat undevi tTav TOD Tédas, eav pH Telon 
TOV KEeKTHMéVvOV" ex yap 8) TOU ToOLOvTOU TdvTA 
HPTNMéVa TA Eipnuéeva KAKA yeyove Kai eoTL Kal 
éotar. péytota dé 6 TaY AOLTOV ai TOY véwv 
> / \ ef > / / 7 
akoracia, te Kal bBpes: eis péyrota bé, bTav 
eis lepa yiyvertat, Kal diapepovTwas avd peyara, 
étav eis Snuoota Kal ayia 7 KaTa pépn Kowa 
PureTav }} TWar AroV TOLOUT@Y KEKOLY@VNKOTOV 
eis iepa bé idva Kal Tapous Sevtepa Kal Sevrépas. 
eis 5€ yovéas Tpita, ywpis Tav Eumpocber eipnpé- 

e ¢ 4 / \ , ‘A 
vov otav UBpitn tis. TéTapTov Se yévos UBpews, 
étav adpovtiatav Tis TOY apyovTaV ayn } Pépy 
) Xpitai TW Tov éxelvoY pr Teicas avTovs 
méumtov dé TO TOALTLKOY av ein ExdoTOU TOY 
TodTav UBpicbey Sixny éemixadovpevov. ols 87) 
Sotéov eis Kowwov vomov éxacTos. tepoovrAia pev 
yap elpnrat EvrAAHnBSnv, Biaros te Kal NaOpa éav 
/ 
yiyyntat, te xp macyew' boa 5é Aoyw Kal 





1 Cp. 868 C ff., 877 B ff., 930 E ff. 
2 Cp. 941 D, E. 
3 Cp. 854 B ff. 

296 


= 


BOOK X 


atu. Next after cases of outrage we shall state 
for cases of violence one universally inclusive prin- 
ciple of law, to this effect:—No one shall carry or 
drive off anything which belongs to others, nor shall 
he use any of his neighbour’s goods unless he has 
gained the consent of the owner; for from such 
action proceed all the evils above mentioned—past, 
present and to come. Of the rest, the most grave 
are the licentious and outrageous acts of the young; 
and outrages offend most gravely when they are 
directed against sacred things, and they are especially 
grave when they are directed against objects which 
are public as well as holy, or partially public, as 
being shared in by the members of a tribe or other 
similar community. Second, and second in point of 
gravity, come offences against sacred objects and 
tombs that are private; and third, offences against 
parents, when a person commits the outrage other- 
wise than in the cases already described.1 A fourth? 
kind of outrage is when a man, in defiance of the 
magistrates, drives or carries off or uses any of their 
things without their own consent; and a fifth kind 
will be an outrage against the civic right of an 
individual private citizen which calls for judicial 
vindication. To all these severally one all-embrac- 
ing law must be assigned. As to temple-robbing? 
whether done by open violence or secretly, it has 
been already stated summarily what the punishment 
should be ; and in respect of all the outrages, whether 


297 


PLATO 


boa epy” mept Oeovs UBpiver tis heyor i) ™par- 
TOV, TO mapapvdcov vroOewévep _pntéov a Set 
macxev. éotw dy Tobe’ Oeods Hyovpevos eivat 
KATA VOMoUS ovdEls TwTOTE OUTE Epyov aceBes 
eipydoaro EK@V OUTE ovyov adhcey dvopov, ara 
év én) TL TOV Tpidy Tao Xv, 7) TobTO Strep elroy 
ovx HyryOUpEvos, 7 TO SevTEpov GvTAas ov ppovrivew 
avo pore, y] TpiTov evTrapapuOntous eivat Ouciats 
Te Kai evyais Taparyouevous. 

KA. Ti ody 57 Sp@uev av 7 Kal réyorpev mpos 
avtous ; 

ao. "O, ’yabé, éraxovcwpev avTav mpatov & 
T® Katadpoveiy Huwv mpoomaifovtas avTous 
Néyery wavTevopat. 

KA. Ilota 67 ; 

ao. Taidta tay’ av épecynrodrtes eitrotev, “O 
Eéve "A@nvaie nai Aaxedaiponue cai Kvyocte, 
arnOy Réyere. Type yap oi pev TO mapamav 
Deovs ovdaprs vouifopen," oi be [mndev mpav 
ppovriter, oi 8é evxais maparyer Gar, | olous vpets 
Déyere. aftobpev 87, xabarrep vets nEc@xare 
mepl voLon, mply amreively nuiv oKANpos bpas 
Tm poTepov emruxetpeiv meiBew Kal bidaoxew @S 
eiol Aeot, Texpnpla héyouTas ixavd, Kal 6tt 
Bertiovs 4 mapa TO Sixatoy vm TiW@Y S@pov 
Tapatperes Oa KNOUpEVOL. viv pev yap Tavta 
aKovovTes Te Kal Toavd” Erepa TOV Aeyoueveov 
apiotov elvat ToToy TE Kal put opeoy Kal 
pavTewy Kal lepéov Kal ddoov pupiats * puptov 
ove em) To pi Spav ta abdixa tpeTopuefa ot 

1 voulCouwev MSS.: voulCovow Zur., vulg. 
2 uvpideis MSS.: wodAdes Zur., vulg. 

298 


i 


= (ie cel 


a 


am ate” x eREe til 


ee ee wt ee ee 


ot Se 


— 


LAWS, BOOK X 


of word or deed, which a man commits, either by 
tongue or hand, against the gods, we must state the 
punishment he should suffer, after we have first 
delivered the admonition. It shall be as follows :— 
No one who believes, as the laws prescribe, in the 
existence of the gods has ever yet done an impious 
deed voluntarily, or uttered a lawless word: he that 
acts so is in one or other of these three conditions of 
mind—either he does not believe in what I have 
said ; or, secondly, he believes that the gods exist, 
but have no care for men; or, thirdly, he believes 
that they are easy to win over when bribed by 
offerings and prayers.1 

curn. What, then, shall we do or say to such 
people ? 

aTH. Let us listen first, my good sir, to what they, 
as I imagine, say mockingly, in their contempt for 
us, 

cuin. What is it? 

atu. In derision they would probably say this: 
“Q Strangers of Athens, Lacedaemon and Crete, 
what you say is true. Some of us do not believe in 
gods at all; others of us believe in gods of the kinds 
you mention. So we claim now, as you claimed in 
the matter of laws, that before threatening us harshly, 
you should first try to convince and teach us, by 
producing adequate proofs, that gods exist, and that 
they are too good to be wheedled by gifts and turned 
aside from justice. For as it is, this and such as this is 
the account of them we hear from those whoare reputed 
the best of poets, orators, seers, priests, and thousands 
upon thousands of others; and consequently most of 
us, instead of seeking to avoid wrong-doing, do the 


1 Cp. Rep. 364 B ff. 
299 


PLATO 


mwretotoL, Spacavtes 8 ékaxeicPar treipwpmeba. 
E mapa dé 8 vonoderayv packovTav eivat 1) 
aypiov andra Tipe pon, atvobpev mevOot T™ p@rov 
pnobar mpos nds, eb pn TOAD Berrio TOV 
adXov AéyovTas mept Seay as elatv, aX’ ody 
Berrio ye T pos anrnOevav: Kal Taxa mevBoiped” 
av isws opiv. aXn’ emexerpetre, el Te méTpLov 

Aéyomev, eitrety & m poxahoupeba. 
KA. Ovcody, a @ Eeve, Sone’ padiov €f eiva anrGevov- 

886 Tas Aéyetv ws eial Peoi ; 

Ao. Ids; 

KA. Ilp@tov pev yh Kal Hrvos adotpa Te Ta 
Evuravta xal ta Tov wpev SiaKeKoopnpéva | 
Kaas otTwWS, éviauTois Te Kal punol SvecAnppéva: 
Kat Ott mavtes “EdXXnvés te Kal BapBapor 
vouifovow elvat Geovs. j 

Ae. DoPRodpai Yes @ paxapte, TOUS pox dnpods, 
ov yap 5 Tote elmo av os ye aidovpat, py} 
TOS NUoVY KATAppOViTwoL. bets pev yap ovK 
ite avT@v Tépt THY THs d:apOopas* aitiav, arn’ 
Hryeta Be axpareia® povov noovav TE ral émubu- 

B pray én) tov aceBh Biov éppacOa tas Wuyas 
auTav. 

KA. To 6€ ti mpos TovToLs aitioy av, w Eéve, 
ein ; 

Ao. Lyedov 6 raytatacw tpeis Ew favtes 
ovx ay eldcinte, GAA twas av ravOavot. 


/ \ a ‘ \ a - 

KA. Tt 67 TovTO ppaters Ta vov ; F 
Ae. "Apadia Tis para yarer? Soxodca elvat Ie 
peyiorn ppovnors. 
1 S:apPopas Cornarius: diapopas MSS. i 


2 axparelg MSS.: 80 &kpactay Zur. 
300 F 





LAWS, BOOK X 


wrong and then try to make it good. Now from law- 
givers like you, who assert that you are gentle 
rather than severe, we claim that you should deal 
with us first by way of persuasion; and if what 
you. say about the existence of the gods is superior 
to the arguments of others in point of truth, even 
though it be but little superior in eloquence, then 
probably you would succeed in convincing us. Try 
then, if you think this reasonable, to meet our 
challenge.” 

‘cuin. Surely it seems easy, Stranger, to assert 
with truth that gods exist? 

--aTH. How so? 

cuin. First, there is the evidence of the earth, 
the sun, the stars, and all the universe, and the 
beautiful ordering of the seasons, marked out by 
years and months; and then there is the further 
fact that all Greeks and barbarians believe in the 
existence of gods. 

ATH. My dear sir, these bad men cause me alarm 
—for I will never call it “ awe ’’—lest haply they scoff 
at us. For the cause of the corruption in their case is 
one you are not aware of; since you imagine that it 
is solely by their incontinence in regard to pleasures 
and desires that their souls are impelled to that 
impious life of theirs. 

cuin. What other cause can there be, Stranger, 
besides this ? 

ata. One which you, who live elsewhere, could 
hardly have any knowledge of or notice at all. 

cin. What is this cause you are now speaking 
of ? 

aTH. A very grievous unwisdom which is reputed 
to be the height of wisdom. 


301 


PLATO 


KA. Ids Aéeryets 5 ; 

Ae. Eiolv 9 Hpiv év yedupace Aoryou kelpevot, ot 
map vpiv ovK cial be dperiy ToheTeias, as ey 
pavd ave, ot pev év Teoe HET pots, of 5€ Kal dvev 
pHETpar, AéyorTes Tepe Gedy, ot bev TahavoTarot, 
@s yéryovev 7) TpoTn puns ovpavod TOV TE GXdw?, 
mpoiovtes 6€ TAS apxis ov TOAD Geoyoviav b- 
efépyovtat, yevouevol Te WS TpOS GAARAOUS @pi- 
Anoav. & Tots dxovovow ec pev eis ado TL 
KaAa@S 7) py Karas éxet, ov pastor émuTipay 
marawois ovat, els pEVTOL yovewy TE Oepameias 
Kal Tepes ovK ay éyorye ToTe éTawav el ouput 
ovTe ws wpédipa oUTE @S TO TapdTay dvTwS 
elpntal. Ta pev ody by TOY apxaiwy Tépt peOei- 
ob Kal XaupEereo, Kal omy Geoice pirov reyéo Ow 
TauTy” Ta Oé Tov véwy nuiv wal copay airiabrjre 
bmn Kax@y aitia. 706¢ ow ob Tay ToLovT@Y 
eepryafovrar Aoyor. emo yap kal cov, Strap 
TEK pm pea Aéyomev @S cial Geoi, tadta avta 
mpopépovtes, HALov Te Kal ceAnvnY Kal aoTpa 
kal yiv ws Ocovs cat Ocia dvta, iT TOV copav 
ToUTwY avaTeTetopevon Av A€yoley wS YAY TE 
Kal iMouvs dvta aita Kal oddév TOY avOpwrelwv 
mpayuatov ppovtivew Suvapeva, Noyouos S€ TAVTA 
ev Tws els TO TIOavoY TepiTET Enea. 

KA. Xahemov ye Aoyov, @ féve, ElpnKas TUY- 
xavers, el ye els hv povov" vov be 6 de TALTONAOL 
Tuy avoucw, éTt yadeTT@TEpoOV Av Ein. 





1 By Hesiod, Pherecydes, etc. 
2 Materialists such as Democritus. 


302 


Se 


LAWS, BOOK X 


“ein, What do you mean? 

aTH. We at Athens have accounts! preserved in 
writing (though, I am told, such do not exist in your 
country, owing to the excellence of your polity), 
some of them being in a kind of metre, others with- 
out metre, telling about the gods: the oldest of 
these accounts relate how the first substance of 
Heaven and all else came into being, and shortly 
after the beginning they go on to give a detailed 
theogony, arid to tell how, after they were born, 
the gods associated with one another. These 
accounts, whether good or bad for the hearers in 
other respects, it is hard for us to censure because 
of their antiquity ; but as regards the tendance and 
respect due to parents, I certainly would never praise 
them or say that they are either helpful or whoily 
true accounts. Such ancient accounts, however, we 
may pass over and dismiss: let them be told in the 
way best pleasing to the gods. It is rather the | 
novel views of our modern scientists? that we must 
hold responsible as the cause of mischief. For the 
result of the arguments of such people is this,—that 
when you and I try to prove the existence of the 
gods by pointing to these very objects—sun, moon, 
stars, and earth—as instances of deity and divinity, 
people who have been converted by these scientists 
will assert that these things are simply earth and 
stone, incapable of paying any heed to human affairs, 
and that these beliefs of ours are speciously tricked 
out with arguments to make them plausible. 


cuin. The assertion you mention, Stranger, is 
indeed a dangerous one, even if it stood alone; but 
now that such assertions are legion, the danger is 


still greater. 
393 


PLATO 


ao. Ti ody by; Tt Aéyowev; ti ypy Spav 
Huas ; MoTepov amodoynowpeOa olov Katnyo- 
pnoavtos Tivos év aceBéow avOpwros nuar, 
887 [fevyovor tept tis vopobecias, Aéyouvow]! ws 
dewa épyaloucOa vowobetodvtes ws dvTwv Oedy ; 
nH Xaipew édoavtes érl tos vopouvs tpeTapeba 
Tad, pL) Kal TO Tpooluov Huiv paKkpoTepov 
ylyyntat TOV vouwy ; ov yap Tt Bpaxvs 0 AOyos 
extabeis av yiyvoito, ef toicw émiOupodow 
aceBeiv Ta pev atrodeiEatwev petplws Tols NOyots, 
av éppatov Seiv mépse réyeww, Tov Sé eis poBov 
TpeYrarper, Ta S€ ducyepaivery toioartes, boa 
mpéTer peTa TaDTA On vopober orev. 

B xa. “AA, @ Eéve, TworrdKis pev ws ye ev 
Oriyo Ypov@ TOUT avTO eipynKapEv, ws OVdEeY eV 
TO Tapovte Set rpotiudv Bpaxvroyiay uadrov 7 
unKos* ovodels yap nuds, TO Neyouevov, ereiyov 
dieKer’ yedoiov dy Kal hadrov TO mpd Tav BeXTic- 
tov Ta Bpayvtepa aipoupévous daiverOar. Sdia- 
déper © ov cpuikpoy apyas yé was TiUOavoTnTa 
Tlva TOvS AGyous Huav Exel, Ws Beot T eicl Kal 
ayaboi, Sixny timaytes Svapepdvtwas avOperwv: 

C oyedov yap Todto Huiv bwép dmdyt@v TOY vopov 
KddAMoTOV Te Kal apioTov Tpooipiov ay ein. 
undev ody Svaxepavavtes unde érreryOévTes, HvTwa 
mote éxouev Suva eis TeOw® THY TOLOVTwY 


1 [pevyovot . . . Aéyovow] I bracket. 


304 





LAWS, BOOK X 


aTH, What then? What shall we say? What 
must we do? Are we to make our defence as it 
were before a court of impious men, where someone 
had accused us of doing something dreadful by 
assuming in our legislation the existence of gods? 
Or shall we rather dismiss the whole subject and 
revert again to our laws, lest our prelude prove 
actually more lengthy than the laws? For indeed 
our discourse would be extended in no small degree 
if we were to furnish those men who desire to be 
impious with an adequate demonstration by means of 
argument concerning those subjects which ought, as 
they claimed, to be discussed, and so to convert 
them to fear of the gods, and then finally, when we 
had caused them to shrink from irreligion, to proceed 
to enact the appropriate laws, 

etn, Still, Stranger, we have frequently (con- 
sidering the shortness of the time) made! this very 
statement,—that we have no need on the present 
occasion to prefer brevity of speech to lengthiness 
(for, as the saying goes, “no one is chasing on our 
heels’); and to show ourselves choosing the briefest 
in preference to the best would be mean and ridicu- 
lous. And it is of the highest importance that our 
arguments, showing that the gods exist and that they 
are good and honour justice more than do men, 
should by all means possess some degree of persuasive- 
ness ; for such a prelude is the best we could have in 
defence, as one may say, of all our laws. So without 
any repugnance or undue haste, and with all the 
capacity we have for endowing such arguments with 

1 Cp. 701 C, D ; 858 A ff.: all this discussion is supposed 


to have taken ‘place on one and the same day,—hence the ref. 
to ‘shortness of time.” 


3°95 
VOL, It. x 


PLATO 


oywv, pndev arobéwevor SuveFEopev eis TO 
duvarov ikavas. 

Ae. Evyny pot doxet mapaxaneiy 0 eyopevos 
vm aod viv Aoyos, érretd7) Tm pobvpos ouvreivels® 
HEARew be ovKETL éyxwpet eye. pépe 87, TOs 
ay Tus wn Ouu@ Aéyou rept Gedy QS etoty 5 avayen 
yap on Xareras pépew Kal puceiv ékelvous of 

D rovtwy Hiv airvou TOV hoyou. yeyevnyTar Kal 
yiyvoutas voy, ov mecBopevor Tots peas, ods €x 
veo maidmyv éte év yadake Tpepopevor Tpopav 
TE KOVOV Kal pnTépov, olov év émpoais pera TE 
malas Kal pera amovens heyouevon, Kal meta 
Ouatav év evxais avrous dxovovrés TE, Kal dxpers 
opavres émopéevas avrois as Horota 6 ye véos opa 
Te Kal axovet TpaTTomévas Ovovrey, év omoven 
<te>? Th peylotn Tos a’Tav yovéas vTEp 
avTav Te Kal exeivov éomovdakoras, <xal>* 
ws bTe paduora odor Jeots evyais mpoc diaheyo- 
pévous Kal ixeretats, dvatéhdovT os Te #Alov Kal 
cehHvns Kal ™ pos duc pas lovTwy Tpoxviaers 
dua Kal Tpookvynaers aKovovTEs Te Kal Op@VvTes 
“EXijver TE Kal BapBapor TAVT@V év ouppopais 
mavrolats éXopeveov Kal év evmrparyials, ov; @S 
ovK dvT@V, GAN’ ws bTL padiota dv T@Y Kal ovdaun 
vTrowiay évdiSov Tov @s ovK. etal Geoi,—rovTov 
&) TAVT@V OTOL KaTappovncavTes ovoe ef én os 
ixavod Aoyou, ws daiev dv boot Kai o LK pov vow 
KEKTHVTAL, vov avarynatovow Has eye a 
888 Aéyouev, THs TOvTOUS. av TIs ev TpaéoL hOYoLS 


Phe 


1 <re> added by W. R. Paton, England. 
2 <xal> added by Ast, England. , 


306 





LAWS, BOOK X 


persuasiveness, let us expound them as fully” as we 
can, and without any reservation. 
atu. This speech of yours seems to me to call 
for a prefatory prayer, seeing that you are so eager 
and ready; nor is it possible any longer to defer 
our statement. Come, then; how is one to argue 
on behalf of the existence of the gods without 
passion ? For we needs must be vexed and indignant 
with the men who have been, and now are, re- 
sponsible for laying on us this burden of argument, 
through their disbelief in those stories which they 
_used to hear, while infants and sucklings, from the 
lips of their nurses and mothers—stories chanted to 
them, as it were, in lullabies, whether in jest or in 
earnest; and the same stories they heard repeated 
also in prayers at sacrifices, and they saw spectacles 
which illustrated them, of the kind which the young 
delight to see and hear when performed at sacrifices ; 
and their own parents they saw showing the utmost 
zeal on behalf of themselves and their children in 
addressing the gods in prayers and supplications, as 
though they most certainly existed; and at the 
rising and setting of the sun and moon they heard 
and saw the prostrations and devotions of all the 
Greeks and barbarians, under all conditions of ad- 
versity and prosperity, directed to these luminaries, 
not as though they were not gods, but as though 
they most certainly were gods beyond the shadow 
of a doubt—all this evidence is contemned by these 
people, and that for no sufficient reason, as everyone 
endowed with a grain of sense would affirm; and so 
they are now forcing us to enter on our present 
argument. How, I ask, can one possibly use mild 
terms in admonishing such men, and at the same 
3°7 
x2 


PLATO 


A A CA , \ fel n 
dvvatto vovberav apa SiddocKxew Tepl Oe@v mpa- 
¢ 9: of, / / > \ bcd a 
Tov ws eiai; ToApntéov bé od yap dua ye Sel 
pavivat Tovs wey UTO aLmapyias HOovAS mar, 
tovs & vmod tod Ouvpodebar tois TovovTors. 
v A 7.3.0 / ” Lal LA 
Itw 87 mpoppnots tordde Tis ADvpos Tots odTw 
\ 4 /, \ la 4, 
Thv Sidvorav SiePOappévois, Kat Néywpev TPdws, 
aBécavtes Tov Ovpov, as évi Svadreyopmevor TOV 
torovTav, “QO, rai, véos el: mpoimy Sé oe 6 ypovos 
B rroinoet TARA wv viv Sokdbers wetaBarovTa eri 
tavavtia tiOecOar. wepipervoy ovv eis ToTE 
KpLTNS Tepl TOV meyioTev yiyverOar éyioToV 
dé 6 viv oddev yet ov, TO Tepl Tods Oeods opOds 
diavonbévta Civ Kad@s 7 wy. wpwtov Sé Trepl 
avta@v év Te meya cot wnvUwY ovK ay TOTE haveiny 
, \ t Y > \ ’ > O\ © \ 
wevdys, TO ToLrovee’ ov av povos obdé oi col 
iro. mpato Kal mpatov tavtny b0fav trepl 
Oedy Exxere, yiyvovtas Oé del TEtoUS 7 EXATTOUS 
TAavTHY THY vooov éyovTES. TOE TOiVUY ToL Tapa- 
\ > a Lal / \ bé 
yeyovas av’T@yv Toddoiot Ppdform’ av, TO pndeva 
C r@ote AaBovta éx véov Tavtny tHv Sokav repi 
a ‘ - 
Gedy, @s ovK eici, StaTeXeaat TPOS Ypas peétv- 
avta év TavTn TH Svavonoe Ta Sv0 pévtor TAO 
mept Oeovs peivat, Todrotct pev ov, peivar bé 
ov tLot, TO Tovs Beods elvar pév, ppovtifew Se 
ovdev Tov avOpwrivev, Kal TO meTa TOTO, ws 
3 4 
dpovtifover pév, evrapapvOnro. 8 cial Odpace 
kal evyais. Td 5) cages av yevomevov cor Tepl 
308 


LAWS, BOOK X 


time teach them, to begin with, that the gods do 
exist? Yet one must bravely attempt the task ; for 
it would never do for both parties to be enraged at 
once,—the one owing to greed for pleasure, the 
other with indignation at men like them. 

So let our prefatory address to the men thus corrup- 
ted in mind be dispassionate in tone, and, quenching 
our passion, let us speak mildly, as though we were 
conversing with one particular person of the kind 
described, in the following terms: “My child, you 
are still young, and time as it advances will cause 
you to reverse many of the opinions you now hold: 
so wait till then before pronouncing judgment on 
matters of most grave importance ; and of these the 
gravest of all—though at present you regard it as 
naught—is the question of holding a right view 
about the gods and so living well, or the opposite. 
Now in the first place, I should be saying what is 
irrefutably true if I pointed out to you this signal 
fact, that neither you by yourself nor yet your friends 
are the first and foremost to adopt this opinion about 
the gods; rather is it true that people who suffer 
from this disease are always springing up, in greater 
or less numbers. But I, who have met with many 
of these people, would declare this to you, that not 
a single man who from his youth has adopted this 
opinion, that the gods have no existence, has ever 
yet continued till old age constant in the same view ; 
but the other two false notions about the gods do 
remain—not, indeed, with many, but still with 
some,—the notion, namely, that the gods exist, but 
pay no heed to human affairs, and the other notion 
that they do pay heed, but are easily won over by 
prayers and offerings. For a doctrine about them 


309 


D 


E 


889 


PLATO 


avTav Kara Siva Soya, a av épuol metOn, Tepl- 
pevets avacKkoTav elite obras elite Gddws Exel, 
muvdavomevos mapa Te TOV dd\Xov Kal 57) Kal 
padiora Kai Tapa TOU vomob ero. év 6€ 67 
TOUT® TO Xpovm a) TohunonS mept Geods pn dev 
éoeBiioar. TetpaTéov yap T® TOvS vopous | oot 
reBevre vov kal eis adis SiSdoneww Tepl avT@v 
TOUTMY ws EXEL. 

KA. Kadd\dol jyiv, & Eéve, uéxpe ye Tov viv 
ELpNTAL. 

ao, Llavtatace pev ovv, a Méyrré Te Kab 
Kr«wia: AeAnOapev é nas avTovs eis Oavpac- 
TOV NOYyov EMTETTWKOTES. 

KA. Tov trofov oy Nevers ; 

Ao. Tov Tapa morrois do€atouevov eivat 
copwrarov am dvTov oywr. 

KA. Dpae’ é eTL cadéatepov. 

Ae - Néyouot TOU Tes os mdvra éortt Ta 
mpdryuara yoyvomeva, Kal yevopeva Kal yevnoo- 
peva Ta pev pvoe, Ta Sé TUyn, Ta Se Sia 
TEXVNV. 

KA. Ovxodv KANDS ; 

AQ. Eixos YE, Tot mou copovs avopas 6p0as 
eye. em opevot ye may avrois aoxewpeda Tovs 
exeiOev, Ti ToTE Kal TUYXaVoVaL Siavoovpevot. 

KA. Ilavtas, 

Ao. “Eotxe, haci, ta pev peyote avTtav Kal 
KadMoTa amepy ater Gat puow kal Tuyny, Ta O€ 
ouLKporepa TEXUND, iy bn mapa pucews Aap Ba- 
vovgay THY TOV peydhov Kal Tpaotov yeverw 
epyov Tharrety Kai TexraiverOat TavTa Ta o[t- 
Kpotepa, & 8) TeyviKa mwavTes mMporaryopevopmer. 
310 


LAWS, BOOK X 


that is to prove the truest you can possibly form 
you will, if you take my advice, wait, considering 
the while whether the truth stands thus or other- 
wise, and making enquiries not only from all other 
men, but especially from the lawgiver; and in the 
meantime do not dare to be guilty of any impiety 
in respect of the gods. For it must be the en- 
deavour of him who is legislating for you both now 
and hereafter to instruct you in the truth of these 
matters. 
cco. Our statement.thus far, Stranger, is most 
excellent. 

atH. Very true,O Megillus and Clinias; but we 
have plunged unawares into a wondrous argument. 
_eLrn. What is it you mean? 

atH. That which most people account to be the 
most scientific of all arguments, 
_ cuin. Explain more clearly. 

atu. It is stated by some that all things which 
are coming into existence, or have or will come into 
existence, do so partly by nature, partly by art, and 
partly owing to chance. 

cin. Is it not a right statement ? 

atu. It is likely, to be sure, that what men of 
science say is true. Anyhow, let us follow them up, 
and consider what it is that the people in their camp 
really intend. 

cin. By all means let us do so. 

atu. It is evident, they assert, that the greatest 
and most. beautiful things. are the work of nature 
and of chance, and the lesser things that of art,— 
for art receives from nature the great and primary 
products as existing, and itself moulds and shapes all 
the smaller ones, which we commonly call “ artificial.” 


311 


PLATO 


KA. Ilds Aeyers ; 

Bae. *08' e ert capécrepov épd. aip kai bdwp 
Kal yiy Kal aépa pucet mavtTa elvar kab TUXD 
pact, TEXYY dé ovdev ToUT@Y" Kal Ta peta tabTa 
ad ToLATA, ys TE Kal nrtouv Kal ceAnvnS ac- 
Tpwv TE mépl, bua TOUT@V yeryovevat TAVTEABS 
ovT@V aap ixov" tuxn S€ hepomeva TH THs Suva- 
pews Exacta éxdo Tov, Eu érraxev dpporrovta. 
oixelws TOS, Geppa puxpois i Enpa mpos oypa 

C ral wartaxa mpos oKxdnpa, cal Tavra ordoa TH 
Tov évavTioy Kpacet ward TUXNY e& avayens 
ocvvexepacOn, TavTy Kal Kata Tabra obT@ yeryev- 
vnKevat Tov Te ovpavoy 6hov Kat TavTa oToca 
Kat’ ovpavov, Kal faa ad Kal pura Evpravta, 
opav macdv &x TOUT@Y YyEvOLEeVO”, ov dia voor, 
paciv, ovde did Tiva Geov ovee bia TéeYVNV, GAXA 
0 AEyouer, pices Kal TOXN. TexVnV Y tarepov 
eK TOUT@D voTépav yevowerny, avuT ny Ovntny €x 
Aunt ov, oTepa yeyenvnkevat mao.as Twas a1- 

D Geias ob shodpa petexovoas, adda eldar’ arta 
Evyyerij € EavTov, ob’ 9 ypadixn ryevud Kal HovatKy 
kal Soa TAUTALS eat ouvepOor TEXvaL. ai bé 
Th Kal omovdatov apa yevvaot TaY TEXVeY, civat 
TavTas OTdTaL wh pucer éxolvacar Ty aitav 
Sivapuy, olov av lar pin Kal ‘yewpytkn Kal yup 
vagTLKn. cal 89 Kab tiv monuTeKny o pL pov TL 
HE pos eivai pace Kowovodaay » pucer, TEXYD be 
TO TOAU' oUT@ O€ Kat THV vopobeciay magav ov 

E dice, réyvn dé, fs ovK adnOeis eivar tas Oécers. 


1 kowwvovoay: xoivwrovy MSS. (ris mwoditixgs H. Richards, 
England). 


312 


i A ee ee 


LAWS, BOOK X 


cuin. How do you mean? 
atu. I will explain it more clearly. Fire and 
water and earth and air, they say, all exist by 
nature and chance, and none of them by art; and 
by means of these, which are wholly inanimate, the 
bodies which come next—those, namely, of the earth, 
sun, moon and stars—have been brought into ex- 
istence. It is by chance all these elements move, \ 
by the interplay of their respective forces, and 
as they meet together and combine fit- 
tingly —hot with cold, dry with moist, soft with 
hard, and all such necessary mixtures as result from 
the chance combination of these opposites,—in this 
way and by these means they have brought into 
being the whole Heaven and all that is in the 
Heaven, and all animals, too, and plants—after that 
all the seasons had arisen from these elements; and 
all this, as they assert, not owing to reason, nor to 
any god or art, but owing, as we have said, to nature 
and chance.! As a later product of these, art comes 
later ; and it, being mortal itself and of mortal birth, 
begets later playthings which share but little in 
truth, being images of a sort akin to the arts them- 
selves—images such as painting begets, and music, 
and the arts which accompany these. Those arts 
which really produce something serious are such as 
share their effect with nature—like medicine, agri- 
culture, and gymnastic. Politics too, as they say, 
shares to a small extent in nature, but mostly in art ; 
and in like manner all legislation which is based on 
untrue assumptions is due, not te nature, but to art. 
1 This is a summary of the doctrines of the Atomists 
{Leucippus and Democritus) who denied the creative agency 


of Reason. Similar views were taught, later, by Epicurus 
and Lucretius, 


313 


PLATO 


KA. Ils deyers ; 

AQ. Gers, o paKapre, elvat T™pa@rov gacw 
ovToL TEXYY, ov pucet aXXa Tier Vopots, Kal TOU- 
Tous ddAouvs adAn, Om Exacrot éavtoiot * ouv- 
@poroynoav vopoberovpevor' Kal & Kal Ta Kaa 
dvoer pev adda eivat, VOL@ be érepa’ ta 6é 81) 
dixata ovd eivar TO Tapamav pice, aXn 
audia Bnrobvtas Siateneiv ardprors Kal peTa- 
TWeuevous del tabra: a é av peTdOovrae Kal 
éray, TOTE Kupia exact elvat, yeyvoueva TEX 
Kal Tots VOpOLS, arr’ ov 8 Ti vce. TabT 
éortiv, ® pido, aTavta avdpav copa Tapa véots 
avOpaross, iduwT@v TE Kal ToUnTan, pacKovtov 
elvat TO SuxacoTratov 6 Ti TIS av vind Biafopevos, 
bev doéBevai Te avO porous éumimtovar veots, 
@$ ovK dvT@Y OEedv oious 0 vowos TMpooTaTTEL 
dtavoeio bar Seiv, ordoes te Sia TadTa, EXKOVTMY 
mpos Tov Kata vow opOov Biov, bs éott TH 
anrnbeia KpatobvTa civ Tov ad\XrXov Kal pny 
Sovrevovta éréporor Kara _vopov. 

B- xa. Olov diedHrvoas, a @ Eve, ovyov Kal Bony 
@Bnv avOporroy véwy Snuocia modect Te Kal 
idtows olKors. 

ao. “ArdnOH pévtor A€yets, @ Krevvia. ti ovv 


¥ éavrocot MSS. : Exdoros Zur. 





1 A view ascribed to Critias. 

2 Cp. Ar. Eth. N. 1094" 14 ff. 

‘8 This antithesis between ‘ Nature” (pvois) and ‘*Con- 
vention” (vyéuos) was a familiar one in ethical and political 
discussion from the time of the Sophists. The supremacy of 
‘* Nature,” as an ethical principle, was maintained (it is said) 


314 


5 


OP tewes: 





LAWS, BOOK X 


cuin. What do you mean? 

atu. The first statement, my. dear sir, which 
these people make about the gods is that they exist 
by art and not by nature,—by certain legal con- 
ventions! which differ from place to place, according 
as each tribe agreed when forming their laws. They 
assert, moreover, that there is one class of things 
beautiful by nature, and another class beautiful by 
convention”; while as to things just, they do not 
exist at all by nature; but men are constantly in 
dispute about them and continually altering them, 
and whatever alteration they make at any time is 
at that time authoritative, though it owes its ex- 
istence to art and the laws, and not in any way to 
nature. All these, my friends, are views which 
young people imbibe from men of science, both 
prose-writers and poets, who maintain that . the 
height of justice is to succeed by force ; whence it 
comes that the young people are afflicted with a 
plague of impiety, as though the gods were not 
such as the law commands us to conceive them; 
and, because of this, factions also arise, when these 
teachers attract them towards the life that is right 
“according to nature,” which consists in being master 
over the rest in reality, instead of being a slave to 
others according to legal convention.* 

cus. What a horrible statement you have de- 
scribed, Stranger! And what widespread corruption 
of the young in private families as well as publicly 
in the States! 

atu. That is indeed true, Clinias. What, then, 


by Hippius and Prodicus ; that of ‘‘ Convention,” by Prota- 


goras and Gorgias: Plato goes behind both to the higher 
principle of Reason (voids), cp. Introd. p. xiv. 


315 


PLATO 


oles yphnvat Spav tov vopobérny ottw TovTwr - 
Tada. Tapeckevacpévwov; 7) povoy arretNetv 
otavta év TH mode Evurract Tois avOpwrots, 
ws ef wp» dyoovoty eivat Oeods Kal StavonOnoovtTat 
So€dfovres tovovTtovs olovs dyalv o vomos* Kal 
mept KadXov Kal dixal@y Kal Tepl amdytT@v Tov 

C peyiotwv 0 avTos Aoyos, boa 8+ mpos apeTny 
Teivel Kal Kakiav, ws Set TadTa oUTw TpaTTELV 
Stavoovpévous Orntep av o vopobéTns Udnynantat 
ypadwv: os 8 adv pi mapéxyntat éavtov ois 
vopmois evTrecOn, Tov pev Seiv teOvavar, tov 5é 
Twa TAnyais Kal Seapois, Tov 5é atepiats, dNdous 
Sé meviais KorabecOa kal puyaiss metOe S€ Tots 
avOporos, aya tiWévta adbtois Tods vopous, 
pndepiay eOérew? rois NOyors TpogdTToVTA Ets 
dvvapiv jpepodv ; 

D xa. Mydapds, @ Eéve, adr’ eltep Tuyyavet 
ye ovca Kal opixpa rem Tis TEepl TA ToOLadTA, 
Sef pndaun Kapvew tov ye afvov Kal opixpod 
vowobérny, GAA Tacav, TO eyouevov, Pwvny 
iévta T@ Tadar@ [vou@]® emixovpov yiyverPat 
Adyo, ws cial Oeol Kal doa viv by SuprOes ov, 
Kai 6) Kal vou» ait@ BonOjcm Kat TéxXVy, ws 
éotov dice  Pvcews ovy HrTovi,* eimep vow 
yé ote yervnpata Kata oyov opOdv, as? av 
Te Aévyew pot paiver Kal éyo cor TigTEvw Ta viv. 

ae. °O rpoduporate Krevvia, ri 8; ob yadera 


1 §) Apelt: 5¢ MSS.: re Zur., vulg. 

2 é6érew: Exew MSS., edd. (susp. England). 

3 [yéu@] bracketed by Winckelmann, England. 
4 #rromt Hermann: toi. MSS. 

5 &s Stallbaum: ty MSS, 


316 


LAWS, BOOK X 


do you think the lawgiver ought to do, seeing that 
these people have been armed in this way for a long 
_ time past? Should he merely stand up in the city 

and threaten all the people that unless they affirm 
that the gods exist and conceive them in their minds 
to be such as the law maintains; and so likewise 
with regard to the beautiful and the just and all 
the greatest things, as many as relate to virtue and 
vice, that they must regard and perform these in the 
way prescribed by the lawgiver in his writings; and 
that whosoever fails to show himself obedient to the 
laws must either be put to death or else be punished, 
in one case by stripes and imprisonment, in another 
by degradation, in others by poverty and exile? 
But as to persuasion, should the lawgiver, while 
enacting the people’s laws, refuse to blend any 
persuasion with his statements, and thus tame them 
so far as possible ? 

cin. Certainly not, Stranger; on the contrary, 
if persuasion can be applied in such matters in even 
the smallest degree, no lawgiver who is of the 
slightest account must ever grow weary, but must 
(as they say) “leave no stone unturned” ? to reinforce 
the ancient saying that gods exist, and all else that 
you recounted just now; and law itself he must also 
defend and art, as things which exist by nature or 
by a cause not inferior to nature, since according to 
right reason they are the offspring of mind, even as 
you are now, as [ think, asserting; and I agree with 
you. 

atH, What now, my most ardent Clinias? Are 


1 Cp. 634D, E; 8598, al. 
? Literally, ‘‘utter every voice” (leave nothing unsaid). 


317 


PLATO 


E ré é€ott Evvaxorovbeiv Aoyous obtws eis WAHON 
Aeyomeva, wHKN Te av KERTNTOL dv@adrvyla 3 
KA. Ti bai, @ Eéve ; - epl BENS Hey ral 
povakns ovUT@ papa A€yovTas Hypas avrous 
Teplepetvaper, mepl Gedy be Kal TOV TOLOUTMY 
ovx rouevobpen ; > Kal poy Kal vopobecta yé 
éoti Tou TH peta ppovicecs peyiaTn BonBeva, 
891 d:671 Ta meph vOMous TpogTaypara ey ypappace 
TeOevta, @s daoovra els Tayta. xpovov EAeyXOV, 
TAVTWS Tpepel, @oTE OUT el xarera Kar’ apxas 
dxovew. é€oTi poBytéor, a y éorat Kal TO 
Suc pabet TONGKIS ETAVLOVTL TKOTEW, OUTE Et 
paKpi, opehipa bé bia TavTa Aoyou ovdauy 
éyer ovde 6 Savoy emouye elvat paiverar TO pi) Ov 
BonOeiv tovtos Tots AOyors TavTa avdpa KaTa 
Svvamy. 
ME. “Apiota, @ Eéve, Soxet wor Neyer KXewwias. 
Bao. Kal para ye, © Méyirre: roimréoy Te as 
éyer. Kal yap ef pH KaTecTrappévol Hoav oi 
ToLovTOL AOyou év Tols Taow @s €70s el reiv 
avO porous, ovdey ay det Tov emapuvovvTov 
oywr ws cial Oeoi- vov bé avayKn. vomors ouv 
Stag Derpopévors Tots Heyl tous bo Kaxav avOpo- 
mov Tiva Kal wadrov 7 ppm BonOeiv 7} vopo- 
Oétnv ;y 
ME. Ovx éo7uv. 
ae. “Adra 87 Aéye por ad, Krewia, kai 
Cov: xowwvov yap Set ce civat TOY oywv" 





1 In Books I and II. 
2 Cp. 811 D. 


318 


LAWS, BOOK X 


not statements thus made to the masses difficult for 
us to keep up with in argument, and do they not 
also involve us in arguments portentously long ? 

cun. Well now, Stranger, if we had patience 
with ourselves when we discoursed at such length 
on the subjects of drinking and music,! shall we 
not exercise patience in dealing with the gods and 
similar subjects? Moreover,.such a discourse is of 
the greatest help for intelligent legislation, since 
legal ordinances when put in writing remain wholly 
unchanged, as though ready to submit to examination 
for all time, so that one need have no fear even if 
they are hard to listen to at first, seeing that even 
the veriest dullard can come back frequently to 
examine them, nor yet if they are lengthy, provided 
that they are beneficial. Consequently, in my 
opinion, it could not possibly be either reasonable 
or pious for any man to refrain from lending his 
aid to such arguments to the best of his power.? 

mec. What Clinias says, Stranger, is, I think, 
most excellent. 

aTH. Most certainly it is, Megillus; and we must 
do as he says. For if the assertions mentioned had 
not been sown broadcast well-nigh over the whole 
world of men, there would have been no need of 
counter-arguments to defend the existence of the 
gods; but as it is, they are necessary. For when 
the greatest laws are being destroyed by wicked 
men, who is more bound to come to their rescue 
than the lawgiver? 

MEG. No one. 

aTH. Come now, Clinias, do you ‘also answer 
me again, for you too must take a hand in the 
argument) : it appears that the person who makes 


319 


PLATO 


Kuwodvvever yap 0 Eyov taiTa Tip Kai Ldwp 
Kai yhv Kal dépa mpa@ta hyeic0ar Tov TavT@Y 
elvat, kal tip dvow dvonatew tadta avta, 
wuxyny S€ é« tovtwy taortepov. Eorxe S€ ov 
Kwouvevew, GAAA OvTwS oHpaivew TadTa Hiv 
TO OVO. 

KA. Ilavu pév odv. 

ao. "Ap’ ody mpos Aids oloy anynv tive. 
dvonrov 80&ys dyeupycapev avOp@rav oTocot 
TOTOTE TOV TEpl pucews épnwavto Cnr nwa oy ; 
oKoTEeL TayTa Royov eeratov: ov yap én 

D cpixpov ye To Siadépov, «i daveiev of AOywv 
anmropevot ageBa@v arrows Te eEdpyovTes pndé 
ed Tois Novos GAN eEnpwapTnuevas yYpapevor. 
Soxe? toivuy por TadTa ovTws ExeL. 

KA. Eb Aéyers' GAN Ory, Te_p@ hpaterv. 

ae, “Eouxe toivuy anbecrépwv amréov evar 
over. 

KA. Ovx oxvntéov, & Eéve. pavOavw yap as 
vopobecias éxTos oinae: Baivew, éav TOY TOLOUT@Y 
antoueda Roywv. ef Sé eoTt pndapn ETEépws 
cuudwvica: tois viv Kata vomov eyouévots 

E[@eois]! ws op0as Exovow  TavTn, EKTEOP, @ 
Oavydote, Kal TAavTH. 

ao. Aéyot’ av, ws orxev, dn oXEddV OvK 
elwOdoTa Adyov Tiva TOvde. 6 Tp@ToV yevérews 
Kal POopas aitiov amdvtwy, ToUTO ov mpwToV 
Gra tatepov amepyvavto elvar yeyoves of THY 

1 [6co7s] bracketed by Stallbaum, Zur. 
320 








LAWS, BOOK X 


these statements holds fire, water, earth and air to 
.be the first of all things, and that it is precisely 
to these things that he gives the name of “ nature,” 
while soul he asserts to be a later product there- 
from, Probably, indeed, he does not merely “ appear” 
to do this, but actually makes it clear to us in his 
account. 

cin. Certainly. — 
ata, Can it be then, in Heaven’s name, that now 
_we have discovered, as it were, a very fountain-head 
of irrational opinion in all the men who have ever 
yet handled physical investigations? Consider, and 
examine each statement. For it is a matter of no 
small importance if it can be shown: that those 
who handle impious arguments, and lead others - 
after them, employ their arguments not only ill, 
but erroneously. And this seems to me to be the 
state of affairs, " Sts 

cin, Well said; but try to explain wherein the 
’ etror lies, 

atu. We shall probably have to handle rather 
an unusual argument. 

cLin. We must not shrink, Stranger. You think, 
I perceive, that we shall be traversing alien ground, 
outside legislation, if we handle such arguments. 
But if there is no other way in which it is possible 
for us to speak in concert with the truth, as now 
legally declared, except this way, then in this way, 
my good sir, we must speak. 

aTH. It appears, then, that I may at once proceed 
with an argument. that is somewhat unusual; it is. 
this. That which is the first cause of becoming and 
perishing in all things, this is declared by the argu- 
ments which have produced the soul of the impious 


321 
VOL, Il, Y¥ 


PLATO 


TOY aceBav wuxnv amrepyacdpevor AOyor, 6 be 
Vorepov Tporepor, b0ev tpaptyncace trept Oeav 
THS OvTwWS Ovoias. 

892 Ka. Odra pavOave. 

Ao. ux, 4 @ éTaipe, myvonKévar xwdvvevouat 
pev Oddyou Evpravtes olov Te dv Tuyxaver Kal 
Svvapue jj nv EXELs TOV TE addwv aurijs Tept Kal 
59 Kal yEverews, @s év Tparous éoTl TwuaT@v 
eum poo bev TAVT@V yevouern, kal peTaBorgrs TE 
avTov Kal PETAKOT UNTEWS andons apxee TAaVvTOs 
HadXop, el dé éote TavTa ovTws, ap ovK ef 
avaryens Ta wuxhs ouyyer) mporepa a ein 
yeyovora TOV TOpATL T poonKovT@y, ovens Y 

B avrijs * mpeaBurepas 7)  T@UaTos ; 

KA. “Avdyxn. 

ao. Ada 8) cai émipehera Kal voods Kal TeXYN 
Kal vomuos oKdnpav ral HaraKav Kal Bapéwv Kal 
Kovpov mporepa ay ein’ Kal én Kal Ta peydra 
cal Tpara épya Kat mpagters TEXYNS av yeyvorro, 
dvTa év Tpwrots, Ta Sé puoer Kal pvors, i) iv ovK 
op as émrovopd love w auro TOUTO, voTepa Kai 
apxopeva av éx TEXYNS ein Kal vod. 

C KA. Ids otk ap0as ; 

ao. Dicw Bovrovra Dévyeuv yéveow TH mepl 
Ta TpaTa. ef é pavnoerar wuxn T p@TOV, ov 
mop ovoé anp, vox & ev T porous yeyernpevn, 
oxedov opborara AEyouT’ av elvat _ StahepovTas 
guvce. tadT eof obTws eXovTa, av yuxyy TLS 
erdelEn mpeaSutépay ovcav cwpatos, dd\rws Oe 
ovdapas. 


1” aitijs Burnet (after Euseb.): taitns MSS. 


322 








LAWS, BOOK X 


to be not first, but generated later, and that which 
is the later to be the earlier; and because of this 
they have fallen into error regarding the real nature 
of divine existence. 
_cuin. I do not yet understand. 
atu. As regards the soul, my comrade, nearly 
all men appear to be ignorant of its real nature and 
its potency, and ignorant not only of other facts 
about it, but of its origin especially,—how that it is 
one of the first existences, and prior to all bodies, 
and that it more than anything else is what governs 
all the changes and modifications of bodies. And if 
this is really the state of the case, must not things 
which are akin to soul be necessarily prior in origin 
to things which belong to body, seeing that soul 
is older than body?? 

cin. Necessarily. 

aTH, Then opinion and reflection and thought 
and art and law will be prior to things hard and 
soft and heavy and light; and further, the works 
and actions that are great and primary will be those 
of art, while those that are natural, and nature 
itself,— which they wrongly call by this name—vwill 
be secondary, and will derive their origin from art 
and reason. 

ctin. How are they wrong? 

aTH. By “nature” they intend to indicate 
production of things primary; but if soul shall be 
shown to have been produced first (not fire or air), 
but soul first and foremost,—it would most truly be 
described as a superlatively “natural” existence. 
Such is the state of the case, provided that one can 
prove that soul is older than body, but not otherwise. 


1.Cp. Tim. 34 D. 


32 
¥ 2 $ 


D 


Eé 


893 


PLATO 


KA. “AdOéoctata reéervyets. 

Ao. Odxody ta weta tadta én’ avto 8) TodTO 
oTeAn@peba ; 

KA. Té pv; 

A. Dudatrwpev én TavTaTacw amar dov 
Aoyov, wy 7 mpeaButas nas ovTas VEOT PETS 
av “Tapareton Kal Suaduya KaTaryedda Tous 
TOUT Kab SoFwpev peiSova émuBardopevor Kal 
TOY opLKpOv amroruxeiv. oKoreiTe ovuvs et xal- 
amep ToTapov Hpas &eu Tpeis ovTas dvaBaivew 
péovra opodpa, ve@TATOS & eyo Tuyxavev Hypav 
Kal TONA@Y EuTrELpos pevparov elrrov bt Tp@Tov 
ee Xpijvae merpabfvat Kar eMauTon, KaTaN- 
movTa Dpas ev daopanrei, oKneparbar ét 8:aBar os 
éote mpeaButépos ovor Kal wiv, } mas Exet, 
kal pavévtos bev TavTy xaneiv opas TOTE Kal 
cuvdiaBiBatew éurretpia, eb Sé aBaros iy OS 
Dpiv, ev é épol Tov xivdvvov yeyovévat, MeTpiws av 
édoxouv éyerv. Kal én Kal vov 0 MedAOY éorl 
Aoyos apodporepos | Kal oxedov laws aBaros @S 
TH ober popn’ bn 62) oKoTOOLViaY Udeyyov TE 
bpiv euToujoy Tapadepopevos Te Kab épwray 
andes 6 dvTas amoxpicew?, elt’ ao xnwoovny a am pé~ 
meLay Te évtéxy andi, doxel dy por Xpivac ToLety 
ovTwal Ta vov ene, aveport ay ™p@Tov éwauTov 
aKovovT@Y Upa@v év do panel, Kat pera TadTa 
amoxpivag0at Tar ێ, Kal Tov oryor | aravra 
ovTw dueFedOeiv, MEX pLTrep av  vexis mépt dta- 
mepavntar kal deiEn mpdTepov by vox Fo paros. 





1 Cp. 886 B. 
2 Cp. 896 B, C, 


324 


—————<x<xexo SS 


a <_<. 


LAWS, BOOK X 


curn. Most true. 

atu. Shall we then, in the next place, eddvess 
ourselves to the task of proving this? 

cin. Certainly. 

atu. Let us guard against a wholly deceitful argu- 
ment, Jest haply it seduce us who are old with its 
specious youthfulness, and then elude us and make 
us a laughing-stock, and so we get the reputation 
of missing even little things while aiming at big 
things. Consider then. Suppose that we three had 
to cross a river that was in violent flood, and that 
I, being the youngest of the party and having often 
had experience of currents, were to suggest that the 
proper course is for me to ‘make an attempt first by 
myself—leaving you two in safety—to see whether 
it is possible for you older men also to cross, or how 
the matter stands, and then, if the river proved to 
be clearly fordable, I were to call you, and, by 
my experience, help you across, while if it proved 
impassable for such as you, in that case the risk | 
should be wholly mine,—such a suggestion on my 
part would have sounded reasonable. So too in the 
present instance ; the argument now in front of us 
is too violent, and probably impassable, for such 
strength as you possess; so, lest it make you faint 
and dizzy as it rushes past and poses you with 
questions you are unused to answering,’ and thus 
causes an unpleasing lack of shapeliness and seem- 
liness, I think that I ought now to act in the way 
described—question myself first, while you remain 
listening in safety, and then return answer to my- 
self, and in this way proceed through the whole 
argument until it has discussed in full the subject 
of soul, and demonstrated that soul is prior to body.? 


325 


PLATO 


KA. “Apiot’, @ E&éve, Soxeis Huiv eipneévat, 
moles TE WS NEYyELS. 

Bao. “Aye 87, Oedv efrote mapakAntéov Hiv, 
viv €oTw TOUTO oUTw yevomevov® emi ye amrodeEL 
@s eial THY AUT@V OTrOVvOH Tadcn TapaKexAnoOwr: 
éxouevor 5€ ws Twos doharods Teicpatos éTeLc- 
Baivewper eis Tov viv Noyov. Kai pot eRe yyouerep 
Tepl TA ToLAdTA EpwTncEct ToLaiade dchareoTaTa 
atoxpiverOar daiverar cata tabe: “O Eéve, 
omotav df Tis, apa eaTnKe ev TWavTa, KLVEITAL 
dé ovdév ; 4) tovT@ Tav TovvavTiov; 7 Ta pev 

Cattav xweita, ta 5€ péver; Ta pev xuveirai 
mov, now, Ta O€ péver. Mav ody ove év xopa 
Twi tad te éotata EotynKe Kal Ta KiWovpeva 
kweitat; Ids yap ov; Kai ra pév ye év pid 
épa tov tovto av Spey, Ta b€ ev Tretoor. Ta 
THY TOV EsTwoToV ev pécw NauBdvovta Sivamiv 
Aéyers, Hjooper, ev éevl KiveloOa, kaOadtreEp 4 TOV 

- €oTavat Neyouevov KUKMV oTpépEeTar TrEpLpopa ; 
Nati. pav@dvopev Oé ye as év TavTH TH TEpipopa 
TOV péyloTov Kal TOV omLKpoTaTOV KUKAOY aya 
Tepiayovoa 1) ToLavTH Kivnols ava Oyor éavTHY 

D davéuet ocpsxpois te Kal peifoow, édkatT@Vv Te 
ovca kal TrELwY KaTAa Aoyov. bt dH TeV Pav- 
pacToOv amtavtTav myn yéyovev, dua peydXdois 
Kal opixpois KvKrors BpaduvTAtas Te Kal Tayn 
Oporoyovupeva Topevovca, abdvvaTov ws av TIS 
értricee yiyverOar wa0os. “AdnOéotata héyets. 
Ta 5é ye xwovpeva év todrdois haiver por réyeww 
dca Popa Kiweirar petaBaivovta eis Erepov del 





1 Cp. Soph. 255 ff. ; Tim. 57 ff. 
326 


LAWS, BOOK X 


cuin. Your suggestion, Stranger, we think ex- 
cellent ; so do as you suggest. 

atu. Come then,—if ever we ought to invoke 
God’s aid, now is the time it ought to be done. 
Let the gods be invoked with all zeal to aid in 
the demonstration of their own existence. And let 
us hold fast, so to speak, to a safe cable as we 
embark on the present discussion. And it is safest, 
as it seems to me, to adopt the following method 
of reply when questions such as this are put on these 
subjects; for instance, when a man asks me—* Do 
all things stand still, Stranger, and nothing move? 
Or is the exact opposite the truth? Or do some 
things move and some remain at rest?’ My answer 
will be, “Some things move, others remain at 
rest.”! “Then do not the standing things stand, 
and the moving things move, in a certain place?” 
“Of course.” “And some will do this in one 
location, and others in several.” “ You mean,” we 
will say, “that those which have the quality of 
being at 1est at the centre move in one location, 
as when the circumference of circles that are said 
to stand still revolves?” “Yes. And we perceive 
that motion of this kind, which simultaneously turns 
in this revolution both the largest circle and the 
smallest, distributes itself to small and great pro- 
portionally, altering in proportion its own quantity ; 
whereby it functions as the source of all such manvels 
as result from its supplying great and small circles 
simultaneously with harmonizing rates of slow and 
fast speeds—a condition of things that one might 
suppose to be impossible.” “Quite true.” “And 
by things moving in several places you seem to me 
to mean all things that move by locomotion, con- 


327 


PLATO 


TOTOY, Kal ToTe peév éorw ote Baow évos _KeKTN- 
E péva tivds Kévtpov, tote dé mreiova TO Tept- 
cudivoeta Bar. TpooTvyxavovra ro ExdoTOore 
Exdorots, Tots éot dou wev Siacxiverat, TOUS é 
adXots e& évavtias atavT@ot Kal pepopevors eis 
éy yeyvoueva péoa Te Kal peTage TOV ToovToy 
avykpivetat. Aéyo yap ovv tabTa obTws EXOUTS. 
@s av Aéyets. Kal wav Kal TUyKpWopeva pev 
av&éavetat, Sr perO UENA, dé pOives TOTE orav 7 
caberrnkvia éxdatav é&us Suapévy: a) pevovons 
dé avTis 80’ auporepa drddurat. viryverau 7) 
894 mavTa@v yéveots, nvix av th ma0os a3 ; OfAov ws 
o7roTay apx haBoica avy els TH devtépay 
EOn petaBarw Kal amo TavTns els THY TAnotor, 
Kal EXPL Tpiav éMotca aicOnow ox Tots 
aic@avopévors. petaBddXrov péev ody ovTw Kal 
peTaKivovpevor yiyverar wav" eoTe dé drvtws ov, 
OToTay evn’ petaBarov be eis adv 7 
. Sieh Oaprar TAVTENOS. ap ovv Kuvjoens Taoas 
elpnkapev ws év eldeat AaBeiv pet apiOwod, mAHV 
Bye, @ piror, Svoiv ; 
KA. Ilotay Bf 
A@. Lxedor, a ra) ‘yade, éxeivaw, Ov e€veKa Taca 
nyuty €otly  oKeys Ta viv. 





1 i.e, with a forward gliding motion, as opposed to rolling 
forward (like a car wheel). 

2 7,.e. as solid, liquid, or gaseous substance. 

8 This account of the derivation of the sense-world from 
the ‘‘starting-principle” (a4pxy) is obscure. It is generally 
interpreted as a ‘‘geometrical allegory,” the stages of de- 
velopment being from point to line, from line to surface, 
from surface to solid,—this last only being perceptible by 
the senses (ep. Ar. de "An. 404> 18 ff.). 

4 The 8 kinds of motion here indicated are—(1) circular 


328 





LAWS, BOOK X 


tinually passing from one spot to another, and 
sometimes resting on one axis and sometimes, by 
revolving, on several axes. And whenever one 
such object meets another, if the other is at rest, 
the moving object is split up; but if they collide 
with others moving to meet them from an opposite 
direction, they form a combination which is midway 
between the two.” “ Yes, I affirm that these things 
are so, just as you describe.” “ Further, things in- 
crease when combined and decrease when separated 
in all cases where the regular constitution? of each 
persists; but if this does not remain, then both 
these conditions cause them to perish. And what 
is the condition which must occur in everything to 
bring about generation? Obviously whenever a 
starting-principle receiving increase comes to the 
second change, and from this to the next, and on 
coming to the third admits of perception by per- 
cipients.2 Everything comes into being by this 
process of change and alteration; and a thing is 
really existent whenever it remains fixed, but when 
it changes into another constitution it is utterly 
destroyed.” Have we now, my friends, mentioned 
all the forms of motion, capable of numerical 
classification, save only two? 

cun. What two? 

atu. Those, my good sir, for the sake of which, 
one may say, the whole of our present enquiry was 
undertaken. 


motion round a fixed centre; (2) locomotion (gliding or 
rolling); (3) combination; (4) separation; (5) increase ; 
(6) decrease; (7) becoming ; (8) perishing. The remaining 
two kinds (as described below) are—(9) other-affecting 
motion (or secondary causation); and (10) self-and-other- 
affecting motion (or primary causation). 


329 


PLATO 


KA. Aéye capéotepor. 
Ao. WVuyts hv &vexd tov; 
KA. Ilavv pev odv. 
v / ec A / cal 
ae. “Eoto toivuy 7 pev erepa duvamévn Kiveiy 
Kivnows, Eavtnv 6¢ advvatovdea, ael pia TIS, ) Be 
éautny Tt det Kal étepa Svvapévn Kata Te 
auyKpicets év te Siaxpiceow avfaus Te Kal TO 
a , 
evavti Kat yevéreot kal POopais adAn pia Tis 
C av TOV TacwY KiVnoEwr. 
” \ 5 
KA. “Eot@ yap ovv. 
Ao. Ovxodv thy pev Etepov ael xwovcar Kal 
, “Tes % pao Pd , ay <3 * 
petaBarropéevny bp éErépov Onoopwev éevarnv ad, 
Thy b€ éauTiY KiVoUcaY Kal ETEepa, evappwoTrTovaay 
maou ev Tromnpact, maot 5¢ TaOnpact, Kadov- 
pevnv te! dvtas THY byT@Y wdyT@VY peTaBorr)V 
Kal Kivnow, TavTnv 51? Sexatnv oxedov épodpev. 
D~ ka. Tlavtdmacc pév odv. 
lal \ / , con / sy 
Ao. Tév dn déka padtota Hiv Kivnoewr Tiv 
av mpoxpivatmev opOotata Taca@y éppwpmeverTaTny 
, 
Te Elvat Kal TpaKTikny SiapEpovTas ; 
la > / / / \ 
KA. Mupio avayxn mov davai diapépew thv 
abriv aithy duvapévny Kev, Tas 88 ddXas Tacas 
voTépas. 
5 / pe 9S eee a n > 
ao. Ed Aéyers. ap ovdv nuiv Tov vov ovK 
bd lal e / / x \ 8 4 ‘ 
op0as pnOévtwv petaberéov Ev 7) Kat Svo ; 
KA. Ilota dys ; 
\ Lol / e \ \ ’ ’ fal 
ao. To ths Sexatns pnOev axedov ovK opbas 
elpnTat, 
KA. I1q; ' 
a / , > \ \ ere \ 
ao. IIpatov yevéoes tT éoTi Kal pon Kata 
1 re England: 8: MSS. 
2 5): 3¢ MSS. (bracketed by England) 
33° 





a a aes tani 


LAWS, BOOK X 


cun. Explain more clearly. 

aTH. It was undertaken, was it not, for the sake 
of soul ? 

cin, Certainly. 

aTH. As one of the two let us count that motion 
which is always able to move other things, but un- 
able to move itself; and that motion which always is 
able to move both itself and other things——by way 
of combination and separation, of increase and 
decrease, of generation and corruption,—let us count 
as another separate unit in the total number of 
motions. 

cin. Be it so. 

atx. Thus we shall reckon as ninth on the list 
that motion which always moves another object and 
is moved by another; while that motion which 
moves both itself and another, and which is har- 
moniously adapted to all forms of action and passion, 
and is termed the real change and motion of all that 
really exists,—it, | presume, we shall call the tenth. 

cin. Most certainly. 

ATH. Of our total of ten motions, which shall we 
most correctly adjudge to be the most powerful of 
all and excelling in effectiveness ? 

cuin. We are bound to affirm that the motion 
which is able to move itself excels infinitely, and 
that all the rest come after it. 

aTH. Well said. Must we, then, alter one or two 
of the wrong statements we have now made ? 

cuin,. Which do you mean? 

aTH. Our statement about the tenth seems 
wrong. 

cin. How? 

atu. Logically it is first in point of origin and 


33! 


PLATO 


ovyov: TO be pera TobTo éyouev Tovrou SevTEpor, 
E adpte pnOév aromas évatov. 

KA. Ils éyers ; 

Ao, “Ode. érav Erepov ado 7 pty petaBary 
Kat ToUTO aXXo Erepov adel, TOV ToLovToy apa 
éoTal ToTé Tt Tp@Tov peTaBddrov ; Kal Tas, 6 
y av+ im’ addXov Kwhtat, Toot’ eorat TOTE TOV 
GrROLOUYTOY TPATOV ; aduvaroy yap. adn’ OTav 
dpa avTO avToO Kwhoay ETEpov ddhowwo , 708 
éTepov ado, Kal ovT@ &y xia éml pupLoLs yly- 

895 pn ra Ta Kun bevra, pa apyXn TIS avTav € eras 
THs Kino ews amdaons a\Xn TAHY } THS aUTHS 
avTny Kiwnodons petaBory ; 

KA. Kaddota eires, cvyywpntéa Te TovTOLS. 

ao. “Ett 87 Kal 7Hbe eitr@pev, Kal atroxpt- 
veomeBa madw hypiv avrotow. ei orain ToS Ta 
mavra ood yevouevar, nabamep ot TreioTot TOV 
TOLOvT@Y TOKMBTL réyerv, tiv’ apa év avrois 
avaykn ™peTnv Kivnow yevécOar Tov elpn even ; ; 
thy? <adtyv>* aitny 8 Tov Kwodcavy vm 
GAdov yap ov pnmote eumpooWey petatécn, 

B pnbdeutds ye év avtois ovons eum poo bev peTa- 
TTOTEDS. apxny dpa KUT EOY Tac@v Kab 
mporny éy TE éor dar yevomerny Kal ev KLVOUpEV OLS 
ovoay THY avTHy kwodcav dijcopev avayKaios 
elvat mpeaBurarny Kat KpariaTny petaBoryv 
Tacav, THv dé ddroLovperny Ud Etépou, KtwodaaV 
te 4 érepa Sevtépar. 

* 6 7 by Apelt, England : drav MSS. 

2 rhy ... metartacews is assigned to Clin. by Zur. and 
most edd. I follow Hermann and Burnet. 


3 <aithy> added by Kuseb., Burnet. 
4 +e Ast: 5& MSS. 


332 





saa — Sa rr 


LAWS, BOOK X 


power; and the next one is second to it, although 
we absurdly called it ninth a moment ago. 

ciix. What do you mean? 

atH. This: when we find one thing changing 
another, and this in turn another, and so on,—of 
these things shall we ever find one that is the prime 
cause of change? How will a thing that is moved 
by another ever be itself the first of the things that 
cause change? It is impossible. But when a thing 
that has moved itself changes another thing, and 
that other a third, and the motion thus spreads pro- 
gressively through thousands upon thousands of 
things, will the primary source of all their motions 
be anything else than the movement of that which 
has moved itself? 

cin. Excellently put, and we must assent to 
your argument. 

atu. Further, let us question and answer our- 
selves thus :—Supposing that the Whole of things 
were to unite and stand still—as most of these 
thinkers! venture to maintain—which of the 
motions mentioned would necessarily arise in it first ? 
That motion, of course, which is self-moving ; for it 
will never be shifted beforehand by another thing, 
since no shifting force exists in things beforehand. 
Therefore we shall assert that inasmuch as the self- 
moving motion is the starting-point of all motions and 
the first to arise in things at rest and to exist in things 
in motion, it is of necessity the most ancient and potent 
change of all, while the motion which is altered by 
another thing and itself moves others comes second. 

1 Eg. ‘oras, who taught, originally, ‘‘all things were 
snepethen tapetbe? and the Bleatic School ‘(Parmenides, ete.) 


asserted that the Real World (rd dv) is One and motionless ; 
cp, Theaet. 180 E. 


333 


PLATO 


KA. "Adrnbéctata réyets. 
ao. ‘Ororte 8% toivuy évtadbd éopev TOD Aoyou, 
C 10de atroxpivepeba. 

KA. To motor; 

Ae. ’Eav iScopev wou TAUTHY yevouerny év PTD. 
ynive 4 evvdp 7) 0 mupoeroel, KeX@pla were H Kab 
Evppuyet, ti mote pycopev ev TH TOLOUT@ 700s 
elvat ; 

KA. Mav dpa pe épwtds ei Sqv avTo Tpoc- 
epovpev STA AUTO AUTO KLVH ; 

ao. Nai. 

KA, Znv: 7as 4p ou; 

aes, AE Sai ; i; omoray apuyiy év Tiow opapev, 
Hav ado 7) TavToY TOUT ; Ev OporoynTéor ; 

KA. Ovdx« adAc. 

D AQ. "Exe 6 mpos Acos® dp oux av éédois 
mepl ExacTov Tpla voetp ; 

KA. Ilds Aéeryets 5 ; 

ao. “Ev pep THY ovciav, éy bé Tis ovotas TOV 
Aoyov, ev 5é Td Gvopa. Kal 3 kal épwtncers elvat 
Tepl TO dv arrav vo. 

KA. Il@s v0; 

ae. Tore pev hu@v Exactoy Tovvoua mpo- 
TELVOMEVOY avTo TOV oyov aravtely, ToTe dé Tov 
Noyor avTov T POT eLvOmeVOV épwtav ad Tovvo Ma. 

KA.2 "Apa ye Td tordvde ad BovdAdpePa viv 


Ao. To rotor ; 


! +» England: 7¢@ MSS. 
2 I follow Schneider and England in the assignment of the 
next eight lines (Zur., a/., give only Td woiov; and Nal to 
Clin.). 


334 


OE lo”, << . 








LAWS, BOOK X 


cLin. Most true. 

atu. Now that we have come to this point in our 
discourse, here is a question we may answer. 

cun. What is it? 

atu. If we should see that this motion had arisen 
in a thing of earth or water or fire, whether separate 
or in combination, what condition should we say 
exists in such a thing? 

cuix. What you ask me is, whether we are 
to speak of a thing as “alive’’ when it moves 
itself? 

aTH. Yes. 

cuun. It is alive, to be sure. 

aTH. Well then, when we see soul in things, 
must we not equally agree that they are alive ? 

cin. We must. 

aTH. Now stop a moment, in Heaven’s name! 
Would you not desire to observe three points about 
every object ? 

cuin. What do you mean? 

aTH. One point is the substance, one the Casa" 
tion of the substance, and one the name;? and, 


- moreover, about everything that exists there are two 


questions to be asked. 

cin. How two? 

aTH. At one time each of us, propounding the 
name by itself, demands the definition ; at another, 
propounding the definition by itself, he demands the 


name, 


cin. Is it something of this kind we mean now 
to convey ? 
‘ata. Of what kind? 
1 Cp Epist. 7, 342 A,B. 
335 


PLATO 


Eka. “Eott rou diya Siatpovpevoy év adXows Te 

A é > 6 a ¢ 87 Lal > > 6 A 8 
kal év apiOu@. tovtw 8) TH Kat apiOuoy dvoua 

\ »” 

Mév aptiov, oyos Sé apiOuos Siapovmevos eis 
ica Svo pépn. 

ao. Nai. 10 toodrov dpavo. pav ody ov 
TavTOoV ExaTépws TpocayopEevopmer, AY Te TOV NOyov 
EpwT@pmevor Tovvowa aTrodLoapev, av Te TovVOMA 

\ / A ? , \ , / 
TOV Aoyor, apTiov ovopaTe Kal oye, Sixa dias- 
povpevov apiOuov, mpocayopevovtes TavToOV dv ; 

KA. Ilavtdzact pév odv. 

Ae. “Ou 84 wuyn tobvoua, tis TovToV XoY¥os ; 

896 éxomev GAXov TAHY Tov viv dH pnOévTa, Thy Suva- 
evny avtTny avtiy Kiveiv Kivnow ; 
\ € \ Lal ‘ ld 4 A 

KA. To éavto xuweiv drys oyov every THY 

> \ > / id ” \ 4 
avtiny ovciay hvrep Tovvoma 6 b1 mavres Wuyny 
T pod ayopevoper ; 

, > oy 9 \ A ca ¥ 2 

Ao. Dypi ye. ef & €otl todTO obTws Eyor, apa 
»” an A e a lal \ > \ 
éte ToPodpev un ixavas dedetyOas uynv tavTov 
dv Kal tiv mpeTny yéverw Kal Kivnow Tov Te - 
évTwv Kal yeyovoTev Kal écouévov Kal TavT@y ad 

Bra@v évaytiwy tovtous, érewdy ye avepavyn peta- 
Boris Te Kal Kivioews ATdoys aitia dtacw ; 

KA. Odx«, adda ixavotata bébernTat wWwuy7 
Tov TavTwv mpecBuTatn, yevouevn ye apy? 
KLVNTEWS. 

ao. “Ap’ ovv ovy Wy Su’ Erepov ev adXA@ YLYVO- 
pen Kivnots, avTo 8€ év aiT@ undérote Tapéyovca 
kiveia Oar undév, Sevtépa te Kal oTdcwv apiOuav 
336 








LAWS, BOOK X 


cin. We have instances of a thing divisible into 
two halves, both in arithmetic and elsewhere; in 
arithmetic the name of this is “the even,” and the 
definition is “a number divisible into two equal 

aTH. Yes, that is what I mean. So in either 
case it is the same object, is it not, which we 
describe, whether, when asked for the definition, 
we reply by giving the name, or, when asked for 
the name, we give the definition—describing one 
and the same object by the name “even,” and by 
the definition “a number divisible into two halves” ? 

extn. Most certainly. 

atu. What is the definition of that object which 
has for its name “soul”? Can we give it any other 
definition than that stated just now“ the motion 
able to move itself” ? 

cin. Do you assert that “ self-movement”’ is the 
definition of that very same substance which has 
“soul” as the name we universally apply to it ? 

atu. That is what I assert. And if this be really 
so, do we still complain that it has not been suffi- 
ciently proved that soul is identical with the prime 
origin and motion of what is, has been, and shall be, 
and of all that is opposite to these, seeing that it 
has been plainly shown to be the cause of all change 
and motion in all things? 

cLin. We make no such complaint; on the con- 
trary, it has been proved most sufficiently that soul 
is of all things the oldest, since it is the first principle 
of motion. 

atu. Then is not that motion which, when it 
arises in one object, is caused by another, and which 
never supplies self-motion to anything, second in 

337 


VOL, IL. Z 


PLATO 


Bovroto «av Tis apiOueivy adtHy moddooTHy, 
TOTOUT@Y, THUATOS Oca bVYTwS a UYoU peTa- 
Bory ; 

KA. ‘OpOds. 

AQ. ‘OpAds dpa. wal Kupios arnbeatata Te Kal 

C Tehe@taTa elpnKores av eiwev vruyny mev Tporépav 
yeyoveva THLATOS jpiv, copa b€ SevTepov Te Kal 
orepov yexiis apxovons apXopuevov Kata pvat. 

KA. *AdAnOéoTtata pev ovr. 

Ao, Mepurnpebd ye wi oporoynoartes év Tots 
mpoabev ws, eb uxn pavein TpecButépa c@paTtos 
ovca, Kal TA WuxXi}s TOV TOD THUaATOS EcoLTO TpPEG- 
Burepa. 

KA. ILdvu pév ody. 

D ao. Tporou dé kal On Kal Bovdyaers ral 
Aoyeo pol kal boar ares émripérevat Te Kal 
pvtjpac T porepa prKous co naTov Kai wrdtous 
ral Babous kal popuns eln yeyovota ay, elmep 
Kal Wuyi) c@paTos. 

KA. Avayen. 

Ae. “Ap ovv TO pera TovTO omonoryeiv dvary- 
Kaiov Tav Te ayabar aitiay elvat ux Kal TOV 
KaK@V Kal Kado Kal aiaxpav Staaten Te Kal 
asixov Kat mavT@v TOV evavTiov, elmep TOV 
Tavt@v ye avTnv Onoopev aitiav ; 

KA. Ids yap ov ; 

A@, Vouxiy oy) Siotxodcav Kal évorxodo av év 

E amace Tots wavTn KWOUpEVOLS av ov Kal Tov 
oupavov avayKn Siorxely pavat ; 

KA. Ti pv; 

ae. Miap ) metous ; TI\etous: eyo vmép 
oh@v atoxpiwotpat. Sdvoiv pév yé wou éXaTTOV 


338 


—_— 








LAWS, BOOK X 


order—or indeed as far down the list as one cares 
to put it,—it being the change of a really soulless 
body ? 
_cuin. True. 

atu. Truly and finally, then, it would be a most 
veracious and complete statement to say that we 
find soul to bé prior to body, and body secondary 
and posterior, soul governing and body being 
governed according to the ordinance of nature. 

cin. Yes, most veracious. 

atu. We recollect, of course, that we previously 
agreed! that if soul could be shown to be older than 


body, then the things of soul also will be older than 
those of body. 


cuin. Certainly we do. 


aTH. Moods and dispositions and wishes and |» 


calculations and true opinions and considerations 
and memories will be prior to bodily length, breadth, 
depth and strength, if soul is prior to body. 

cin. Necessarily. 

atH. Must we then necessarily agree, in the 
next place, that soul is the cause of things good 
and bad, fair and foul, just and unjust, and all the 
opposites, if we are to assume it to be the cause of 
all things ? 

cin. Of course we must. 

atu. And as soul thus controls and indwells in 
all things everywhere that are moved, must we not 
necessarily affirm that it controls Heaven also? 

cin. Yes. 

aTH. One soul, is it, or several? I will answer 
for you—“several.” Anyhow, let us assume not 


1 $92 A, B. 


339 
z2 


897 


PLATO 


pndev TLOGper, Tis Te evepyéridos Kal THs Tavav- 
tia dvvapévns eEepyaverOa. 

KA. = podpa opGas a 

Ae. Kiev. ayer pev 59 Wwux7 mavTa Ta KAT 
ovpavov kat viv kal Oadratray tails avis Kivij- 
ceowv, ais dvouata éatt BovreoOa1, oxotreic Oat, 
émipereta Oar, Bovrever Oat, Sofa few op as, éxpeuo- 
pévas, Xalpoucar, Autroupevyy, Oappotcar, fo- 
Bovpevny, pucodcay, orépyoucay Kal Tagass 6 boat 
TouTay Evyyeveis 7) Tpwtoupyol Kivncers TAs Sev- 
TEpoupyovs av mapahapBavovaat xuvyoets copa 
TwV ayoucL mavra els av§qaow Kal p0iow kal 
StaKprow Kal cuyKpiow Kal TovTos érropévas 
Oepporntas, potas, Bapiryntas, xouporntas, 
«dn pov Kal paraKon, AevKov Kai pédar, avornpov 
Kal yAuKv Kal macaw ols vox Xpomern, voov pev 
mpocraBovoa aet, olov op0as Geos,” op0a Kal 
evdaipova madaywryet mavTa, avoig 5é Evyyevo- 
hévn Tavta av Tavavria TOUTOLS “dmepyateras. 
THO Byer tadra ovTws exe, 7) ete StoTafopev et 
étépws Tas Exet ; 

KA. Ossapas. 

AO. Tlorepov ovv 81) puxis yévos éyxpatés 
ovpavod Kal ys Kal maons Tis meptadou yeryo- 
vévat Papmev ; TO ppovtpov Kal dperis miAjpess 7) TO 
pndétepa KextTnuevov ; BovrecGe ovv pos TadTa 
ade aTroxpiepeda ; 

KA. Ilas; 

ao. Ei pév, © Oavudore, dopev, » EvuTaca 

1 ofov dpbas O€os: Oedy (al. Oetov) dpOas Beois (Marg. Peds dca) 


MSS. : Gedy beds obca Zur. (Ociov d6p0as O€ovea Winck., Herm. : 
Gciov dp0as Beds Ss Stallb.). 


340 











LAWS, BOOK X 


less than two—the beneficent soul and that which 
is capable of effecting results of the opposite kind. 

cuin. You are perfectly right. 

atu. Very well, then. Soul drives all things in 
Heaven and earth and sea by its own motions, 
of which the names are wish, reflection, forethought, 
counsel, opinion true and false, joy, grief, confidence, 
fear, hate, love, and all the motions that are akin to- 
these or are prime-working motions; these, when 
they take over the secondary motions of bodies, 
drive them all to increase and decrease and separa- 
tion and combination, and, supervening on these, 
to heat and cold, heaviness and lightness, hardness 
and softness, whiteness and blackness, bitterness 
and sweetness, and all those qualities which soul 
employs, both when it governs all things rightly and 
happily as a true goddess, in conjunction with reason, 
and when, in converse with unreason, it produces 
results which are in all respects the opposite. Shall 
we postulate that this is so, or do we still suspect 
that it may possibly be otherwise ? 

_eLin, By no means. 

atu. Which kind of soul, then, shall we say is in 
control of Heaven and earth and the whole circle? 
That which is wise and full of goodness, or that which 
has neither quality? To this shall we make reply as 
follows ? 

cin. How? 

atu. If, my good sir, we are to assert that the 


1 Cp. 894 B, C. 
34! 


PLATO 


ovpavod 000s & apa Kal popa Kal TOV év aire ovT@V 
amdvt@pv voo Kunoet Kal mepupope Kal oye pois 
opotay puow éxer Kal Evyyevas EpyeTat, Sijdov 
os THY apiotny uy paréov emipeneta Gar TOU 
Koo MoU TAVTOS Kal ayew avdToVv THY TOLAUTHY Odo 
exeiynv. 

KA. "Op@ds. 

Ae. Ei 6é pavixas te Kal ataxtws épyxerat, Thy 
KAKND. cig ts 

KA. Kal tadra opbas. 

ao. Tiva ovv on vou Kivnots puow é éxel ; TobTo 
78n _xanerrov, ® iro, epornpa aTroK plvomevov 
elmeiy eudpoves. 610 5) Kal éué THs aTroKpicews 
bpiv dixaov Ta viv mpocAapBavew. 

KA, Eo Aéyers, 

ao. M7 Toivuy €& évavtias olov eis WAaov 
anoBherovtes, VUKT@ éV peonuBpia emaryouevot, 
Toimra@pea THY dm oKpuaty, @sS voov TOTe Ovntois 
Spupacy oypopevoi TE Kal yvooouevot ikavas* 
7 pos dé eixova Tod épwrwpévov BrETrovTas aoga- 
ANéoTEpov opdv. 

ka. Tas. Aéyers 5 

ao. “He mpocéotxe xivyjocer vods trav S€éxa 
exelv@v KUT EOY THY elkova, Ad Bojer: hv cuvava- 
punobels bpiv eyo Kowh Thy aToKplow Tolncopmat. 

KA. KaddXota av Aéyors. 

Ao. MepuvnyeOa toivuy to ye TocovTov Tav 
TOTE ETL, OTL TOY TraVTwY Ta pev KiveicOaL, Ta bE 
peévery 6Oepev ; 





1 ¢.e, the uniform revolution of a sphere in 
and on its own axis: cp. 898 A; Zim. 34 A, B 


342 


the same spot 
; 90C, D. 





i a i iit li i i i ti et ee 


ae a 





LAWS, BOOK X 


whole course and motion of Heaven and of all it 
contains have a motion like to the motion and 
revolution and reckonings of reason, and proceed in 
a kindred manner, then clearly we must assert that 
the best soul regulates the whole cosmos and drives 
it on its course, which is of the kind described. 

cin. You are right. 

ath. But the bad soul, if it proceeds in a mad 
and disorderly way. 

cun. That also is right. 

atu. Then what is the nature of the motion of 
reason? Here, my friends, we come to a question 
that is difficult to answer wisely ; consequently, it is 
fitting that you should now call me in to assist you 
with the answer. 

cuun. Very good. 

atu, In making our answer let us not bring on 
night, as it were, at midday, by looking right in the 
eye of the sun,’ as though with mortal eyes we 
could ever behold reason and know it fully; the 
safer way to behold the object with which our 
question is concerned is by looking at an image of it. 

cLin. How do you mean? 

ata. Let us take as an image that one of the 
ten motions which reason resembles ; reminding our- 
selves of which? I, along with you, will make 
answer. 

cuun. You will probably speak admirably. 

atu. Do we still recollect thus much about the 


| things then described, that we assumed that, of the 


total, some were in motion, others at rest? 


2 Cp. Rep. 516 A ff. 
> Cp. 893 B ff.; the motion to which reason is likened is the 
first of the ten. 


343 


PLATO 


KA. Nai. 
ao. Tav ab KOU LEVOY Ta ev ev évl TOTH 
898 xivetcOa, ta 8 ev TrrELoot Hepopeva. 

KA. “Eote tata. 

Ae. Tovrow én Tov KWoeoLy Thy év évi pepo- 
peévny ael mepl ryé Tu pHéov avayKy * xwveio Par Tov 
evTOpvev ovoay piunpa TL KUKNOD, eivat TE aurny 
TH TOU vod TEpLod@ TdvTAS ws SuVaTOV olKELoTAaTHY 
Te Kal opotav. 

KA. Ids A€yers 5 ; 

Ae. To Kara Tavra 57 Tov ral araras ral 
-€v 70 avT@® Kal wepl Ta aura Kal T pos Ta avTa 
Kal <xal’>? éva ovyov Kal rag play aupeo 
Kwelc0at A€éyovTes vodv THv Te év évl pepopévny 

B xivnow, opalpas évtTopvov ameikacpéeva popais, 
ovK av TOTE pavetwev hadroe Snuiovpyot Aoy@ 
KANOV €iKOVOD. 

KA. “Op@dtata réyets. 

Ae, Ovxody av h ye pn derore aravTas pnde 
KATA TA AUTA _ ude €v TavT@ pnde rept TavTa 
pndée pos Tava pnd év év pepomern und €v 

C Koop pe év Taker pndé &v Tut ROYw Kivyots 
avoias apy anaons ein Evyyevas ; 

KA. eh yap av arnbéorara. 

ao. Nov 8 Xander ov ovdev ere Stapprydnv 
el7rety as, €mreLo) yuxn pep éoTiy 7 mepiaryoura 
jpiv Tavra, Tyvde*® ovpavod mepupopav é& avay- : 
KNS mepiaryew paréov émepeRoupevny Kal Koo pov- 
cap To THY apioTHy ruxn 7H) THY evavTiay. 

1 avaynn: avdyen MSS., edd. 


2 <a> added by Ast, 
3 hyde Apelt : thy 5¢ MSS., edd. 


344 











LAWS, BOOK X 


cun. Yes. 

atu. And further, that, of those in motion, some 
move in one place, others moye in several places? 

cin. That is so. 

atu. And that, of these two motions, the motion 
which moves in one place must necessarily move 
always round some centre, being a copy of the 
turned wheels; and that this has the nearest pos- 
sible kinship and similarity to the revolution of 
reason ?1 

cin. How do you mean? 
atu. If we described them both as moving 
regularly and uniformly in the same spot, round 
the same things and in relation to the same things, 
according to one rule and system—reason, namely, 
and the motion that spins in one place (likened to 
the spinning of a turned globe),—we should never 
be in danger of being deemed unskilful in the 
construction of fair images by speech. 

cin. Most true. 

atH. On the other hand, will not the motion 
that is never uniform or regular or in the same 
place or around or in relation to the same things, 
not moving in one spot nor in any order or system 
or rule—will not this motion be akin to absolute 
unreason ? 

cu. It will, in very truth. 

atu. So now there is no longer any difficulty 
in stating expressly that, inasmuch as soul is what 
we find driving everything round, we must affirm 
that this circumference of Heaven is of necessity 
driven round under the care and ordering of either 
the best soul or its opposite. 


1 Cp. Tim. 33 B, 34 A; Rep. 436 B ff. 
345 


PLATO 


KA. *O, Eve, anrra ex ye TOV vo elpn every 
ovd Savoy adhoos even * ) Tacav dperny éyovoay 
Wuxhy piav 7 reious Tepiayetv aura. 

ae. KddAdora, ® Krewia, trnjxovoas Tois 

D Xovyous. tobe 5é rpocuTaKoveov Et. 

KA. TO Trotop ; 

Ae. “Hdwov cal ceXnvnv cal ta GAdXa aoTpa, 
elTrep ux? Tepiayer TavTa, ap ov Kal év Exac- 
TOD ; 

KA. Té pay 3 os 

Ae. Tlepi évos 67 momoopueba Nevers: ot Kal 
eri TavTa huiv doTpa apyoTttovTes pavodvTas. 

KA. Tivos; 

ao. “HXiov mas dvO poros capa pev opa, 
buyin be ovdeis: ovde yap ddXov THATS Ov- 
devos ovte COvTOS ovTe amoOviaKovtos ToV four, 
Gra eAtris OAR?) TO Taparav TO yévos npetv 

E rodto avaicOnrov macats Tats Tod THWATOS 
aicOnoect mepurepucevar, vontov © eivat @ 
Hover <e>* 37) Kal Siavonwat: AdBopev avtod 
mépt TO ToLvde. 

KA. Ilotov; 

ao. “HXzov ef Tepidyet ux, Tpeay auTny ev 
AéyovTes Spay axedov ovK atotevEoueda. 

KA. Tivev 3 ; 

Ao. ‘Os 7 évodca evtos TO TEpipepet TovT@ 
pawopevep copare mav7n Seaxopiter TO ToLovTOY, 
xabarep 7 peas 1) Tap Hpi vox mavTn mepupéper’ 
i todev &EwOev cua avTH Topicapévyn Tupos 7 

1 <§> Ladd: Zur. adds pdrg. 





1 7,e, envelopes the body and its sense-organs (like cireum- 
ambient air). 


346 


LAWS, BOOK X 


- cin. But, Stranger, judging by what has now 
been said, it is actually impious to make any 
other assertion than that these things are driven 
round by one or more souls endowed with all 
goodness. 

atH. You have attended to our argument ad- 
mirably, Clinias. Now attend to this further point. 

euin.. What is that ? 

atu. If soul drives round the sum total of sun, 
moon and all other stars, does it not also drive each 
single one of them ? 

cin, Certainly. 

atH. Then let us construct an argument about 
one of these stars which will evidently apply equally 
to them all. 

cuin. About which one? 

atu. The sun’s body is seen by everyone, its soul 
by no one. And the same is true of the soul of any 
other body, whether alive or dead, of living beings. 
There is, however, a strong suspicion that this class 
of object, which is wholly imperceptible to sense, 
has grown round all the senses of the body,’ and 
is an object of reason alone. Therefore by reason 
and rational thought let us grasp this fact about 
it,— 

cin. What fact? 

atu. If soul drives round the sun, we shall be 
tolerably sure to be right in saying that it does one 
of three things. 

ceux. What things? 

atu. That either it exists everywhere inside of 
this apparent globular body and directs it, such as 
it is, just as the soul in us moves us about in all 
ways; or, having procured itself a body of fire or 


347 


PLATO 


TLVOS dé pos, os oyos éoti TWOP, obec? Big TOMATL 

899 c@ua* 7 Tplrov av? yarn TWLATOS ovCAa, éyouca 
5é Suvapers GdXas Twas bTepBadrovoas, Oavpate 
Toonyel. 

KA... Nai’ todro péev avayKn, TovT@v &y yé TL 
Spacav Wuxyny Tavta Siayew. 

Ae. Avrtod OnTa peivov.* TAU AY, THY yun, 
cite év dpyacw evovoa Hpi Hriou § ayer bas Tos 
atracw ei eFaOev el?” omras el? 6mrn, Gedy Hryet- 
cba Xpeo maya. dvébpa. ue TOS j ; 

B xa. Nai, TOV yé mov pa éml TO éaoxaTtov 
apeypeévov avoias. 

ao. “Aotpav b€ 67 Tépt TavT@v Kal cerXnVNS 
éviauT@v Te Kal pnvav Kal Tacav wpav Tépt 
tiva adXov Aoyov pod pev 7) Tov avrov TobTov, OS 
emery Woy pev 7) yuxal mavr@v TOUT@Y aiteat 
epavycar, ayabat be maoav aperny, Peods auras 
elvar pycoper, cite év oadyacw évotoar, fda 3 ovTa, 
koomovat TavtTa ovpavoy elte rn TE Kal STras; 
éo0 Gots TavTAa oporoyay UTopevet pr Oeay 
elvat TANPN TayTa ; ; 

C KA. Ov« éctw ottws, ® Eéve, trapappovar 
oveeis. 

ao. Te pev Toivuv bn) vopiCovTe Jeovs €v TO 
m poo Gev _Xpove, @® MéyirArge Te «al Krevia, 
eiTOVTES Spous aTAadrNATT@OpEa. 


1 After Ficinus and Hermann I give Nai... didyew to 
Clin. ; Zur., al., give only Naf. 

2 dita peivov.: 5h &uewov MSS. (Apelt also ci. peivov: 
Schneider and England bracket abrod 5) %pewov and add 8) 
after ravrny). 

3 gvotoa . . . nAlov: éxovoa . . . HAvov MSS,, edd. 


348 





mE Nay ee 


LAWS, BOOK X 


air (as some argue), it in the form of body pushes 
forcibly on the body from outside ; or, thirdly, being 
itself void of body, but endowed with other sur- 
passingly marvellous potencies, it conducts the body. 

cin. Yes, it must necessarily be the case that soul 
acts in one of these ways when it propels all things. 

atH. Here, I pray you, pause. This soul,— 
whether it is by riding in the car of the sun, or 
from outside, or otherwise, that it brings light to us 
all—every man is bound to regard as a god. Is not 
that so? 

‘ciin. Yes; everyone at Jeast who has not reached 
the uttermost verge of folly. 

atu, Concerning all the stars and the moon, and 
concerning the years and months and all seasons, 
what other account shall we give than this very 
same,—namely, that, inasmuch as it has been shown 
that they are all caused by one or more souls, which 
are good also with all goodness, we shall declare 
these souls to be gods, whether it be that they 
order the whole heaven by residing in bodies, as 
living creatures, or whatever the mode and method ? 
Is there any man that agrees with this view who 
will stand hearing it denied that “ all things are full 
of gods 2 ? 2 

cun. There is not a man, Stranger, so wrong- 
headed as that. 

atu. Let us, then, lay down limiting conditions 
for the man who up till now disbelieves in gods, O 
Megillus and Clinias, and so be quit of him. 


1 Cp. Tim. 41 D, E, where the Creator is said to apportion 
a soul to each star, in which it rides ‘‘as though in a 
chariot.”’ 

? A dictum of Thales; Ar, de An. 411*7 ff. 


349 


PLATO 


KA. Tivas; 
ao. “H diddonew juds as ovK opOds Néyomev 
TUOéwevor ruyny yéverw aTravTer elvat T pweTny Kal 
TadXa oToca TovTw@ EvveTopeva eltopev, 7) [42) 
duvdpevov BérXtTiov Aéyery Huov hyiv TweiOecOar 
kal Civ Oeods iyovpevoy eis tov érirortrov Biov. 
D opa@pev ody elite ixavas dn Tois ovY ryyoupévols 
Geous cipnxapev ws eicl Oeoi, cite émideas. 
KA. “Hxiotd ye, @ Eéve, ravt@y érideds. 
ao. Tovtors pev toivuy nuiv TO AOywv TédOS 
éyéT@* Tov O€ ryovpevov pev Beovs eivar, py 
ppovtivew Sé adtovs Tov avOpwTiver Tpaypyatar, 
mapapvOntéov. "2 dpicte 5H, Popmev, OTe pev 
nryet Oeovs, ovyyévera Tis tows oe Oeia mpos TO 
Evudutov aye Tiysav Kal vouifew evar Kaxdv bé 
E avOpérev cal adixov tiyar idia Kal Snpocia, 
arbeia péev ov« evdaipoves, doEas b€ evdaipovi- 
Copevar apodpa ard ovK €upends, dyovai ce mpods 
aaéBevav, &v te Movcais ovKx opOds bpvovpevar 
dua Kal év Travtotos AOyous. 1) Kal mpos TédOS 
iaws [avocious]! avOpe@rovs opav édOovtas 
ynpaos,” Taidas Taiiwv KatadiTovtas év Tipais 
900 tails peyiotais, TapaTTer <dTav>*® 70 vow év Grace 
routots [idwv] 7) dv axons aicBopuevos 7} Kai Tav- 
Tamaciv autos avTomTns mpootixns* ToAdOY 
aoceBnuatov Kal Sewadv yevouévwv tial dv avTa 
taita éx oppor cis Tupavvidas Te Kal TA péyloTa 
adixopuévors’® tore Sia Tavta Ta ToLadTa Shros 
1 [évoctous] omitted in best MSS. 
2 ynpaos: ynpasols MSS., edd. 
8 <$rav> added by Euseb. 


4 apootixns : mpootuxhs MSS. : mpootuxay Zur., vulg. 
5 adixouéevors Ritter: adicopévovs MSS., edd. 


359 





LAWS, BOOK X 


~ ein. What conditions? 
-atu, That either he must teach us that we are 
in laying down that soul is of all things the 
first production, together with all the consequential 
statements we made,—or, if he is unable to improve 
on our account, he must believe us, and for the rest 
of his life live in veneration of the gods. Let us, 
then, consider whether our argument for the 
existence of the gods addressed to those who 
disbelieve in them has been stated adequately or 
defectively. 
cuin. Anything rather than defectively, Stranger. 
atu. Then let our argument have an end, in so 
far as it is addressed to these men. But the man 
who holds that gods exist, but pay no regard to 
human affairs,—him we must admonish. “My good 
sir,’ let us say, “the fact that you believe in gods is 
due probably to a divine kinship drawing you to 
what is of like nature, to honour it and recognise its 
existence ; but the fortunes of evil and unjust men, 
both private and public,—which, though not really 
happy, are excessively and improperly lauded as 
happy by public opinion,—drive you to impiety by 
the wrong way in which they are celebrated, not 
only in poetry, bt in tales of every kind. Or 
again, when you see men attaining the goal of old 
age, and leaving behind them children’s children in 
the highest offices, very likely you are disturbed, 
when amongst the number of these you discover— 
whether from hearsay or from your own personal 
observation—some who have been guilty of many 
dreadful impieties, and who, just because of these, 
have risen from a small position to royalty and the 
highest rank; then the consequence of all this . 


35! 


PLATO 


el péudherOar pev Beodrs ws aitiovs bvtas Tov 
tovovTwv dia Evyyéverav ov« av Cedar: ayopevos 
dé bird twos droyias dua Kal ov Suvdpevos 
B dvcxepaivew Oeovs eis Todto viv To mabos édjdv- 
Bas war’ elvat pev Soxeiv avtovs, Trav 8& avOpa- 
mivav Katappoveiy Kal duerely tpaypdtov. iva 
obv mn emt petlov EMOn cor 1abos Trpos acéBevay TO 
viv Twapov Soypa, adr’, éav ws <olov te>,! olov 
aTodtoToumyicacbar Noyous av’TO Mpoctoy yevw- 
HeOa Suvatot, Tep@peOa, cvvarpavtes tov é&is 
Oyov @ Tpos Tov TO TapamTray Ov Hyovpevov Oeors 
€& apxns SuerepavdpeOa, TovT@ TA viv Tpocyxpn- 
CoacOa. od 8, Krewia te cai Méysdre, vrép 
tov véov Kabatrep év Tols Eumpoaber aToxpivdopevot 
SiadéyerOe av Sé te SvcKorov éumimtyn Tots 
Loyors, éy@ oh@ Horrep viv dy deEdpuevos SiaBLBO 
TOV TroTamop. 
KA. "OpOds éyetss Kal ov Te ovTw TadTa 
Spa moijcouév te eis eis to Svvatov & 
Aéyers. 
ae. “AXAX’ ovddey tay’ av tows ein yadreTrov 
évdeiEacbar TovT@” ye, ws émipedcis opixpar cial 
Geol ovx HrTov 7) TOY peyeOer SiahepovTwY. HKovE 
D yap mov Kat waphv tois viv bn Aeyouévois, ws 
aya0ot ye dvTes Tacay apEeTHY THY TOV TaYTwV 
CT LpENELAY OLKELOTATHY AUT@V OaaV KEKTHVTAL. 
KA. Kai ogodpa ye émjxovev. 
ao. Tdpera todTo roivuy Kowh ovvetetalovTar, 
Tiva NéyovTEes apeTHV adTaY Oporoyodpev avdTovs 


1 <ofdv re> I add (évavtiws for édv ws, Apelt). 
2 rotw England: rodré MSS. 


35? 








a 


LAWS, BOOK X 


is that, since on the one hand you are un-} 

willing to hold the gods responsible for such things 
because of your kinship to them, and since on the 
other hand you are driven by lack of logic and 
inability to repudiate the gods, you have come to 
your present morbid state of mind, in which you 
opine that the gods exist, but scorn and neglect _ 
human affairs. In order, therefore, that your present 
opinion may not grow to a greater height of morbid 
impiety, but that we may succeed in repelling the 
onset of its pollution (if haply we are able) by 
argument, let us endeavour to attach our next 
argument to that which we set forth in full to him 
who utterly disbelieves in gods, and thereby to 
employ the latter as well.” And do you, Clinias 
and Megillus, take the part of the young man in 
answering, as you did before ; and should anything 
untoward occur in the course of the argument, I will 
make answer for you, as I did just now, and convey 
you across the stream.* : 

cin. A good suggestion! We will do our best 
to carry it out; and do you do likewise. 

aTH. Well, ‘there will probably be no difficulty i in 
proving to this man that the gods care for small 
things no less than for things superlatively great. 
For, of course, he was present at our recent argument, 
and heard that the gods, being good with all good- 
ness, possess such care of the whole as is most proper 
to themselves. 

cin. Most certainly he heard that. 

aTH. Let us join next in enquiring what is that 
goodness of theirs in respect of which we agree that 





1 Cp, 892 D, E. 
353 


VOL. Il. AA 


PLATO 


ayaBovs eivat. dépe, TO cwdpovety vodv Te 
KexTio0ai paper apetis, Ta 8 évavtia xaxias ; 

KA. Dapév. 

ao. Ti dai; apetis ev avdpiay eivat, dediav 
6é Kaxkias ; 

KA. LTlavu pev owv. 

E ao. Kal ra pév aicxpa tovtav, ta 5é xara 
dyjcoper ; 

KA. *Avayrn. 

ae. Kal tap pev mpoonxew n piv, elrep, omega 
praipa, Geis be OUTE péya ovUTE GuLKpoY TOV 
TOLOUT@Y [LeETOV epoduev ; ; 

KA. Kal rad0’ oftws oporoyol mas av. 

ao. Ti dai; dpédccay Te kal apyiav Kal Tpuphv 
eis apeTnyv Wuxis Oncomev ; 7) THs heyers ; 

KA. Kai ras; 

A®. "AXN els Tovvaytion ; 

KA. Nai. 

901 ao. Tavartia dpa tovtots eis TovvavTiov. 

KA. Tovvavriov. 

Ae. Te ov dy; tpudpov Kal apes apyos Te, 
dv 0 TOUNTHS en payor KoBovpowrt pda €iKeXov 
packer elvat, yiyvorr av [o]? TowdTos Tas 
yet ; 

KA. ‘Oporara ye LTT wD.. 

Ae, Ovxoby TOV ye Bedv ov pytéov éyeuv 7100s 
ToLovToV 6 yé ToL avros pucet” TO Té Tl TOLOUTOY 
hbéyyecOar Telp@peve ovK émetpenTéov. 

KA. ‘Od pev 67° TOS yap ay ; 

ao. “Ox 8) mpoorjer ev mpatrew Kal eripe- 


1 [6] bracketed by Burnet. 
354 








LAWS, BOOK X 


they are good. Come now, do we say that prudence 
and the possession of reason are parts of goodness, 
and the opposites of these of badness? 
cin. We do say so. 
_ aT. And further, that courage is part of good- 
ness, and cowardice of badness ? 
cun. Certainly. 
atu. And shall we say that some of these are 
foul, others fair ? 
cin. Necessarily. 
atu. And shall we say that all such as are mean 
belong to us, if to anyone, whereas the gods have no 
share in any such things, great or small ? 
cun. To this, too, everyone would assent. 
aTH. Well then, shall we reckon neglect, idle- 
ness and indolence as goodness of soul? Or how 
say you? 
LIN. How could we? 
atu. As the opposite, then? 
cin. _ Yes. 
atu. And the opposites of these as of the opposite 
quality of soul ? 
cun. Of the opposite quality. 
aTH. What then? He who is indolent, careless 
and idle will be in our eyes what the poet described? 
—“a man most like to sting-less drones” ? 
cLIn. A most true description. 
atu. That God has such a character we must 
certainly deny, seeing that he hates it; nor must 
we allow anyone to attempt to say so. 
cLin. We could not possibly allow that. 
atu. When a person whose duty it is especially 
1 Hesiod Op. D. 303 f.: t@ Se Beol veweraa: wal avépes Ss 
kev depyds | (an, knptveoo: xoBovpois etkeAos Spphy. 
355 


aa2 


PLATO 


B reicOar Siadhepovtws Tivos, 0 8€ TovTOV ye vods 
TOV pev peydrov éeripereita, ToV opKpav Sé 
apenrel, Kata tiva ératvodyTes TOV TOLODTOY AOYyoV 
ovK av TavTaTace TWANMpENOI MEV ; TKOTapmEV Se 
@de. ap ov cata dvo eldn TO ToLodTOY TpaTTEL O 
mpaTtov, eite Beds elt avOpwrros ; 

KA. Lloiw 87 Néyoper ; 
ao. “H bdsadépov ovdev olopevos elvat 70 bdo 

C dpeXovupévov TOV TuLKpPOr, 7} padupia Kal Tpupy, 
él Stag épewy,} o 8é dered, 1) éorw a@rAws THs 
yeyvopevn Gpéreva ; ; ov yap Tou éTav ye aduvarov 
TOV dm dvToy emipeneioar, TOTE dpéeva éorar 
TOV TLLKPODV 7) Meydrwov un eTrimEedoupevo, Ov av 
duvaper Oeds 7) hadros Tis Ov eAdTAS Kal My 
duvatos émipenreiobar yiryvnrar. 

KA. Il@s yap av; 

ao. Nov 6% dv’ dvtes tpicly nuiv ovew aro- 
xpwdac0ocay ot Beods ev dpporepot oporoyoor- 
TES elvat, TaparTytovs: bé a drepos, o 6é Gpeneis TOV 

D o PLKPOV. 7 p@rov pev Beads apporepot pate 
yuyvocxey Kal opav Kal aovew TavTa, Aabeiv 
bé avutovs ovdev duvatov elvau TOY OTOTwY 
eioly [ai] aicOnoes te kal émictHuat. TavTy 
Aéyere Eye TAUTA, 1) TOS ; 

KA. Odtas. . 

ao. Ti dai; SivacOat wavta oTocwrv ad 
dvvapis éote Ovntois te Kal aBavaroats ; 

KA. Ilds yap ov cuyxwpycovrat Kal Tavita 
oUTws éyeLy ; 


1 Siapépew: Siapépe: MSS., edd. 
® [ai] om. Euseb. : bracketed by Hermann. 


356 








LAWS, BOOK X 


to act and care for some object has a mind that cares 
for great things, but neglects small things, on what 
principle could we praise such a person without the 
utmost impropriety? Let us consider the matter in 
this way: the action of him who acts thus, be he 
god or man, takes one of two forms, does it not ? 

cin. What forms? 

atu. Either because he thinks that neglect of 
the small things makes no difference to the whole, 
or else, owing to laziness and indolence, he neglects 
them, though he thinks they do make a difference. 
Or is there any other way in which neglect occurs ? 
For when it is impossible to care for all things, it 
will not in that case be neglect of great things or 
small when a person—be he god or common man— 
fails to care for things which he lacks the power and 
capacity to care for. 

cuin. Of course not. 

aTH. Now to us three let these two men make 
answer, of whom both agree that gods exist, but the 
one asserts that they can be bribed, and the other 
that they neglect the small. First, you both 
assert that the gods know and hear and see all 
things,1 and that nothing of all that is apprehended 
by senses or sciences can escape their notice ; do you 
assert that this is so, or what ? 

cin. That is what we assert.” 

atu. And further, that they can do all that can 
be done by mortal or immortal? 

cin. They will, of course, admit that this also is 
the case. 


1 Cp. 641 E. ‘ 
? Here, and in what follows, Clinias is answering on behalf 
of the two misbelievers. 


357 


PLATO 


E ao. Kat piv ayabous ye cat apiotous @podo- 
ynkapev adrovs eivar TévTe OvTES. 

KA. Xodpa rye. 

od > a > / \ \ an? t 
Ao. “Ap ody ov pabupia pév Kal tTpv dvva- 
> P, Pa Fike B e . PUP y aoure 
TOV GUTOUS O“oAOYEV TPATTELY OTLODY TO TapaTray, 
ovTas ye olovs A€éyomev ; Seidias yap. Exyovos, év 
ye Hmiv apyia, pabupia dé apyias Kab tpudjs. 

KA. "AdnOéotata Néyets. 

, , \ \ \ / 2 ~ 

Ae. Apyig pev 8) kal pabvpia ovdels &ipenel 

aa 7 A 
Gedy: ov yap péteo TW avT@ Tov Seirlas. 

KA. ‘Op@otata réryers. 

902 ae Ovxodv to AovTrov, eimep amedXodaL TOV 
TMIKPOV Kalb OXNLYwN TOV Tepl TO TaY, 7h yuyvOo- 
KOVTES @S TO Tapadtray ovdevos TAY ToLo’T@V 
> a 7 a xa rn x , A x 
émrimedciabar Sei, Sp@ev Av TovTO, } Ti TO AoLTrOV 
TAI TO yryvockev TobvavTiov ; 

KA. Ovdér. 

» 5 i \ f - , 

Ao. Llotepov ody, & apioTte Kai BéXTLCTE, Oder 

, ¢ > a 4 \ , > ad 
oe Néyovta, Ms ayvootvTds Te Kal Séov értpendet- 
cOat O ayvotay apeXovrtas, t ytyv@oKovtTas 6Tt 
det, eabdtep of davroTatot TaY avOpwTar Eeyov- 

. PAN 5A 3 , 4 < 
TAL ToLEiv, ELooTEs AAXa Elvat BEATIiO TPaTTely WV 
\ , s a e rn x a 
57 mpatrover oid Twas, htras Hdovay 7 AUTaY 
B ov troveiv ; 
fal \ y 
KA. II@s yap ap ; 
> ~ \ 4 bd , / 

Ao. Ovdxody 81) Ta ye avOpwriva mpdypata 
THs Te €urpvyou petéxer hvcews dua, Kai Oeoae- 
Bécratov a’to éott Tavtwy Cowv avOpwmros ; 

KA. “Eovxe yoov. 


358 





——VO_ll 





OE EE 


sat aia 


LAWS, BOOK X 


atH, And it is undeniable that all five of us 
agreed that the gods are good, yea, exceeding 


ctin. Most certainly. 

aTH. Being, then, such as we agree, is it not 
impossible to allow that they do anything at all ina 
lazy and indolent way? For certainly amongst us 
mortals idleness is the child of cowardice, and lazi- 
ness of idleness and indolence. 

cun. Very true. 

atu. None, then, of the gods is neglectful owing 
to idleness and laziness, seeing that none has any 
part in cowardice. 

cur. You are very right. 

atu. Further, if they do neglect the small and 
seant things of the All, they will do so either because 
they know that there is. no need at all to care for 
any such things or—well, what other alternative is 
there except the opposite of knowing ? 
ceuin. There is none. 

aTH. Shall we then assume, my worthy and ex- 
cellent sir, that you assert that the gods are ignorant, 
and that it is through ignorance that they are 
neglectful when they ought to be showing care,—or 
that they know indeed what is needful, yet act as 
the worst of men are said to do, who, though. they 
know that other things are better to do than what 
they are doing, yet do them not, owing to their being 
somehow defeated by pleasures or pains? 

cin. Impossible. 

atH. Do not human affairs share in animate 
nature, and is not man himself, too, the most god- 
fearing of all living creatures ? 

cun. That is certainly probable. 


359 


PLATO 


‘ Ae. Gedy ye wnv kTypata dapev eivar wavta 
ordca Ovnta CHa, ovTep Kal Tov ovpavoy brov. 

KA. Ids yap od ; 

ae, “Hén toivuy cpixpa 7) peydda tis bato 

Cratrta elvar tois Oeois: ovdetépws yap ois 
KEKTHMEVOLS Hwas apmedcivy av ein TpoojKor, 
ETLUENETTATOLS YE OVCL Kal apioToLs. TKOTapEV 
yap 8 kal T0de Ett pos TOUTOLS. 

KA. To moiov; 

ae. To mepi te aicOnoews xal Svvapews, ap’ 
ovK évavTiws GAXAroW pds bacTevHY Kal yare- 
TOTNTA EaTOV TEpUKOTE ; 

KA. Ils Aéyers ; 

Ae. “Opdv pév mov Kab axovew Ta opiKpa 
NareTw@TEpov 7) Ta peydra, dépew Se ad Kat 
Kpateiv Kal émiperctoOar TOY ouLKpaV Kal OALyoV 
Tavtl padov }) Tov évaytior. 

D xa. Kal ond ye. 

Ao. ‘latp@ 6& mpootetaypévov Orov Tt Oepa- 
mevey Bovdopev@ kal Evvapeve, TOV wev peydrov 
emTimedoupéev@, TOV popiwv dé Kal ouiKpOV ape- 
Aovvtt, et Tote KaNMS avT@ TO TAY ; 

KA. Ovdapas. 

Ae. Od pny ovdé KuBepyntass ovde oTpaTHyois 
008’ oixovopots ov ad Tici qodtTiKOIs OVS aGAAW 
TOV ToLOvT@Y ovdevrL ywpls TaVY OArALywv Kal 

E opixpav rodra 7 peydra: ode yap dvev cpiKpav 
Tous peyddous gacly of ALOorddyor AiGous €d 
Keto Oat. 

KA. Ids yap av; 

ae. M7 toivuy tov ye Oedv akioowpev rote 
Ovntav Snusovpyav davArctepor, of Ta mMpoc- 
360 





LAWS, BOOK X 


atH. We affirm that all mortal creatures are 
possessions of the gods, to whom belongs also the 
whole heaven. 

cun. Of course. 

atu. That being so, it matters not whether a 
man says that these things are small or great in the 
eyes of the gods; for in neither case would it behove 
those who are our owners to be neglectful, seeing 
that they are most careful and most goed For let 
us notice this further fact—— 

cin. What is it? 

atu. In regard to perception and power,—are not 
these two naturally opposed in respect of ease and 
difficulty ? 

cin. How do you mean ? 

aTH. It is more difficult to see and hear small 
things than great ; but everyone finds it more easy 
to move, control and care for things small and few 
than their opposites. 

cin. Much more. 

atu. When a physician is charged with the 
curing of a whole body, if, while he is willing and 
able to care for the large parts, he neglects the small 
parts and members, will he ever find the whole in 
good condition ? 

cin. Certainly not. 

atu. No more will pilots or generals or house- 
managers, nor yet statesmen or any other such 
persons, find that the many and great thrive apart 
from the few and small; for even masons say that 
big stones are not well laid without little stones. 

curx. They cannot be. 

atu. Let us never suppose that God is inferior to 
mortal craftsmen who, the better they are, the more 


361 


PLATO 


eOvTa avtots épya, dowmep av apeivous aot, 
TOT@ axpiBéarepa kal Tede@tepa pad ron 
opLKpa KaL peydha amrepyatovrar: tov 6é Oeov, 
évTa TE copwrarov Bovdopevov T éripercioOar 

903 kab Suvdpevor, av pév padov iy émiwednOjvar 
omixp@v dvT@Y pndayy érripeReia Bat xabdrep 
apyov y} devAov tiva dia Trovous pabupodvta, THY 
b€ peydrov. 

KA. Mynédapds dokav TOLAUTHY _meph Gedy, a 
Eéve, amrodex@peba ovdaun yap. oUTe Gotov OUT 
arbes TO Stavonpa Siavooipe? a av. 

ae. Aoxodpev 5é por viv Hon Kal para 
petpios SuechéyOar TO firaitio THs apwereias TépL 
Oeav. 

KA. Nai. 

ao. Ted ye BiaterPar Trois Aoyors oporoyeiv 

B avrov pH Réyew 6p0ds. éen@dadv ye nv mpoc- 
deicOai por Soxe? pvOwv Ett TIVOY. 

KA. Lloiwv, & yale ; 

Ao. TleiOwpev tov veaviay trois Adyos oS TO 
Tov TavTos €mtpeXoUMev@ TPOS THY TwTNpLaV 
kal apetny Tod bXov TavT é€oTl curTETAaypeva, 
ov Kal TO HEpos els Suva piv exagrov 70 poo iKov 
maoxer Kal Tovel. ToUTous 8° etaly adpxovres 
Toa TeTaypEVOL éxdotos él TO TMK poTaTov 
del, waOns Kal mpakews, els Hepis mov Tov eaxa- 

C rov <ro>} TédOS dretpryac wévor" ov év kal To 
cov, @ OXET ME, Hopiov eis TO may Evyeiver 
Brérov ael, Kaimep Tava piKpov ov. ae dé 
Ede meph TOUTO avro os yeveres éveka éxelvou 
ylyverat maoa, bres 7 4 TO Tod TavTos Bip 
Umdpyovea evdaiuwy ovcia, ovx Evexa ood 


362 


EE EE 


LAWS, BOOK X 


- accurately and perfectly do they execute their proper 


tasks, small and great, by one single art—or that 
God, who is most wise, and both willing and able to 
care, cares not at all for the small. things which are 
the easier to care for—like one who shirks the 
labour because he is idle and cowardly,—but only for 
the great. 

ctin. By no means let us accept such an opinion 
of the gods, Stranger: that would be to adopt a view 
that is neither pious nor true at all. 

aTH. And now, as I think, we have argued quite 
sufficiently with him who loves to censure the gods 
for neglect. : 

etin. Yes. 

aTH. And it was. by forcing him by our arguments 
to acknowledge that what he says is wrong. But 
still he needs also, as it seems to me, some words. of 
counsel to act as a charm upon him. 

cin. What kind of words, my good sir ? 

aTH. Let us persuade the young man by our 
discourse that all things are ordered systematically 
by Him who cares for the World-all with a view to 
the preservation and excellence of the Whole, where- 
of also each part, so far as it can, does and suffers 
what is proper to it. To each of these parts, down | 
to the smallest fraction, rulers of their action and 
passion are appointed to bring about fulfilment even 
to the uttermost fraction ; whereof thy portion also, 
O perverse man. is one, and tends therefore always in 
its striving towards the All, tiny though it be. But 
thou failest to perceive that all partial generation is 
for the sake of the Whole, in order that for the life 
of the World-all blissful existence may be secured,— 





1 <rb> added by Stephens. 
363 


PLATO 


yeyvouern, ov 6€ évexa éxeivou. mas yap i tar pos 
Kat Twas evTeXvOs Snucoupyyos TavTos pev eveka 
wavrTa epyaterar, Tpos TO KowT Evytetvev Bedre- 
aTOv, pépos puny evexa ddou kal ovxX OXov Hépous 
D evexa amepyagerau. av 6é dayavanreis ayvooy 
omy TO mept oe apioroy T® Travtl EvpBaiver Kal 
col Kara Svvapw THY THS Kowijs syevérews. errel 
dé del vex cuvTETay Levy TMOMATL TOTE pev 
aA, ToTe be dAdo, peraBarnet mavToias 
peraBoras ée éavtiy H Oe érépav px, ovdev 
ado epyov TO TETTEVTH elmrerat may peTa- 
Teva TO mev cpetvov ryiyvopevov A00g ets Berrio 
TOTOV, xetpov dé eis TOV Xelpova, Kara TO mpémov 
avuTav éxactov, iva THs mpoonkovans potpas 
Nayyavn. 
E- KA. ih Aéyers + 
A@. "Herep a av éyot Aoyov pacTa@vn emipeneias 
Gents Tov TavT@v, TaUTy | pot d0K@ ppatery: él 
pn? yap ™ pos TO 6dov ael Brerrwv TAATTOL TLS 
wetacxnuartivor Ta mavtTa, olov éx mupos ddwp 
[Enyruxor], 2 Kal py) Evprorra ef évos uP éx 
904 Toho &, mpwatns % Sevtépas a Kal Tpirns 
yever ews pererAnpota TrjOecw ametp "3 ap ein 
[ra] THs peTarenerns Koo Uno EDs" vov 8 éaott 
Pavpactn pao tavn T®@® TOU TAVTOS éTtpMENoULEVO. 
KA. Ild@s ad Réyers ; ; 
Ao. “Ode. érretd)) Kateidev judy 6 Bacireds 
éurapvyous ovcas Tas mpdfeas amacas Kal TOAAHY 
1 uh Apelt : wey MSS. 
2 [uduvxov] I bracket (Zuyuxpov Stallb.). 


3 Gre’ MSS.: trop’ MS. marg., Zur.; MSS. om. 7a (vulg. 
om. rijs). 


364 


—- ee CU 








LAWS, BOOK X 


it not being generated for thy sake, but thou for its 
sake. For every physician and every trained crafts- 
man works always for the sake of a Whole, and 
strives after what is best in general, and he produces 
a part for the sake of a whole, and not a whole for 
the sake of a part ; but thou art vexed, because thou 
knowest not how what is best in thy case for the 
All turns out best for thyself also, in accordance 
with the power of your common origin. And inas- 
much as soul, being conjoined now with one body, 
now with another, is always undergoing all kinds of 
changes either of itself or owing to another soul, 
there is left for the draughts-player no further 
task,—save only to shift the character that grows 
better to a superior place, and the worse to a worse, 
according to what best suits each of them, so that 
to each may be allotted its appropriate destiny. 

cuin. In what way do you mean? 

atu. The way I am describing is, I believe, that 
in which supervision of all things is most easy for 
the gods. For if one were to shape all things, with- | 
out a constant view to the Whole, by transforming 
them (as, for instance, fire into water), instead of 
merely converting one into many or many into one, 
then when things had shared in a first, or second, or 
even third generation, they would be countless in 
number in such a system of transformations ; but as 
things are, the task before the Supervisor of the 
All is wondrous easy. 

cin. How do you mean? 

aTH. Thus :—Since our King saw that all actions 
involve soul, and contain much good and much evil, 


1 This seems to refer to three stages of the soul’s incar- 
nation ; see p. 367, n, 2, 


365 


PLATO 


\ > \ > bi. es 5 \ \ , 
pev apeTny ev avtals ovear, TONNIY 6é KAKUAY, 
dvarel pov dé dv yevopwevov, aX’ ovK ai@viov, 
wuyny Kab capa, Kab dmep ot Kara vopov évTes 
Geoi—yeveats yap ovK av Tore iy Cowv arono- 

B pévou TOUTOLY Oatépov—xat To pev apeheiy dei 
TEPUKOS, dcov aryab ov Puxis, duevorOn, TO be 
KaKOV Brave: tadra TavTa  Evvidav € eunxary- 
caro Tob Ket puevov éxaoTov TOV Hepav mKagay 
aperny, HTT@MenY | dé Kaxiav, év TO TavTi 
Tapéxor pamiot ay Kal pdora cal dpiora. 
HennXavyntar 8 T pos wav tovTo TO Toloy Tt 
yuyvouevoy ael mroiav édpav Set petadrduSavov 
oixitecOar nal Tivas moTé TOTous. THs O€ yeve- 
sews TOU Trolov tivds adnKe tais Bovdrnoecty 

C éxdo Tov y av Tas aitias. 6m yap av émiOunn 
ral omrotes TEs @y Tv ux, Tavtn oxedor 
éxda Tore Kal ToLOvTOS yiyveTaL GTas HuaV ws 
TO TON. 

KA. To yoov eikos. 

Ae. MeraBannrer bev Tolvuv mane’ boa péToXa 
€oTL vuxiis, év éautois KexTnméva THY THIS peTa- 
Borys: aiTiay" peTaBardovta 5é héperar nara 
Thy Ths eiwapuévns Tae Kal vouov. opUKpOTEpa 
pev tav nOav peTaBdddovTa €XaTT@ KATA To 
THs Kwpas émimedov | HeTaTropeveTat, mrel@ be Kai 

D adik@repa peTaTecovta els Babos Tad TE KaT@ 
eyopeva TOV TOTMD, boa "Avdnv tre Kal Ta 
ToUT@Y éyoueva Toy ovoparav érrovouatovtes 
opodpa goBobvrat Kal. overpoTronovat favres bia- 
AvOevTes TE THY copdtov. pelo Se bn Wuy7 





1 Cp. Tim. 37 0 ff 
366 








LAWS, BOOK X 


and that bodyand soul are, when generated, indestruc- 
tible but not eternal, as are the gods ordained by law 
(for if either soul or body had been destroyed, there 
would never have been generation of living creatures), 
and since He perceived that all soul that is good 
naturally tends always to benefit, but the bad to 
injure,—observing all this, He designed a location 
for each of the parts, wherein it might secure the 
vietory of goodness in the Whole and the defeat of 
evil most completely, easily, and well. For this 
purpose He has designed the rule which prescribes 
what kind of character should be set to dwell in what 
kind of position and in what regions;? but the 
causes of the generation of any special kind he left 
to the wills of each one of us men.* For according 
to the trend of our desires and the nature of our 
souls, each one of us generally becomes of a corres- 
ponding character. 

cu. That is certainly probable. 

atu. All things that share in soul change, since 
they possess within themselves the cause of change, 
and in changing they move according to the law and 
order of destiny ; the smaller the change of character, 
the less is the movement over surface in space, but 
when the change is great and towards great iniquity, 
then they move towards the deep and the so-called 
lower regions, regarding which—under the names of 
Hades and the like—men are haunted by most fear- 
ful imaginings, both when alive and when disparted 
from their bodies. And whenever the soul gets a 

2 Cp. Tim. 42 B ff. where it is said that the soul of the 
good man returns at death to its native star, while that of 
the bad takes the form of a woman in its second, and that 


of a beast in its third incarnation. 
3 Cp. Rep. 617 E. 


367 


PLATO 
KaKlas i) apeTis oToTay weTtaraBy diva THY adThs 
BovrAnolv te Kal opiriay yevouévny ioyupar, 
omdtay péev apeth Ocia mpocpitaca yiyvntac 
dtagepovtws toravTn, Suadépovta Kai petréBade 
ToTrov, ayiav obov! petaxopiobeica eis apelvm 
E twa toro étepov- Stay 8 tavavtia, éri tavaytia 

peOSpicaca Tov avtis Biov. 


AW 


aitn to dixn éotl Gedy of “OdXuprrov éxovatr, 


@® Tat Kal veavioxe apercicbar Soxdv bd Gear’ 
KAKi@ [eV Yyiryvouevoy Tpos TAS KaKious uyas, 
dpeiva Sé Tpos Tas apelvous, TOpevopevoy ev TE 
lon cal év mac. Oavdtas Tdoxew TE & TpOcHKOV 
dpav é€otl tois poo pepéat Tous mpoadepeis Kal 
905 moreiv.2 tavtns THs Sixns ovTE oY fy TOTE OUTE 
ei Gos aTUYNS yevouevos émevENTaL Tepuyer- 
écOar Gedy: tv tracady Sixav sradepovtas 
érakdv te of tdEavtes ypewv te éFevAaBeicbat 
TO TapadTav. ovyap ayednOrjoe ToTé UT’ avTHS 
ovX oUTw opuixpos Ov SUcEL KATA TO TIS Yiis 
BaOos, 0d5 inrnros yevouevos eis TOY ovpavorv 
avartTnoe, tices 6€ ad’Tavy THY Tpoonkovaav 
Tipwpiav eit évOdde pévwv cite Kai év “Ardou 
B dcatropevOels cite Kal TovTw@Y eis aypiw@tepov ETL 
SiaxopucOels torov. 6 avtos dé AOyos cor Kal 
mepl éxelvwv av ein, TOV ods GU KaTiOaY éx 
TuLKp@v peyddous yeyovoTtas avocloupyncavTas 
TL ToLovTov mpak~avtas wnOns €£ aPdiwv ev- 

1 Gylav 65dv Badham : &y:ov dAov MSS., edd.(%aAcy Winck.). 


2 «al roeiy placed by Zur., vulg., after mdaxew re, but by 
MSS. after rpoogepe’s (so Hermann). 





1 Odyss. XIX. 43. 
368 


NS —— = 





SS Py 


LAWS, BOOK X 


specially large share of either virtue or vice, owing to 
the force of its.own will and the influence of its 
intercourse growing strong, then, if it is in union 
with divine virtue, it becomes thereby eminently 
virtuous, and moves to an eminent region, being 
transported by a holy road to another and a better 
region; whereas, if the opposite is the case, it 
changes to the opposite the location of its life’s 
abode. “This is the just decree of the gods who 
inhabit Olympus,’ + O thou child and stripling who | 
thinkest thou art neglected by the gods,—the decree 
that as thou becomest worse, thou goest to the 
company of the worse souls, and as thou becomest — 
better, to the better souls ; and that, alike in life and. 
in every shape of death, thou both doest and sufferest 
what it is befitting that like should do towards like.” 
From this decree of Heaven neither wilt thou nor 
any other luckless wight ever boast that he has 
escaped ; for this decree is one which the gods who 
have enjoined it have enjoined above all others, and 
meet it is that it should be most strictly observed. 
For by it thou wilt not ever be neglected, neither if 
thou shouldest dive, in thy very littleness, into the 
depths of the earth below, nor if thou shouldest soar 
up to the height of Heaven above ; but thou shalt 
pay to the gods thy due penalty, whether thou 
remainest here on earth, or hast passed away to 
Hades, or art transported to a region yet more fear- 
some. And the same rule, let me tell thee, will 
apply also to those whom thou sawest growing to 
great estate from small after doing acts of impiety or 
other such evil,—concerning whom thou didst deem 
that they had risen from misery to happiness, and 


2 Cp. 728 Bf, 837 A. 
; 369 


VOL, Il. BB 


E 


PLATO 


daipovas yeyovévat, Kata @s év KaTOTTpOLS ad’TaY 
tais mpateow tynow xabewpaxévat Thy TavTeV 
apérerayv Oe@v, ov« eidas abTay THY cuYTédeELar, 
é64n Tote TO travtTl EvuRadreTat. yiyvOocKerv 
S€ avtiy, ® Twavt@v avdpeotate, TAS ov Seiv 
doxeis ; Hv Tis wn yryvooKwy ovd ay TUTop idot 
Tote, ovde Noyov + EvxpBarreoOar trept Biov duva- 
Tos ay yévoto eis evdatmoviay Te Kal dvasaipova 
TUYnY. TavTa ei pév ce meer Krewias bbe 
kai Evpraca juav nde  yepovoia, mepl Seay 
ws ovx oicGa 6 TL A€yEls, KAA@S av got oO Oeds 
avros Ev\XapBavou et 8 eridens ett NOyou TLvOS 
dy eins, AeyovTwY hav Tmpos TOY TpiTOY émaxove, 
ei voov Kal oTwocody exes. OTe pev yap Oeoi 
Tt elol kai avOperav €mipedovvTal, eywye ov 
Travratact favras av hainv jpiv arrodebeiyOar- 
To 6& mapaityntod’s av Oeods? elvar Totcw 
adixcovat, Seyouévovs SHpa, ovTEe Til cvyYo- 
pntéov mavti 7 av Kata divayiw TpoTe érey- 
KTEOD. 

KA. Kado’ eires, Tor@pév TE @s AEyeLs. 

ao. Dépe 5) mpos Pedy aiTav, Tiva TpoTroV 
TAPALTHTOL yiyvowT ay Huiv, el yiyvowwTo ad; 
Kal tives % Tolol TLves OvTES; ApxovTas meV 
avayKaiov mou yiyverOar Tovs ye OvotKncovTas 
Tov dmavTa €voEereX@s ovpavory. 

KA. Odtas. 

ao. ‘Ad’ dpa tics Tpordepels TOY ApYovTar ; 
} tives tovToW, wv SuvaTor jpuiv amerxafover 
Tuyyavew peiCoow éNatTovas ; moTEpoy Hvioyoi 

1 ovdt Adyov MSS.: 008’ &v Adyous al. MSS., Zur. 
2 ad Geovs MSS.: abrods Stobaeus, Zur. 


37° 





LAWS, BOOK X 


didst imagine, therefore, that in their actions, as in 
mirrors, thou didst behold the entire neglect of the 
gods, not knowing of their joint contribution and 
how it contributes to the All. And surely, O most 
us of men, thou canst not but suppose that 

this is a thing thou must needs learn. For if a man 
learns not this, he can never see even an outline of 
the truth, nor will he be able to contribute an account 
of life as regards its happiness or its unhappy fortune. 
If Clinias here and all our gathering of elders succeed 
in convincing thee of this fact, that thou knowest not 
what thou sayest about the gods, then God Himself 
of His grace will aid thee ; but shouldest thou still 
be in need of further argument, give ear to us while 
we argue with the third unbeliever, if thou hast sense 
at all. For we have proved, as I would maintain, 
by fairly sufficient argument that the gods exist and 
care for men ; the next contention, that the gods can 
be won over by wrongdoers,1 on the receipt of bribes, 
is one that no one should admit, and we must try to 
refute it by every means in our power. 

cuin. Admirably spoken : let us do as you say. 

aTH. Come now, in the name of these gods 
themselves I ask—in what way would they come to 
be seduced by us, if seduced they were? Being 
what in their essence and character? Necessarily 
they must be rulers, if they are to be in continual 
control of the whole heaven. 

cun. True. 

atu. But to which kind of rulers are they like ? 
Or which are like to them, of those rulers whom we 
can fairly compare with them, as small with great? 

1 Cp. Hom. Jl. IX. 497 ff., robs (Geobs) . . . AosBi Te Kvicn Te 
Tapatpwxa@a’ kvOpwrot KTA. 


37! 
BB2 


PLATO 


Ties av elev Tolovtoe Levy@y apihropéevov 
i Trotwy KuBepvitar; tdya 8 Kav ameKa- 
oleiey otpatoTéswv apyovai Tic. ein 8 dv Kal 
voowy modepov evrAaBovpévois tatpois éorxévar 
906 wepl capata, 7 yewpyois tepl puTa@v yéveow 
elwOvias apas yareTas Sid PoBwv mpocdexo- 
pévols, 7) Kal Tolmviwy emioTdtals. é7reLd1) yap 
ouyKkexwpyKapev Huiv avtois eivar ev TOY oUpa- 
vov ToAA@Y pecTov ayalar, elvac b€ Kal Tov 
évavtiwv, TrELovav S€ TOY pH, waxn On, Paper, 
a0avatos éotw % Tova’tTn Kal puraxfs Gav- 
pacts Seouévyn, Evupayor dé juiv Ocot te apa 
Kail daipoves, apeis 8 avd xtypata Oedy Kai 
Saipovonv’ POeiper dé has advxia Kal DBpis peta 
B adpoctvns, cwter 5é Sixatoctvn cal cwppoovvn 
peta povyncews, ev tais tav Gedy eurvyots 
oixodaar Suvapect, Bpaxd dé Te kal rHdE av TIS 
TOV ToLOvT@V EvoiKodY nuiv cages dor. w>uyal 
by tives él ys oixodoat Kal adixov Ajppa 
KexTnpévat, SHAov Ott Onpiddets mpos Tas TOV 
durdcwoyv Wuyas dpa Kvvdv 7 Tas TOV vopéwy 
2) Tpos Tas TOY TavTaTacw axpotadtav SeoTo- 
Tov mpoonimtovoat teiOover Owreiais oyor, 
C cal év evataias Tialy ém@édais, as ai dja pacw 
ai tav Kaxdy, é€eivar mrAEOvEeKTOVEL ohicw év 
avOpwrros wacyew pndev xarerov. papev O 
elval tov TO viv dvopatouevoy auapTnua THY 
mreoveEiav évy pev capkivols copmaclt voonua 





1 Cp. 904 A ff., 896 C ff., Rep. 379 C. 
2 Cp. Phaedo 62 B. 


372 


—— el 


SS Ss —— 


LAWS, BOOK X 


Would drivers of rival teams resemble them, or pilots 
of ships? Or perhaps they might be likened to 
rulers of armies; or possibly they might be compared 
to physicians watching over a war against bodily 
disease, or to farmers fearfully awaiting seasons of 
wonted difficulty for the generation of plants, or else 
to masters of flocks. For seeing that we haveagreed ! 
among ourselves that the heaven is full of many things 
that are good, and of the opposite kind also, and that 
those not good are the more numerous, such a battle, 
we affirm, is undying, and needs a wondrous watchful- 

—the gods and daemons being our allies, and we 
the possession ? of the gods and daemons ; and what 
destroys us is iniquity and insolence combined with 
folly, what saves us, justice and temperance combined 
with wisdom, which dwell in the animate powers of 
the gods, and of which some small trace may be 
clearly seen here also residing in us. But there are 
certain souls that dwell on earth and have acquired 
unjust gain which, being plainly bestial, beseech the 
souls of the guardians—whether they be watch-dogs 
or herdsmen or the most exalted of masters—trying 
to convince them by fawning words and prayerful 
incantations that (as the tales of evil men relate) 
they can profiteer among men on earth without any 
severe penalty: but we assert that the Sin now 
mentioned, of profiteering or “ over-gaining,” is what 
is called in the case of fleshly bodies “ disease,” 3 in 


3 Cp. Rep. 609, Symp. 188 A ff., where the theory is stated 
that health depends upon the “ harmony,” or equal balance, 
of the constituent elements of the body (‘‘ heat” and ‘‘ cold, 
‘“* moisture” and ‘‘dryness,”); when any of these (opposite) 
elements is in excess (xAcovexte?), disease sets in. So, too, 
in the ‘‘body politic,” the excess of due measure by any 
element, or member, is injustice, 


373 


PLATO 


Kadovperor, ev 6é a pars érav Kal éviavtois 
spipiews év 8€ TroAect eal TodTElals TODTO avTO, 
pyyare } HETETXNMATLO MEVOY, adtxiav. 

KA. Wavraract pep ou. 

AQ. Tobrov oy Tov ovyov avaykaiov Aeyewv 
Tov A€yovTa ws Eat ouyyrepoves del Geol Tots 

D tov avOpwtrav adixots Kai adixodow, av avtois 
TOV abienpar on | TLS dmovewn, xalamep <i>? 
Kuat AvKOL TOV apTacpaTov oMiKpa aTrOVvEUOLEY, 
ot oe 7} JLe POUMEVOL Tots Swpors ovyX@potev Ta 
Toiwyia Suaprratew. ap’ ov obTos 0 Aoxyos oO 
TOV pacKovtay TaparTnTovs elvat Oeous ; 

KA. Odrtos pev our. 

Ao. Tiow ovv 81) Top mpoppndevtay amret- 
xatov omotous pvraxas eivar Geos ovK av Kara 
yéhacros rybyvouto avOparov ooTLaoby ; ™OTEpoOV 

E xuBepyyrats, AovBH TE oivov Kvion Te TapatpeTro- 
peévors avtois, avatpérrovar 5€ vavds TE Kal VaUTAS ; 

KA. Mnoapas. 

AO. "ANN ov TL ma Hveoxoret ye €v apirry 
TUVTETAYHEVOLS, metaOeioww wo Swpeds éTépotct 
THY viKNV Cedyeot mpododvat. 

KA, Aewny yap eixova A€yors av Aéywv Tov 
Aoryov TouTOV. 

ae. Ov pay aude atparnyois YE. oud’ latpois 
ovde ryewpyois ovde vopedow, ov pay ovdé TiCt 
Kuol KexnAnpévots UTO AvKOV. 

KA. Evgnpec: TOS yap av; 

907 Ae. "ANY ov TavT@V pudaxeov cial méyto Tou 
kal rept Ta peytota Hiv ot mavTes Oeot ; 

1 ard, phuar: MSS., Burnet: ad 7d piva MSS. marg., Zur. 

2 <el> added by Hermann. 


374 


Ee eS — el 


LAWS, BOOK X 


that of seasons and years “ pestilence,’ and in that 
of States and polities, by a verbal change, this same 
sin is called “ injustice.” 

cin. Certainly. 

atu. Such must necessarily be the account of the 
matter given by the man who says that the gods are 
always merciful to unjust men and these who act 
unjustly, provided that one gives them a share of 
one’s unjust gains; it is just as if wolves were to 
give small bits of their prey to watch-dogs, and they 
being mollified by the gifts were to allow them to go 
ravening among the flocks. Is not this the account 
given by the man who asserts that the gods are 
open to bribes ? 

cun. It is. 

aru. To which of the guardians aforementioned 
might a mam liken the gods without incurring 
ridicule? Is it to pilots, who, when warped them- 
selves by wine’s “ flow and flavour,’ overturn both 
ships and sailors ? 

cin. By no means. 

atu. And surely not to drivers ranged up for a 
race and seduced by a gift to lose it in favour of 
other teams ? 

cin. If that was the account you gave of them, 
it would indeed be a horrible comparison. 

atu. Nor, surely, to generals or physicians or 
farmers or herdsmen; nor yet to dogs charmed by 
wolves ? 

ciin. Hush! That is quite impossible. 

ath. Are not all gods the greatest of all guard- 
ians, and over the greatest things ? 


1 Ti. IX. 500 (quoted above, p. 371, n. 1). 
375 


PLATO 


KA. IlIoAv ve. 

ao. Tods 8) xaddoTa Te Tpayyara unde. 
TOVTaS Siahépovtas TE avrous puranis* m™pos 
apeTny cuvav _Xelpous kal dvOparov pécov elvat 
pyoopev, ot TO OiKaLOV OvK ay Tore mpoooiev éveca 
SMpev Tapa adixwr aepav a avootas Sidopeven ; ; 

B KA. Ovdapas: ouTE avEKTos 0 AoYos, TAY TE 
Tep. macav acéBerav dvtwy Kivduvever Tas 0 
TauTns THs Sons avTexopevos Tavtwy av Tov 
aceBav KxexpicOat SixavoTata KaKioTOs TE civat 
Kal aaeBéotaros. 

Ae. Ta pep 57 mporebevra Tpla, Oeot Te os 
eict «al @S émupenets kal Tapa TO dixacov OS 
TavTaTacw amapaitnto, pauev ixavas atro- 
dedetyOai tov ; 

KA. Il@s yap o¥; Kal cbpmryndot ye Tovrors 
Tois ANovors eopev. 

ao. Kai pay elpnvrat yé Tes opodporepor bia 

C pirovixiay TeV KaKOV av porrav. toUTov ‘ye 
pny évexa, ® pire Krewia, redirovixnvrat, py 
ToTe NOYyos Ny@vTar KpaTtodyTes eEouciay civat 
ogicw & Bovrovtat mpatTew oi Kaxol, & On Kal 
boa cal ola mepl Geovs Stavoobyrar. mpobupia 
pev 51) bia TavTa vewTépos elteiv Hpi yeyovev’ 
ei O€ TL Kat Bpayd Tpoupyov TETOLNKAMEV ES TC 
meiBew ™ Tovs avdpas éavTovs pev pioijoat, 
Ta om évaytia Tos nn otépEat, Karas np 

D eipnpévor ay ely TO T poolpcoy aoeBeias mépe vOmev. 

KA. 'AXAG éAmis* ef be by, TO ye TOD ROyou 
yévos ovK aittdcovtar? tov vouobéernp. 


1 puaaxiis ? gvaany MSS., edd. 
2 airidcovra; altidceta: MSS., edd. 


376 





LAWS, BOOK X 


cur. Yes, by far. 

atu. Shall we say that those who watch over the 
fairest things, and who are themselves eminently 
good at keeping watch, are inferior to dogs and 
ordinary men, who would never betray justice for 
the sake of gifts impiously offered by unjust men ? 

cuin. By no means; it is an intolerable thing to 
say, and whoever embraces such an opinion would 
most justly be adjudged the worst and most impious 
of all the impious men who practise impiety in all its 
forms. 

ATH. May we now say that we have fully proved 
our three propositions,—namely, that the gods exist, 
and that they are careful, and that they are wholly 
incapable of being seduced to transgress justice ? 

cuin. Certainly we may; and in these statements 
you have our support. 

atu. And truly they have been made in some- 
what vehement terms, in our desire for victory over 
those wicked men; and our desire for victory was 
due to our fear lest haply, if they gained the mastery 
in argument, they should suppose they had gained 
the right to act as they chose—those men who 
wickedly hold all those false notions about the gods. 
On this account we have been zealous to speak with 
special vigour; and if we have produced any good 
effect, however small, in the way of persuading the 
men to hate themselves and to feel some love for an 
opposite kind of character, then our prelude to the 
laws respecting impiety will not have been spoken 
amiss. 

cin. Well, there is hope; and if not, at any rate 
no fault will be found with the lawgiver in respect 
of the nature of the argument. 


377 


908 


B 


PLATO 


AO. Mera TO 7 pool 0p Totvuy Aoyos otos av 
TOV vOp@Vv epunvevs opbas yiyvoura mpi, m™po- 
ayopevov eFioracbar TaoL TOUS aceBéot TpoT@v 
Tov avTav eis Tovs evocBeis. Tots Sé pr Tret- 
Popévors aceBeias 6de orm Trépe vouos Eady tis 
aceBh oyous eit’ épyots, 0 Tapat dvov 
apuveron onpaiver pos apxovras, Tay be apxov- 
tov of mpdtor muOopevor mpos TO Treph TOUT@D 
dr obed evry wevov Kpivew Sixaotiptov eloaryaryovTov 
KaTa TOUS vopous® éav S€ Tis axovcaca apxi) a) 
dpa tadra, auTn aceBeias bmodcKos yeyvecd eo TO 
€OéXovte TLpoopety imép TaV vowwrv. éav é TUS 
odrAyn, TiwaTw TO StxacTypiov ev! Exdot@ Tov 
Kal’ év aceBovvtwr Tipnua. Seapos pev ovv vm- 
apyéTo trace Secpwtnpior Sé dvtrwv év TH TodEL 
TPLOV, EVOS MeV KOLVOD TOis TAEiaTOLS TreEpl ayopaY, 
caTnpias évexa Tois TWoAOis THY CoOMadTwV, EVvOS 
5€ wept Tov TaV VUKTwP Tudreyoueveov EvXXovor, 
cad povirtptov emovopalopevor, évos d€ ab Kara 
peony THY Kopay, OmrnTep av épnuos Te Kal ws 


OTL pardvora dyploraros 7) TOTOS, Tipoplas ¢ you 


em @vupiav prjunv Twd. Tepl aoeBevap dé dvtwv 

aitiats pev Tpioty, alonep | Kal Sup Oopev, dvo be 
€& exdoTns THs ToLAUTHS aiTias YEVOMEVOY, e& a ay 
ryiyvowTo, & Kab Staxpicews afea yern Tov Tepl Ta 
Oeia eEapapravovrov, ouK ions ovd omolas dtiens 
Seomeva. @ yap av pi) vopifovre Geovs eivas Td 
mapaT av HOos pice TpoayernT at Sinavor, pu- 
cobvtés TE yiyvovTat Tovs KaKkovs, Kal TO SuTKXeE- 


1 éy Schneider, Hermann: év MSS, 





1 Cp. 767 C, D, 855 C. 
378 


a er 





LAWS, BOOK X 


ata. After the prelude it will be proper for us to 
have a statement of a kind suitable to serve as the 
laws’ interpreter, forewarning all the impious to quit 
their ways for those of piety. For those who disobey, 
this shall be the law concerning impiety :—If anyone 
commits impiety either by word or deed, he that 
meets with him shall defend the law by informing the 
magistrates, and the first magistrates who hear of it 
shall bring the man up before the court! appointed 
to decide such cases as the laws direet; and if any 
magistrate on hearing of the matter fail to do this, he 
himself shall be liable to a charge of impiety at the 
hands of him who wishes to punish him on behalf of 


the laws. And if a man be convicted, the court | 


shall assess one penalty for each separate act of 


impiety. Imprisonment shall be imposed in every — 


case; and since there are three prisons in the State 
(namely, one public prison near the market for 
most cases, to secure the persons of the average 


criminals; a second, situated near the assembly- | 
room of the officials who hold nigh mblies,? — 
and named the “refortnatory ”; and a third, situated — 


in the middle of the country, in the wildest and | 


loneliest spot possible, and named after “retribu- 
tion’”’ 3), and since men are involved in impiety from 
the three causes which we have described, and from 
each such cause two forms of impiety result—conse- 
quently those who sin in respect of religion fall into 
six classes which require to be distinguished, as 
needing penalties that are neither equal nor similar. 
For while those who, though they utterly disbelieve 
in the existence of the gods, possess by nature a just 
character, both hate the evil and, because of their 


2 Cp. 909 A, 961 Aff, 3 Cp. 704 B. 
379 


PLATO 


paivery TH adtxiav ovre Tas Towavras mpagers 
TpootevTat mparretv Tous Te pn Sixatous TOV 
C avO por ay pevyoucr Kal Tovs Sixatous orépyouri, 
ols o ay 7 pos Th d0&n TH Gedy épnua elvat 
mavra. dxpdrevat Te povéov Kal AUT@V Tpoc- 
TET@L, pvtywat TE loxupal Kai padnoes ofelar 
Tap@ct, TO pev 7) vou Sew Beovs apcpoiv ay 
evuTdpxot KOLWOV mabos, TH Oe Ta a@d\X@v ap- 
OpetTrav AwBy TO pep éAdTTo, TO be Tete KK 
epyafour’ av. oO pev yap Oyo Te av rept Geods 
mappycias ein HeaTos kat mept Ouvoias Te Kal 
D OpKous, Kal os TOV addAN@v KATAYEN@Y Tax’ av 
érépous TOLOUTOUS amepyaforro, dikns pn Tvy- 
yavev' o b€ 8 SoFdfwov pmév Kabatep atepos, 
evpuns dé érixarovpevos, Sorov 67 Kal évédpas 
TANpNS, €€ OY pavTes TE KATaTKEVACOVTAL TOAKOL 
kal Tepl macav Thy payyavetay yeyevnpévot,* 
yiyvovrat 6€ €€ a’tav éotw Ste Kal TUpavvot Kal 
Snunyopor Kal otpatnyol, cal TereTais dé idiars 
é7iBeBovrevxotes, codistav TE émtkadoupéevov 
enxaval. Tovtwy 51 Toda pev Eldn yévotT av" 
E ta é vOmav a&va Oécews Sv0, wv TO pev elpeoveKov 
ovy évos ovb€ dvoiv afea Oavarow a dpaptavov, 70 dé 
voubericews a dpa Kal Seo wav Sedpevov. OT AUT OS 
dé Kat TO Oeovs vouifov dpereiv bv Erepa yevva 
Kal TO TapatTynToUs dd\XAa So. TovTwv by TAa’TH 
Svea THKOTwY TOUS pev UT avolas avev KAaKNS Opyis 
te Kal Oous yeyevnuévous eis TO C@pPpovicTHpLov 


1 yeyevnuévor: Kexivnuéevot MSS. 





1 j,e. “hypocritical,” hiding impiety under a cloak of 
religion. 


380 


LAWS, BOOK X 


dislike of injustice, are incapable of being induced to 
commit unjust actions, and flee from unjust men and 
love the just, on the other hand, those who, besides 
holding that the world is empty of gods, are afflicted 
by incontinence in .respect of pleasures and pains, 
and possess also powerful memories and sharp 
wits—though both these classes share alike in the 
disease of atheism, yet in respect of the amount of 
ruin they bring on other people, the latter class 
would work more and the former less of evil. For 
whereas the one class will be quite frank in its 
language about the gods and about sacrifices and 
oaths, and by ridiculing other people will probably 
convert others to its views, unless it meets with 
punishment, the other class, while holding the same 
opinions as the former, yet being specially “ gifted 
by nature’’ and being full of craft and guile, is the 
a out of which are manufactured many diviners and 
experts in all manner of jugglery; and from it, too, 
there spring sometimes tyrants and demagogues and 
generals, and those who plot by means of peculiar 
mystic rites of their own, and the devices of those 
who are called “sophists.” Of these there may be 
many kinds; but those which call for legislation are 
two, of which the “ironic”! kind commits sins that 
deserve not one death only or two, while the other 
kind requires both admonition and imprisonment. 
Likewise also the belief that the gods are neglectful 
breeds two other kinds of impiety ; and the belief in 
their being open to bribes, other two. These kinds 
being thus distinguished, those criminals who suffer 
from folly,2 being devoid of evil disposition and 
character, shall be placed by the judge according to 


2 Op. 863 B, C. 
381 


PLATO 


0 Sixacrns TUBE wevos vou@ TiOécOw pndev €Xarrov 
eTOv mévTe. év ToUT@ O€ TO Xpovep pndels TOV 
909 TodALT@y avTois didXos ouyyeyvec Boo my oi Tod 
vuKTEpLvoD Evddoyou KOWOVODVTES, él vouGe- 
THE TE Kal TH TIS Wuxis carnpig OutNodvTes* 
Otay o 6 xpdvos avtois eEEOn Tay Seopav, éap 
pev Soni} Tes cog poveiy avT@V, oiKELT@ pera TOD 
Twppover, éay O€ pH, Opeidyn S avbus THY TOL- 
avTnv dieny, Oavat@ Snprova bo. door 8 av 
Onproders yevovrat Tpos T@ Oeods [un]! vopiterw 
BA apenets 1) TaparTnTovs elvat, xaTapovodyTes 
dé Tay avOparov wuxaywyaou péev TOROS TOV 
Savrov, Tovs dé TeOvew@ras pao Korres yuxa- 
yoyeiy Kal Geos Umeaxvovpevor meiOew, @S 
Ouclais Te Kal edyats Kat ém@dats yonTevorres, 
idubras te xal ddas oixias kal modes XpyHAT OY 
xapw emixerpOor Kat’ akpas eEacpeiv, ToUTwy bé 
os av ophov elvat 50€n, TIaTO TO Sixacryptov 
avT@ KaTa vopmov debeaar bev ev TO TOV pEeco- 
C yelov Seo pwTnpio, T poo vévat dé auT@ pndéva 
€XevOepov pndémore, TaKTHY dé vd TOV _vopo- 
durdkoyv avtov’s tpodyv mapa Tar oikeTay 
NapBaverv. amobavovra dé €&w tay dpioy &x- 
Barra adtadov: éav dé Tis éXevdepos ovvOarrn, 
dixas doeBeias 7 e0éXovte Aayxdvew imexéra. 
maidas dé dv pey catahiny TH moet txavors, 
of TaY dphavav émiperovpevos Kal TOUTMY, ws 
D dvtev ophaver, émipeneto Dav pndev xelpov ray 
adXov aro THS huepas hs av 0 TaTHp av’Tav 
ogryn THY Sixny. 


1 [uh] bracketed by Stallb., Hermann. 
382 








LAWS, BOOK X 


law in the reformatory for a period of not less than 
five years, during which time no other of the citizens 
not hold intercourse with them, save only those 
who take part in the nocturnal assembly,! and they 
shall company with thém to minister to their souls’ 
salvation by admonition; and when the period of 
their incarceration has expired, if any of them seems 
to be reformed, he shall dwell with those who are 
reformed, but if not, and if he be convicted again on 
a like charge, he shall be punished by death. But 
as to all those who have become like ravening 
beasts, and who, besides holding that the gods 
are negligent or open to bribes, despise men, 
charming the souls of many of the living, and claim- 
ing that they charm the souls of the dead, and 
promising to persuade the gods by bewitching them, 
as it were, with sacrifices, prayers and incantations,” 
and who try thus to wreck utterly not only individuals, 
but whole families and States for the sake of money, 
—if any of these men be pronounced guilty, the 
court shall order him to be imprisoned according to 
law in the mid-country gaol, and shall order that no 
free man shall approach such criminals at any time, 
and that they shall receive from the servants a ration 
of food as fixed by the Law-wardens. And he that 
dies shall be cast outside the borders without burial ; 
and if any free man assist in burying him, he shall 
be liable to a charge of impiety at the hands of any- 
one who chooses to prosecute. And if the dead 
man leaves children fit for citizenship, the guardians 
of orphans shall take them also under their charge 
from the day of their father’s conviction, just as 
much as any other orphans. 


1 Cp. 908 A. 2 Cp. 933 A, Rep. 364 BE. 





383 


PLATO 


\ > an a 
Kowov & éri tovtos maor vouov xeicbar 
, a x», / ? \ x A \ 
Ypewv, Os EXaTTW TE Els Deovs avTa@Y TOvs TOA- 
\ 4 \ , a al 
ous Epyw Kal NOY TAHMpErELY av TroLOt, Kal 
\ \ / 
6) Kal avontous ATToOv yiryverOar, dia TO pH 
efeivar Oeorrodety Tapa vomov. é~oTw yap vomos 
oe cal , , e fal € X\ \ 
bbe rots EvpTract Keiwevos amas ‘Lepa pndé els 
> LoL Rook b / 0 @ , 8 ccd > \ lal wv 
év Ldvass oikiais éxtHTOw. Ovew 8 Stav eri vodv in 
, A lal 
E tiv, mpos Ta Snpooa itw Ovowr, Kal Tois iepedot 
TE Kal lepelats eyxeipitéT@ Ta Ovpata, ois ayveia 
ToUT@y émiperdrns: auvevEdobw Sé avTos Te Kal 
a x bya ee > > fol "A rod \ 
dv av €0édn pet adtod EvvedxyecOar. tadta &é 
, nr a 4 
yiyvomeva TOV Todvde yYdpw Ectw' iepa Kal 
\ > Ses e A / \ , 
Geovs ov padiov idpvecPar, weydrys 8€ Siavoias 
Twos op0as Spav 7d To.odTov, Eos Te yuvarki TE 
57 Suadhepovtws mdcas Kal toils acbevodar TayTH 
kal Kiwdvvevovet Kal atopodow, brn tis av 
atopy, xal Tovvaytiov dtav eviopias Tivos da- 
a / 
Bovrat, cabtepodv te TO Tapov ae Kal Ouoias 
910 ebyerOar cai idpvoes tricxvetcPar Oeois Kal 
Saipoct Kai tratcl Oeav, & te ddopacw éypn- 
/ \ , A > ’ , € > ba 
yopotas dia poBous Kal év dveipors, os & avtas 
oes. ToAAas drropynpovevovTas, éxdoTaict Te av- 
Tov aKn ToLoupEevous, Bopovs Kal lepad Tacas ev 
oixias, Tacas 6é kopas év Te KaBapots idpvopévous 
fal 4 
eumimAdvar Kal On Tis ETUXE TOY TOLOVT@Y. BY 
a r , 
évexa Xp) TaVT@Y TroLeiy KaTAa TOV ViV NeyomeEvoY 
, a 7 
vomov' mpos Toutas dé évexa Tav aceBovvTar, 
al e / 
B iva py kal tadta Krértovtes Tails mpakeow, iepa 
3384 








LAWS, BOOK X 


For all these offenders one general law must be 
laid down, such as will cause the majority of 
them not only to offend less against the gods by 
word and deed, but also to become less foolish, 
through. being forbidden to trade in religion il 
legally. -To. deal comprehensively with all such 
cases the following law shall be enacted:—No one 
shall possess a shrine in his own house: when any- 
one is moved in spirit to do sacrifice, he shall go 
to the public places to sacrifice, and he shall hand 
over his oblations to the priests and priestesses to. _ 
whom belongs the consecration thereof; and he 
himself, together with any associates he may choose, 
shall join in the prayers: This procedure shall be 
observed. for the aspen reasons :—It is no easy 
task to found temples and gods, and to do this 
rightly needs much deliberation ; yet it is customary 
forall women especially, and for sick folk everywhere, 
and those in peril or in distress (whatever the nature 
of the distress), and conversely for those who have 
had a slice of good fortune, to dedicate whatever 
happens to be at hand at the moment, and to vow 
sacrifices and promise the founding of shrines to gods 
and demi-gods and children of gods; and through 
terrors caused. by waking visions or by dreams, and in 
like manner as they recall many visions and try to 
provide remedies for each of them, they are wont to 
found altars and shrines, and to fill with them every 
house and every village, and open places too, and 
every spot which was the scene of such experiences. 
For all these reasons their action should be governed 
by the law now stated; and a further reason is this 
—to prevent impious men from acting fraudulently in 
regard to these matters also, by setting up shrines and 


385. 
VOL, Il. Cc 


PLATO 


te kal Bapors év idiars oixiass iSpudpevor, XaOpa 
Tovs Beods trews oldpevor rovety Ovciais te Kal 
evxais, eis aTrevpov THY AdiKiay avEdvoyTes avTois 
Te éyKAnpata pos Oe@y Tot@vTat Kal Tois émt- 
Tpémrovaty, ovo. attav Bertioct, kal Taca ovTasS 
e f > , fal > 7 , \ 
7) TONS aToAa’yn TaY adceBOv TpoTroY TiWa bi- 
a X A \ Ld ¢ \ > , 
kaiws. Tov pev On vowobéTny Oo Oeds ov péurerat 
7 * / a \ n n > 
KelcOw yap vopos ovtoss M1 Kexthobar Gedy év 
C i&iats oixiats iepds tov b€ havévta Kextnpévov 
érepa Kal opyidfovta mv Ta Snuoota, éav pev 
adixov pndév Tov peyddov Kal avociwr eipyac- 
pévos avnp 7 Kal yuvn KEexTHTAL Tis, oO pev aicba- 
vomevos eicayyeAdr€tw Tois voyopirAakw, of Se 
mpoatattovtwy eis Ta Snuocia atropépew iepa 
” \ Aa] be 4 if a 
Ta idva, py TeiOovtes S€ Enwiovvtwv, gws dv 
D ameveyOj éav bé Tis aoeByoas py Taidiwv adr’ 
avipav acé8nua avociwy yévntar pavepos ele 
> 707 e , » ee Bl , 4 a 
év idtous iSpucapevos elt’ év Snpociows Ovoas iepa 
eois cia ticwvody, ws ov Kabapos dv Biar, Oavato 
EnusovcOw. Td dé maidevov f un KpivayTes of vopo- 
pvrAaxes, eis TO SixactHpioy ovTws eicayayovTes 
\ an > 7 , 4 > 4 
Thy THS aceBeias Sixnv TovTOLs éemiTEeAOvYTOD. 


386 








LAWS, BOOK X 


altars in private houses, thinking to propitiate the 
gods privily by sacrifices and vows, and thus increasing 
infinitely their own iniquity, whereby they make 
both themselves and those better men who allow 
them guilty in the eyes of the gods, so that the 
whole State reaps the consequences of their impiety 
in some degree—and deserves to reap them. The 
lawgiver himself, however, will not be blamed by 
the god; for this shall be the law laid down :— 
Shrines of the gods no one must possess in a private 
house; and if anyone is proved to possess and 
worship at any shrine other than the public shrines 
—be the possessor man or woman,—and if he is 
guilty of no serious act of impiety, he that notices 
the fact shall inform the Law-wardens, and they 
shall give orders for the private shrines to be 
removed to the public temples, and if the owner 
disobeys the order, they shall punish him until he 
removes them. And if anyone be proved to have 
committed an impious act, such as is not the venial 
offence of children, but the serious irreligion of 
grown men, whether by setting up a shrine on 
private ground, or on public ground, by doing sacri- 
fice to any gods whatsoever, for sacrificing in a state 
of impurity he shall be punished with death. And 
the Law-wardens shall judge what is a childish or 
venial offence and what not, and then shall bring 
the offenders before the court, and shall impose 
upon them the due penalty for their impiety. 


387 


cc2 


913 


B 


Q 


IA 


ao. To én pera TavT ely EvpBoraa a av pos 
aXMjAous jypiy Seopeva mpoankavans Tafews, 
atNoobv bé Ls éatt mou 70 ye Tovobrop: Myre ov 
THs TOV énav Npnudrov dmrTouto es Sivan, pnd 
av Kiwyoee pndée TO Bpaxvrarov | éue pn day 
pndapas Tel: Kara TravTa 6é rabra Kal Trept 
Ta TOV aNKOV eye Speny, voov _EX@v euppova. 
Onoavpov 57 eyo pev Tpatov Tov TOLOUT@D" ov 
Tes ate Kal rots auTov Ketpip \tov éOeTo, pu) TOV 
épav av Tarépav, pn? ev peiv more Geos evEaluny 
pnd eUpav KUVI}T ALLL, nd av ois eyouevors 
pdvTeow dvaKowoaarpe Tois Abas yé THOS [OL 
EvpBoudevcovaw * davenety THY Yi Tapaxata- 
Oncny. ov yap TOoTe ToToUTOV «is XEN KAT OY 
ap ern Getny av KTH aveov, bcov. eis Oryeov 
™ pos apeTny uxis Kal 70 Sikavov emdidoinu & av 
41) GVENOMEVOS, KTHUA avTL KTHMaTOS Gpmervoy ev 
dpeivoue KTNTAMEVOS, Sixny év 7H puyi mhourou 
TpoTtunaas év ovcia Kener iio Oa ™ poTepov" em 
TmoXXobs yap 67 Aeryopevov ‘ev TO py xuvelv Ta 


aximra Kal epi TtovTou A€your’ ay as Evos 


éxelvwy ovtos. meiGecOar Sé xp” Kal Tois meph 
tabra Aeyouevors pidors, as eis matbav ryeveav 
ov Evupopa Ta Toladta. os 8 adv raidwv te 
axndns yéevntar Kal Tod Oévtos TOY Vomoy apmedn- 


1 tyuBovAedcovow Stephens: fvu~Bovaedovow MSS. 
388 








BOOK XI 


atu. In the next place our business transactions 
one with another will require proper regulation. 
The following will serve for a comprehensive rule :— 
So far as possible, no one shall touch my goods nor 
move them in the slightest degree, if he has in no 
wise at all got my consent; and I must act in like 
manner regarding the goods of all other men, keeping 
a prudent mind. As the first of such things let us 
mention treasure: that which a man has laid by in 
store for himself and his farnily (he not being one of 
my parents), 1 must never pray to the gods to find, 
nor, if I do find it, may I move it, nor may I ever 
tell of it to the soothsayers (so-called), who are 
certain to counsel me to take up what is laid down 
in the ground. For never should I gain so much 
pecuniary profit by its removal, as I should win 
increase in virtue of soul and in justice by not re- 
moving it; and by preferring to gain justice in my 
soul rather than money in my purse, I should be 
winning a greater in place of a lesser gain, and that 
too in a better part of me. The rule, “ Thou shalt 
not move the immovable,” is rightly applicable to 
many cases; and the case before us is one of them. 
And men ought also to believe the stories told about 
these matters——how that such conduct is injurious 
to the getting of children. But if any man proves 
to be both regardless of children and neglectful of 


1 Cp. 684 E, 843 A. 


389 


914 


B 


PLATO 


aas, & pate adtos Kxatéleto pte ad Tratépwv 
TLS TATHP, pH Teicas Tov Oéwevov avédnrTat, 
KadMoaTov vowwv SiapOcipwv Kal atdovoTaTor, 
kai ovdaphn ayevvods avdpos vopobérnua, bs 
elev, & pn KxatéOov, wn avédy,—rovrow TotW 
dvoiv vopobétaw Katappovncavta Kal avedopevov 
ov TL optKpov, 0 wy KaTéOeTo avTos, TAOS & 
éotw 6Te Oncavpod Trappeyebes, TL yp TacxeL ; 
tro pev bn Oedv, 0 Beds older: 6 8&8 KaTLdav 
TPOTOS ayyEeXXéTo, éav pev ev doTer yiyvntar TO 
TOLOUTOV, Tois aoTUVOpMOLS, éav b€ THS TOEwWS éV 
ayopa Tov, Toiow ayopavopmots, éav dé THS aXANS 
Xopas, aypovomors Te Kal Tois TovT@Y apyYovat 
dnrocadtw. Snrwbévtwv bé 4 mods eis AedAdods 
meumrétro: 6 te 8 av 6 Beds avaiph wept Te TOV 
Xeneateov Kal Tod KWHTAVTOS, TOUTO 1 TOALS 
umnpetovoa Tals pwavtetas Spdtw tod Oeod. Kal 
€av pev édrevOepos o pnvicas 7, SoFav apetis 
KexTynoOw, wn unvicas b€, Kaxias: Soddos 8 éav 
7, pnvucas pev édevOepos U7rd THs Tokews OpOas 
ylyvorr dv arodidovens TO Seomotn THY Tir, 
un unvieov 6 Pavate Enurovabo. f 
ve ? e / ten \ 
Tovr@ 6 €T OMEVOV ef hs av ylyvotto To epi 
ouikpa Kal weydda TavToOY TODTO voptpmov EvvaKo- 
Novdeiy. av Tis TOV avTOD TL KaTAXIT TOU Exwv 
eit akwv, 0 TpooTUyXaver édto KeicOat vopitwv 
gurdtrew évodiay daipova ta Totadta bro ToD 
vowou TH Oe@ Kabvepwpéva. av Sé Tapa tadTa 





1 Solon. 2 Cp. 759Cf., 772 D. 
3 Hecate (= Artemis). 


39° 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


the legislator, and, without the consent of the 
depositor, takes up a treasure which neither he 
himself nor any of his forefathers has deposited, 
and thus breaks a law most fair, and that most com- 
prehensive ordinance of the noble man! who said, 
“Take not up what you laid not down,’—the man 
who despises these two lawgivers and takes up what 
he has not laid down himself, it being no small 
thing but sometimes a vast quantity of treasure,— 
what penalty should such a man suffer? __ God knows 
what, at the hands of gods; but the man that first 
notices an act of this kind shall report it, if it 
occur in the city, to the city-stewards, or if in a 
public market, to the market-stewards; and if it 
occur in the country outside, he shall declare it to 
the rural stewards and their officers. And when 
such declarations are made, the State shall send to 
Delphi;? and whatever the god pronounces con- 
cerning the goods and him that moved them, that 
the State shall execute, acting as agent on behalf 
of the oracles of the god. And if the informer be 
a free man, he shall win a reputation for virtue, but 
for vice if he fail to inform; and if he be a slave, as 
areward for informing it will be right that he should 
be set free, by the State offering his price to his 
master, whereas he shall be punished by death if 
he fail to give information. 

Following on this there should come next a 
similar rule about matters great and small, to re- 
inforee it. If a man, whether willingly or un- 
willingly, leaves any of his goods behind, he that 
happens on them shall let them lie, believing 
that the Goddess of the Wayside* guards them, as 
things dedicated to her divinity by the law. Should 


391 


PLATO 


Tus amrevOa@v avaipovpevos oixade hépyn, av per 
opuiKpas Tihs dEvov @v SodX0s, bro TOD TpooTVy- 
xdvovtos pn EXaTTOv TplaxovTaétovs TroANAS 

C rAnyas wactiyovcbw: éav dé Tus eXevOEpos, Tpos 
TO averevOepos ecivat Soxeivy Kai aKoww@VvyTos 
vopwv SexatAacLovy THs Tuts Tov KivynOévTos 
amToTLWETW TO KaTaMITOYTL. eav O€ TIS ErratTLa- 
Tal TOV avLTOD YpnuaTwv Exew TVA TREOV 7H Kal 
opiKpoTepov, o b& omoroyn pmev EXEL, pu) TO 
éxeivou O€, av wey atoyeypampévov 7 Tapa Tots 
apxYovcl TO KTHMa KaTa vowov, TOV EXoVTA 
KareicOw mpos THY apy, 0 6€ KabLaTaTM. ‘yEvO- 
pévou dé eupavods, éav éy Tots ypappacty 
aroyery pap mevov paivyras Tor épou TOV dupa - 

D Aytovvroy, eXov obros atitw: éay dé Tivos GAAOU 
TOV pi) Tapovtwv, OTOTEpOS av TMapioxXy TOV 
éyyuntny a€voxpewv, vrép Tod arovToOs, ws 
Tapadwocwr €éxeivo, Kata TH éxeivou adalpecw 
apatpetc ba. ea dé Tapa toils dpxovor TO dpupio- 
Bnrobpevov a) drroyeypappevov 2 KelaOw pev 
peéexpe Sixns mapa tpt TOV apxXoVvTwV Tots 
m peo Butarous" éav 5€ TO pereryyuader Opéupa 
7, TOV via Berra Tepl avTov Sinn THY Tpopry 
éxtivety Tots Gpxove' THD 8 xpiow dvabixafew 
evTos TpL@y npepov TOUS dpxovras. 

E Ayéeras Tov éauTov SovAor O Bovdopevos, éav &u- 
ppeov 7, xpnoouevos 6 te dy €Oédy TOY OTOCa OoLa” 





1 Cp. '745 A, B. 
392 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


anyone transgress this rule and disobediently take 
up such things and carry them home, he being a 
slave and the article of small value, then the man 
who meets with him, being over thirty years old, 
shall scourge him with many stripes; but if he -be 
a free man, he shall not only be accounted illiberal 
and a rebel against the laws, but he shall in addition 
pay back ten times the value of the article moved 
to the man who left it behind. And if one man 
charges another with possessing any of his goods, 
be it great or small, and the man so charged allows 
that he has the article, but denies that it is the 
other man’s,—then, if the article in question has 
been registered! with the magistrates according to 
law, the plaintiff shall summon the man who possesses 
it before the magistrate, and he shall produce it in 
court. And the article being thus exhibited, if it be 
clearly recorded in the records to which of the dis- - 
putants it belongs, he shall take it and depart; but 
should it belong to another third party, not then 
present, whichever of the two claimants produces a 
sufficient guarantor shall take it away on behalf of 
the absent party, in pursuance of his right of re- 
moval, to hand it over to him. But if the article in 
dispute be not registered with the magistrates, it 
shall be kept in charge of the three senior magis- 
trates up to the 'time of the trial; and if the article 
in pledge be a beast, the man that loses the case 
concerning it shall pay the magistrates for its keep; 
and the magistrates shall decide the case within 
three days. 

Any person—provided that he be in his senses 
—may lay hands, if he wishes, on his own slave, 
to employ him for any lawful purpose; and on be- 


393 


915 


B 


PLATO 


ayer 5é xal omép dddou Tov oixei@y 1) pirov 
TOV ahertara é ert cwrnpia. éav bé Tis abatpnrai 
Twa els _ edevBepiav es SodXov aryOpevor, peBvéT@ 
pev 0 aywr, o Oe adatpovpevos eyyunTas Tpeis 
aE.ox pews KaTATTHO aS obras aparpeiabw Kara 
Tavita, dd\drws S€ p17. éav dé mapa TAaUTA TIS 
apaiphrar, TOV Biatcov Evoxos éoTw Kal anovs 
Tv OSiuTraciav Tov emuypapertos BraBous TO 

adaipeBévts TwétTw. ayétw 5é Kal TOV aTredev- 
Depov, éav tis 1) Oepatrevn Tovs amedevPepwoar- 
Tas 7) wy ixavas. Oepareia Sé houtay tpis Tov 
unvos Tov amerevGepwOévta mpos THY Tod ame- 
Aevepw@aavTos éotiay, emaryyeAdopevov 6 Tt xpn 
opqgv. Tov Sixaicov Kal apa duvaTar, cal Trepl yajsov 
Tovey 6 Ti Tep av EvvdoKH TH yevomevm oebr 
mrouteiy b€ Tov dmrehevOep@aavtos 7) éeivat 
HadXov’ TO O€ TrEoV yryvécOw Tov SeotroTOV. pH 
mreio 5é etkoow eT@v pévery TOV agpeberta, andra 
xabdrrep Kal Tovs adous Eévous amvévat raBovra 
THY avTov Tacay ovciay, éav py meion TOUS TE 
apyovtas Kal Tov amehevOepocarra. eav b€ TO 
amehevOepabérre 7 Kal Tov adov to Eve 
ovoia Treloy yoyyyra Tov TplTOU peyeber TL- 
HLaTOs, i] av TovTo MEPS yevyntat, TpidkovTa 
TpEp@V amo TAUTNS TAS. Tmepas AaBov anita 7a 
éautod, Kal pndepia THS pPOVvAS mapaitnots ett 
TOUT@ Tap" apxyovT@v yuyvérdoo. éav 6€ Tis 
amebav Tovrots eigaxeis eis Sixaarnptov Opry, 
Oavatwm te EnpuuoticOw xai Ta xXpypata avTov 





1 Cp. 850B. 
2 Cp. 744 C, E, 756 D. 


394 


a 








LAWS, BOOK XI 
half of another man (one of his relatives or friends) 


he may lay hands on the runaway slave, to secure 
his safe keeping. And if a man tries to remove to 
freedom anyone who is being carried off as a slave, 
the man who is carrying him off shall let him go, 
and he that is removing him shall do so on the 
production of three substantial sureties, but not 
otherwise; and if anyone removes a slave contrary 
to these conditions, he shall be liable for assault, 
and if convicted he shall pay double his registered 
value to the man deprived. And a man may arrest 
also a freedman, if in any case he fails to attend, or 
to attend sufficiently, on those who have freed him; 
and such tendance shall consist in the coming of 
the freedman three times a month to the home of 
the man that freed him, and there undertaking to 
do those duties which are both just and feasible, and 
in regard to marriage also to act as may seem good 
also to his former master. The freedman shall not 
be permitted to be more wealthy than the man who 
freed him; and, if he is, the excess shall be made 
over to his master. He that is let go free shall not 
remain in the country more than twenty years, but 
shall depart, like all other foreigners, taking with 
him all the property he owns,—unless he gains the 
consent of the magistrates and also of the man who 
freed him. And if a freedman, or any other foreigner, 
acquire property exceeding in amount the third 
valuation,” within thirty days from the day on which 
he acquires this excess he shall take his own property 
and depart, and he shall have no further right to 
request from the magistrates permission to remain ; 
and if he disobeys these rules and is summoned 
before the court and convicted, he shall be punished 


395 


D 


PLATO 


/ , / > ” , 
yiyvécOw Snuooia. Sika 8 &oTwoay TovTwy 
év tais pudetixator Sixais, €av pw) mpoTepov ev 
ryetToow 7 év aipetoior Sixactais amaddNaTT@VTaL 

\ > / rn > 7 
m™pos GAANAOUS T@V eyKAnMAaATOV. 
"Ra be e e a 3 , , \¢£ a 

ap O€ ws avTov éparTyntas Swov Kal OTOVODdY 7} 
TWWOS ETEPOU THY AUTOD YpnuaToY, avayeTw MeV 6 
éxov eis mpathpa 7) Tov Sovta aktoypewy te Kal 
EvdiKoy 7) TLL TPOT@ TapadovTa GAXW KuUpias, eis 
pév TON THY 7 Kal péTOLKOY TOV €v TH TOAEL HuEpOV 
Tpidxovta, eis O€ Eevixny Tapadooi mévTEe uNvar, 
HS mEeTOS O nv ev O TpemeTat OEpiwos HALOS eis TA 
xNetwepwa. boa dé dia Tivos avis } Kal Mpdcews 
> / , 4 ” 7 b , lol 
GdNaTTETAL TIS ETEpOS GAN, SiddvTA EV YOpPa TH 
TeTaypevn ExdoTols KaT ayopay Kal Sexowevov 
€v T@ Tapaxphua Tiny, ovUTws adraTTEcOaL, 
Gdr08t Sé pendapod, und él avaBorgR mpaow 
unde @viyv roetcOar pndevds. €av 6€ aAXAWS 7 
3 A , e cal > a, of fal la 
€v adXots TOTrOLS OTLOdY av’ OTOVOdY SiapetBntat 
wv LA 4 A a x 34° JA 
ETEPOS GAAW, TLTTEVWY TPOS OV av aXXATTYTAL, 
ToviT@ TavTAa @S OVK OvaaY SiKaY KATA VOMOV 
Tept Tov wn mpabévTwy KaTa Ta viV eyoueva. 
> , \ / \ / > / / 
épavev dé mépt, Tov Bovropevoy épaviferw pidov 

\ , ir ee W2 \ , \ 
mapa iros éav bé tis Svapopa yiyvytar Trepi 
Ths épavicews, oUTw mpaTrew ws Sikav pnodevi 

a > , 
Tepl TOUT@Y uNndaas ecouevwv. O56 ay atrobo- 
pevos Tiny Tov AGBn pH eAaTT@ Spaypov 
TEVTNKOVTA, TAPALEVETMO KATA TOY €€ aVayKNS 





1 Cp. 952 E. 2 Cp, 849 E. 
3 Cp. Rep. 556 B. 


396 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


by death, and his goods shall be confiscated. Such 
cases shall be tried before the tribal courts, unless 
the parties first get a settlement of their charges 
against one another before neighbours or chosen 
jurors. 

If anyone claims as his own the beast of any 
other man, or any other of his chattels, the man 
who holds it shall refer the matter to the person 
who, as being its substantial and lawful owner, sold 
it or gave it, or made it over to him in some other 
valid way ; and this he shall do within thirty days, 
if the reference be made to a citizen or metic in 
the city, or, in the case of a foreign delivery, within 
five months, of which the middle month shall be 
that which includes the summer solstice.t And when 
one man makes an exchange with another by an act 
of buying or selling, the exchange shall be made by 
a transfer of the article in the place appointed there- 
for in the market, and nowhere else, and by payment 
of the price on the spot, and no purchase or sale 
shall be made on credit;? and if anyone makes an 
exchange with another otherwise or in other places, 
trusting the man with whom he is dealing, he shall 
do so on the understanding that there are no suits 
by law touching things not sold according to the 
rules now prescribed. As regards elub-collections,* 
whoso wishes may collect as a friend among friends ; 
but if any dispute arises concerning the collection, 
they must act. on the understanding that in regard 
to these matters no legal actions are possible. If 
any man receives for the sale of any article a price 
of not less than fifty drachmae, he shall be com- 


* ¢.e. of subscriptions due from members of a (dining) club, 
or of money raised as a loan to a member in time of need. 


397. 


PLATO 


bé e / c 8é 4, ” \ pe \ 
éxa nuépas, 6 Sé mpiduevos lotw THY oiKiay THY 
> / a a 
916 tod arrodopévov, tTav Trepl Ta ToLadTA éyKAnEaToV 
> / a 
etwboTwv yiyverBat yapw Kal Tov avaywyav 
lal , 
TOY KaTa vowous elvexa.  S€ KaTa vopous 
\ a 
avaywry? Kal pr THde Extw’ éav Tis avdpamodov 
amob@tat xduvov PO6n 7) MOY 7) oTpayyoupiav 
a r a e fal / a \ / , 3 / 
2) TH KaNovpéevy lepd voow 7) Kal éTép@ Tivi ddynro 
rn a / na \ / \ 
Tots chip abe Seti arith pakp@ nae dvotdtw Kata 
Led / > Xx. > 
TO c@pat) Kata TH Sidvo.av, éav péev latp@ Tis 
x ‘ a ” 
 yUuvacTh, un avaywyns Estw TovTw TMpos TOV 
TOLOUTOV TUyXavey, und édav TaANOES TIS TpoEL- 
Bra@v drodatai te’ éav 8é€ tis idoTn Te TOY 
TOLOVT@Y aTrOoM@TaL SnuLoupyos, O MpLdmuevos evTds 
Expnvou avayéTw, TAY THs lepas* TtavTys 8 évTos 
éviauTod THY avaywyny é&éoTtw ToteicGar Tis 
vooov. diadixatécOw Sé¢ év tict Tov iatpar, ods 
dv Kownh mpoBadopevar EXwvtar’ Tov 5é ddrovTa 
\ / / > / a fol x 
thy Sikny Surdactiov arrotive THs Tis Hs av 
Camodatar. éav Sé idiwrty Tis idv@Tys, dvaywynv 
peév eivat, KaOdtep Kal Tots mpocbev éppnOn, Kal 
\ , ¢ \ ? \ \ 4 ec nr 
Thv diadixaciay, 6 S& oprav THy Tiny aTAHvY 
3 / 2\ RE s > an é / 
atrotivéT@. éav dé avdpopovoy arob@tai tis TIL 
eidoTe prev elda@s, mr) TUyYavéTw avaywyis TOD 
n if \ 
ToLovToU THs mpacews, pn Sé eidoTe THY pev 
avaywynv elvac tote Stay tis aic@ntat Tav 
mptapévwv, ev mrévte O€ THY vo“opuvAdKwy Tois 
vewTAToLs elvat THY Kpiow, elds Sé av KpLOH, Tas 
n A ~ 
Te oixias ToU TpLtapévou KaOnpdTw KaTa TOY TwY 





1 i.e, epilepsy. 
398 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


pelled to remain in the city for ten days, and the 
seller’s residence shall be made known to the buyer, 
because of the charges which are commonly brought 
in connexion with such transactions, and because of 
the acts of restitution permitted by law. Such legal 
restitution, or non-restitution, shall be on this wise -— 
If a man sell a slave who is suffering from phthisis 
or stone or strangury or the “sacred disease ’’+ (as 
it is called), or from any other complaint, mental 
or physical, which most men would fail to notice, 
although it be prolonged and hard to cure,—in case 
the purchaser be a doctor or a trainer, it shall not 
be possible for him to gain restitution for such a 
case, nor yet if the seller warned the purchaser of 
the facts. But if any professional person sell any 
such slave to a lay person, the buyer shall claim 
restitution within six months, saving only in the 
ease of epilepsy, for which disease he shall be per- 
mitted to claim within twelve months. The action 
shall be tried before a bench of doctors nominated 
and chosen by both the parties; and the party that 
loses his case shall pay double the selling price of 
the slave. Ifa lay person sells to a lay person, there 
shall be the same right of restitution and trial as in 
the cases just mentioned ; but the losing party shall 
pay the selling price only. If a man wittingly sells 
a murderey, if the buyer is aware of the fact, he 
shall have no claim to restitution for the purchase 
of such an one; but if the buyer be ignorant, he 
shall have right of restitution as soon as the fact is 
perceived, and the trial shall take place before a 
court of the five youngest Law-wardens, and if it 
be decided that the seller acted wittingly, he shall 
_ purify the houses of the buyer as ordained by the 


399 


E 


917 


PLATO 


eEmynray vomoV, THS TLLAS TE anoborw TO Tpla- 
Mévep TptmXaoLoD. 
‘O 8€ ddXaTTOpEVos 7) VOMLT WA VTL vomicpaToOS 
x \ n ” , Lg a x \ \ , 
Kal TOV G\Awv Cowv oTiody % Kal pn Cowv 
axiBdnrov trav SiddTw Kal SeyécOw TO voOmw 
Euverromevos* trpooimov bé, Kxabarep dddXov 
4 f \ y 4 4. 
vopov, deEaueOa Kal trepl 6Ans TavUTHS THs KaKNS. 
/ \ ‘\ / A a 
KtBdnreiav 8€ yp Tavta avdpa SravonOivar 
kat reddos Kat amatnv as & TL yévos dp, 
“ 4 \ f 5) t 374 eer, 
TOUTO @ THY hyunv éenidépew ci@Pacww oi Tor- 
/ lal , e > n Ld 
Aoi, Kans déyovres, @s ev Katp@ yuyvouevov 
nr 4 lel 
ExaaTOTE TO TOLOUTOY TOAAAaKIs av OpOas ExoE" 
TOV Keatpov dé Kail 6rov Kal omote ataKktws 
Kal daopictws caures T™) defer TavTn TONG 
Snucodyrai Te Kal Cnpsobow érépous. vowobéeTn 
x / 
d€ ovK eyx@pel TOTO aopiaTov édv, XX 1) peifovs 
x > / a ee” a Lal \ \ \ 
» é€XaTTous Gpous del Sei Svacadetv, Kai 5) Kal 
a ae 4 fa) ‘ \ » >. cA 
vov wpicbw> Veiddos pndcis pundey pnd atarnv 
/ / / > 4 n , 
pndé Tt KiBSnXov, yévos érixarovpevos, Gedy, unTe 
oy pynte Epyw mpdkever, 0 pr) Oeopicéctatos 
Da / e % 3 \ a x ¢ 
écecGat péd\dwv. ovTos 6 é€aTtiv Os adv dpKous 
ouves Wevdels undev ppovtifn Peay, Sevtepos dé 
ds av évavtiov TOY KperTTdvaY avTOD abevdnTat. 
Kpettrous 5é of apeivous TaV YeLpovav TpecBdTai 
Te ws éml TO Tay eitrely TaY véwr, O10 Kal yovels 
KpeiTTous éxyovey Kal dvdpes 5) yuvaikav Kab. 
maiiwv dpxovrés. Te apxouevov. ods aideicOat 
mace Tavras tpérov av ely év Addn’ TE apy7 
Tacn Kat ev tats TodtiKais 69 wddiota apyxais: 
400 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


interpreters,' and he shall pay three times the selling 
price to the buyer. 

He that exchanges for money either money or any- 
thing else, living or not living, shall give and receive 
every such article unadulterated, conforming to the 
law; and touching all knavery of this sort, as in the 
ease of other laws, let us hearken to a_ prelude. 
Adulteration should be regarded by every man as 
coming under the same head as falsehood and fraud— 
a class of actions concerning which the mob are wont 
to say, wrongly, that any such action will generally 
be right if it be done opportunely: but the proper 
“opportunity,” the when and the where, they leave 
unprescribed and undefined, so that by this saying 
they often bring loss both to themselves and to others. 
But it is not fitting for the lawgiver to leave this 
matter undefined ; he must always declare clearly the 
limitations, great or small, and this shall now be 
done :—No man, calling the gods to witness, shall 
commit, either by word or deed, any falsehood, fraud 
or adulteration, if he does not mean to be most 
hateful to the gods; and such an one is he who 
without regard of the gods swears oaths falsely, and 
he also who lies in the presence of his superiors. 
Now the better are the superiors of the worse, and 
the older in general of the younger; wherefore also 
parents are superior to their offspring, men to women 
and children, rulers to ruled.2_ And it will be proper 
for all to revere all these classes of superiors, whether 
they be in other positions of authority or in offices 
of State above all; and to enforce this is just the 

} The officials in charge of i igi ites ; cp. 
755 C, 008. g (Delphic) religious rites ; cp 

2 Cp. 690 A ff. 


401 
VOL. Il. 


PLATO 


50ev [ody] 6 viv Trapay piv Novos EdXjrAvOe. Tas 

B yap tav Kat ayopay o KiBdnrev@v Ti WevdeTat 
Kat amatTa Kai Tos Oeovs Tapaxaay éromvucw 
év Tols TOV Ayopavopey vomolai Te Kal PvAaKTH- 
piows, ovte avOpwrovs aidovpevos ovte Oeovs 
ceBopevos. mavtws pev 8) Kadov éemiTndevpa 
Gedy dvépata pt ypaivew padias, %yovta ws 
éyovow juov éExdotote TA TOAAA Of THEiaTOL 
KkabapoTntos Te Kal ayvelas Ta Tepl Tors Deots, 
ei § obv un TweiGorTo, 66¢ voyos: ‘O twXOv oTtovv 
év ayopa pndémote Svo ein Tyas Ov av TeX, 

C admdijy 8 cirav, av un Tuyxavyn TadTys, aTopépwv 
dp0as dv dmodépor waduv, Kal TavTHS THs tépas 
Ma) TLunon TA€ovos pndé eAdTTOvOs’ Emaivos dé 
Opkos TE Tepl TavToS TOD TwAOUpEVOU aTrETTO. 
day Sé tus ameiOH TovTOLS, 6 Tapatuyxaverv TaY 
dotév ph @datrov i) TpladKovta yeyovas ern 
Kodalov ev Tov duvivTa dvatl TUTTETw, appor- 
ticta@y Sé Kal ateOay évoyos Eotw Woyw Tpodo- 
cias T@V Vopev. Tov O€ 67 KiBdndOv TL T@dODYTA 

Dai py Svvdpevov trois viv tweiPecPar rAoyous 0 
Tpoatuyxdvev Tov YyvorKkovTon, Suvaros ap 
éFeréy yeu, € évaytiov eréyEas ‘TOY dpxovrwy, 6 pe 
So00Xos peptcbe TO xiBdnrevOev Kal o HETOLKOS, 6 
dé oditys gn) eAeyY@Y MEV @S ATrOTTEPa@Y TOUS 
Beovs xaxds ayopevécba, edéyEas O¢ avabétw Tois 
Thy ayopay éxovat Oeois. 0 Sé dy havepos yevopevds 
TL TWA@V TOLOUTOY Tpos TO aTepyOHvar Tov 
xiBdnrevbévtos, oToans av Tiijs aEtwon TOTwdOU- 
402 











LAWS, BOOK XI 


purpose of our present discourse. For everyone who 
adulterates any market commodity, lies and deceives 
and, calling Heaven to witness, takes an oath in 
front of the laws and cautions of the market- 
stewards, neither regarding men nor revering gods. 
Certainly it is a good practice to refrain from sullying 
lightly divine names, and to behave with such purity 
and holiness as most of us generally exhibit in matters 
of religion ; if however this rule is disobeyed, the 
law rans thus:—He that sells any article in the \ 
market shall never name two prices for what he is 
selling; he shall name one price only, and if he 
fails to get this, he will be entitled to take the | 
article away; but he shall not put any other price, 
greater or less, upon it on that day; and there shall | 
be no puffing or taking of oaths about anything put 
up for sale, If any man disobeys these rules, any 
townsman who is present, not being under thirty years 
of age, shall punish with a beating the seller who 
swears, and he shall do so with impunity; but if he 
is disobedient and neglects to do so, he shall be liable 
to reprobation for betraying the laws. And if a man 
is selling an adulterated article, and is incapable ‘ot 
Fesent rules, any person who is present 
and aware of the fact and able to expose him shall 
take for himself the adulterated article, if he expose 
him before a magistrate, he being himself a slave ora 
metic,—but if he be a citizen, he shall be declared 
to be wicked, as a robber of the gods, if he fail to 
expose the guilty man; while if he does expose him, 
he shall offer the article to the gods who preside 
over the market. He that is found out in selling 
any such article, in addition to being deprived of 
the adulterated article, shall be beaten in the market- 


403 
pp2 


PLATO 


pevov, Kata Spaypiy éxdotny TH waoTiyt TUTTE- 
E oOo mAnyas bro Ki puKos év TH ayopa KnpvEavTos 
ov évexa péddrder TUTTECOaL. Ta bé KiBdnrevpaTa 
T€ Kal Kakoupyias TOV TwAOvYTwY ol TE ayopaVve- 
pot Kal of vowopirAakes wruPdpevoe TOV Eutreipwr 
Tept Exacta, dvaypayravtwy a& TE Xpn ToLeiv Tov 
TwXdovvta kal & wy, Kal mpocGe Tov dyopavopiou 
Gévtwmy é€v oTndrn ypdavtes vomous elvas Tots 
918 repli THY THs ayopas ypEiay nvuTas cageis. Ta 
5é mepi Tov dotuvopwy év Tois mpocber ixavas 
eipntat. éav dé tt tpocdeiv SoxH, vomodvrAakw 
émavaxowwoavtes Kal ypdaavtes to Soxodpy 
€dXdutreiv! eis dotuvomuov Oévtwv év oTHryn TA TE 
mp@ta Kal Ta Sevtepa TeOévta avToior Tis apxis 
voutpa. 

KiBdnros 8 eritrndevpacw émetat Kata 
mooa Katnrelas émitndevpata. tavTns dé mépt 
Evumdons cupBovrAnv mpa@tov Sovtes Kai Oyov 

Bem avti vowov totepov émiBapyela. Kxatrnr«Ela 
yap Kata Tod Taca yéyovev ov BrABns Evexa 
TO ye Kata pvow, wav 5& Tovvavtiov' Tas yap 
ovK evepyéTns mas ds av ovciay ypnudtav 
@vTivavody aagvpmeTpoy ovcay Kal av@padov 
Ouadyy Te Kal ovppmetpov atrepyadfntat ; TodTO 
Huiv xp hava Kal THY TOD vowicpatos amepyda- 
Cec8ar Svvapiv, Kal tov éwmopov éri tovTe 
teTaxOar Sei Ayer. Kal pucOwtds Kal Tap- 
doxeds kal GrdXa, TA pev eloynpmovéctepa, Ta Sé 

C doxnpovéstepa yeyvoueva, TOUTS ye mavra éu- 
vaTal, Tadow émixovpiay tais ypelats éEevtropeiy 


1 2,Aurely Hermann: éxArteiv MSS. 
404 





—s 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


place with stripes—one stripe for every drachma in 
the price he asks for the article—after that the 
herald has first proclaimed the crimes for which 
the seller is to be beaten. Touching acts of fraud 
and wrongful acts done by sellers, the market- 
stewards and the Law-wardens, after making enquiry 
from experts in each trade, shall write out rules as 
to what the seller ought to do or avoid doing, and 
shall post them up on a pillar in front of the stewards’ 
office, to serve as written laws and clear instructors 
for those engaged in business in the market. The 
duties of the city-stewards have been fully stated 
already ;+ in case any addition seems to be required, 
they shall inform the Law-wardens, and write out what 
seems to be wanting; and they shall post up on the 
pillar at the city-stewards’ office both the primary and 
the secondary regulations pertaining to their office. 
Following close upon practices of adulteration 
follow practices of retail trading ; concerning which, 
as a whole, we shall first offer counsel and argument, 
and then impose on it a law. The natural purpose 
for which all retail trading comes into existence in a 
State is not loss, but precisely the opposite ; for how 
can any man be anything but a benefactor if he 
renders even and symmetrical the distribution of 
any kind of goods which before was unsymmetrical 
and uneven? And this is, we must say, the effect 
produced by the power of money, and we must 
declare that the merchant is ordained for this pur- 
pose. And the hireling and the innkeeper and the 
rest—some more and some less respectable trades,— 
all have this function, namely, to provide all men 
with full satisfaction of their needs and with even- 


2 Cp. 759A ff., S49 Ef, 8810. 
405 


PLATO 


Kal opardornta tais ovciats. ti mote 5) Td mi 
kadov avTo pnd evoxnpov Soxeiy elvar, Kai Ti 
To StaBeBrAnKds tuvyxavet, iSwpev, ty ef ph Kab 
TO Gdov, GX’ odv pépyn ye eEtacwpcOa voy. 
mpayy &o®, ws Eotxev, ov haddrov, ovde oyLKpas 
Sedpevov apeTis. 
KA, IIl@s Néyers ; 
ae, “QO dire Krewwia, opixpov yévos avO porwr 
Kal pvoet ONyov Kal axpa tpodH teOpapypévor, 
Otay eis Xpelas Te Kal éTiOUmias TeV éuTinty, 
D gaprepety mpos TO pétpiov Suvatov €or, Kal Stay 
e&p xpnyata NaBeiv TOrAG, vet Kal mpdTEpov 
aipettat TOU To\XOU TO TOD péTPOV éyYopmevor: 
ta 6¢ tov avOpeTov THON wav TobvavTioy eye 
TovTows, Seopevd te apetpwos Setrar Kal boy 
xepoaivery Ta péTpia amAnoTwS aipeitat Kepdat- 
vew* 600 TwavTa Ta mepl THY KaTNAElaY Kal 
éutropiav Kal twavdoxelay yévn dtaBéBrnTAal Te Kal 
€v altaxpois yéyovey oveldectv. érrel ef Tis, 0 pr} 
Tote yévorto ovd éaTal, TpocavayKxacee—ye- 
E Noto pév eirreiv, Sums S¢ eipjoetat—ravboxedoat 
Tovs Tavtaxh apiatovs avopas émi Twa Yeovov 
) KATNAVELY 7 TL TOV TOLOUTWY TpaTTELY, } Kat 
yuvaixas x TIvOs, avayKns eimappevns Tov ToLov- 
TOU peTacxeiy TpOTroU, yvoInLED av as pirov Kal 
ayarnrov éotw éxactov TovTwY Kai, eb KaTa 
Xoyov adidpOopov yiyvorto, ev pytpos av Kal 
919 spodod oxnpate Tiu@TO TA ToLadTa TdvTa. vo 
d€ ordTav els épnuous Tis KaTTNNELas EveRa TOTFOUS 





t tee. by equalizing the distribution of goods throughout 
the community. Cp. Ar, Pol. 12574 14 ff. 


406 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


ness in their properties Let us see then wherein 
trade is reputed to be a thing not noble nor even 
respectable, and what has caused it to be disparaged, 
in order that we may remedy by law parts of it 
at least, if not the whole. This is an undertaking, it 
would seem, of no slight importance, and one that 
calls for no little virtue. 
euin. How do you mean? , 
atu. My dear Clinias, small is the class of men 
-—rare by nature and trained, too, with a superlative 
—who, when they fall into divers needs and 
lusts, are able to stand out firmly for moderation, 
and who, when they have the power of taking much 
wealth, are sober, and choose what is of due measure 
rather than what is large. The disposition of the mass 
of mankind is exactly the opposite of this; when they 
desire, they desire without limit, and when they can 
make moderate gains, they prefer to gain insatiably ; 
and it is because of this that all the classes con- 


cerned with retail trade, commerce, and inn-keeping | 


are disparaged and subjected to violent abuse. Now 
if anyone were to do what never will be done 
(Heaven forbid !)—but I shall make the supposition, 
ridiculous theugh it is—namely, compel the best 
men everywhere for a certain period to keep inns 
or to peddle or to carry on any such trade,—or even 
to compel women by some necessity of fate to take 
part in such a mode of life,—then we should learn 
how that each of these callings is friendly and 
desirable; and. if all these callings were carried on 
according to a rule free from corruption, they would 
be honoured with the honour which one pays to a 
mother or a nurse. But as things are now, when- 
ever a man has planted his house, with a view to 


407 


B 


C 


PLATO 


Kal TavTaxoce pnKN exovtas od@y iSpvodpevos 
oixnoers, €v atropia yeyvomevous KaTaNvoEo 
ayarntais dexdpevos, H bd Xetwa@ver aryplov 
Bia éMavvopevors } evdiewny yarauny mapacxov 
} Tvlyeow avaryvyny, Ta peta TavTa Ovx os érai- 
pous SeEdwevos puduca Tapaoxy eva émrojeva 
Tats broboxais, « as 5 éxOpous aixuadwrous KEXEL- 
papévous arrohuTpoOay T@V HaKpoTatov Kab i ddixov 
Kab axabaprov AUTpwr, tadtd éott Kal Ta TOL- 
avra éy Evprace Tots TovouTaLs [op0as] 2 dpap- 
Tavopeva Tas SiaBoras TH Tis amopias emt- 
Koupnaet mapeoxevaxora, TOUT@Y OvV xP? pap- 
paKov ael Tépvew Tov vomoberny. opOov péev 81 
maédat Te elpnwevov OS mpos dvo paxerBar Kat 
évavtia Xarerrov, xabdrep € €v Tais vorots ToXRots 
Te aXdowot Kal 6) Kal vov 7 TOUT@Y Kal tepl 
Tatra éort Tpos 5vo0 payn, Teviav Kal Todor, 
TOV ev yuxny SiepPapKora Tpuph Tay av- 
Sporn, THY 6é AuTraus TPOTETpampevnY eis 
dvarexvytiay auTnY, Tis, ovv 87 Tis vooou 
TAUTHS apwyy yiyvorT’ dv év voov éxovan Toner ; j 
Tp@Tov bev 6 Tt oMLKpOTaTeD XpHe Pat Kara 
Suva TH THY xaTN@v yevet, ETELTA TOUTOLS 
Tov évO peorov Tpootarrew ov SvapPetpopéveov 
ovK av yiyvouto peyady doen TH TOAEL, Tpirov 
dé avrois Tois petacxobor TOUT@V Tay eTeTN- 
Sevpdtov evpelv EyxXaviy bras On pH avédnv 
avatayuvtias te Kal averevGépov Wexiis péroxa 
cup Snaerar yiyver Oar jadiws. pera 69 Ta vov 
eipnuéva Tepi Tadta vopos ayalh tUyn ToLdcde 


1 eravvouevois Stephens, Ast: éAavyonevouvs MSS. 
408 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


, . 

retail trade, in a desert place and with all the roads 
from it lengthy, if in this welcome lodging he 
receives travellers in distress, providing tranquillity 
and calm to those buffeted by fierce storms or restful 
coolness after torrid heat,—the next thing is that, 
instead of treating them as comrades and providing 
friendly gifts as well as entertainment, he holds them 
to ransom, as if they were captive foemen in his hands, 
demanding very high sums of unjust and unclean 
ransom-money ; it is criminal practices such as this, 
in the case of all these trades, that afford grounds of 
complaint against this way of succouring distress. 
For these evils, then, the lawgiver must in each case 
provide a medicine. It is an old and true saying that 
it is hard to fight against the attack of two foes! 
from opposite quarters, as in the case of diseases and 
many other things; and indeed our present fight in 
this matter is against two foes, poverty and plenty,” 
of which the one corrupts the soul of men with 
luxury, while the other by means of pain plunges 
it into shamelessness. What remedy, then, is to be 
found for this disease in a State gifted with under- 
standing? The first is to employ the trading class 
as little as possible; the second, to assign to that 
class those men whose corruption would prove no 
great loss to the State; the third, to find a means 
whereby the dispositions of those engaged in these 
callings may not quite so easily become infected by 
shamelessness and meanness of soul. After the 
declarations now made, let our law on these matters 
bi Cp. Phaedo 89 C: xpds 300 A€yera: ob3’ 5 ‘HpaxAjjs olds Te 
eivai. 


2 Cp. 679 B, 705 B. 





* [6p0@s] bracketed by Wagner: aicxpés Zur., vulg. 
499 


PLATO 


t 

Hiv yoyve da Mayviror, ods 0 Geos avoplav 
madw KatorKiver; ryew@popor boot TOV TeTTapa- 
KOVTa Kal TEVTAKLTXINMOV éoti@v eiot, penre 
KAT AOS Exe und akov pnboeis yeyvécOw pair’ 
Euro pos pane Siaxoviay pnd iprwa KEKTNMEVOS 
idvaracs tots pay €& i loou éauT@, may Tatpt Kal 
E pntpl Kal Tots éTL TOUT@Y Els TO ave yévect 
Kal Tact Tots avtov mpeaButépas 6 dao €Xev- 
Oepor édevbépws. TO o €XevPepiKoy Kal. dvehev- 
Gepov axpiBas pev ov padcov vouobereiv, Kpwe- 
alm ye pny ito TOV Ta apioteia eiknhoTer 
TO €xeivov pices Te Kal doTrac ne. Os é av 
KaTnretas Tihs avehevbépov TEXYY Tov HeTaoXn, 
ypaper bw pev avrov tyévous atoxovns 6 Bovho- 
HEvOS TpoS TOS apETH MpwoToUS KEKptpevOus, éay 
6é S0ky avakio emeTnded pare Katappumaivew Thy 
auTov maTppay éoriar, deDels €vlavTOV aTro- 
920 oxo Ao Tov TotovToV, Kal éav avis, & ery dv0, Kal 
ep’ éxdorns ANOTEDS tous Secpods un TavécOw 
Sumdacratov ToD éumpoo bev Xpovov.} devTEpos 
Hayy vopos’ Métoxov eivat Xpewy 7) Eévoy 0 os av 
perry kam neve ely. TO 6é TpiTov Kal TplTos” 
"Ones 6 @S apiatos: 7 KAL KAKOS @S Hela ra 0 TOLOUTOS 
Hypiv 7 EvvorKos év TH TOE, TOUS vopopuAaxas 
XpH vojoa pvrakas. eivat ty “ovov éxetvov obs 
purarreww padvov fn) «~Tapavopwous Kat KaKous 
ylyvecOd, door yevéoes Kai Tpopais ed TeTai- 


1 rod. . . xpévov Ast: tov . . . xpdvov MSS. (bracketed 
by England) 





1 Op. 702 B ff., 848 C ff. 
2 Literally ‘‘free men,’”’>—the Greek word connoting 
generosity, culture and dignity, like our ‘‘ gentle.” 


410 


. 
| 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


(Heaven prosper it!) run in this wise :—Amongst ~ 
the Magnesians,1 whom the god is restoring and 
founding afresh, none of all the landholders. who 
belong to the 5040 houses shall, either willingly or 
unwillingly, become a retail trader or a merchant, or 
engage in any menial service for private persons who 
do not make an equal return to himself, save only 
for his father and mother and those of a still earlier 
generation, and all that are elder than himself, they 
being gentlemen? and his a gentleman’s service. _ 
What is becoming, what unbecoming a gentleman it ~ 
is not easy to fix by law; it shall, however, be 
decided by those persons who have achieved public 
distinction * for their aversion to the one and their 
devotion to the other. If any citizen in any craft 
engages in ungentlemanly peddling, whoso will shall 
indict him for shaming his family before a bench of 
those adjudged to be the first in virtue, and if it 
be held that he is sullying his paternal hearth by an 
unworthy calling, he shall be imprisoned for a year 
and so restrained therefrom; if he repeats the 
offenee, he shall get two years’ imprisonment, and 
for each subsequent conviction the period of im- 
prisonment shall go on being doubled. Now comes 
a second law :—Whosoever intends to engage in 
retail trade must be a resident alien or a foreigner. 
And-thirdty; this third law :—In ordéf that such an 
one may be as good as possible, or as little as 
possible bad, he being a resident in. our State, the 
Law-wardens. must bear- in mind that» they are - 
guardians not only of those who, being well-trained 
both by birth and nurture, are easy to guard from 
lawless and evil ways, but also of those who are 


2 Cp. 914 A, 922 A ff. 
411 


PLATO 


B devytat, tovs 5é 7) TovovTovs éeriTyndevpaTa Te 
emitndevovtas & porn) éyer Tia ioxupay mpos 
TO [poTpémew Kaxodvs yiyverOar, dvdraxTéov 
HaGdXov: Tavty 6 Ta Tepl THY KaTTHAELAY TrOAADDY 
ovoav Kal ToAAa émitndevpaTa ToOLaUTAa KEKTN- 
pevnv, doaTvep dy avitav rehOH Sofavta éx 
TOAAHS avayKns ev TH wore Seiv elvat, cvveOeiv 
ad Xpewv mepl Tadra Tovs vopopuhaxas pera TOV 
éumeipwv éxaotns KaTnrELas, ka0atrep éumpoabev 

C éreratapev tis xiBdnrelas répt, Evyyevods TovT@ 
mpaypatos, cuveOovtas dé ideiy Afupd Te Kal 
dvdd\opa Ti ToTe TO KaTHA@ KEpdoS ToLel TO 
péTpiov, ypapavtas Sé Oeivar TO yuyvopevov 
avaropa Kat Ajppa Kal gPvdrdrTew, TA pev 
ayopavopous, TA bé aoTuvopous, TA 5é aypovopmous. 
Kai oxedov otws av Katnrela TA péev wpedoin 
Exdotous, opixpotata é& av BramTo Tods év 
Tais TodEot Ypwpévous. 

D "Oca tis av oporoyav EvvOécOar pH Ton 
KaTa TAS OmorOYyias, TANVY WY av vomot atrel(pywow 
h Wwydicpa, % Tivos bd adixov BiacGeis avdy- 
KNS OmoAOYHon, Kal av bro TUYNS ampoadoKyToU 
Tis akwv KwrAVOH, Sixas elvar TOY ArAwV aTEROUS 
omoroyias év tais puretixaion Sixais, éav év diai- 
TyTals 7) yeltoow Eutrpocbev py StivwvTar Stad- 
AdtrecOat. ‘Hdaiorov xai “AOnvas iepov To TaV 
Snutoupyav yévos, of tov Biov nuiv EvyKate- 

E oxevaxact téxyvais, “Apeos 8 ad kal “AOnvas ot 


1 & por}y Hermann: amotpom)y MSS. : & tpowhy Zur. 





1 Cp. 917 E. 
412 








ee 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


otherwise, and who follow pursuits which greatly 
tend to urge them on the road to vice; and these 
they must guard the more. Accordingly, with 
respect to retail trading, which is a multifarious 
occupation, embracing many callings of a similar 
nature,—with respect (I mean) to so many branches 
of it as are allowed to exist, as being deemed 
absolutely necessary to the State,—concerning these 
the procedure shall be the same as that previously 
prescribed in the case of the kindred matter of 
adulteration’: the Law-wardens must meet in con- | 
sultation with experts in every branch of retail trade, 
and at their meetings they must consider what 
standard of profits and expenses produces a moderate 
gain for the trader, and the standard of profits and 
expenses thus arrived at they must prescribe in 
writing ; and this they must insist on—the market- 
stewards, the city-stewards, and the rural stewards, 
each in their own sphere. So possibly, by this means, 
retail trade would be of benefit to all classes, and 
would do but little damage to those in the States 


who practise it. 
Touching agreements, whenever a man undertakes 


and fails to fulfil his agreement—unless it be such 
as is forbidden by the laws or by a decree, or one 
made under forcible and unjust compulsion, or when 
the man is involuntarily prevented from fulfilling it 
owing to some unforeseen accident,—in all other 
cases of unfulfilled agreements, actions may be 
brought before the tribal courts, if the parties are 
unable to come to a previous settlement before 
arbitrators or neighbours. Sacred to Hephaestus 
and Athena is the class of craftsmen who have 
furnished our life with the arts, and to Ares and 


413 


PLATO 


A rn al 
Ta Tav Snusovpyav calovtes Téyvatow érépais 
auuvTnplo.s epya: Sixaiws 5é kal TO TovTwY Yyévos 
e /. ~ a 
lepov €ott TovTwy Tov Oed@y. ovTOL 6) TaVTES 
, ; A a 34 
yopav cat Siuov Oepatevovtes Statedovaw, oi 
\ ” lal 
HED ApXOVTES TOV KATA TrOACMOV ay@VwV, Oi Sé 
opydvev te Kai épywv amotedodvTes yéeveow 
a - : fe 
éupoOov* ols by wepl ta To.adTa ov mpérov av 
y 3) 6 ra] \ / e a id 
ein wWevdecOar, Geos mpoyovovs avitav aidov- 
921 pévous. adv dy Tis Snurovpya@v eis xXpovov €ipn- 
, . 
pévov Epyov pn amoteXéon Sia KaKnv, wndev TOV 
\ val 
Buiodotny Ocov éradecels, ryyovmevos ws oixeiov 
ovyyvepuova eivar Oeov, oidév tH vd Bréror, 
a \ / n n e / A \ 
mpatov pev Sixcny TO Oe@ UhéFer, SevTEepov Sé 
Eropevos avT@® vopuos KeicOw: Thy tiny Tov 
yv > / = A A >’ , t \ 
Epyov operéTw ov dv Tov éxdovta Wevontat Kal 
madw €& apyis év TO pynOévte ypov@ Tpoika 
> / \ > / > w+ 
éEepyatécOw. Kal dvatpovpéve 8 Epyov EvuBov- 
\ , ? a a s \ 
B Xevtas vopwos arep TO eemely es EvveBovdeve pn 
Tréovos Tiuav StaTeipwpevoy AX WS Amrova- 
tata ths ak€ias, tatrov 8) mpootaTTe Kal TO 
avatpoupevo’ yryverKke: yap 6 ye Snpoupyos THY 
des > >. , s , > f 
aéiav. év édevOépwy ody Torkecw ov Od ToTE 
A , lal \ > a f / 
Xp} TEXVN, Tahel Te Kal arpEevdet ioe TpdypaTi, 
StatrerpacOat Tav iiiatav Teyvadfovta adbtov Toy 
, * / ‘ ca * 6 nr 2 , 
Snpsovpyov" dixas b€ eivat TovTwY TH adiKovpév@ 
\ \ > a as\ f ; 3 \ i 
mpos Tov adckodyTa. éay Sé TIS éxdovs ad Sy- 
a yee a x She ’ cal \ \ 
C usoupya en amToo@ Tovs pug bovs opis KATA THD 
” , - fal 
évvopov oworoytayv yevouevnv, Ala 5€ rodsod7xov 
\?3 nr \ "* BJ / \ 
kal’ AOnvav xowwvors Toditelas atiudlwv, Bpaxd 
414 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


Athena belong those who safeguard the products of 
these craftsmen by other defensive arts; rightly is 
this class also sacred to these deities. These all 
continually serve both the country and the people: 
the one class are leaders in the contests of war, the 
others produce for pay instruments and works; and 
it would be unseemly for these men to lie concerning 
their crafts, because of their reverence for their 
divine ancestors. If any craftsman fail to execute 
his work within the time named, owing to baseness 
—he not revering the god who gives him his liveli- 
hood, but deeming him (in his ‘blindness of mind) 
tobe’ merciful ‘because’ of his kinship,—he shall, in 
the first place, pay a penalty to the god, and, 
secondly, there shall be a law enacted to suit his 

case :—He shall owe the price of the works regard- 
ing which he has lied to the person who gave him 
the order, and within the stated time he shall 
execute them all over again gratis. And as it coun- 
selled the seller, so the law counsels the contractor 
who undertakes a work not to give in too high an 
estimate for it, but to estimate it simply at its real 
worth ; this same charge the law gives, I say, to the 
contractor, for he as a craftsman certainly knows 
what its worth is, In States composed of gentle- 
men it is wrong fora craftsman to try by his art 
(which is essentially truthful and sincere) to impose 
artfully upon lay persons; and in such cases the 
wronged shall be entitled to prosecute the wrong- 
doer. If, on the other hand, a man who has given 
an order to a craftsman fails to pay him his wage 
duly according to the legal agreement, and sets at 


_- naught Zeus, the Patron of the State, and Athena, 





who are partners in the constitution, —thereby dis- 
415 


PLATO 


Képdos ayaT@v, Un peyddXas KolWavias, vOM“OS 6 
Bonbav éotw TO THs Torews Fvvdécuw peta 
Gedv: “Os yap av rpoaperpdpevos épyov pa bods 
fn) aTrobLd@ ev Xpovols Tots OporoynGetor, SumrrodV 
mpattéaOw' gay Sé éviavtos 退XOn, TOV addroV 

D atoxv dvtwy xpnudtor, ordca Savercuo Evp- 
Barrer Tis, odTos TH Spayun éxdorov pnvos 
érwBerXiav KatatiOétrw: Sixas S& elvar tovTwv 
év Tois Kata guras StxaorTnpiots. 

‘Qs &€ év wapépyw trepl Tov Kata TOdEpLOV 
Snmoupy@v dvtwv cwtnpias, otpatnyav Te Kal 
boot wept TadTa Texyvixol, Sixaroy eireiv, OTL TO 
mapatrav éuvncOnpwev Snutovpyav’ d51 TtovToLs ad, 
xabarrep éxeivors, olov érépors ovat Snyutoupyois, eav 
Tis dpa Kal TOUTwY avedopuevos Snuoctov Epyov elO” 

BE éxav elite mpootaxbev xaras éEepydonta, Tas 
Timas, of 81) ptaOol troreuxois avdpacw eiciv, 
aT0010@ Sixaiws, 0 vouos avTov émawav ovToTeE 
Kapeitar' éav dé Tpoapenpapevos Epyov TL TOV 
KaTa TOAELOV KANOV Epywv pu) aT0dLOd, pméL- 
WeTat. vopos ody OUTS etaivm Tepi TOUT@Y Hiv 
pepuypevos KeicOw, EvpBovrcuTiKds, ov BiactiKds, 

922 ro TANG TaY ToOdTaY, Tidy Tos ayablous 
aivdpas, boot swipes THS TOdAEwS elor EvpTraons 
elite avdpeiars elite Trodeuixais pnyavais, Sevré- 
povs* mpwtos yap TO péytotov yépas Seddc0w 

1 $s Schneider: és MSS. 


1 7.e. bear no interest. Cp. 742 C; Rep. 556 A; Ar. Pol. 
1258» 5 fff. 


416 














LAWS, BOOK XI 


solying great partnerships through love of a little 
gain,—then, with the help of the gods, this law shall 
lend aid to the bonds that unite the State :-—Who- 
soever has previously received the work ordered and 
fails to pay the price within the period agreed shall 
be bound to pay double the price; and if a year 
have elapsed, although all other monies on loan are 
barren,' this man shall pay as interest one obol on 
each drachma for every month? of arrears; and 
actions for these cases shall take place before the 7 
tribal courts. ¢ 
_ And now that we have made mention of craftsmen 
in general, it is right to allude in passing to those 
whose craft is military security,—that is to say, 
military commanders and all experts in such matters. 
As to the former craftsmen, so to these men, as 
craftsmen of another sort,—whenever any of them, 
either voluntarily or under orders, undertakes any 
ublic work and executes it well,—whosoever shall 
duly pay to these men those honours which are the 
soldier's wages, him the law will never weary of 
lauding ; but if he has previously received some noble 
work of a military kind and fails to pay for it, the law 
will blame him. So, touching this matter, let there 
be laid down this law, coupled with laudation,—a 
law which counsels rather than compels the mass of 
citizens to honour as second in merit those brave men 
who, either by bold deeds or by military devices, are 
protectors of the State ; for first in merit come those 
on whom the greatest reward must be bestowed— 
namely, those who have proved themselves able pre- 


2 As a drachma = 6 obols, the interest would amount to 
200 p.c. per annum, 


ALT 
VOL. Il. EE 


PLATO 


Tols Ta TOV aya0av vouobeTav ypdupata Tidy 
Siahepovtws Suvnbeiow. 

Ta peév 8%) péyiota tev EvpBoraiwr, dca mTpos 
adAnAous avOpwmrot EvpSarrovar, AH ye oppav- 
tK@v Kal THs Tov ET LT POT @Y émipehelas TOV 
ophavarv, oxedov nuiv Siatétaxtar tadta Sé $7 
MeTa TA Viv eipnucva avayKaiov auas yé Tas 

BrafacOa. tovtwr dé dpyal mavtwy ai te Tov 
TeheuTay Hed AOVTOY émOupiar THS Siabécews 
ai Te TOV pn dev TO Tapamay diab epévov TUXaL, 
avaryKaiov 5é eimrov, o Krewia, Breras auTav 
mépt Tpos TE TO SvaKoXov kal Xaderov oveé yap 
ataxtov duvatov €or’ avTo éay: TONAG yap Exa- 
OTOL Kai dudpopa adov kal évavtia riety’ av 
Tois TE vopots Kal Tots Toy fovtwv nOect Kal Tois 
auta@v Tots eum poaber, mp Siaridec Oar peer, 

Cel tis éfouciay d@cet aTrOs obT@ _Kkuptav elvat 
SraO neny nv av Tus Siabfjrar 6 omwaoby EX@Y TpOS 
7@ TOD Biov Téhet. avorTws yap 57) Kat SiareO pup- 
HEVOS Tia TpotTrov &xopuev oi TAELOTOL, Stay HON 
pédrew ny@pel a TedeuT ay. 

KA. Ilds TovTO, o Eve, Aeyers 5 ; 

ao. Xaretov ear’, ® Krewvia, wédArov avOpw- 
Tos TEAEUTITELY, Kal wEeaTOY OYyoU Tots VowobéTaLS 
ev para poB8epod Kal duaxepods. 

KA. I17; 

ae. Lntav elvat KUpios aTavT@Y cei@be peT 

D opyis A€yerv. 

KA. Ilota 6% ; 

ao. Aewév ye, & Oeoi, dno, e Ta Ewa epol 





1 Cp. 919 D, E. 
418 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


eminently to honour the written code of the good 
lawgivers.? 
_ We have now made regulations for most of the 
more important business dealings between man and 
man, excepting those regarding orphans and the 
care of orphans by their guardians; so, after those 
now dealt with, these matters must necessarily 
receive some kind of regulation. All these have 
their starting-points either in the desire of those at 
the point of death to devise their property, or in the 
accidental cases of those who die without making a 
testament ; and it was in view of the complex and 
difficult nature of these cases, Clinias, that I made 
use of the word “necessarily.” And it is, indeed, 
impossible to leave them without regulation; for 
individuals might set down many wishes both at 
variance with one another and contrary to the laws 
as well as to the dispositions of the living, and also 
to their own former dispositions in the days before ~ 
they proposed making a will, if any will that a man 
makes were to be granted absolute and unconditional 
validity, no matter what his state of mind at the end 
of his life. For most of us are more or less in a dull 
and enfeebled state of mind, when we imagine that 
we are nearly at the point of death. 

cuin. What do you mean by this, Stranger ? 

atu. A man at the point of death, Clinias, is a 
difficult subject, and overflowing with speech that is 
most alarming and vexatious to a lawgiver. 

cin. How so? 

aTH. Since he claims to be lord of all he has, he 
is wont to speak angrily. 

cin. What will he say? 

atu. “Good heavens!” he cries, “what a mon- 

419 
EE2 


‘PLATO 


undamas ée&éotar Sodvai te 6T@ av €0éXw Kal ju), 
Kal T® wev TrELw, TO 8 EAXdTTOVA TOV OTdcOL 
Trepl éue hadror kal dcor ayabol yeyovact have- 
pas, Bacavicbérvtes ixavas ev vogors, of 8 ev yypa 
Kal dAdas Tavtolatat TUYXaLS. 

KA. Ovdxodv, @ Eێve, Karas Soxovci cot 
every ; 

BE Ae. Mar@axoi euory’, & Krewia, Soxodow oi 
mara. vouobeTodrTes yeyovévar Kal emt opixpov 
Tav avOpwrivev tpayudtav Brémovtés Te Kal 
Stavoovpevor vomobereiv. 

KA. Llds Xéyers ; 

ao. Tov Aoyor todtov, @ *yabé, hoBovpevot, 
Tov vomov étidecav Tovede, Feivat Ta EavTov 
diatiPecOar aTABS Srrws av Tis EOEAH TO Taparrar, 

923 éym O¢ kal ov Tois év TH oH TrOAEL pédrOVGL 

TedeuTay atroxpwovpela éupehéaTEpov. 

KA. Ios; 

ao. °“O diror, djcopev, kal atexvas épypepot, 
yxarerov byiv orl yuyvaokew Ta bpéTep adtav 
Xpnpata kal pds ye Dwas abtovs, damep Kal TO 
ths Iv0ias ypaupa dpater, Ta viv. éywy ov 
vowobérns av otO ipads buav avT@y elvar TIOnpL 
ote THY ovciay TavTny, Evpmavtos 5é TOD yévous 
ipav tod te éurrporbev Kal Tod emerta écopévou, 
kal ért wadXov Tis TOES Elva TO TE YévOS TAY 

B kal tHv ovciav. Kal odtw TovTwy éxovTwY ovK, 
édv tis tpas Owreiats vrodpayov €v vocols 7) 
yypa carevovtas Tapa To BértLaTOv SiaTiPedBar 
420 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


strous shame it is, if I am not to be allowed at all to 
give, or not give, my own things to whomsoever I 
will—and more to one, less to another, according as 

they have proved themselves good to me or bad, 
when fully tested in times of sickness, or else in old 
age and in other happenings of every kind.” 

cuin. And do you not think, Stranger, that what 
they say is right? 

atu. What I think, Clinias, is this—that the old 
lawgivers were cowardly, and gave laws with a short 
view and a slight consideration of human affairs. 

cLIn. How do you mean? 

atu. It was through fear, my dear sir, of that 
angry speech that they made the law allowing a 
man unconditionally to dispose by will of his goods 
exactly how he pleases. But you and I will make a 
more suitable answer to those in your State who are 
at the point of death. 

cur. In what way? 

atH. O friends, we will say, for you, who are 
literally but creatures of a day, it is hard at 
present to know your own possessions and, as the 
Pythian oracle declares; your own selves, to boot. 
So I, as lawgiver, make this ruling—that both 
you yourself and this your property are not your 
own, but belong to the whole of your race, both 
past and future, and that still more truly does all 
your race and its property belong to the State; and 
this being so, I will not willingly consent if anyone 
persuades you to make a will contrary to what is 
best, by fawning on you and helping you when 
afflicted by disease or age; rather will I legislate 


1 Alluding to the dictum, ‘‘ Know thyself”; cp. Protag. 
343 B. r _ 


421 


C 


PLATO 


meiOn, Evyxopnoopat EKO, 6 te be Th TOAEL TE 
aptotov Tacn Kal yevet, 7 pos TV TOUTO Brérrov 
vopobeTnaw, TO évos éxaoTou KataTiMels év 
potpats eXdTTOGL Sixaiws. tpeis bé jpiv rew Te 
Kal evpevets dvtes tropevorabe nmep Kata puow 
vov mopever Ge Thy avOparivny: nutv be mepl TOV 
adXov TOV bpmeTépov pedicel, xndopevors bre 
pddicta eis Stvaytv ov Tov pév, Tov be ov. 
TavTa pev ovV TapauvOld Te Kal TpooimLa TOV TE 
twvrwv, ®@ Krewvia, cal Tov TeXevT@VTOY Ect, 
vo}L0s éé 86e- 

“Os ap Sia juny ypabn Ta avTov Siati- 
Déuevos, Taiowv av Tar ips 7 p@Tov pev TOV 
viéwy KANpovewov dv av akioon yiyver Ba Yea- 
géta, TOV 6€ arXov Traidwv bv av pev érép 
Troveia Bat 516@ Seyouevo, ypapéer bo TovTo avro. 
éav 6é mepuyiryyytat TLS TOV viéwy are I emt 
TUL Kjp@ TET OLNLEVOS, OV Kara vojov exis els 
amrotkiay extren pO noea Oat, TOUT@ Tov adXov X¥pn- 
parov efor TP marpl Sidévae 6 éca av eOédy, 
TANVY TOU TaTppov KAnpou ral THS mept Tov 
K\ijpov KATATKEVTS maons Kal éav etous Oot, 
Mpos jépos oO Tarp ory ay Sy) vewer@ Ta 
meplovra Tob KMijpou. éT@ e av Tav viéwv omap- 
Yov olKos D> 1), vepew TovT@ Tov Xpnpator, 
Guyarpt TE do avTos 7 pev av eyyeyunpévos ws 
avnp eo omevos Ee) vewew a & adv pn, véwev. 
éav bé T@™ TOV vigor 7) Kal Tov uyatépov gary 
KAHpos ETTLXwpLos THs StaOHens yevomevos UaTepor, 
TO KANpOVvOm@ TOD THY StaOnKny Siabeuéevov KaTa- 





' 7,e, one of the 5040 allotments, cp. 737 C ff. 
422 





~ 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


with a general view to what is best for your whole 
race and State, justly accounting of minor import- 
ance the interest of the individual. May it be that 
you will feel kindly disposed and at peace with us 
as you journey towards that bourne whither, by the 
natural law of our human life, you now are travel- 
ling: the rest of your affairs shall be our care, and 
we will watch over them all, without exception, to 
the best of our power. This shall serve, Clinias, 
alike for consolation and for prelude for both the 
living and the dying, and the law shall run as 
follows :— 

Whosoever writes a will disposing of his pro- 
perty, if he be the father of children, he shall 
first write down the name of whichever of his sons 
he deems worthy to be his heir, and if he offers any 
one of his other children to another man to be 
adopted by him, this also he shall write down; and 
if he has any son besides that is not adopted for any 
lot, of whom he has hopes that he will be sent out 
by law to a colony, to him the father shall be 
allowed to give so much of his other property as he 
wishes, saving only the ancestral lot and all the 
equipment of that lot; and if there be several more 
sons, the father shall divide among them the surplus, 
over and above the lot, in whatever way he chooses. 
And if a son already possesses a house, he shall not 
assign him goods, and so likewise in the case of a 
daughter, if she is betrothed to a husband, he shall 
not assign goods, but if not so betrothed, he shall 
assign. And if, after the will is made, it is dis- 
covered that one of the sons or daughters owns a lot 
in the district, then that person shall resign his 
legacy in favour of the heir of him that made the 


423 


PLATO 


evrréreo. éav 5€ adppevas fey fn Aeitrn, Onretas 
de 0 diate nevos, avopa bev TOV Ouyarépwr 7 HTWt 
av é0ér», vidv dé auT@ KATANELTETO, yparvas 
Kn povopov. éav 6€ vios TO TehevTION mais Ov, 
mpl eis avdpas duvaros elvar Tehely, elTe yer Tos 
ov el TE TrownTos, ypadéto Kal Tepl THS ToLavTNS 

924 TUXNS O THY drab jeny ypadav tive xe7 Taisa 
avT@ SevTEpov emt TUX ALS apetvoor yiyverOat. 
éav dé THs dmats ay TO Tapamav dsabnanv ypadn, 
TO THs émiKTHTOU dexatn1opiov eEehopevos, éav 
eOédn TH Swpeic bar, SeopetOeo Ta 5€ ara 
mapadidovs TavTa TO mon bevre dipepTrros tNewy 
vidv avrov ToveiaO@ Edp vou. 

“Ou & dv émitporev oi rraides 8émvrat, éav 
jeev drab épevos TedevTa Kal ypawas éritpo- 
mous Tots mavoly éxovTas TE Kat OmOoNOYyOUVTAS 

B émiTpoTrevo ely ovetivacoby Kal o oTroc ous av é0edy, 
Kara TavTa Ta ypapevra a) Tov emit poTroy 
aiperts yuyver Ow Kupia* éav bé TO mapamay 
wn drabepevos TENEUTION TUs UT] THS TOV émrt- 
TpoT@Y aipérews EATS, ETUTPOTOUS | elval Tous 
éyyutara yéver pos Tmatpos Kal NT pos Kuptous, 
dv0 pev mpos TAT POS, dvo0 6é 7 pos pT POS, éva 
be é« TeV Tod TENEUTNTAVTOS pidov: TOUTOUS 
8’ ot vowopvhaxes KabvaravT@v TO Seopevep TOV 
C opdavar. Kal maons THs emLT poms Kal TOV 
dphavav tevrecaidexa TOV vopopuiaK@v Ol TpEeo- 
Bérarou mavrov éripereicOwv cael Kara mpéo Bw 
Kal Kara Tpets SceAOpLevor opas avTous, | Kat’ 
éviavtov tpeis Kal kat éviavtov addov ErEpot 


424 


: LAWS, BOOK XI 









will. If the testator leave no male children, but 
females, he shall bequeath to whichever daughter he 
chooses a husband, and to himself a son, and write 
him down as his heir;} and if a man has a son, 
whether his own or adopted, who dies in childhood 
before reaching man’s estate, in this case also, when 
making his will, he shall state in writing who is to 
be his_son’s successor, and with happier luck. If 
any testator be wholly childless, he shall take out a 
tenth part of his surplus property and shall give it to 
any person, if he so chooses; but all the rest he 
shall hand over to his adopted heir, and him he shall 
make his son with mutual good-will and the blessing 
of the law. 
~ When a man’s children need guardians, if he 
‘die after making a will and naming what persons 
and how many he desires to act as guardians to 
his children, and if they are willing and consent to 
act, then the choice of guardians in this document 
shall be final; but if a man dies either wholly 
intestate or having omitted from his will the choice 
of guardians, then the nearest of kin on both the 
father's and the mother’s side, two from each side, 
together with one of the friends of the deceased, 
shall act as official guardians, and these the Law- 
wardens shall appoint in the case of each orphan 
_ that requires them. All that appertains to guardian- 
_ ship and the orphans shall be supervised by fifteen 
| of the Law-wardens, who shall be the eldest of the 
| whole body, and shall divide themselves into threes 
according to seniority, three acting one year and 
another three a second year, until five yearly periods 


1 i.e. he shall select a citizen to become his heir by 
marrying one of his daughters. 


425 


PLATO 


Tpels, Ews dv ai mévte Tepiodot yiyvevrat KUKA@" 
Kal TovTO exduTrer@ pndérore Kata Svvapuv. 

"Os 8 a ay pndev TO Tmapamrav diabeuevos arrobavy, 
maisas pev KaTaNuTr@v Seopévous emit potas, Ta 
avrav VOM@V TOUTOV ” xpela TOY Taidwy avTod 


D MeTeXeT oo" Onretas dé ay Katanrity TLS dm pooso- 


KNT@ TUXD XPNTapEvos, ouyyvepny ' TO Tevet Tov 
vopov eXET@, €av TOY TpLdY avTOD mpos Ta dvo 
éemiaKoT ay THY éxdoow TOV Ouyatépov TounTar, 
T pos TE THY TOU yévous ay voretav ral THY Tob 
KAnpov cw@rnpiar, TO 5é TpiTov, Omep av TaTHp 
SvacKeyasro, e& amrdvToy TOV TOMTOV Brérov 
eis 0 Te Kai TpoTous Tov emer netov avuT@ mev 
viov, vupdtov & elva TH Ouyarpi, toto 6é /Tapa- 


E Aeirrn dca Thy advvarov oKerpey. vomos Toivuy eis: 


925 


Svvayww 8S mepl Tav TotodTwy Kelcbw "Bay 6 
pn diaGépevos Ouyarépas hin, ToD arroBavovtos 
aderdos o opomar@p i) aKANpOS omopnTpLos éxyéTo 
THY Ouyarépa Kal TOV KAHpov TOU TEAEUTHTAVTOS. 
éav 6é BH 7 aeddos, aderpod be Tals, PTAUTWS, 
éav ev prexia ™ pos aXdmdous dow: éav é pnde 
els TOUTWY, adehpijs 6é€ Trails yb KaTA TavTa: 
TéTapTos d€ maTpos aber hos, TEMTTOS be TovTOU 
mais, ExTOS 6é aes TAT pos ExyOvos. OoAavTos 
d5€ TO yévos ael Topevér Ow Kay ayXva Tear, éap Tes 
matoas Onretas Katahity, bu aber pov Te Kal 
aderprdav éTavioy, eum poobe bev TOV appévor, 
iatepov 6é Onrevav € évl ever. 

Tyv dé Tod TOY yduwv Xpovoyv cumpETpiaV TE Kal 





1 i.e. in marriage: the ‘‘lot” is to pass on always to the 
next of kin, cf. 925 D, E. 


426 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


have passed in rotation ; and this process shall go on, 
so far as possible, without a break. 

And if any man die wholly intestate, leaving 
children that require guardianship, his unfriended 
children shall share in these same laws. And if 
a man meets with some unforeseen mischance and 
leaves daughters, he shall pardon the lawgiver if 
he regulates the betrothal of the daughters with 
an eye to two points out of three—namely, nearness 
of kinship and the security of the lot—and omits 
the third point, which a father would take into 
consideration,—namely, the selecting out of all 
the citizens of a person suited by character and 
conduct to be a son to himself and a spouse for 
his daughter,—if, I say, the lawgiver passes this 
over owing to the impossibility of taking it into 
consideration. Accordingly, the law that we shall 
enact, as the best in our power touching such 
matters, will be this:—If a man dies intestate and 


leaves daughters, that brother who is born of the | 
same father or of the same mother and who is with- | 


out a lot shall take the daughter! and the lot of the 
deceased ; failing a brother, if there be a brother's 
son, the procedure shall be the same, provided that 
the parties be of an age suited the one to the other ; 
failing one of these, the same rule shall hold for a 
sister's son; then, fourthly, for a father’s brother ; 


and, fifthly; for his son; and, sixthly, for the son of | 


a father’s sister. In like manner, if a man leaves 
female children, the right of kinship shall proceed 
always by degrees of consanguinity, going up through 
brothers and brother's children, first the males, and 
secondly the females in one line. 


—+ 


The suitability or otherwise of the time of | 
427 © 


Cé 


PLATO 


apeTpiav 6 &iKaortys oKOTOV Kpwero, ryupvods wev 
TOUS appevas, yupras dé ouparod pEXpt Ge@pevos 
Tas Onrelas" éav dé Tols oiKetoss dmopta Euyyevav 
7, PEXpL pev aeXhod vitddy, HEX pL be wanTov 
Traidev OTAUTOS, TOV dAXwV OvTLW av n tats 
MET ETLTPOT OY aiphTat TOY TOATa@Y ExOUCLOV 
éxoucia, KANpoVvopos yuyver da TOU TENEUTNTAVTOS 
Kal Tis Ouyazpes vuppios. éore} de ToANa Toh- 
ov <€urod@y>° Kal T AeLeov anopia TOV TOLOUT@Y 
yoyvour’ ap é éotw Ste ev avTh Th monet" av ovy on 
TUS drropoupéevn Tov airddev 6 Opa Twa eis aTrotKiav 
amrerrahpevor, H S€ KaTa vodv auth Kdnpovowov 
éxeivov yhryveo Bau TOV TOD TATpos, ‘ay pev Evy- 
seEVNS 7, Kara THY tak Too  POmoU éml Tov KN ipov 
mopevés Bo, éav 6é exTOS yévous, TOV év TH moreL 
évtwv &&a Tis ouyyeveias, KUpLOS éoT@ KATA THY 
Tov elt poTray Kal Tijs Tatoos TOD TENEUTHTAVTOS 
aipectv vipa Kal TOV KAHpov émaveNOwv olxabe 
AaBeiv TOU p92, SiaBepévov. 

"Arrats be appéveov Te Kal Onder@v TO mapda- 
Tav 0s av pa} drabepevos TeAeuTa, Ta pev 
adda meph Tod. ToLovToU Kara Tov eum poo Bev 
exeTo vopor, On rea 66 Kal appny, olov Eup- 
voor, irwoav ex Tob yevous eis Tov é&npnuw- 
pévov ExaoTOTE oiKOV, BY O KANPOS yryvécOw 
Kuplas, aber pep _™ p@rov, adedgov dé Ouydrnp 
devrépa, tpitn oé Exryovos aberdijs, TeTupTn Oe 
TaT pos aderpy, kal mewn TaTpos aenhod mais, 
Extn 5é abderdhs watpos av ein ais cvvosKiferv 
8é tavtas éxeivows Kat ayxtoretay Kai Oéutv, os 

1 Zor: Apelt : ér: MSS., edd. 
2 <éumodwv> I add (wohA} for woAAa Ast). 
428 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


marriage the judge shall decide by inspection, 
viewing the males naked and the females naked 


down to the navel. And if there be in the family _ 


a lack of kinsmen as far as brother's grand- 


children, and likewise as far as grandfather's 


children, whomsoever of the other citizens the girl, 


aided by her guardians, shall choose, that man (if | 


both he and the girl are willing) shall become the 
heir of the deceased and the spouse of his daughter. 
But obstacles often occur, and there might be times 
when there was an unusual dearth of such men in 
the city itself: so if any girl, being at a loss to find 
a spouse on the spot, sees one that has emigrated to 
a colony and desires that he should become heir to 
her father’s property, if so be that he is related, 
he shall proceed to the lot, according to the ordin- 
ance of the law; but if he be outside the kin, and 
there be no one of near kin in the State, then by 
the choice of the guardians and of the daughter of 
the deceased he shall be entitled to marry and to 


take the lot of the intestate man on his return © 


home. 

Whosoever dies intestate, being without any issue, 
male or female, in his case all other matters shall be 
governed by the previous law; and a man and 
woman from the family shall in each such instance 
go into the deserted house as joint assignees, and 
their claim to the lot shall be made valid; and the 
female claims to inheritance shall come in this order 
—first, a sister; second, a brother's daughter; third, 
a sister's daughter; fourth, a father’s sister; fifth, a 
father’s brother’s daughter; sixth, a father’s sister’s 
daughter; and these shall share the home with the 
male kinsmen according to the degree of relationship 


429 


| 


PLATO 


éutrpoober évomoberHcapev. ur) 6) ANavOavétw Td 
a A / n a 
TOV TOLOUTwY vouwv Huds Bapos, ws YyadeTas 
éotiy OTE TpoTTATTEL TO TOU TEeEUTHTAVTOS KATA 
/ , cal 
yévos oixei@ yapety thv Evyyevn, uy Soxet Se 
oKoTreiv & pupla ev avOpwrros éutrddsa yiyverat 
E tots tovovtos émitdypact Tov pHntwa ébérew 
4 / \ ef e fal 
meiGecOat, mpdtepov Sé ovaTivas OTLodY dv BovrXn- 
Ojvar trabeiv, oTdTay 7 copadTwV voonpata Kal 
, 
Tnpwces 7) Siavolas éy Tick TOV eTLTATTOMEV@V 
a cal 4 
yauety 7) yapetoOar yiyvntat. Ttovt@y 61) pndev 
¢ / 
ppovtivew tay’ ay 6 vopobérns Sokeé Ticw, ovK 
dp0as Soxodv. éotw Toivuyv eipnuévov bmép Te 
vouobétrou Kai b7rép vouoberoupévou ayeddv olov 
KOWOV TpooimLov, cuyyvounv pev TO vopwobéTyH 
Tovs émitaTTopuévous Seopevoy Exewv, bt TOV KoL- 
a a lal 
vov émimeovpevos ovK av Trote Svvatto StorKeiv 
dpa kal tas idias éExdoT@ yryvouevas Evpdopas, 
, >  ® \ a t € 
926 Evyyvounv 8 ad Kal Tots vopobetovpévols, ws TA 
Tod vomwoleTobvTos eikoTws éviote ov SvvavTaL 
TPocTayMATA TENELD, & M1) YLYVOOKOV TPOTTATTEL. 
KA. Ti 57 tus odv, @ Eéve, Sp@v mpos Ta ToLadTa 
éupmeTpoTatos av ein ; 
/ = , Lal Ud 
ae. Aaitntds, @ Knyrewia, trois rovovtoss 
vomows Kal vouoleToupévols avayKaiov aipeta Oar. 
KA. Il@s> Néyers ; 
ao. “Eotw ote mrovciov matpos adeddidods 
\ lel 7 / S \ > x >’ 
Thv Tov Oeiouv Ouyatépa Ex@y ove dv €Oédot Kap- 
f an Ue 2 | 7 4 \ / 
B Baveww, tpupar cal eri pet foot yapous TH Sidvotav 
éméyou' ots & bre kal Evppopav ti peyiatnv 
430 











LAWS, BOOK XI 


and right, as we previously enacted. Now we must 
ne burdensome such a law may 
prove, in that sometimes it harshly orders the next 
Ge Ee and 
that it appears to over look the of impedi- 


ments which in human life prevent men from being 
willing to obey such orders and cause them to prefer 
any other alternative, however painful, in cases 
where either of the parties ordered to marry is 
suffering from diseases or defects of mind or body. 
Some might suppose that the lawgiver is paying no 
heed to these considerations, but they would be 
. On behalf, therefore, of the lawgiver as 

well as of him to whom the law applies let a kind of 
general prelude be uttered, requesting those to 
whom the order is given to pardon the lawgiver 
because it is impossible for him, in his care for the 
public interests, to control also the private mis- 
fortunes which befall individuals, and requesting 
pardon also for the subjects of the law, inasmuch as 
they are naturally unable at times to carry out 
ordinances of the lawgiver laid down by him in 
ignorance. 

cin. As regards this, Stranger, what would be 
the most rational course of action to adopt ? 

atu. It is necessary, Clinias, that for laws of this 
kind, and those whom they affect, arbitrators should 
be chosen. 

cin. How do you mean ? 

atu. It might happen that a nephew, who has a 
rich father, would be loth to take to wife his uncle’s 
daughter, giving himself airs and being minded to 
make a grander match. Or again, when what the 
lawgiver enjoins would be a fearful calamity, a man 


431 


D 


PLATO 


Tov vopobérou mpoaTatrovTos ameOeiv avay- 
Kavoir av TO vom, parvopeva Kndevpara, avay- 
KavovTos haw Bdveww % #) Servas adXas ow udev 1) 
yuxev Evupopas, a as aBiwrov on KEKTNMEVO. 0 
a) vov Aayos pty mept rovtwy 66 vomos Keloba* 
"Edy tives dpa repli dtaOnKns éyead@aot Tos KeEL- 
pévors voHoLs, mept Te dov @vTiv@vody Kal én 
Kal TEplL Yapwv, 1) av Tapovra. Kat favtTa avTov 
Tov vowoberny peymot av dvayKacat Tparrey 
oUT@, Noe yhpae noe ynuac Oar, TOUS vov dvary- 
«alouevous éxatepa Spav, o 8€ Tis TOV oixeloy 7] 
TLS émitpotros $7, Srarrn tas pavat Kal jTarépas 
Tous TevTexaloeka TOV vowopuhaKeov earadireiy 
tois ophavois Kal oppavais Tov vowobérny 7 pos 
ods emaviovtes Sradinatécboy oi Tept Twos TOV 
TolovTaY adic BntobvTes, KUpLa TEeNODYTES Ta 
TovTay doypata. dv dé Tw peifov Stvams érava- 
tiBecOar Sox Tots vopopirAaki, eis TO TOV 
exxpitwv Sixaorav diag TnpLov eladyov avtovs 
diadixalécOw mepi TOV dudio Sytovpéver: T@ O€ 
HTTnOevTL Tapa TOD vopoberou Woyos | Kal dverdos 
KeicOw, TOANOY Kpnuadtov vodv Kextnuéve Cypia 
Baputépa. 

Nov 87 tots ophavois maicl yéveois oiov Sev- 
Tépa Tis yiyvolT av. peTa per OUY THY TpwTHY 
éxdotols eipyvtat tpopal kal maidevoes: peta 
5é tiv Sevtépav, éEpnuwov marépwv  yevopévyr, 





* Cp. 775 D ff., 855 C. 

2 Ze. be ‘‘born again” as children of the State, with the 
Law-wardens as their new official parents, as explained 
below, 


432 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


might be compelled to disobey the law—for instance, 
when the law would force him to enter into an 
alliance with madness or some other dire affliction 
of body or soul, such as makes life intolerable for 
the person so allied. This statement of ours shall 
now be laid down as a lawin the following terms :-— 
If any man have a complaint against the ordained 
laws concerning testaments in respect of any detail, 
and especially of those relating to marriage; and 
if he affirms on oath that of a truth the lawgiver 
himself, were he alive and present, would never 
have compelled the parties to act as they are now 
being compelled to act in respect of marrying and 
giving in marriage; and if, on the other hand, some 
relative or guardian supports the compulsion of the 
law ; what we declare is that the lawgiver has left 
us the fifteen Law-wardens to act for the orphans, 
male and female, as both arbitrators and parents, 
and to these all who dispute about any such matters 
shall go for judgment, and their verdict shall be 
carried out as final. If, however, anyone maintains 
that this is to confer too much power on the Law- 
wardens, he shall summon his opponents before the 
court of select judges? and secure a decision regard- 
ing the points in dispute. On him that is defeated 
there shall be imposed by the lawgiver censure and 
disgrace,—a penalty heavier than a large fine in the 
eyes of a man of right mind. 

Accordingly, orphan children will undergo a 
kind of second birth.2 How in each case they 
should be reared and trained after their first 
birth we have already described;* and now we 
must contrive some means whereby, after their 


3 In Books I. and VIL 


433 
VOL. I. FF 


PLATO 


pnxavacbas Set tiva tporrov 1) THs opdavias TUYN 
Tots yevouévors Gphavois ws hxveta éXeov Feu THs 
auppopas. mpatov péev Set vowobeteiv avtois 
Tovs vouopvAaKas avTl yevynTopwv tatépas ov 
xetpous, kal 69 Kal <tpeis>? Kal Exacroy émav- 
TOV @s oixelwy érripereio bat TpOTTATTOMED, EUpeENT 
TOUTOLS TE aUTOIs TEpl Tpodhs dphavav mpooi- 
piacdpevot Kal Tois ériTpoTraLs. els TLVa yap OdV 
por Katpov datvopeOa tovs Eumpoabev Rodyous 
927 dieEerAOeiv, ws dpa ai Tav TekevTHTaYT@Y Wuxal 
Sivauw éxovai tiva TedevTHCATAal, 7) TOV KAT 
avOpwrous Tpayudtov émipeodvTa. Tadta oe 
annbeis pév, paxpoi 8 cial mepiéyovtes oyot. 
muotevey S€ Tais GraLs Prats Kpewv Tepl Ta 
ToladTa, oUTw TodXaict Kal opddpa Taratais 
ovoais: micTevety 6 ad Kal Tois vomobeTovar TADO’ 
otTws eye, avTep pi Tavtdracw adpoves 
gaivovta. tavtn 6 e tadr éotl Kata pvow, 
Tp@tTov pev Tors avw Oeors hofeiaOwv, of tav 
B dphavav tis épnpias aicOnces éyovaw, elta Tas 
TOV KeKunKOToV Wuyxds, als éotly év TH pice 
Tov avTav éexyovov KyndecPar Siadepovtas Kal 
Tiu@al TE avUTOvS evpevels evar Kal atiuatovcr 
ducpeveis, Ett 5 Tas Tov CadvTwV pév, év ynpa bé 
évtwv Kal év peylotats TLpmais, 6tt OUTEp * TOS 
evvomovaa evdaipovel, TovTOUS Of Taides Taidwr 
piroctopyobvtes CHot pel” ndovis’ Kal Ta Tepi 
C ratra o&0 pév axovovat, Brétrovai te Ev, Tots 
Te wept avTa Sdixaiow evdpeveis eici, vewer@ot 
1 Sei: 5) MSS.: 84 pauev (MS. marg.) Zur., vulg. 
2 <-peis> added by Susemihl, Ritter. 
3 87: obwep: Saovmep MSS. (S70v yap Hermann). 


434 





ll ited 





LAWS, ‘BOOK XI 


second birth in which they are destitute of 
parents, their orphan condition may be as free as 
possible from piteous misery for those who have 
become orphans. In the first place, to act in the 
room of their begetters, as parents of no inferior 
kind, we must legally appoint the Law-wardens ; 
and we charge three of these, year by year,! to care 
for the orphans as their own, having already given 
both to these men and to the guardians a suitable 
prelude of directions concerning the nurture of 


orphans. Opportune, indeed, as I think, was the | 


aceount we previously gave? of how the souls of 
the dead have a certain power of caring for human 
affairs after death. The tales which contain this 
doctrine are true, though long ; and while it is right 
to believe the other traditions about such matters, 
which are so numerous and exceeding old, we must 
also believe those who lay it down by law that these 
are facts, unless it is plain that they are utter fools. 
So if this is really the state of the case, the guardians 


shall fear, first, the gods above who pay regard to the © 


solitude of orphans; and, secondly, the souls of the 
dead, whose natural instinct it is to care especially 
for their own offspring, and to be kindly disposed 
to those who respect them and hostile to those who 
disrespect them; and, thirdly, they shall fear the 
souls of the living who are old and who are held in 
most high esteem; since where the State flourishes 
under good laws, their children’s children revere 
the aged with affection and live in happiness. These 
old people are keen of eye and keen of ear to mark 
such matters, and while they are gracious towards 
those who deal justly therein, they are very wroth 


1 Cp. 924 C. 2 865 E ff. 


435 
FF2 


hae 


PLATO 


Te pdducta abd Tots eis dppava Kal épnua bBpi- 
fovot, Tapaxataby«ny eivar peyloTny Hyovpevot 
kal iepwtadtny. ols éritpotrov Kal dpyovta Tact 
Sef Tov vodv, @ kal Bpaxds évein, mpocéyovta, Kal 

> , \ , \ , 
evAaBovpevov mept tpopny te Kal mTavdeiav 
oppavar, as Epavov ciapépovta éavT@ Te Kal Tois 
avtov, kata Sivapiy TavT@s Tacay evepyeTeiy. oO 
pév 8) Tretcbels 7TH pd TOD vopov wvOw Kal 

\ > > \ ig , > v > a 

D pndev eis oppavoy vBpicas ov« eicetar évapyas 

THY Tepl TA TOLAUTA Opyny vouobéToOU, Oo dé amet- 

Ons Kat Twa maTtpos 1 punTpos Epnuov adixav 

Sumkiv twéto wacav tiv BraBnv 7 tepl tov 
aphiOanrh yevopevos Kakos. 

Thv 5 adrAnv vopobeciay eritpotoici Te 
Tept oppavodrs apxovol Te Twepl THY émLpéderay 
Tov émitpoT@v, e pev pn: wapdderywa? te 

a , ’ / > Ff et , 
tpodas taidwy édevOépwy éxéxtnvto avdtol Tpé- 
dovtes Tos avT@v Kal TOY oiKEel@y YpHudToY 

E ériperovpevot, ere S€ vowovs tept avtav tov- 

Tov peTtpios Suverpynuevous eiyov, elyé TLva oyov 
dy. émitpomiKovs Tivas vouous, ws dvTas Lola 
Stadépovtas trodv, TWévar, mokidXovtas ériTy- 
Sevpacw idiows tov Tav dphavav Biov tapa 
Tov Tav py vov be eis pev Ta ToradTa Evp- 

> \ A e ee ae > / 
Tavta ov ToAv Siagépov 7 Tap piv opdavia 

a a a , 

KEKTNTAL THS TATpOVvomLKHS, Timats bé Kal aTimiats 
dia Kai émiperciarow ovdapas eErcovabar pirel. 

1 uh Baiter : 5) MSS. 

2 wapddevryud MSS. : wapadelypard Zur. 


436 


atial 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


with those who despitefully entreat orphans and 
waifs, regarding these as a trust most solemn and 
sacred. To all these authorities the guardian 
and official—if he has a spark of sense—must pay 
attention; he must show as much care regarding 
the nurture and training of the orphans as if he 
were contributing to his own support and that of 
his own children, and he must do them good in 
every way to the utmost of his power. He, then, 
that obeys the tale prefixed to the law and in no wise 
misuses the orphan will have no direct experience 
of the anger of the lawgiver against such offences ; 
but the disobedient and he that wrongs any who 
has lost father or mother shall in every case pay a 
penalty double of that due from the man who 
offends against a child with both parents living. 
As regards further legal directions either to 
guardians concerning orphans or to magistrates con- 
cerning the supervision of the guardians,—if they did 
not already possess a pattern of the way to nurture 
free children in the way they themselves nurture 
their own children and supervise their household 
goods, and if they did not also possess laws regulating 
these same affairs in detail, then it would have been 
reasonable enough to lay down laws concerning 
guardianship, as a peculiar and distinct branch of 
law, marking out with special regulations of its own 
the life of the orphan as contrasted with the non- 
orphan; but, as the matter stands, the condition 
of orphanhood in all these respects does not differ 
greatly with us from the condition of parental 
eontrol, although as a rule in respect of public 
estimation and of the care bestowed on the children 
they are on quite a different level. Consequently, 


437 


PLATO 


928 810 82 wept TodTo adto THY oppavev rept vopo- 
Oeoiav mapapudovpevos Te Kal aTrELh@V O vojos 
éomovdaxev. étt 8 arretAn Tes av Todde ein 
dda é eyKarpos* “Os av Oipuv elTE appeva €TTLT po- 
Tevn, Kal Os av émiTpoTrou purak TOV vopopu- 
AdKov KaTaoras emLpedHTAL, fy) xetpov ayaTare 
TOV avuTov TEKVOY Tov THS oppavexhs peTerdngpora 
TUXNS, pNde THY oikelwvy TaY Tod Tpepopévov 
xeipov XPNMAT OV eripereiaOw, BérXtiov Oé 7 TOV 
avutov KaTa mpoOupiar. 

B “Eva dé ToUTOV vopov EX@v oppavav ™épl 
Tas _emLTpoTreveTo" éav be adws TLS mrepl Ta 
TovabTa TpaTTy Tapa TOV vowov Tovoe, 0 pev 
apxcov Enpsovr@ Tov émitpoTon, o 8€ ésritpomros 
Tov apxovra eis TO TOY exKpiToD dixactHpLov 
eladyov CnuiovTe 7 dofavre TLMNBATL TO 
Sicaotnpio Sur}. éav & émitporros apeheiv 
o xaKoupyelv Soxh Tots oixetous a Kal TOV 
adAwv Tw TOMTOY, els TAUTOV ayeTo Sica 

C ornpvov" 6 tt 8 av Ody, TetpaTAactav pev 
TOUTOU tively, yeyver ba dé TO pev iypucu rod 
ma.oos, TO 8 Huiocv Tov Katadikacapevov THY 
Bixny. dpa & av 48non tis TOY oppavay, éav 
NYNTAL KAKOS emetpomrevOjvat, Expt TevTE ETOV 
eEnxovons Tis eTLTpoTAS EaT@ Sixny Aaxeiv 
émuTpoTias* éav O€ TLS pry TOV eniTporr@y, 
Tuma TO Sixacri pov 6 6 7 xp mabey 7 amrorivew, 
éav 6é on TOV ap ovT@V, apenreiq eV. dofas 
KaK@oaL TOV oppavor, 6 6 Tt xp?) tively avTov 7 

Drratdi, Tiwatw TO Sixactyptov, €av Oé GdtKia,; mpos 


438 


— 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


in its regulations concerning orphans the law has 
emphasized this very point both by admonition and 
by threat. A threat, moreover, of the following 
kind will be extremely opportune :—Whosoever is 
guardian of a male or female child, and whosoever 
of the Law-wardens is appointed supervisor of a 
guardian, shall show as much affection for the child 
whom Fate has made an orphan as for his own 
children, and he shall zealously care for the goods 
of his nursling as much as for his own goods—or 
rather, more. 

Every guardian shall observe this one law in 
the discharge of his office; and if any act in 
such matters contrary to this law, the magistrate 
shall punish him if he be a guardian, and, if he be 
a magistrate, the guardian shall summon him before 
the court of the select judges, and fine him double 
the penalty adjudged by the court. And if a 
guardian be held by the child’s relatives, or by any 
other citizen, to be guilty of neglecting or mal- 


_ treating his ward, they shall bring him before the 


same court, and he shall pay four times the damages 
assessed, and of this amount one half shall go to the 
child, the other half to the successful prosecutor. 
When an orphan has reached full age, if he thinks 
that he has been badly cared for, he shall be allowed 
to bring an action concerning the guardianship 
within a period of five years after the date of its 
expiration ; and if the guardian lose his case, the 
court shall assess the amount of his penalty or fine ; 
and if it be a magistrate that is held to have injured 
the orphan by neglect, the court shall assess what 
sum he shall pay to the child, but if the injury be 
due to unjust dealing, in addition to the fine he shall 


439 


929 


PLATO 


TO Tiyinpate TIS apxns TOV vouopurAdKwv ad- 
tstdoOw, To dé Kowvov THs Toews ETepov vomo- 
dvraka avtl TovTov KabioTaTw TH YOpPA Kal TH 
TONEL. ' 
Atabopal watépwv te mpos avtav taidas 
yiyvovta Kal maldwv mpos yervnTtas peifous 7) 
pean, év als of te maTépes HryoivT dv Sev Tov vopo- 
Oérnv vowoberetv eFeivai ohicw édav Bovdovtar Tov 
vioy Uro KnpUKOS evavtiov amavTov arevmetv vioy 
KATA VOMOV LNKET Eivat, Viels T AV ohiat TAaTEpas 
imo vorwv  ynpws Statieuévous aicypas €Eeivas 
mapavoias ypadecOar. tadta Sé dvtws év Tay- 
kaxov WOccw avOporav yiyvecOar piri, érel 
Hpicewv ye OvT@Y TOV KAKOY, Olov py KaKOD per 
matpos, viéos dé, 7 Ttodvvavtiov, ov yiyvovtas Eup- 
opal tydyuKavtTns éxOpas Exyovot. év ev ovv 
GAN TwodiTela Tats atroKxeknpuypévos ovK av €& 
avaykns drones ein, tavTns €, Hs olde of vopor 
écovrar, avayKxaias éyer eis AAAnY yapav eEotKife- 
oOat tov am@atopa: Tpos yap Tos TeTTAapaKovTA 
Kal TevTaKioxXiALols oiKols OvK EaTLY Eva TPOaTYE- 
vécOat. 81d d7 Set Tov Tadta Tevcdpevov ev Sikn 
un oO évos TaTpos, UT Sé TOD yévous amoppy- 
Ofvat twavtés. Toveiv S€ yp TOY TOLOVT@Y TépL 
Kata vomov Toovde tiva’ “Ov dv Oupos ein 
pndauas evtuyrs, eit ovv: év Sixn elite Kal pm, 
dv érexé te kal é€eOpéyato, TovTov émuOvpetv 
amarrdEa tis abtov Euyyeveias, wn havrws 
ovtws é&éctw und’ evOvs todto Spav, mpatov dé 
auANeEaTw Tos avTod Evyyeveis pméexpt avetLav 


440 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


be removed from his office of Law-warden, and the 
public authority of the State shall appoint another 
in his place to act as Law-warden for the country 
and the State. 

een fathers and their children, and children 
and their fathers, there arise differences greater 
than is right, in the course of which fathers, on 
the one hand, are liable to suppose that the law- 
giver should give them legal permission to proclaim 
publicly by herald, if they so wish, that their sons 
have legally ceased to be their sons; while the sons, 
on the other hand, claim permission to indict their 
fathers for insanity when they are in a shameful 
condition owing to illness or old age. These results 
are wont to occur among men who are wholly evil 
of character, since where only half of them are evil 
—the son being evil and the father not, or vice 
versa—such enmity does not issue in calamitous 
consequences. Now, whereas under another polity 
a son when disinherited would not necessarily cease 
to be a citizen, it is necessary in our State (of which 
these are to be the laws) that the fatherless man 
should emigrate to another State, since it is impos- 
sible that a single household should be added to our 
5040; consequently it is necessary that the person 
upon whom this punishment is to be inflicted legally 
should be disinherited, not by his father only, but 
by the whole family. Such cases should be dealt 
with according to a law such as this :—If any man is 
urged by a most unhappy impulse of anger to desire, 
rightly or wrongly, to expel from his own kindred 
one whom he has begotten and reared, he shall not 
be permitted to do this informally and immediately, 
but he shall, first of all, assemble his own kinsfolk 


441 


PLATO 


Kal TOUS Tob viéos aoavros TOUS Tpos PNT pos, 
KaTyyopelT@ 5é év TovTols, diddoKwv as aEtos 
dmacw éx Tob yévous éxxexnpdx as, doTw dé Kal 
T@ viel AOyous TOUS ioous, as ovK aEvos éore 
TOUT@Y ovdev mdoxXetv" Kal éav ev melOn oO 
marip cal oupnpous AGBy TaVT@V TOV suyye- 
vav UTep hyuov, Tay Ta.T pos Stan difopévenr * 
Kal untpos Kal Tov pevyovTos, Tov ye? addX\ov 

C orrdc ouTrep ay Oot yuvareay ele avdpav TEAELOL, 
TAUTY bev Kal Kata tadta é&éotw TO marpl TOV 
viov aroKnpuTreLy, adws dé pndapirs. Tov © 
amroxnpuxGevra € éav TUS Tov TOMT OV viov Bovhn- 
Tau BécOas, pndels vomos amecpyéTo moveto bau’ Ta 
yap Tav véewv On Toddas petaBoras ev TH Bie 
petaBdrrEv éExaotote wépuKev amoxnpvybevta 
dé av tis déxa érav pH éeriOvpnon OeTov vidv 

D troincacOa, To’s TOY éeTiyoverv eTipmedAnTas TOV 
els THY aTroKiav emipeheta Bar al TOUTOV, OTWS 
dp petdoXwot Tis aris dmouKias éuper@s. €ay 
be Tis TLVa VOTOS 7) Yipas 7 Kal TpoTr@v YareTroTns 
Kab Evuravra TavTa Exppova amrepyatnrat 
Stapepovtas TOV TOAA@Y, Kal AavOavy TOUS 
adXous many Tov TUVOLALT COoMEVEOY, oixopOoph bé 
Os @v TOV avTOU KUpLOS, o 6€ vios amoph Kab 
OK] THY THS mapavolas ypader Oar dixcnv, vomos 

E avr@ KeLoOw TpOTov “ev TPOS TOVS mpeaButdrous 
TOY VomopuAdKa@DV éGovra Sinyncac0ar THY Tob 
TAT pos Evpgopar, oi 6€ KaTiOovTes ixavas Eup- 
Bovdevovtmy edv Te dén ypadecOat Kai éav jer) 


1 3 diaynpiConevoy Baiter : SiaynpiComevov MSS. 
2 ye Hermann: te MSS, ; 3¢ Ast, Zur. 


442 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


as far as cousins and likewise his son’s kinsfolk on 
the mother’s side, and in the presence of these he 
shall accuse his son, showing how he deserves at the 
hands of all to be expelled from the family, and he 
shall grant to the son an equal length of time for 
arguing that he does not deserve to suffer any such 
treatment ; and if the father convinces them and 
gains the votes of more than half the family (votes 
being given by all the other adults of both sexes, 
save only the father, the mother, and the son who is 
defendant), in this way and on these conditions, but 
not otherwise, the father shall be permitted to 
disinherit his son. And as regards the man disin- 
herited, if any citizen desires to adopt him as his son, 
no law shall prevent him from doing so, (for the 
characters of the young naturally undergo many 
changes during their life) ; but if within ten years no 
one offers to adopt the disinherited man, then the 
controllers of the surplus children designed for 
emigration shall take control of these persons also, 
in order that they may be duly included in the same 
scheme of emigration. And if a man _ becomes 
unusually demented owing to illness or old age or 
crabbedness, or a combination of these complaints, 
but his condition remains unnoticed by all except 
those who are living with him, and if he regards 
himself as master of his own property and wastes his 
goods, while his son feels at a loss and scruples to 
indict him for insanity,—in such a case a law shall 
be enacted on behalf of the son whereby he shall, in 
the first instance, go to the eldest of the Law- 
wardens and report to them his father’s condition, 
and they, after full enquiry, shall advise whether or 
not he ought to bring an indictment; and if they 


443 


930 


PLATO 


THY ypadny, éav dé EvuBovrevowor, yuyréo Ooo av 
TO ypapouere pdprupes dua Kat Evvbixot. o bé 
ope Tod Rovrrod povouv aeupos éoTw TaV avTod 
Kal To 7 pu porarov SiatidecOat, nabdrep traits 
d€ olxeltw Tov emihoutrov Biov. 

"Kav dé avnp Kal yuri) pndapy Wa esi 
TpOTr@V duotuxia Xpopevor, déxa peév avopas Tov 
vopopurdKav eripedeicBar TOV ToLvovTey det Xpewv 
Tovs pécous, béxa b¢ TOV TEpl yapous yuvaltKav 
ooauTws: Kal éay pev 59 Euvahndarrewy Sivwvrat, 
TaUT éorw Kvpla, av © ai Yuxal cupaivwot pe- 
Coves avTav, Enteiv Kara Suva olreves éxarép 
Evvorxncovar. elxos O€ eivat TOUS ToLovTous my) 
mpaéow Occ KexXpnpévous*? Babvrepa 8 TovTous 
Kai ™ paorepa TpoTr@v 7709 Evvvowa metpac Bat 
TporappLorrely. wal door pev av admravdes avTav 
i) oNurydrrardes dvTes d:adépwvrat, wal maids@v 
évexa, THY cuvoiknow tovicbar: boo. & ap 
ixavav byT@Y Taidwv, THs ovykaTaynpacens 
évera Kal émiperetas aNd OV thv diabevkiv Te 
Kal outevEw movetcOar xpewv. éav bé TeheuTg 
yuvn KaTaXeitrovca maidas Onrelas Te Kal dippe- 
vas, gupBovrevtixos dv ein vopos 6 TLOEuevos, 
ovK avaryKaaTKds, Tpepew TOUS ovTas maidas jn 
paTpuLap emaryopevov: pn Oe ovTay e& dvayKns 
yapeir, MéXpemrep av ixavods yevvnon maidas TO 


Cte olx@ Kat TH mONEL. iy be 0 avnp drobdun 


maidas ikavovs TOV, HTH TeV maisev 


1 kexpnuévous MSS. : kexpauévous MSS. marg., Zur. 





1 Op. 784 A ff, 794 B, 
444 

















RRERE—eEeEEE 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


advise him to bring an indictment, they shall act 
fer him, when he brings it, both as witnesses and 
advocates; and the father that is convicted shall 
thenceforward have no power to administer even the 
smallest tittle of his property, and shall be counted 
as a child in the house for the rest of his life. 

If a man and his wife, being of unhappy dis- 
positions, in no wise agree together, it is right 
that they should be under the constant control 
of ten members of the Board of Law-wardens, 
of middle age, together with ten of the women 
in e of marriage.! If these officials are able 
to bring about a reconciliation, this arrangement 
shall hold good; but if their passions rage too high 
for harmony, the officials shall, so far as possible, 
seek out other suitable unions for each of them. 
And since it is probable that such persons are not of 
a gentle disposition, they must endeavour to yoke 
with them dispositions that are more gentle and 
sedate.2 If those who quarrel are childless, or have 
but few children, they must form unions with a view 
to children; but if they have children enough, then 
the ebject both of the separation and of the new 
union should be to obtain companionship and mutual 
assistance in old age. If a man’s wife dies, leaving 
both male and female children, there shall be a law, 
advisory rather than compulsory, directing the 
husband to rear the children without introducing a 
step-mother; but if there be no children, the 
widower must of necessity marry, until he has 
begotten children sufficient alike for his household 
and the State. And if the husband dies, leaving 
sufficient children, the mother of the children shall 


2 Cp. 773.C. 
445 


PLATO 


avToo pévouca Tpepero vewrépa 8 av Son} Tow 
déovTos elvat Tpos To Shv av vytaivovoa dvay- 
dpos, of T™ poonKovTes mpos Tas Tov yapov emre- 
péXoupLevas yuvaixas Kotvovpevot TO SoKodv avTois 
Te Kal éxeivats wepl TOV ToLovTwY ToLOvYTwY" 
2\ A} 2 . , > ‘ of 

éav 6é évdeeis Téxvov Gow, Kal matdov évexa: 


D rraidmv éé ixavorns axpiBns appynv Kal Orfreva 


931 


ore TO vone. drav 6é opohoyijrar bev TO 
yevopevor eivau TOV TOLOUJLEVOY exyovon, dénrat 
bé Kpiaeas tive TO ryevun dev érecOau  Xpean, dovrAn 
wey éav ouppity SovrA@ 7 y) edevO Epo 7 7 aTrehevbepe, 
TAaVTOS Tob Seamdtou gat THs SovdANS 70 ryev- 
y@jevov' éav b€ Tis érevd épa SovrA@ ovyyiyyntat, 
Tob Seamrorou € éoTw TO yuyvopevov [roa Sovrou]: 8 
éav 8 é& avroo Sourns 7 H €K dovdou € éauTijs, Kal 
mepipaves TOOT ‘2, TO wey THS YUVvaeKos ai yuvaixes 
eis addnv @pav ExT EMTOVTOY oo T@ Tarp, TO 
8é rod avdpos ot vopopuhaxes ov TH yevenodey. 

Tovéwy dé dpenreiv ove Deas oure av0 pwrros voov 
éywv EvpuBovros morte yévour” av ovodels ovdevi. 
dpovijcar be xen Tepl Gedy Gepareias todvbe 
Tpooimoy a ay syevopevor, eis TAS TOV yevinoavr@v 
Times TE Kal aripias opbas TUVTET Ay MEVOV" Nopor 
mépl Beovs  dpxaion KeivTas Tapa Mast Sty). Tous 
wey yap Tov Oca opavTes capes TLMO[EV, Tov 6 
elxovas aydadd\pata idpyvcdmevot, ods huiv aydd- 
overt Kaltrep aiyous dvtas éxeivous Hyoupela 


1 ay H. Richards: aé MSS., edd. 
2 [rod S0vAov] wanting in best MSS., bracketed by England. 





1 The object of this rule dealing with irregular connexions 
between free citizens and slaves is to prevent any of slave 
descent acquiring rights of property in the State. 


446 














LAWS, BOOK XI 


remain there and rear them; but if it be deemed 
that she is unduly young to be able to live healthfully 
without a husband, the relatives shall report the case 
to the women in charge of marriage, and shall take 
such action as may seem good to them and to them- 
selves; and if there be a lack of children, they shall 
also act with a view to the supply of children; 
and the number which constitutes a bare sufficiency 
of children shall be fixed by the law at one of each 
sex. Whenever, in spite of agreement as to who a 
child’s parents are, a decision is required as to which 
parent the child should follow, the rule is this:+ in 
all cases where a slave-woman has been mated with 
a slave or with a free man or a freedman, the child 
shall belong to the slave-woman’s master; but if a 
free woman mates with a slave, the issue shall belong 
to the slave’s master; and if the child be a master’s 
by his own slave-woman, or a mistress’s by her own 
slave, and the facts of the case are quite clear, then 
the women officials shall send away the woman’s child, 
together with its father, to another country, and the 
Law-wardens shall send away the man’s child, 
together with its mother. 

Neglect of parents is a thing that no god nor 
any right-minded man would ever recommend to 
anyone; and one ought to recognize how fitly 
a prelude of the following kind, dealing with 
worship paid to the gods, would apply to the 
honours and dishonours paid to parents:—The 
ancient laws of all men concerning the gods are 
two-fold: some of the gods whom we honour we see 
clearly, but of others we set up statues as images, 
and we believe that when we worship these, lifeless 


? de. stars ; cp. 821 B. 
447 


PLATO 


Tods eunpixous Oeovs TrordHv Sia TadT’ edyotay 
ral yap exer, marnp ovv br@ Kal _BaTHp 7) 
TOUT@V marépes 7 pnrépes év oikia Keivrat Ket- 
pijreou ametpnKores ynpa, unoels SiavonOira TOTE 
dyaXpa avTo, ToLodTov epéoriov i pupa [év oixia]* 
éxov, HaXdov KUpLOV éceaOat, éav én KaTa TpoTrov 
ye OpOas avTo Oepamevn 0 0 KEKTNMEVOS. 
B KA. Tiva 61 THY opdornta elvar ppavers ; ; 

Ae. "Eyo ép@ Kal yap ovv satis @ dirot, 
aKkovew Ta YE 81) TolavTa. 

KA. Aéye povor. 

AO. Oisirrous, paper, dripaadels émevEaro 
Tots avuTod Téxvois & on kal was byvet Téd\ea Kal 
émijKoa yevéo Bar Tapa Ceay, Apuivtopa Te Poiviee 
T® €avTov emapdcacbat marbl Oupwbevra Kal 
‘Inmonvre Oncea Kal érépous adXots pupious 
pupios, Ov ryéyove capes érnkoous civat yovebar 

C pos téxva Oeovs apaios yap yoveds exryovors @S 
ovoels Erepos arrots, Sixatorata. pI) én Ts 
aripalopevep pev Siadepovtws Tratpt ™ pos maid@y 
Kal pntpl deov €mr }K OV evyais yyeiaOo yiyver Bar 
Kata vow Tema pevep dé dpa Kal meptxapet 
chodpa yevouer, Kal dua Ta To.avTa evyais 
AuTrapas els ayaba Tois Tact TapaxadodvTos 
Geovs, ovK apa Ta TOLADTA GKOVELY ef lou Kab 
véwewy nmi avTovs Hrynoopeba ; aX’ ovK av OTE 
Sixasor vopeis elev ayabav, 6 8) dapev ijxicra 

D Oeois eivas tpérov. 


' [ev oixtz] bracketed by Cobet, England. 





1 Cp. Aesch. Sept. c. Theb. 709 ff.; Soph. 0. C. 1432 ff. 
2 Cp. Hom. J/. 1X. 446 ff. : Phoenix, to avenge his neglected 
mother, seduced his father’s mistress. 


448 











LAWS, BOOK XI 


though they be, the living gods beyond feel great 
good-will towards us and gratitude. So if any man 
has a father or a mother, or one of their fathers or 
mothers, in his house laid up bed-ridden with age, 
let him never suppose that, while he has such a figure 
as this upon his hearth, any statue could be more 
potent, if so be that its owner tends it duly and 
rightly. 

cin. And what do you say is the right way? 

atH. I will tell you: for in truth, my friends, 
matters of this sort deserve a hearing. 

cin. Say on. 

ata. Oecedipus, when he was dishonoured (so our 
story runs), invoked upon his children curses ! which, 
as all men allege, were granted by Heaven and 
fulfilled; and we tell how Amyntor in his wrath 
cursed his son Phoenix,2 and Theseus cursed 
Hippolytus,? and countless other parents cursed 
countless other sons, which curses of parents upon 
sons it is clearly proved that the gods grant; for a 
parent's curse laid upon his children is more potent 
than any other man’s curse against any other, and 
most justly so. Let no man suppose, then, that when 
a father ora mother is dishonoured by the children, in 
that case it is natural for God to hearken especially 
to their prayers, whereas when the parent is honoured 
and is highly pleased and earnestly prays the gods, 
in consequence, to bless his children—are we not to 
suppose that they hearken equally to prayers of this 
kind, and grant them to us? For if not, they could 
never be just dispensers of blessings; and that, as 
we assert, would be most unbecoming in gods. 

3 Cp. 687 E, Eur. Hipp. 884 ff.: Hippolytus was falsely 
charged with dishonouring his step-mother, Phaedra. 

449 
VOL. I. GG 


PLATO 


KA. IloAw ye. 

Ae. Ovxody SiavonOdpev 5 owKp@ ™ poTEpov 
elropev, @s ovdéev mpos Gedy TLMLL@TEPOV ayarw 
av etnoaipeba maT pos Kab mpomdropos Trapet- 
pévav ynpa Kal pntépav THY aurhy Sdvapuv 
éxovo av, obs érav dyad) TLS Thais, yéynbev o 
Geds: ov yap ay em Koos Ww avtav. Bavpacrov 
yap 6 mov TO Tpoyovev ‘pupa nyiv éoti, 

E Sad epovras TOV ayuxov’ Ta ev yap Geparrevd- 
peva bp HUOV, Ooa eupuxa, Euvev eTaL éxac- 
ToTE, Kal aripalopeva Tavavtia, Ta 0 ovdéTepa, 
a@ote av opbas Tis Xpitar matpl Kal mpomaropt 
Kal Tao Tols ToLoVTOLS, TavTwY Tpos Oeodidh 
poipay Kupt@TaTa ayahpdtwv dy KeKTHTO. 

KA. KddAdorT ites. 

ao. Ilas 8%) vodv éxav hoBeirar nal Tia 
yovéwy evyas, eiO@s TONS Kal TOAAaKIS ETI- 
TerEis yevopévas. TovT@Y ody otTw dice Sia- 
TETAYMEVOY ToS mev ayadois Epmavov T poryovor 

932 ynpatot, fdvres meypt TOV éoxatov tou Biov, Kal 
am.ovres [véor|* opddpa moGewwol, Tots dé Kaxois 
ev para poBepot. _ was 6 TiwaT@o Tacals Tipais 
tais evvopors Tovs aitod yevvjtopas tois vov 
meta Geis Adyors® el 5’ ovy Twa KAaTEXOL pen 
Kcwpov® Tav TOLOUTOY Tpoorwiey, v6 0S d6¢ emt 
TovToLS opbas Keiwevos av én: ‘Eav TUS eV THOE 
TH ToAEL yovéwy apedéaTepov eExXn TOD déovTos, 


1 [véoi] bracketed by W.-Millendorff: amdvres véos 
Winckelmann, Zur. 
2 xwpdv England : nap) MSS. 





1 Op. 931 A. 
45° 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


cLix. Most, indeed. 
_aTH, Let us maintain, then,—as we said a 
moment ago—that in the eyes of the gods we can 
no image more worthy of honour than a 
father or forefather laid up with old age, or a mother 
in the same condition; whom when a man worships 
bay of honour, God is well pleased, for other- 
ae would not grant their prayers. For the 
cia which is an ancestor is marvellous in our eyes, 
far beyond that which is a lifeless thing ; for while 
those which are alive pray for us when tended by us 
and pray against us when dishonoured, the lifeless 
images do neither; so that if a man rightly treats 
his father and Snelling and all such ancestors, he 
will possess images potent above all others to win for 

him a heaven-blest lot 

cin. Most excellent! 

atu. Every right-minded man fears and respects 
the prayers of parents, knowing that many times 
and in many cases they have proved effective. And 
since this is the ordinance of nature, to good men 
aged forefathers are a heavenly treasure while they 
live, up to the very last hours of life, and when they 
depart they are sorely regretted; but to the bad 
they are truly fearsome. Therefore let every man, 
in obedience to these counsels, honour his own 
parents with all the due legal honours. If, however, 
“report convicts” * any of deafness to such preludes, 
the following law will be enacted rightly to deal 
with them :—If any person in this State be unduly 
neglectful of his parents,’ and fail to consider them 
a Alluding to Pindar’s phrase (Ol. 7. 18) 6 ¥ GABios by Papas 


xaréxovtT ayabel. Cp. Eur. Hipp. 1466. 
% Cp. 717 D, 881 D. 


PLATO 


B «al wu Tov vidwv Kal TavT@v TOY éxyovav avTod 
Kat éavTov pelovers els Gtravta’ emeTpeTov Kal 
arom pav Hh TAs Boudyeets, eFaryyeddeTo pep 
0 Taoxov TL ToLodrop, elite autos elite Tuva 
TELTOV, TPOS Tpeis pep Tay vopopudaKov TOUS 
mpeaButarovs, Tpeis o ai TOV TEpl yamous 
ryUValK@V err pe oupewev: oi & émipehetaOocar, 
KoAalovTes ToOvs adLtKOovYTAS Vvéous pev OVTAaS ETL 
mArnyais Kal Secpois, méexpurep av érav avdpes 

C pev TuyXdvaow ovTeEs TpLdKovTa, ryuvaines 6é 
déxa Treloow erect coratécbwoay tais avtais 
KoAdcecw. éay 5 Toppwtépw TovTwY TaV 
éTav bvTEs TOV av’TOV aperer@v Trepl yovéas ju?) 
agiotavrat, KaKdor bé Tivds TWES, eis dukact- 
pov elo ayovTov avrovs eis &va Kal éxaov » 
TOV TOMTOY, oltives av dot mpeaBvtaror amdv- 
ToD" av dé Tes dpry, TepaTeO TO SuxaotHpLov 6 Te 
xp?) rivew n mdoxew, dm oppnrov pn dev Trovov- 
pevot bdc@v Svvatos avOpwros mdoxew i) Tivew. 

D éav 8€ TUS aduvath KaKovpevos ppatew, 0 0 mv00o- 
PEvOS TOV érevdépav éEayyehrerw Tois dpxYouow 
7) KaKos €oT@ Kal UmrodiKos TO eOedovre BraBrs. 
éay dé SodXos eavion, érevOepos éoT@, Kal éay 
wey TOV KAKOUVTO@V a KAKOULEV OY Sobdos, vd 
Tis apxiis apetaba, é éay 5é Teves dddou TOV TONL- 
TOV, TO ONMOctov U bmep avTOD TLL TO KEKTNMEVD i 
KkataBadréTw Tols apyovar dé émupedes Ecta 
pn TLS GOLK TOY TOLOUTOY TLuMpovpEvOS TIS 
pnvicews eveca. 

E “Oca tis dddos GXOV Thuaiver Pappdxois, 
Ta pev Oavdotpa aitav Sieipntat, Tov & dddr\@v 

1 éxatdy Bekker, most edd. : éxaerov MSS., Zur. 
452 





_———— 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


in all things more than his sons or any of his 
offspring, or even himself, and to fulfil their wishes, 
let the parent who suffers any such neglect report 
it, either in person or by a messenger, to the three 
eldest Law-wardens, and to three of the women in 
charge of marriage ; and these shall take the matter 
in hand, and shall punish the wrongdoers with stripes 
and imprisonment if they are still young—up to the 
age of thirty if they are men, while if they are women 
they shall suffer similar punishment up to the age of 
forty. And if, when they have passed these limits 
of age, they do not desist from the same acts of 
neglect towards their parents, but in some cases 
maltreat them, they shall be summoned before a 
court of 101 citizens, who shall be the oldest citizens 
of all; and if a man be convicted, the court shall 
assess what his fine or punishment must be, regarding 
no penalty as excluded which man can suffer or pay. 
If any parent when maltreated is unable to report 
the fact, that free man who hears of it shall inform 
the magistrate, failing which he shall be esteemed 
base, and shall be liable to an action for damage at 
the hands of anyone who chooses. If a slave gives 
information he shall be set free: he shall be set free 
by the Board of Magistrates if he be a slave of either 
the injured party or the injurers; but if he belong 
to any other citizen, the State Treasury shall pay 
his owner a price for him; and the magistrates shall 
take care that no one does injury to such a man in 
revenge for his giving information. 

We have already 1 dealt fully with cases where one 
man injures another by poisons so that death is the 


2 869 E ff 
453 


PLATO 


Tept Brarpewr, elite Tis Apa Toepacw Kal 
Spopacww 7) adeippaciw éxwov €k mpovoias 
THpaivet, TOUT@Y OvOEV 7 _SteppyOn. dutTal 
yap 6 pappaxeiar Kara TO Tov avOpoTav 
odoat yevos étiaXouot Ty Sud ppnow. iy pev 
933 yap Ta viv Siappndnv el Tope, copact coOuata 
Kakoupyovod éott Kata dvow: addAn 6é 7) 
paryyavelats TE TLOL Kal em pbais kal KaTadécect 
Aeyouevars meiOer TOUS pev TOAM@VTAS Brartew 
avTous, @s <évt@s>* duvavtat TO TOLOUTOV, TOUS 
& ws mavros paddov bd TovTev Svvapyévov 
yonTevew Brarrovrat. TavT ov Kal areph Ta 
Tovatra Evuravra ouTe padtov Sirws mote mepune 
yeyvooxery, ovt el TU yon, welOew evmerées 
érépous. Tals dé Wuyais tTav avOpoTev dvco- 
B moupévats Tpos aXAnAOUS mrepl Ta ToladTa ovK 
a&vov érixetpety [retOew] *, av more dpa (Soot mov 
Knpwa pupnpara Teac peva, ctr’ él Ovpais el’ 
érri Tprodois el’ éml pvnpact yovewy avtov Twés, 
oAuy@ petv mavTOV TOV TOLOUT@V diaxehever Oar 
pn cages Exot Soypa Tept avTav. diada- 
Bovras dé Suyy Tov THs pappaxeias ™épt vouor, 
oTroTEépws ay tls emixerph papyatrery, Tp@rov 
pev detcOar Kal Tmapawweiv Kal cumBovrever uy 
C Oeiv € émuxerpetv TOLODTO Spay. pnde KaQatep Taidas 
TovUs ToAXOvS Tov avd potrev Secparobyras * 
poBeiv, pnd avd Tov vowoberny Te Kal Tov b«- 
KaoThy avayKatew evar Oat TOV avOparov TOUS 
Toovtovs PoSovs, ws mpaTov pev TOV émtyxel- 
1 <évtws> I add. 


@ [rel0ew] I bracket (ctv for &v Schramm). 
3 Seuaroovras England: dematvovras MSS. 


454 


—————— ee 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


result; but we have not as yet dealt fully with any 
of the minor cases in which wilful and deliberate 
injury is caused by means of potions, foods, and 
unguents. A division in our treatment of poisoning 
cases is required by the fact that, following the 
nature of mankind, they are of two distinct types. 
The type that we have now expressly mentioned is 
that in which injury is done to bodies by bodies 
according to nature’s laws. Distinct from this is 
the type which, by means of sorceries and incanta- 
tions and spells (as they are called), not only con- 
vinces those who attempt to cause injury that they 
really can do so, but convinces also their victims 
that they certainly are being injured by those who 
possess the power of bewitchment. In respect of 
all such matters it is neither easy to perceive what 
is the real truth, nor, if one does perceive it, is it 
easy to convince others, And it is futile to approach 
the souls of men who view one another with dark 
suspicion if they happen to see images of moulded 
wax at doorways, or at points where three ways 
meet, or it may be at the tomb of some ancestor, 
to bid them make light of all such portents, when 
we ourselves hold no clear opinion concerning them. 
Consequently, we shall divide the law about poison- 
ing under two heads, according to the modes in 
which the attempt is made ;? and, as a preliminary, 
we shall entreat, exhort, and advise that no one 
must attempt to commit such an act, or to frighten 
the mass of men, like children, with bogeys, and so 
compel the legislator and the judge to cure men of 
such fears, inasmuch as, first, the man who attempts 


1 i.e. attacking body or mind. 
455 


PLATO 


podvta dapparrery ovK eidora Th i Spa, Ta Te KaTa 
TOpaTa, éav py Tuy avy eT Lar MOV av iatpxis, 
ra Te av Tept Ta payyavetpara, éay 1) pares 
7 TEpaTooKOTros ap Tuy avy. AeyéoIon 87) Aayos 
D dd v6 }L0$ mept pappaxetas: * ‘Os ay pappaxevy 
Tia em BdaBy pa) Oavacipo pre avrou pare 
avOpor wy TOV exkeiVvou, Booknpdreov dé 7) oUNVOY, 
ett <én >t aXXN BraBy eit ovv Cavacipe, av pev 
iaTpos @v TuyXavyn Kal oprAn Sixnv pappanor, 
Gavato@ Enpusovobo, éav 6€ idu@Tns,. o TF xen 
mabe %) amorivew, tydt@ mept adTod Td 6b1- 
KaoTnpiov. éav 5é KaTadéceoiy 7) eTaywyais 7 
Tow émr@dais 7) TaY ToLoOvTwY [pappaKxeror] o- 
E rwiodyv? d0&n Gpotos elvac BrAaTovTL, éay pev 
pavris ov a TEpaTooKoTros, TeOvaTo, éay 6 dvev 
pavTtkis, 0 av tis 8 pappaxeias pda, TaUTOV Kat 
TOUT@ yryverOo reph yap ab Kal TovTOU Tiare 
TO Sixactipiov 6 6 Tt av avtois deity adrov d0kn 

mdoxew DF drrorivew. 
“Oca tis ay Erepos adov TENYY Khem Tov 
} Biafopevos, av pev peifm, petCova Thy Extiow 
TO mpavbevre TWWETO, éXaTT@ be Snpwcas 
opLKpoTépay, Tapa mavTa dé TooauTAY rina 
av éxda Tore Enpioon tis Twa, péxpiTrep av 
idontat To BraBev. Sdixny bé Exactos [pos] * 
éxaoT@ TO Kakoupynwate cwppoviaTvos évena 
934 Evveropéy nv TporentiaaTo, 0 pay avoig KaKoup- 
yncas: adrortpia, wePoi dia veoTnTa 7 Tt TowobToy 
xX PNT apMEVOS, éragporépar, 0 6€ dia oixeiav 

1 én’) I add, 


2 [papuakeray] ticity Hermann: gapyaxeiav aytivwvoty 
MSS. 


456 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


poisoning knows not what he is doing either in 
see to bodies (unless he be a medical expert) 
or in respect of sorceries (unless he be a prophet or 
diviner). So this statement shall stand as the law 
about poisoning :—Whosoever shall poison any person 


so as to cause an injury not fatal either to the person | 
himself or to his employes, or so as to cause an injury | 
fatal or not fatal to his flocks or to his hives,—if the | 
agent be a doctor, and if he be convicted of poison- | 


ing, he shall be punished by death; but if he be a 
lay person, the court shall assess in his case what he 
shall suffer or pay. And if it be held that a man is 
acting like an injurer by the use of spells, incanta- 
tions, or any such mode of poisoning, if he be a 
prophet or diviner, he shall be put to death; but if 
he be ignorant of the prophetic art, he shall be dealt 
with in the same way as a layman convicted of 

»—that is to say, the court shall assess in 
his case also what shall seem to them right for him 
to suffer or pay. 

In all cases where one man causes damage to 
another by acts of robbery! or violence, if the 
damage be great, he shall pay a large sum as com- 
pensation to the damaged party, and a small sum 
if the damage be small; and as a general rule, every 
man shall in every case pay a sum equal to the 
damage done, until the loss is made good ; and, in 
addition to this, every man shall pay the penalty 
which is attached to his crime by way of corrective. 
The penalty shall be lighter in the case of one who 


. 1 Op. 857 Aff. 





26 &y t1s Hermann: dv tHs MSS. 
* [xpbs] bracketed by Stephens (pds éxdory by England). 


457 


PLATO 


avowav %) ov dupdrévay nOovav % AUTa@V, év 
poBows Seirois! 7 Tio émOupiats 7) pOovors 
7) Oupots dvovatois yuyvopevos, _Baputépar, ovx 
evexa Too KaKoupyioat 5:d0vs TI Sixny, ov yap 
TO yeyoves ayévntov éorat more, Tov © éis Tov 
aves evera xpovov TO _Taparray piaToa THY 
adixiav avroy TE Kal TOUS iOovTas avTov Steat- 
Ovpevor, 1) Awpijoat pépn TONG TIS ToLWavTNS 
Evupopas. @y 1 TavT@Y evena n Kal mpos 
maura Ta ToLadTa BXETrOVYTAs TOUS VOMOUS Toforou 
un Kaxod ctoydatecOau Sixny Tod TE weyeOous THs 
KONA EWS ExaoTaV évexa Kal TaVTEA@s THS a&las. 
tavtov © épyov Spavra EvvuTnpetety dei TO 
vopobéry TOV Sica rir, éTay auT@ Tls vomos 
émetpemy Temay 6 TL YpH TaoxXeW TOV Kpivopevov 
i) amorivew" TOV bé, xabarep Swypador, dmoypa- 
pew épya émopeva Th ypadh. 0 én kal viv, @ 
Méyidre kal KrXeuvia, TounTeov piv OTL KaXdora 
Kal apiora TOV Khorratov Te Kal Biaiwy TavTev 
Tas Enpias Aeyouevas olas det yiyver Par, NexTéor, 
dtws av huiv twapeixwot Oeoi Kai Cedv taides 
vouobereiy. 

Mawopevos | dé av Tis 9, Hay dpavepos éoT@ 
Kara OAL" Ob TpoonKovtes eS éxdoTov Kata TAS 
oixias pudarrovT@y avTous, orp av emia t@vTar 
TPOT®, 7) 7) Snwiav EKTLVOUTOY, o HEV TOU peyiaTou 
Timm MATOS éxaTov dpaxpas, € éav T ovv dobXov €av 
T ovv Kal €devOepov Treptopa, SevTépou Sé TyuuaTos 


1 Se:Adors Winckelmann : deAlas (al. dewas) MSS. 





1 Cp. 862 D ff. 
458 








LAWS, BOOK XI 


- has done wrong owing to another’s folly—the wrong- 
doer being over-persuaded because of his youth or 
for some such reason; and it shall be heavier when 
the man has done wrong owing to his own folly, 
because of his incontinence in respect of pleasures 
and pains and the overpowering influence of craven 
fears or of incurable desires, envies and rages. And 
he shall pay the penalty, not because of the wrong- 
doing,— for what is done can never be undone,— 
but in order that for the future both he himself and 
those who behold his punishment may either utterly 
loathe his sin or at least renounce! toa great extent 
such lamentable conduct. For all these reasons and 
with a view to all these objects, the law, like a good 
archer, must aim in each case at the amount of the 
punishment, and above all at its fitting amount; and 
the judge must assist the lawgiver in carrying out 
this same task, whenever the law entrusts to him 
the assessment of what the defendant is to suffer or 
pay, while the lawgiver, like a draughtsman, must 
give a sketch in outline of cases which illustrate the 
rules of the written code. And that, O Megillus 
and Clinias, is the task which we must now execute 
as fairly and well as we can: we must state what 
penalties should be ordained for all cases of robbery 
and violence, in so far as the gods and sons of gods 
may suffer us to ordain them by law. 

If any be a madman, he shall not appear openly in 
the city; the relatives of such persons shall keep 
them indoors, employing whatever means they know 
of, or else they shall pay a penalty ; a person belong- 
ing to the highest property-class shall pay a hundred 
drachmae, whether the man he is neglecting be 
a free man or a slave,—one belonging to the second 


459 


E 


935 


PLATO 


TérTapa HEpn TS pas Tov TevTe, Tpia 8 6 
tpitos, kal dv0 oO TETAPTOS. paivovtat pep ouv 
Tool moAovs TpoTrous, ods pev vov _ elroper, 
vo vorwy, etal dé ot bua Oupod Kany pvow, 
dpa kal Tpopny yevouevnv: ot 67 opLKpas exOpas 
yevouevns TroAAnv pov i tevres KAKOS aX ous 
Brac dnpodrres Aéyouow, ov Tpémov év evvop@ 
TOnEL yiyver Par ToLoorov ovdey oveapy ovdapas, 
els 67 rept Kaxnyopias éoTw VOMOS Tept TavTas 
Ode" Mnéeva KakyyopelT@ pndeis: o 6é€ appro Bn- 
Tov &v TLOt Aoyous addros GAO ddacKéTo Kal 
pavOavérm Tov TE adic Bnrobyta Kal Tous 
TapovTas ameXomEevos TavT@sS Tod KaKNyopetV. 
éx yap ToD KaTevxyecOai Te AAAHAOLS ETapwpéevoUS 
Kat Ou aicXpav ovomatav éemipépery yuvatkeiovs 
éavtois Pnpuas, 7 prov prev éx rOYwv, Kovdov 
Tparyparos, epye pion Te Kal EXO pas Bapvratat 
yiyvorrat Tpaypare yap axaplore, Oun@, Xapt- 
Comevos 6 Aéyoor, éumimdas opyiy KaKOV éoTia- 
aTov, Goov vTO Tradelas HuEepwOn ToTe, TAAL 
eEaypiav THs Wuxns TO ToLodTOV, Onprovpevos €v 
dvoxoria Cav yiyvetat, TiKpav Tob Ovpov yapwv 
drod_exopevos.. petexBaivery dé av Tos ei@0act 
mavres Baya ev Tois TOLOUTOLS els TO TL yeXotov 
mept Tod évavTiou pOeyyer Pau 6 Ts eOeSopevos 
ovdels TOTOTE os ov TOD arrovdaiou Tporou TOL 
TO mapamav Sujpaprev 7 peyarovotas an@hece 
Mépn ToAAd. wv dn Yap év pev iep@ TO Tapa- 
Tav pn bets TOLODTOV POeyEnrat pndétrore pn dev 
pnd év Ture dnuoreheat Ovotats, pnd av év 
GOrots pS ev ayopa pnd év dixacrnpio pnd év 


460 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


class shall pay four-fifths of a mina—one of the 
third class, three-fifths,—and one of the fourth class, 
two-fifths, There are many and various forms of 
madness: in the cases now mentioned it is caused 
by disease, but cases also occur where it is due to 
the natural growth and fostering of an evil temper, 
by which men in the course of a trifling quarrel 
abuse one another slanderously with loud cries—a 
thing which is unseemly and totally out of place in 
a well-regulated State. Concerning abuse there shall 
be this one law to cover all cases:—No one shall 
abuse anyone. If one is disputing with another in 
argument, he shall either speak or listen, and he 
shall wholly refrain from abusing either the dis- 
putant or the bystanders. For from those light 
things, words, there spring in deed things most 
heavy to bear, even hatreds and feuds, when men 
begin by cursing one another and foully abusing one 
another in the manner of fish-wives; and the man 
who utters such words is gratifying a thing most 
ungracious and sating his passion with foul foods, 
and by thus brutalizing afresh that part of his soul 
which once was humanized by education, he makes 
a wild beast of himself through his rancorous life, 
and wins only gall for gratitude from his passion. 
In such disputes all men are commonly wont to 
proceed to indulge in ridicule of their opponent; 
but everyone who has ever yet indulged in this 
practice has either failed to achieve a virtuous dis- 
position, or else has lost in great measure his former 
high-mindedness. No man, therefore, shall ever in 
any wise utter such words in any holy place or at 
any public sacrifice or public games, or in the market 
or the court or any public assembly; in every such 


461 


PLATO 


EvArXgoy@ Kow@ pndevi: Koralétw 5é 0 TovTwY 
apxeov &xactos? [avari],? ) undéror apioteiwv 

C mépu pidoverenoy, Yo Weov os ov xn Odmevos ovde 
TOL@V Ta mpootaxévra t vmod TOD vopobérov. ea 
6é Tis €v adXoLs TOTOLS ovopias a apxov i amu- 
VOMEVOS oo tucoby a) am@éyntar Tov TaLoUTM@Y 
Aoyov, 0 TpoaTuyXavov TpeaBurepos av TO 
vou ayuveTo, myyais éEeipyou TOUS dupe 
éraipy * KaK@ ptdoppovoupévous, %) evexéaOw TH 
TETAY LEVY Cnpia. 

Aéyouev 67) Ta viv ws oO Aotdopiass cupTrEKd- 
MEvOS avev tov yedowa Snretv éyerv ov duvaros 
éore xphoba, Kal TOUTO Aawopobper, omoTay 

D dupe yey opevov ne Th be bn 5 3 THY TOV Kopedav 
mpo0upiav Tod yeXola eis Tos avOpw@rous éyeLv 
y mapadex oueba, éav avev vod To ToLodTOY Hiv 
TOUS TONITAS emixelpOoe xoppoodvres eye, i) 
diaraBopev dixa TO maivew Kal pn, Kal maiCovtt 
bev e&éoT@ Tvl Trepl TOV AéyeLv yeXotov avev Gujod, 

E ouprerapeve 8é Kal peta Oupod, Kabdmep elroper, 
a) éfeaTo pndevi ; TobTo pev ovy ovdauas ava- 
Geréov, @ @ 8 é&éotw Kal PIs TOUTO vopobernaapeba. 
TOLNTH ey Kap@dias 7 7) TLVvos iduBov y Movoay 
pedwdias HH) eFeaTw pnTe AOYH MITE eiKOVL LTE 
Ouu@ MHTE avev Oupob pnoapas pndéva TOV TOAL- 
TOV Koppoeiv: € éay b€ Tes _arewh, TOUS arobéras 

936 é&eipyeuv ex THs Y@pas TO Tapatray avOnpepor, 4) 

1 éxarros MSS. : €xacrov Zur., vulg. 

* [avarl] wanting in best MSS. (added in marg.), and 
bracketed by England. ~ 

3 éralpw England : érépp MSS. 

1 Cp. Rep. 394 ff., 606 ff. 2 Cp. Phileb. 49 E ff. 
462 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


ease the magistrate concerned shall punish the 
offender; or, if he fail to do so, he shall be dis- 
qualified for any public distinction because of his 
neglect of the laws and his failure to execute the 
injunctions of the lawgiver. And if in other places 
a man abstains not from such language—whether he 
be the aggressor or acting in self-defenee—whoso- 
ever meets with him, if he be an older man, shall 
vindicate the law by driving off with stripes the 
‘men who pamper passion, that evil comrade; or, if 
he fail to do so, he shall be liable to the appointed 
penalty. 

We are now asserting that a man who is gripped by 
the habit of abuse cannot avoid trying to indulge in 
ridicule; and this is a thing we abuse when it is 
uttered in passion. Whatthen? Are we to counte- 
nance the readiness to ridicule people which is 
shown by comic writers,} provided that in their 
comedies they employ this sort of language about 
the citizens without any show of passion? Or shall 
we divide ridicule under the two heads of jest and 
earnest, and allow anyone to ridicule any other in 
jest and without passion,? but forbid anyone (as we 
have already said) to do so in real earnest and with 
passion? We must by no means go back on what 
we said; but we must determine by law who is to_ 
be granted this permission, and who refused. A 
composer of a comedy or of any iambic or lyrie song 
shall be strictly forbidden to ridicule any of the 
citizens either by word or by mimicry,? whether with 
or without passion; and if anyone disobeys, the 
Presidents of the Games shall on the same day 
banish him wholly from the country, failing which 


2 Cp. Ar. Eth. N. 1128* 204. ; Pol. 1336> 2ff. 
463 


B 


C 


PLATO 


Enpobo bar uvais Tptoly iepais Tov Oeovd ov av 
0 ayov 7. ols & elpytas mporepov efovciar eivar 
[wept tod]+ sroveiy eis adXArjAOUS, ToOvTOLS dvEv 
vou ev peta Tradias é&datw, orrovdn Sé apa 
Kat QOupmovpévoict py éféorw. tTovtov 6) 6id- 
yoo emcretpapbe 7 Tis mawevaews ods 
eTLMEANTH TOY vewr, Kal 0 ev ay ovTos eyeplvn, 
mpopépe eis TO pécov é&éotw TO ToincavTt, 6 
& dy awoxpivyn, wnte avtos ériderxvicOm pnoevi 
pante adXov SodrAov pnde? erXevVHepov Tote havy 
diddEas, 7) Kakds elvar SokakécOw Kai amevbis 
Tots vomols. 

Oinrpos 8 ovdx 6 TeWOv i TL Tovobro maa wD, 
adn’ o owd povav H Twa dpeTny 7) sépos eXav 
TAUTNS, av TWA Euppopav T pos: ToUTOLS KEKTHTAL, 
610 Oavpactov av yévorto el tis Ov ToLOdTOS 
awernOein TO Tapdtav, dot eis TTwWYXELaY THY 
eoxarny én et, dodXos ) Kal édevdepos, év 
oixoupery Kal peTpios moneTela Te Kal TONEL. 
b10 TO vopobéry Peivar vopov dopants TOLOUTOLS 
roudvde tiv" IItaxos pndels Hpiv év 7H TONEL 
yeyvér Ban ToLovTov oS a ts emixelpy dpav, 
evxais Biov avnvurors Evdreyopevos, éx ev 


; dryopas ayopavepot eferpyovT@y avror, &K dé Tod 


GaoTEOS 7) THY doTuvop@y apy, aypovepor dé éx 
Tis adhys N@pas eis THD Umepopiay € EKTTELTOVTOV, 
Srres a xepa Tov ToLovTov Cwov Kabapa yiryvnrat 
TO TapaTay. 


1 [wep) tod] bracketed tha Ast (mepi 1 rov Burnet), 
2 unde Bekker: pare MSS 





1 Cp. 816 E, 8290, D. 
464 


i erie 


PER. PY OT ei 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


they shall be fined three minas, dedicated to the 
god whose festival is being held. Those to whom 
permission has been given, as we previously said, 
to write songs about one another shall be allowed 
to ridicule others in jest and without passion ; but 
they, shall not be allowed to do so with passion and 
in earnest.. The task of making this distinction 
shall be entrusted to the minister in charge of the 
general education of the young: whatever he shall 
approve, the composer shall be allowed to produce 
in public, but whatever he shall disapprove, the 
composer shall be forbidden either personally to 
exhibit to anyone or to be found teaching to any 
other person, free man or slave; and if he does so, 
he shall be held to be a base man and disobedient 
to the laws. 

The man who suffers from hunger or the like 
is not the man who deserves pity, but he who, 
while possessing temperance or virtue of some sort, 
or a share thereof, gains in addition evil fortune ; 
wherefore it would be a strange thing indeed if, 
in a polity and State that is even moderately 
well organised, a man of this kind (be he slave 
or free man) should be so entirely neglected as to 
come to utter beggary. Wherefore the lawgiver 
will be safe in enacting for such cases some such 
law as this:—There shall be no beggar in our State; 
and if anyone attempts to beg, and to collect a live- 
lihood by ceaseless prayers, the market-stewards 
shall expel him from the market, and the Board of 
city-stewards from the city, and from any other 
district he shall be driven across the border by the 
country-stewards, to the end that the land may be 
wholly purged of such a creature. 

465 


VOL. IL. 


PLATO 


Aodros & ay 7) SovrAn Bray TOV adroTpiov 
D kai otiobv pH Evvattiov tod BraBévtos avTov 
yevouévov Kat ateipiay 4 TL’ éTépay xXpelayv py 
, © n , , x \ 
awoppova, o Tov PradwWavtos Seamotns H THY 
BraBnv éEvdcOw pt evdeds 7) Tov BAdvavT’ adTov 
Tapadota: éav & émavtimpevos 0 SeotroTns KOLA) 
ToD Brdwavtos téyvn Kal tod BraBévtos éx’ 
atrootepnaet pH Tod SovAOU yeyovevar THY aitiap, 
SiabdixatéicOwm pév KaKoTtexuiav TO ddogKovTt 
BraBjvat, cai éav dy, diumraciav ths akias Tov 
SovrAov KomilécOw is av tiunon TO SixacTHpLOY, 
E éay dé hr7nOH, thy Te BrYABnv e&tdcOw Kai Tov 
dodAov Tapadota. Kal édav brroliytov } tarmos 7 
KUV@V 7 TL TOV GAAoV Opeupatwy civyntal TL TaV 
/ \ > Ss é NV / 
mTéXas, KaTa TaUTa extivey THY BAABnD. 
"Edy tis éx@v pn 'Oédyn paptupeiv, TpoKkaneio- 
6 1 \ Py ‘ € be x 0 \ > / 
att rov Seopevov, 6 € mpoxrAnbels atavtata 
\ \ / \ >\ \ lon \ > / 
mpos THY diKny, Kal éav pev eid7n Kal eOéXyn pwapTv- 
peiv, paptupeita, éay Oe cidévar yr 7H, Tos Tpets 
Oeodvs Ala cal’ ArodXova Kal Béuw aropocas 7 
937 pny py eidévar atadraTTécOw Ths Sikns. 0 O 
eis waptupiay KAnOeis, un aTavTa@y dé TO KadEca- 
peeve, THs BrAaBys vrddiKas Ectw KaTa voor, 
éay 5€ tis twa Suxalovta advaotnontat paptupa, 
paptupnoas py SiayndilécOw rept tavTns Ths 
dixns. yuvaixl & ebéotw édXevOépa paptupeiv Kal 
cuvnyopely, éav dTrép TeTTApaKovTa ETH H yeyouuia, 


1 mpoxadrcio bar Cobet : xpockadeiobat MSS. 
466 


ed. ro Re oo 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


Ifa slave, male or female, do any injury to another 
man’s goods, when the injured man himself has had 
no share in causing the injury through his own 
clumsy or careless handling, then the master of him 
that has done the injury shall fully make good the 
damage, or else shall hand over the person of the 
injurer: but if the master brings a charge affirming 
that the claim is made in order to rob him of his 
slave by a privy agreement between the injurer and 
the injured party, then he shall prosecute the man 
who claims that he has been injured on the charge 
of conspiracy; and if he wins his case, he shall 
receive double the price at which the court shall 
assess the slave, but if he loses he shall not only 
make good the damage, but he shall also hand over 
the slave. And if it be a mule or horse or dog 
or any other animal that causes damage to any 
property belonging to a neighbour, its master shall 
in like manner pay compensation. 

If anyone is unwilling to act as witness, the man 
who requires his evidence shall summon him, and 
the man so summoned shall attend the trial, and if 
he knows the facts and is willing to give evidence, 
he shall give it; but in case he denies knowledge, he 
shall take an oath by the three gods, Zeus, Apollo, 
and Themis, that of a truth he has no knowledge, 
and this done, he shall be dismissed from the suit. 
And if a man summoned as witness does not attend 
with his summoner, he shall be legally liable to be 
sued for damages. And if one of the judges be 
summoned as a witness, he shall not vote at the trial 
after giving evidence. A free woman, if she be over 
forty years old, shall be allowed to give evidence 
and to support a plea, and if she have no husband, 


467 
HH 2 


PLATO 


kal dicnvy Nayxave, éav avavdpos 4° Cavros 5é 
> X Ios a , 4 ‘ Lid N 
avepos éFéoTtw waptupjca: povov. Sdovryn bé Kal 
SovA@ Kai radi dovov povoy é&éotw paptupeiv 
kal auvnyopeiv, dav éyyunthy a€ioypeav Wf pay 
a La / , > > r 
pevelv KaTaoTHoNn méxpt Sins, éav erveknpOH ta 
Yevd) paptupjcat. émicxnntec0a 66 Toy ayti- 
Sixav éxatepov 6An TH waptupia Kal pépel, eav Ta 
Wevdh bf Tia pepaptupynKévar, mpl thy Sixny 
SiaxexpicOar' tas 8 émioky es tas apyas 
guraTTew KaTaceonpacuévas vr ayo, cal 
Tapéxyew eis Thy TOY \revdouapTtupiov SudKpLow. 
' day 5é Tis ANG Sls Yeudopapropay, TOOTOD RARE 
VO,LOS dvaynatera pndels Haprupe, éav 6€ tpis, 
unkét é&éotw TovT@ papTupeiv: éav Oé TohMaon 
paptuphaat Tpls éadwxas, evderxvdT@ pev Tpos TIV 
> ‘ ¢ , > , ig ay! : , 
apynv 6 Bovropevos avtov, 7 8 apyn Stkactnpio 
Ld 7\ \ , ¥ c , 

Tapadota, ay dé pr, Cavat@ CnpusovcOw. o7o- 
cov d av paptupiat ada@ar dixn Wevdh So€avtTev 
poaptupely Kal Thy vikny TO éXOvTL TeTomKevat, 
éayv TOV TOLOUTMY UTEP Hutcv papTupLaY KaTabl- 
KacO@at TLvEs, THY KaTa TaUTas adodaay dixnv 
? Pa / I / ’ 3 - \ 
avadixov yiyverOa, audpiaByrnow 8 eivat «al 
Siabixaciay cite Kata TavTas eiTe pi 7 Siky exptOn, 
omotépas 8 ay KpiOn, tTavtn yuyvéc@w TO TédoS 
Tay éumpoober Six@v.. 

TloAX ay b€ dytwv Kal Kara ev TO TOV avOpaTT@Y 
Bie trois wreicTots avTay olov Kipes Eni TEpvKacty, 
468 





_=———=— ==. 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


she shall be allowed to bring an action; but if she 
have a husband alive, she shall only be allowed to 
give evidence, A male or female slave and a child 
shall be allowed to give evidence and support a plea 
in murder cases only, provided that they furnish a 
substantial security that, if their evidence be de- 
nounced as false, they will remain until the trial. 
Either of the opposing parties in a suit may denounce 
all or part of the evidence, provided that he claims 
that false witness has been given before the action 
is finally decided; and the magistrates shall keep 
the denunciations, when they have been sealed by 
both parties, and shall produce them at the trial for 
false witness. If any person be twice convicted of 
false witness, no law shall compel him any longer to 
bear witness, and if thrice, he shall not be allowed 
to bear witness any longer; and if, after three con- 
yictions, a man dare to bear witness, whoso wishes 


_ shall report him to the magistrates, and they shall 


hand him over to the court, and if he be found 
guilty, he shall be punished with death. In the 
case of all those whose evidence is condemned at 
the trial,—they being adjudged to have given false 
witness and thus to have caused the victory of the 
winner,—if more than the half of their evidence be 
condemned, the action that was lost because of them 
shall be annulled, and there shall be a disputation 
and a trial as to whether the action was or was not 
decided on the evidence in question; and by the 
verdict then given, whichever way it goes, the 
result of the previous actions shall be finally 
determined. 

Although there are many fair things in human 
life, yet to most of them there clings a kind of 


469 


PLATO 


al Kataplaivovoi Te kal kaTappyTraivovaw aura. 
E xai 6) Kat dixn év avOpwrous Tas Ov Kado, O 
TavTa Huépoxe TA avOperwa ; Kadod dé dvTOS 
ToUTOU TOS ov Kal TO EvvdrKeiv Huiv yiryvour’ av 
KaXov ; tadta ovv toradta dvta SiaBddAre Tis 
KaKn KadOv dvo“a mTpoctncauévn téyvn,? 4h 
mp@tov pev Oy dyowv eivai Tiva SiKav pnxavyy, 
eivat © ad THY TO? Te Sixdcacbat Kat EvvdcKetv 
aX vixdv Suvapévny, av T odv Sikaa ay TE pH 
938 ta tepl thy Sicny éxdotyny F Tempaypeva: Swpeav 
8 avtis eivar THs Téexvns Kal TOV NOyov TeV éx 
THS TEXVIS, AV avTLwphral Tis Xpnwata. TavTHY 
ouv €v TH Tap nuiv model, elt ody TéxVN EiTE 
aTEXVOS é€oTt TIS euTrerpia Kal TPLAH, padLTTA pev 
69 Ypewv ore un hodvar: deopévou Sé Tod vopoberou 
meiecOat kal un evartia dikn POéyyerOat, mpos 
adrAnv b€ atadrddtrecOat yopav, TeOopévors 
pev ovyy, amreOodor 8€ dwvy vouov Hoe’ “Av tis 
B don tepacOar thy tev SiKaiov Sdvapw ev 
tais Tov Sikaotav Wuyais én) TavavtTia TpéTecv 
Kal Tapa Katpov ToAvdLKeiv [TaY ToLovT@Y]® 7 
kal Evvdixeiv, ypadhécOw pev 0 Bovropevos avTov 
Kakoovktas 7) Kal Evvdixias Kaxhs, KpiwécOw 6é év 
TO TOV ExhexToV SixacTHplLo, OprOVTOS O€ TLMATH 
To OuKacTnpLov cite piroxpnpatia Soxet Spav 70 
TovoUTOV €iTe Pidoverkia, Kal cay pev. pihoverkia, 
Tia AUT@ TO StxacTHpLov Gaov yYpH Xpovev Tov 
To.ovTov pndevi Aaxeiv Sixnv pnde Evvdixqoar, 
€av d€ dioxpnuatia, Tov pwev Eévoy amiovta €Kx 
1 +éyvn Hermann : réxvnv MSS. 


2 ad thy TG: ad’tny TP Cornarius, Zur. : airy rou MSS. 
3 [rav ro.otrwr] bracketed by Stephens, Stallbaum. 


470 


LAWS, BOOK XI 


eanker which poisons and corrupts them, None 
would deny that justice between men is a fair thing, 
and that it has civilized all human affairs. And if 

be fair, how can we deny that pleading is 
also a fair thing ? But these fair things are in dis- 
repute owing to a kind of foul art, which, cloaking 
itself under a fair name, claims, first, that there 
exists a device for dealing with lawsuits, and further, 
that it is the one which is able, by pleading and 
helping another to plead, to win the victory, whether 
the pleas concerned be just or unjust; and it also 
asserts that both this art itself and the arguments 
which proceed from it are a gift offered to any man 
who gives money in exchange, This art—whether it 
be really an art or merely an artless trick got by habit 
and practice ?—must never, if possible, arise in our 
State; and when the lawgiver demands compliance 
and no contradiction of justice, or the removal of 
such artists to another country,—if they comply, the 
law for its part shall keep silence, but if they fail to 
comply, its pronouncement shall be this :—If anyone 
be held to be trying to reverse the force of just pleas 
in the minds of the judges, or to be multiplying 
suits unduly or aiding others to do so, whoso wishes 
shall indict him for perverse procedure or aiding in 
perverse procedure, and he shall be tried before the 
court of select judges; and if he be convicted, the 
court shall determine whether he seems to be acting 
from avarice or from ambition; and if from the 
latter, the court shall determine for how long a 
period such an one shall be precluded from bringing 
an action against anyone, or aiding anyone to do so; 
while if avarice be his motive, if he be an alien he 


1 4.¢. “‘ Rhetoric.” ? Cp. Gorg. 463 B. 
471 


PLATO 


Cris yopas pyrote mdadkw edMeiv, } Oavdto 
EnutovcPar, tov aorov 8é teOvdvar pidoxpnp.o- 
avvns &veka THs ek TavTos TpoToU Tap avTO 
Tib@pmevns’ Kal édv Tis Ptdoverkia KpLOy Sis TO 
ToovTov Spay, TeOvaTo. } 


472 





LAWS, BOOK XI 


shall be sent out of the country and forbidden to 
return on pain of death, but if he be a citizen he 
shall be put to death because of his unscrupulous 
devotion to the pursuit of gain. And anyone who 
has twice been pronounced guilty of committing 
such an act from ambition shall be put to death. 


473 


941 


IB 


Ao. Kay ws mpeoBevtns Tis  KHpVE xatawpev- 
Sopmevos Ths TONES mapam peo Bevnrat mpos Tia 
TOMY, 7) TE MT OLEVOS #1) Tas ovoas mpeo Betas 
ep’ als méwmeTau arraryyéXXy, 7) mah ai mapa 
TOV TodEmioY %) Kal pidov fa) Ta map éxeivev 
opbds anomped Bevaas yevnrar Pavepos 7] Knpu- 
Kevoas, ypagal KaTa TOUT@D éoTo@v os ‘Epyod 
«ai Avos aryyeMas Kal emuTa fers Tapa VOMLoV 
daeBnoavreav, tiunua b€ 6 Te YpH TacxeW 7H 
aTroTivey, éav pry. 

Krom pev XpNHAT ov averevGepor, aprayn dé 
avatoxuyTov" trav Aros dé viéwv ovdels ovTe SoXous 
ouTE Big. xalpov emruTeTnOeuKe TOUTOLY ovdéTepor. 
pnoels odv bd ToLnTav pe aAXws UTO TLVeV 
pvOoroyov wANMMEAaY Tepl Ta ToLadTa é€aTra- 
T@LEVOS avarrevBéaOo, Kal KAeTTOV 4) Aralopevos 
olécOw pandev aicx pov Trovety arn’ amep avtoi 
Geol Spaaiw: ovTe yap arnbes our €lKOS, aXN’ 
doTls Opa TOLOUTOV TApavonos, ovte Geos ovTE 
Tats éo Tt TOTE Gedy: Tatra 6é vomobéry HadXov 
T poo nner yeyveonew i) mountais Evyracw. 0 
pev ovv merobels Hpeav TO oye evTUXeEL TE Kal 
els xpovov amavta evtvyoin, 0 6° amierioas TO 
peta tadta Toi@dé tun eveyéoOw* vou@: Ea 


1 évexéoOw Ast: uwaxéobw MSS. 





1 Son, and herald, of Zeus, and a master of speech (and of 
lies). 


474 


BOOK XII 


ATH. Ie anyone, while acting as ambassador or 
herald, conveys false messages from his State to 
another State, or fails to deliver the actual message 
he was sent to deliver, or is proved to have brought 
back, as ambassador or herald, either from a friendly 
or hostile nation, their reply in a false form,—against 
all such there shall be laid an indictment for break- 
ing the law by sinning against the sacred messages 
and injunctions of Hermes? and Zeus, and an assess- 
ment shall be made of the penalty they shall suffer 
or pay, if convicted. 

Theft of property is uncivilized, open robbery is 
shameless: neither of these has any of the sons of 
Zeus practised, through delight in fraud or force. 
Let no man, therefore, be deluded concerning this 
or persuaded either by poets or by any perverse 
myth-mongers into the belief that, when he thieves 
or forcibly robs, he is doing nothing shameful, but 
just what the gods themselves do. That is both 
unlikely and untrue; and whoever acts thus un- 
lawfully is neither a god at all nor a child of gods; 
and this the lawgiver, as it behoves him, knows 
better than the whole tribe of poets. He, therefore, 
that hearkens to our speech is blessed, and deserves 
blessing for all time ; but he that hearkens not shall, 
in the next place, be holden by this law :—If anyone 


* Cp. Rep. 378 ff., 388 ff. Hermes is ially in mind, as 
agra for his thefts and frauds ; ep. Hom. J/. 5, 390; 24. 
ete 


475 


PLATO 


ts Te KNErTN Snuoctov péya. 7) Kal opLKpov, THS 
auras Sixns bet. OplKpoV TE yap 0 KAXétrT@V 
Epore ev TAUTO, duvaper dé édadtTov Kéxdodev* 
6 Te TO peifov Kev ov KaTabéuevos Gov abiKet: 
D dixns odv ovdérEpov ovderépou €XatTovos évexa 
peyeGous Tod KAEMMATOS 0 HOmOS a£ voi Snpuody, 
adra TO TOV mev lows. a av ido tpov er. eiva, TOV 
e aviator. Eévov pev 6) Tov Snpociwr 4) ) Sod\ov 
ay Tis Te ehemrovta ev SucaarTnpiy &y, os iacipe 
ex TOV eiKoTov ovrt, Th xpn Trabety i iva Enuiav 
942 a drorivew avrov, y} Kpiows yiyvécOw: Tov dé aorov 
Kal TeOpappevov @ ws éoTat TeOpappéevos, av matpioa 
oUNOV a) Biafopevos arioKnrat, édv rt én avTo- 
Popo édv Te wn, oyedov ws aviaTov byta Bavaro 
Ensovr. 

Erparerav bé évexa. TOM) bev EvuBovry, 
Tool 6€ vomoL yiyvovtat KaTa TpOTroV, HeycaTov 
5€ TO undeTroTE a dvapxov pndéva elvat, jT appeva 
farjre Onrerav, pyndé TLVOS. eer yruynv eidi Oat 
pnte omovdatovTos yt év Tadtats avtov ep 
éavtob Te Kara povas Spar, arn’ év Te TONE} 

B mavti «al ey eipnvn waon pos. Tov apxovra ael 
Brerovta kal Evverropevov Shp, Kab Ta Bpax ura’ 
on éxeivou xuBepvdpevov, olov éordvar 6 Srav 
emitattn tis Kal tropevecPar Kal yupvalecOar 
Kal NovcPat Kai orteicOat Kal éyeipecOar viKTwp 
els Te huAaKas Kal Taparyyédoes, Kal ev avTots 
Tois cwOvvols pajre Twa Saxe pn? vTro wpely 
GAXw advev THS TOV apXOvT Oy dnr@oews, Evi TE 





1 But cp. 857 A, B. 
476 


SS = 
fe 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


steals any piece of public property, he shall receive 
the same punishment, be it great or small. For he 
that steals a small thing steals with equal greed, 
though with less power, while he that. takes a large 
thing which he has not deposited does wrong to the 
full; wherefore the law deems it right not to inflict 
a less penalty on the one offender than on the other 
on the ground that his theft is smaller, but rather 
because the one is possibly still curable, the other 
incurable. So if anyone convict in a court of law 
either a resident alien or a slave of stealing any 
piece of public property, in his case, since he is 
probably curable, the court shall decide what punish- 
ment he’shall suffer or what fine he shall pay. But 
in the case of a citizen, who has been reared in the 
way he is to be reared,—if he be convicted of 
plundering or doing violence to his fatherland, 
whether he has been caught in the act or not, he 
shall be punished by death,! as being practically 
incurable, 

Military organization is the subject of much con- 
sultation and of many appropriate laws. The main 
principle is this—that nobody, male or female, should 
ever be left without control, nor should anyone, 
Wiethes at work or in play, grow habituated in 
mind to acting alone and on his own initiative, but 
he should live always, both in war and peace, with 
his eyes fixed constantly on his commander and 
following his lead; and he should be guided by him 
even in the smallest detail of his actions—for 
example, to stand at the word of command, and to 
march, and to exercise, to wash and eat, to wake up 
at night for sentry-duty and despatch-carrying, and 
in moments of danger to wait for the commander's 


477 


PLATO //.! 


C oye TO xwpis TL TOV addov mparrew Sudékae 
THY yuxny eect pajre yeyvea xety pyr “ériotacbar 
TO Taparray, arr’ aOpoov aet Kat dua Kai Kowov 
Tov Biov ore pdm ra maou mavTov yiryverBau- 
TOUTOU yap ovr eoriw ove TOTE BN) yévntat 
Kpetrroy oure devon ovTe TE viK@TEpov els 
ca@Tnpiay THY KaTa moe pov Ka vikny. ‘TOUTO 
Kal év elpnvn pererntéov evOds éx TOV maidov, 
a xew TE ad\Xov apxeo bat ? id’ éTépa@y: TID 

D6 dvapxtay éfaipetéov €x TavT os Tov Biou 
aT avT@v TOV avbpwr ay TE ral TOV Dar dvO pebrrous 
Onpiov: wat 8 Kal Xopelas wdaas els Tas dpioreias 
Tas KaTa TOemov Brérovras * opevery, Kal dAnv 
evcohlay Te Kal ed xéperav emery eveuv Tay avTav 
eivera, KapTepyaes Te av oeTiov Te Kal ToTaV 
Kal Xetwe@verr Kal Tov évavtiov Kal Koltns 
oKAnpas, Kal TO ye péyearon, Th Tips Keparns 
kal TOO@V Sdvapw pn StabBeipew 7H TOV aXXo- 
Tplov oKeTTag LaTOV mepixarudh, THY TOV oixei@y 

E arornUyras mitwv Te Kal Drodnwar ov yéveow 
Kal piow- TabdTa yap axpwrnpia ovta cwtopevd 
Te evel peyioTny <Tyy>* Svvapuy TayTOos Tov 
TWMATOS Kal TovvavTiov evay Tiws, ral TO. peev 
UmNpeTLK@TATOV dmavre 7 copart, TO 6€ apxe- 
KOTATOY, éxov. tas Kuplas damdcas aicOnces 
avTov pice. 

943  “Emawov pév 8) TovToV dove Tov véov 
xphvas doxet® trodepexod mepl Biov, vopous e 
abd rovade: XtpateverOar Tov Karaneyevra 

1 Brérovtas W. R. Paton: BAerovcas MSS., edd. 


2 <rhy> added by England. 
3 xpivat Soxet: xpiv Soxeiv MSS., edd. 


478 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


signal before either pursuing or retreating before an 
enemy ; and, in a word, he must instruct his soul by 
habituation to avoid all thought or idea of doing 
anything at all apart from the rest of his company, 
so that the life of all shall be lived ex masse and in 
common ; for there is not, nor ever will be, any rule 
superior to this or better and more effective in 
ensuring safety and victory in war. This task of 
raling, and being ruled by, others must be practised 


- in peace from earliest childhood ;+ but. anarchy must 


be utterly removed from the lives of all mankind, 

and of the beasts also that are subject to man. 
Moreover, with a view to excellence in war, they 
shall dance all kinds of dances,? and with the same 
object they shall cultivate in general suppleness and 
dexterity, and endurance also in the matter of foods 
and drinks and cold and heat and hard beds; and, 
what is most important, they shall accustom them- 
selves not to spoil the natural powers of head and feet 
by wrapping them in coverings of alien material, and 
thereby ruining the production and growth of their 
own natural hair and soles. For when these extremi- 
ties are conserved, they keep at its highest the power 
of the whole body, but they effect the opposite when 
spoiled ; and of these two extremities, the one is the 
chief minister of the whole body, and the other the 
chief master, inasmuch as, by the ordinance of 
nature, it contains all the leading senses of the 


y- 
Such is the laudation of the military life to which, 
as we hold, the youth ought to hearken, and its laws 
are these :—He that is enrolled or put on some rota 


1 Cp. 803 C, D; Soph. Antig. 668 ff. 
2 Cp. 795 D#f., 829 B, C 


479 


PLATO 


h Tov éy pépen tii _TeTAayHEVOV. éav 66 
TLS exdeirn Twh Kaen Bn orpatyyav apetor, 
ypagas aotpateias eva Tm pos TOUS TONEMLKOLS 
adpxovras, drav ENwow ano orparomédsou, Stea- 
Seu dé Tovs orpatevoavras EKAT TOUS Xeopis 
omhitas Te Kal imméas: kal Tada éuTronepua 
Bé éxacTa OTavTws, Kal eladryew omhitas pev els 
TOUS oTAiTas, immréas be is. Tous imméas Kab 
TOUS dddous 6€ Kata TavTa els TOUS avTay Evv- 
vO_oUs" éav 6é TIS dprn, Umapxety, _Hev avT@ 
pajmote Tis bAns dpvareias dyovid Ti} yevéo Oar 
pndé aaTpareias addov ypawvrac bai more pide 
Karn yop TOUT@V mépu yeveo Oat, mpos ‘TovToUs 
5 ere T™ pooripav avrTe To Sixaarnpiov 6 6 Tt xpr 
madety 7) ue arrorivety. pera be radra exdicac Bera Oy 
TOY Tis aor paretas diKOv Tadw éxdoTov TOUT@D 
apxovras Tovjoat EvdXoyor, apiarel@ov 5é mépe 
xpivec Oat TOV Bovdopevor év Tois avTov eOvect, 
C ua meph mporépov TONE Mov pendev TapeXomevov 
pajre TEK UN pLoV pajre pa pTvpov TLaT@TELS Noyor, 
auTiis d€ Tepl THS oTparelas Tis TOTE ryevouevns 
avtots. otépavov dé To viKknTHpLov ExaoTOLS eivat 
Jardood: ToDTOV d€ eis Ta TOV TOAGuULKOY Oedv 
tepa, ov ay Tes Bovdrnras, ypaarra avadeivas 
Haptuptov els THY TOY apioTet@r Kpiow mavTos 
D rod Biov Kal TI TOV devrépov Kal Tpirev. éap 
dé otpatevontar pév Tis, py aTayayovtay 6é 
TOV apxovrav oixade mpoaTrénd TOU xpoveu, 
Aevrorakiou TOUT@D elvat ypagas év rots avrois 
olomep Tis aotpateias, oprodot TE Tipwpiar 


480 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


must perform military service. If anyone, through 
cowardice, fail to present himself without leave from 
the commanders, he shall be indicted for desertion 
before the military officers when they return from 
camp, and each class of those who have served shall 
sit by themselves as judges—that is, hoplites, cavalry, 
and each of the other branches,—and they shall 
summon hoplites before the hoplites, cavalrymen 
before the cavalry, and all others in like manner 
before soldiers of their own class; and any man that 
is convicted shall be debarred from ever competing 
for any distinction and from ever prosecuting another 
for shirking service, or acting as accuser in con- 
nection with such charges ; and, in addition to this, 
what he ought to suffer or pay shall be determined 
by the court. Next, when the suits for shirking 
service have been fully decided, the officers shall 
again hold a review of each class of soldiers, and he 
who wishes shall be tried before a court of his own 
colleagues on his claim for an award of merit; but 
any proof or verbal testimony which the claimant 
produces must have reference, not to any previous 
war, but solely to that campaign in which they have 
just been engaged. The prize for each class shall be 
a wreath of olive leaves; and this the recipient shall 
hang up, along with an inscription, in whatever 
temple of the war-gods he chooses, to serve through- 
out his life as a proof that he has won the first, 
second or third prize, as the ease may be. If a man 
goes on military service, but returns home without 
leave from the officers, he shall be liable to be 
indicted for desertion before the same court which 
deals with cases of shirking service, and the same 
penalties which have been already prescribed shall 


481 
VOL. Il. II 


PLATO 


éméaTwoay aimep xal mpocOev éréOncav. xen 
pev 6) Tacav emipépovra Steny avépt wart’ 
avdpa poBeia Pat TO pajre émreveryKety pevdi, TLULw- 
plav, unt obv ExOVTA Masih axovTa KaTa Svvapiy 
E mapbévos yap Aidods} Aixn AéyeTal Te Kal dvTws 
eipntat, Yreddos be aidot Kal dixn veweontov Kata 
dicw. réav te oiv ddXrov ciraBeicOar Set répe 
mrnpperety eis dixnv, Siahepovtas bé Kal THs TOV 
Kara mONenov Sov aTroBons, pay Stapapréy 
Tes dpa TOV dvayKatov aTroBoX@v, ws alcxpas 
avTas eis dvevdos TWeis, avakio avakias érayn 
dixas. pasvov ev ov ovdapas Stopioas ToUT@D 
944 Garepor, Gums 6€ xpi) TOV VOMOV apes ye TS 
opiCew metpaa Gar Kara pépn. poe 67 T™poaxXpo- 
pevor dw’ elrwpev, eb Kopucbels ert oxnviny avev 
Tav OtrAwv ILatpoxAXos Eumvous? éyéved’, otov by 
puplows cuvémece, Ta O€ mporepa éxeiva Stra, a 
II nr«t dynaiv 6 routs mapa deay T poika ey Tois 
yapous émedo0 vat O€rv61, TadTa dé “Extap elyer, 
éfqv av tev ToTEe aot Kaxol overdiferv Orr hov 
amoBorny T@ Tod Mevorriov. ert b€ 0 omrocoL Kata 
B KpnLV@V pupévres ¢ aT whecav oma, 7) KaTa Oadar- 
Tav,  Xetappwv * év TOTOLS brrodeEapévns avrovs 
eEaigyns ToAAHs pvoews datos’ 7 wupi av Exor 
Ts Tovabra Trapapulovpevos émqdeuy, evdidBonov 
Kakov Kadrvvwv. Tepelv d) ypewv Kata SvvamLy 
1 aidods MSS. : aidoln Steph., Zur. 
2 éumvous MSS. : txmvouvs MS. marg. , Zur. 


3 xemudppwy Madvig, Apelt: xemudvwv MSS., edd. (xémas 
for rérots Stallb., ad.) 





1 Cp. Hesiod, Op. D. 192 ff., 254 ff., 4 8 re wapOévos earl 
Aixn . .. Kudph 7’ aidoly Te Oeots KTA, 


482 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


be imposed upon him, if he is convicted. Every 
man, when bringing an action against another, ought 
rightly to dread bringing upon him, whether in- 
tentionally or unintentionally, a wrongful punish- 
ment (for Justice is, and has been truly named,! the 
daughter of Reverence, and falsehood and wrong are 
naturally detested by Reverence and Justice) ; and 
he should beware also of trespassing against Justice 
in any matter, and especially in respect of loss of 
arms in battle, lest by mistakenly abusing such 
losses as shameful, when they are really unavoidable, 
he may bring undeserved charges against an un- 
deserving man. It is by no means easy to draw 
distinctions between such cases; but none the less 
the law ought to try by some means to distinguish 
case from case. In illustration we may cite the story 
of Patroclus:* suppose that he had been brought to 
his tent without his arms and had recovered—as 
has happened in the case of thousands,—while the 
arms he had had (which, as the poet relates, had 
been given to Peleus by the gods, as a dowry with 
Thetis) were in the hands of Hector—then all the 
base men of those days would have been free to 
abuse Menoetios’ son for loss of arms. Moreover, 
there are instances of men losing their arms through 
being flung down from cliffs, or on the sea, or in 
ravines, when overwhelmed by a sudden great rush 
of water, or from other mishaps, countless in number, 
which one could mention by way of consolation, and 
thereby justify an evil which lends itself to calumny. 
It is right, therefore, to separate, as best one can, 


* Cp. Hom. J/, xvi., xvii. 125 ff., xviii. 84 ff. Patroclus 
(son of Menoetios) was wearing the arms of Achilles (son of 
Peleus) when slain by Hector. 


483 
1123 


PLATO 


TO melfov Kal TO ducyepéatepoy KaKOY amd TOD 
évavtiov. ayedov ody év Tois dveideow exer Tia 
TOMMY 1) TOUTWY THY dvouaTwv émipopa pirpacmis 
bev yap ovK év Tacw dvowatorT av Stxaiws, aro- 
C Boreds 5é dtrAWY. ody Opoiws yap 6 Te adatpeDels 
meT etxulas Bias yiyvoit’ av pipaomis 6 Te adels 
éxav, Siahépes S€ Gov Tov Kai TO TaY. WO ov 
57 NeyécOw vouw: “Kay xatadapBavopevos tis 
UTO ToNEwiov Kal Ex@v Ora un) avacTpéedn Kal 
apuuvntas, adh de éexov 7 piyy, Conv aioypav 
apvopevos peta Taxouvs maAdOY 7) peT avopias 
KaXrov Kal evoaipova Oavartov, TovavTns ev OT AwY 
atoBorns gota dixn pidbévtawr, Tis 5 eipnméevns 
éurpocbev o dixafwv [ui]! dywereit@ oKoreiv- 
D rov yap xaxov det Set korabery, ty apeivwov 7, od 
tov dvatuyH ovdév yap TrEov. Enuia 6H TO THY 
TOLAUTHY GuvYTHplov STAwY Els TOUVaVTiOV apévTt 
Svvamuv tis apa yiyvort av mpoadopos ; ov yap 
Suvatov avOpwor@ Spay Totvavtioy <i> w@s* Tote 
Oeov dace Spaca, Kawéa tov Oettarov ex 
yuvaikos weTaBarovta eis avdpos puaw: hy yap 
av avoph pupdomids TpoToy Twa TpéTOVTa TAaGa@V 
E paducta 7) ‘Kelvyn TH yevéoes Evavtia yévects, eis 
yuvaixa €& avdpos petaBarodoa, Timapia ToUT@ 
yevouevyn. vivd 6 Tt TOVTwY éyyvTaTa Piro vyias 
évexa, iva Tov éridourov Biov pH Kwdvvevn, FH 
52 ws WAEla TOV xpovoy [av] Kax@® dveider Evveyo- 
1 [un] bracketed by Herm.: om. by Zur., vulg. 


2 <> added by H. Richards: dy for és Ast, Zur. 
3 [Sv] kang Hermann: dv kakds (or kaxds) MSS 





oe 


1 Cp. Ovid, Met. 8. 305 ff., 12. 189ff. Tim. 90. 
484 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


the greater and more serious evil from its opposite. 
As a rule, indeed, the employment of the names in 
question by way of abuse admits of a distinction; 
for the term “ shield-flinger” would not properly be 
applied in all cases, but rather the term “arms- 
dropper.” For the man who by a fair amount of 
violence is stripped of his arms will not be as much 
of a “shield-flinger” as the man who has voluntarily 
thrown them away—rather there is a vast difference 
between the two cases. So let the pronouncement 
of the law be this:—If a man is overtaken by his 
enemies and, having arms, instead of turning and 
defending himself, voluntarily drops his arms or 
flings them away, thereby gaining for himself a life 
that is shameful by speed of foot, rather than by 
bravery a noble and blessed death,—concerning the 
arms flung away in a loss of this sort a trial shall be 
held, but the judge shall pass over in his enquiry a 
case of the kind previously described. For the bad 
man one must always punish, in order to better him, 
but not the luckless man; for that profits not. What, 
then, would be a proper penalty for the man who 
has thrown away for naught such powerful weapons 
of defence? A god, it is said, once changed Kaineus 
the Thessalian } from woman's shape to man’s; but it 
is beyond human power to do the opposite of this; 
otherwise, the converse transformation— changing 
him from a man into a woman—would be, perhaps, 
the most appropriate of all penalties for a “ shield- 
flinger.” As it is, to get the nearest possible 
approach to this, because of the man’s love of life 
at any price, and to secure that for the rest of his 
life he may run no risk, but may live saddled with 
this disgrace as long as possible,—the law dealing 


485 


945 


C 


PLATO 


pevos, €oT@ vo pos 66 él TovToLs* "Avnp Os ap 
Opry Sixyy ws alaxpas amoBahav ma ToONE- 
[LKa, TOUT@ pyr ovy TLs aTpPATHYOS pay’ aAXos 
MOTE TOV Kara TONE LOV apXovT@Y ws avdpl 
OT pATLOTy xpnontar yd eis Taew eatardaén 
pnd mur ivooy" él 8e Ha}, catevd vvew avro0 Tov 
evOuvov, dv pev 4 TOU peyloToU TLAnMaTOS oO 
Tafas Tov KaKkov, xXidlas, av b€ Tov deuTépou, 
mévte pvas, dv b€ Tod TpiTov, Tpeis pas, av Se 
Tov TeTapToV, pvav. Oo O€ ObrAwy THY OiKnY pos 
TO apetcbat THY avdpeiwy Kwdvvev Kata draw 
THY avTov TpocaToTicdTw puacbov, Xidias pév, 
av TOD pmeyioTou TimnpaTtos 7H, wéevte Se, ToD SevTeé- 
pov, tpets 5é, av Tod Tpitov, pvav b€ w@ocavTas 
Kka0dmep oi tpoaber, Tod TeTdptov pépous. 
EvOvver 8 wépe tis jpiv Aoyos av ein mpérwv 
apxovTov yevouevov TOY pev Kara TUX KAajpov 
Kal ém@ éviavtov, Tov © eis mAclova ETH Kal EK 
mpoxpitov ; Tav &y ToLtovTwY evOurTHs Tis (Kavos, 
dv Tis TL TN oKOALOY avTaV KauPOels UO Bapous 
meV mpatn, Tis & avtov Suvdpews évdeia T™ pos 
THY THIS apxis akiav ; padiov peév ovdamas evpeiv 
TOY apxovtov dpxovra vmepBarrovTa 7 pos 
apeTnv, Ouws Sé Tepatéov evOvvtas TiWas ayvEev- 
pioxerv Oeiovs. eyes yap ovv ottw. Todo 
Kalpol TodiTelas AVoEws eldt, KaPdmEp vews [7) 
feov]+ tivds, ods évtovovs te Kal wbTof@pata 
Kal vetpwv éeritovous, play ovcav diow diveoTap- 


1 [# (wov] I bracket (% mAoiov ci. Stallb.). 





1 i.e. persons appointed to audit the accounts and 
scrutinize the conduct of public officials at the expiry of 


486 


Eo SC 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


with such cases shall be this:—If any man be con- 
victed on a charge of shamefully throwing away his 
military weapons, no general or other military officer 
shall ever employ him asa soldier or post him to any 
rank ; otherwise, the examiner shall fine the officer 
who posts the coward 1000 drachmae, if he be of 
the highest property-class,—if of the second class, 
five minas,—if of the third, three minas,—if of the 
fourth, one mina. And the soldier who is convicted 
of the charge, in addition to being debarred, as his 
own nature requires, from manly risks, shall also pay 
back his wage—1000 drachmae, if he be of the 
highest class,—if of the second, five minas,—if of 
the third, three,—and if of the fourth, one mina, 
just as in the previous cases. 

Respecting examiners,! what would be a proper 
statement for us to make, seeing that some of the 
magistrates are appointed by the hazard of the lot 
and for a year, while others are appointed for 
several years and chosen out of a number of selected 
persons? Of such, who will be a competent examiner, 
in the event of any one of them acting at all crookedly 
through being burdened by the weight of his office 
and his own inability to support it worthily? It is 
by no means easy to find an officer of officers, who 
surpasses them in excellence, but still one must try 
to find some examiners of a divine quality. In fact, 
the case stands thus:—The dissolution of a polity, 
like that of a ship’s frame, depends upon many 
critical factors: these (in the case of a ship) though 
one in nature are separated into many parts, and we 


their term of office. Note the play on the literal sense of 
ebOurths, “straightener” (of “crooked” actions). 


487 


PLATO 


pévnv TroAAaXov ToXnois ovopact mpooaryopevo- 
pev: els 8é ovTos oU OpLKpoTaTos KaLpos TOD 
cwleaBat Te Kal diarvbeioay olyecOat TrorTELav. 

Day pev yap oi tovs adpyovtas eev0 bvovtes 
BeXtious ow éxeivov, Kal TouT ev bixn 
apéunr@ te Kal apéurtas [7], y) Taca obra 
OddXet TE Kal evdarpovel yopa Kat TONtS* éav 
& adXos Ta Tept Tas evdvvas TOV ap ovT wv 
yiyyntal, TOTE Avdelans THS TA mavra, mohuTev- 
pata Evvexovons els &y Sixns TauTy mace px? 
Svea abn Xepls étépa ar ards, Kal OvK eis 
TavTOV ETL vevovoat, jmoAdas éK peas THY TOW 
Towvaat, Trdg ewv cuTMjoacas Taxv Suor¢ecav. 

Edo 67 Sez TAVvTOS tovs evOvvous Oavpactods 
Taoay apeTHy eivat. 

Texrawopuela 64 tTiva TpoToy ad’Tav ToLavde 
yeverw. Kar’ eveauTov &xaotov pera Tpomas 
HALou Tas ex Bépous els Yerpava Evrrévar x pe@y 
macav tiv Tod eis ‘HXiov Kotvov Kal ’Arr6d Novos 
Téuevos, TO Oe atropavoupévous avdpas avTav 

946 rpels, Ov av ExacTos aUTOY HyTaL TaVTH apLoToV 
elvat TANY AUTON, [7 EXATTOV TEVTHKOVYTA YEyovETa 
eTaV. Tov O€ mpoxpiOévT@Y ods av TAE€ioTOL 
évéyxwat, TOUTOUS exheEas méeX PL TOV Huicewr, eay 
dptio. yiyvevtat: mepittol b& éav How, eva 
aperciv, © av ehayiatat yévovTat, KaTaduTreiv 58 
TOUS Huicets avT@V TANOEL TOY Widov aoKpi- 
vavtas’ éay b€ Trow ioat yiyvevtat Kal Tov Hyt- 


1 [7] wanting in MSS.: added in MS. marg., Zur. 





1 Cp. Rep, 422 E. 
2 Cp. 767 C, D. 


488 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


call them by many names—such as stays, under- 
girders, bracing-ropes. For the preservation, or 
dissolution and disappearance, of a polity the office 
of examiner is such a critical factor, and that of the 
gravest kind. For if those who act as examiners of 
the magistrates are better men than they, and if they 
act blamelessly with blameless justice, then the whole 
of the State and country flourishes and is happy ; but 
if the examination of the magistrates is carried out 
otherwise, then the bond of justice which binds 
all political elements into one is dissolved, and in 
consequence every office is torn apart from every 
other, and they no longer tend all to the same end ; 
and thus out of one State they make many,! and by 
filling it with civil strife they speedily bring it to 
ruin. Wherefore it is most necessary that the 
examiners should be men of admirably complete 
virtue. 

Let us contrive to bring them into being in some 
such way as this:—Every year, after the summer 
solstice,2 the whole State must assemble at the 
common precincts of Helios and Apollo, there to 
present before the god the names of three out of 
their own number,—each citizen proposing that man, 
not less than fifty years old, whom (with the exception 
of himself) he regards as in all respects the best. 
Of those so nominated they shall choose out those 
who have gained most votes—half of the total number 
nominated, if that number be even, but if it be an 
odd number, they shall reject the one who has least 
votes and retain the even half, marking them off 
according to the number of the votes received ; and 
if several have an equal number of votes, thus causing 
the upper half-section to be too large, they shall 


489 


PLATO 


ou ap.0 mov Trel@ ToLaow, apeneiv TO méov 
B aroxpivaytas vEeoTnTt, Tous e aXdous eypivavras 
péperv avbrs, HEX purep av Tpeis hecpOdow a avicot 
€av 6€ i mao 7) Tow Svow icae yiyvervtat, TH 
ayah poipa Kal TUXN emetpeyravtas, Kdp@ 
dueXOvTas TOV VviK@VYTA Kal SevTepov Kal TpiTov 
atepavacat PadrO, Kal Ta apioteia aTodovTas 
Taow aveteiv 6Tt Mayvyntoy % Kata Oeov mad 
TuxXovea gTwTnpias TONS, amognvaca auTis 
“HAd@ avdpas Tous apiarous Tpeis, axpobiviov 
‘Amore Kata TOV Tahatov vowov avatiOnat 
Kowov Kal ‘Hrie, dcovmep av Erovrat _xpovov 
™ Kpioe.. rovovTous} 8é TpPOT@ pev eviavT@ 
badexa evduvous amrobeiEat, wéxpitrep av exdor@ 
mévte Kal EBdounKovta ern EvpBH yevoweva’ TO 
ovr ov de Tpeis ael Tpooryiyved Bev Kat éviaurov. 
ovTot O€ Tas apxas maoas [xata]* dddexa pépy 
dveAOpeEvot macas Bacavors Xpwpevor éXevepais 
éAeyXovT@v: oixovvtay é, cov av evOvvact 
Xpovor, év TO tov ‘AmoAXwvos Te Kal “HAiou 
TEMEVEL, ev @TEp exptOnaav- Kal Ta pev idta 
ExaoTos, ra 88 xal KOH eT GAAHA@Y KpivavTes 
Tous apfarras TH TOE, aTropnvavt@y eis THY 
ayopay ypaupara caTavevres meph éxdorns 
apxis & Te xpn mabeiv i) amorivety Kara THD 
Tav evOtvav yvounv. itis’ av TOV apy av Hi 
omordoyh xexpiabar dicaiws, els TOUS eKNEKTOUS 
Sicaotas eloayérw Tods evOivous, Kal édv per 


1 ro.ovrous England : tobrovs MSS. 
2 [kara] wanting in MSS. : added by MS. marg., Zur. 





1 Cp. 855 C, 926 D. 
490 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


remove the excess by rejecting those that are 
youngest; the rest being retained on the list, they 
shall vote again on these, and they shall continue the 
same process until three be left with an unequal 
number of votes. If, however, all of these, or two 
of them, have equal votes, they shall commit the 
matter to good luck and chance, and distinguish by 
lot between the first, the second, and the third, 
and crown them with olive-wreaths ; and when they 
have thus awarded the distinctions, they shall 
make this public proclamation :—The State of the 
Magnetes,—which, by God's grace, has again won 
salvation,—has presented to Helios the three best 
of its own men, and now it dedicates them, according 
to the ancient law, as a joint offering to Apollo and 
Helios of its choicest first fruits, for so long a time 
as they pursue their judicial task. Twelve such 
examiners shall be appointed in the first year, until 
each of them has come to the age of seventy-five ; 
and thereafter three shall be added annually. And 
they, after dividing all the public offices into twelve 
sections, shall employ all tests, of a gentlemanly 
kind, in investigating them. So long as they are 
serving as examiners, they shall reside within the 
precincts of Apollo and Helios, where they were 
chosen. When they have judged—either each one 
singly or in consultation with one another—the State 
officials, they shall publish, by means of records 
placed in the market, a statement concerning what 
each official should suffer or pay according to the 
decision of the examiners. If any official claims that 
he has not been judged justly, he shall summon the 
examiners before the select judges;! and ‘if he be 
acquitted in respect of the examiners’ charges, 


491 


PLATO 


anopuyn TLS Tas evdvvas, avTav Tov evOvvov 

E xatrnyopeite, éav e0édy éay 5é dXO, éav pev 9 
T@ Oavarov TETLUNMEVOV UTO TOV evdiver, & domep 
avaryen, dmOs OrnoKéro, tov © ad\Xe@v Tipnud- 
tov ov av dvvatov 7 SiumdHv Ticat, dimdaciav 
TWeTO. 

Tas & evOvvas avTay TOUT@D axovew xpn 
tives éoovTat Kal rive, Tporrov. Saou pev obv 
TOUTOLS TOls Tapa Tacns THs TONEWS dpiateiwy 

947 7 Evo pevors mpoebpiae T ev Tais Tavnyvper 
Tdacals eoTwoar, ére O€ TOV els TOUS “EAXqvas 
Kowwn Ovotov Kai Oewpidv Kai bowy av étépwv 
KOLVWYOCW Lep@v, eK TOUTWY TOUS apXoVTas THs 
Oewpias éxaorns ex eure, kal TovTOUs povoUS 
dadvns orepavep TOY éV 7H moet KEKOG NMLEVOUS 
eivat,” Kah iepéas pev mavtas Tov AmrddRwvos 
te kai ‘Hriov, apyiépewv b¢ &a nar éviavTov 
Tov mpatov KpiWévta Tav yevopévav exeiva TO 
€vlauT@® lepéwv, Kal Tovvowa avaypadeww Tov- 

Brov kat éviavtov, bras av yiyvntat pétpor 
apiOuod tod ypovov, ws av 7 TOS oOlKATAL. 
TereuTHoATL O€ m pobécers Te Kal éexpopas Kal 
Onxas Stadopous eivat TOV adv TOdTOY, 
Aevany bev THV o TOMY eyeuv Taoay, Opnvav 6é 
Kal odupuay xwpis yeyver Gat, Kopav oé xopov 
mevTexaioeKka Kat ap péveov Erepov TEpLaTApEVvOUS 
TH Khivy éxaTépous olov /Dpvov TMeTrOLnHevOV 
émawov eis TOUS Lepéas €V pé per éxaTépous adel, 
evdarpovitovtas oof Sia Taons Tis rhueépas” 

Céwbev & els THY Brjrenv pépew avrny pev Thy 
KAiyny Exatov TOV véwv TaV ev Tols yupvaciors, 

1 elva: MSS. : iéva: MS. marg., Zur. 

492 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


he shall, if he wishes, prosecute the examiners 
themselves; but if he be convicted, in case the 
penalty imposed on him by the examiners be death, 
he shall simply be put to death (one death only being 
possible), but in the case of other penalties which 
admit of being doubled, he shall pay a double 
penalty. 

As regards the examinations of these examiners 
themselves, it is right for us to hear what they are to 
be, and how they are to be conducted. _ During their 
lifetime these men, who have been deemed worthy 
of the highest distinction by the whole State, shall 
have the front seats at every festival ; and from their 
number, too, shall be chosen the heads of every 
sacred mission sent out to take part in any public 
sacrifices, congresses or other such sacred assemblies 
of the Hellenes; and these alone of all the citizens 
shall be adorned with a crown of laurel; and they 
all shall be priests of Apollo and Helios, and every 
year that one of them who has been adjudged first 
of those appointed in that year shall be the high- 
priest, and his name they shall inscribe at the head 
of the year, that it may serve as a measure of the 
date, so long as the State remains. When they die, 
their laying-out, funeral and interment shall be 
different from that of other citizens: nothing but 
white raiment shall be used at it, and there shall be 
no dirges or lamentations; a choir of girls and 
another of boys shall stand round the bier, and they 
shall chant alternately a laudation for the priests in 
the form of a hymn in verse, glorifying them with 
their hymnody all the day long; and at the next 
dawn the bier itself shall be borne to the tomb by a 
hundred of the young men who attend the gymnasia, 


493 


PLATO 


ods dv of mpoonKovtes TOU TehevTHOAaYTOS émL0- 
yrevtat, mpw@tous S€ mpoiévat Tovs HiO éous THY 
TOAEULKHY oKEUnY evdedUKOTaS ExXadaTOUS, oLV 
Tots immotor pev imméas, crv S€ Ooty OTAiTAS, 

D xal ToUs adAXous ocavTas, maidas 6€ mepl avtijy 
THY KALVNY eum poo dev TO maT prov péXos epupveiv, 
Kal Kopas érropévas éEomta0ev boar T av yovaires 
THS TaoToinceas anmddaypéva TUYyYavadt, 
pera dé Tada iepéas Te al iepelas as xabapevovre 
7@ TAaP@ érea Bat, éav dpa Kal Tov dddov 
elpyovTat Tagan, éav Kal 76 THS IuGias ott 
Te Kal TavTy oupaynpov 7" nen 6é t vo ys 
autois elpyacmevny elvau Wanrisda T popann NiGwv 
Totinev Kal aynpwv eis Stvamuv, Eyoucay Krivas 

E tap adXnAas ALOivas Ketévas, OU 67 TOY paKd- 
piov yeyovota Oévtes, KUKAwM yooartes, TépiE 
dévd per adoos mepipuTevooucr Ty K@NOU évos, 
Ores av avénv o tapos éxn TavTy [rnv]} els 
Tov dravra xpovor, av érrud€y * X@Omatos Tois 
TiOepévors’ Kat éviau Tov 5é ayava povoikis 
avtois Kal yuuvixov immxov te Oncovet. 

Ta pev én yépa Toadra Tois Tas evOvvas dia- 
guyodow" dy 6€ tts TovT@ Tic Tedor TH Kexpic Bat 
Thy avOporrivny dvow éridetEn KAKOS yevomevos 
boTepov Tihs KpiTews, ypager bau pev Tov Bovno- 
pevov avTOV 0 VOLS TPOTTATTETO, o 8 aryav 
év Sika type yeyver Ba Toupee Te TpOT@. 

948 mp@tov pev vopopvrAakes EcTwoay TOUTOU TOU. 


1 rabtn Ast: rairny MSS. [rhv] I bracket. 
2 ay éxidén Hermann: émde_ MSS. : avemde% (MSS. marg. ) 
Zur., vulg. 


494 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


—they being selected by the relatives of the dead 
man,—and the procession shall be led by the men of 
war, all clad in their proper military garb,—cavalry 
with their horses, hoplites with their weapons, and 
the rest in like manner; and round about the bier 
the boys, being in front, shall sing their national 
anthem, and behind them the girls shall follow 
singing, and all the women who have passed the age 
of child-bearing; and next shall foilow the priests 
and priestesses as to a tomb that is sanctified—yea, 
though they be debarred from approaching all other 
tombs,—if so be that the voice of the Pythian? 
approves that thus it shall be. Their tomb shall be 
constructed under ground, in the form of an oblong 
vault of spongy stone, as long-lasting as possible, and 
fitted with couches of stone set side by side ; in this 
when they have laid him who is gone to his rest, 
they shall make a mound in a circle round it and 
plant thereon a grove of trees, save only at one 
extremity, so that at that point the tomb may for all 
time admit of enlargement, in case there be need 
of additional mounds for the buried. And every 

ear contests of music, gymnastics and horse-racing 
shall be held in their honour. 

These shall be the rewards for those who have 
passed the scrutiny of examiners. But if any of 
these examiners, relying on the fact of his election, 
shall give proof of human frailty by becoming 
evil after his election, the law shall enjoin on 
him who wishes to indict him, and the trial shall 
take place in the court after this manner :—The 
court shall be composed first of Law-wardens, next 


1 The priestess of Apollo at Delphi; cp. Rep. 46) E. 
495 


PLATO 


Siacrnpiov, emevra auT@v Ttovtwy of kaptes, 
mpos Oe TovToLs TO TOY éxhexT@v Sixacriptov® 
ypapécOa be 0 ypahouevos, ov av Upagpnrar, 
Aéyoutay THY ypapiy avagtov elvat Tov Kal Tov 
TOV apiaretov Kal THS axis Kal éay pev oO 
pevyou aXO, oTEpecOw THs apxiis Kal Tov Tapov 
Kal Tov adov TOV Sob eva av auT@ TLMOV, éay 
dé 0 Si@Kwv pn petardaBy TO TéumTov pépos TOV 
wider, TET O O pev Tob Meyiatou TLL MATOS 
OwbeKa Mvas, oxT@ Sé 0 Tod Sevtépou, Tpitov Se 
&&, retaptou 5é dvo. 

‘PadapuavOuvos dé wept tiv Reyouevny Kpiow 
TeV diK@v afvov dyac Bas, Score kareibe TOUS TOTE 
avOpémous Hyyoupévous évapyas eivat Oeovs, 
eixoTes, are Kara TOV TOTe Xpovov tov Torov 
éx Gedy dvtwv, av els Hv avTos, WS ye AOYOs. 
€otxe 51) Sixacth bev avOporrav ovdevi dravoov~ 
pevos deiy emiTpeTel, Oeois dé, b0ev amhai ral 
Taxetae dixkar éxpivovT avT@* Sid0ds yap Tepi 
éxaoT@Y TOV dpdic Bntoupeven dpxov Tos 
audits Bnrovew amnd\XaTTETO TAX Kal acparas. 
vov dé OTE 61) Hépos bev TL, paper, avOparov TO 
Taparray ovx, nyouvTat Geovs, oi 6€ ov ppovriver 
Lav aurous Siavoobyrat, Tov 6é 61) TAELTTWOV 
éotl Kai xaxiotwov 1 Sofa ws oputxpa Seyopevos 
Oipata Kal Owreias TOANA cUVaTOOTEpPOvaL 
Xpypata Kal peyddov odds éxdvovTar Kata 
Tora Cnurav, ovKére d1) Tois viv avOpw@rros 7 
‘PadapavOvos dv ein téxvn mpérovoa év dixats. 





1 ¢.e. after superannuation. 2 Cp. 855 C. 
3 Cp. 886 D ff, 891 B ff. 


496 








LAWS, BOOK XII 


of the living! members of the body of examiners 
themselves, and, in addition to these, of the Bench 
of select judges ;? and he who indicts anyone shall 
state in his indictment that the person in question 
is unworthy of his distinctions and of his office; and 
if the defendant be convicted, he shall be deprived 
of his office and of his tomb, and of the other privileges 
granted to him; but if the prosecutor fails to gain 
one-fifth of the votes, he shall pay twelve minas if 
he be of the highest class,—if of the second, eight, 
—if of the third, six,—and if of the fourth, two 
minas. - 

Rhadamanthys deserves admiration for the way in 
which, as we are told, he judged cases of law, in 
that he perceived that the men of his time had a 
clear belief in the existence of gods,—and naturally 
so, seeing that most men at that time were the 
offspring of gods, he himself among others, as the 
story declares. Probably he thought that he ought 
not to entrust lawsuits to any man, but only to 
gods, from whom he obtained verdicts that were 
both simple and speedy; for he administered an 
oath to the disputants regarding each matter in 
dispute, and thus secured a speedy and safe settle- 
ment. But nowadays, when, as we say,’ a certain 
section of mankind totally disbelieve in gods, and 
others hold that they pay no regard to us men, 
while a third party, consisting of the most and worst 
of men, suppose that in return for small offerings 
and flatteries the gods lend them aid in committing 
large robberies, and often set them free from great 
penalties—under such conditions, for men as they 
now are, the device of Rhadamanthys would no 
longer be appropriate in actions at law. Since, 

497 


VOL, II. K K 


PLATO 


D petaBeBrAnxuidy otv tav epi Ocors SoEdv év 
Tois avOpwomrots pweTaBdrrEw Kp?) Kal TOdS VOMOUS" 
év yap Ankeor Suxdv Tods peta vod TiWEpévovs 
vouous eEarpeiv det TOUS Spxous Tov avrTid.covvT@v 
éxatépov, Kal TOV Aayxavovra TO Twa, Sieny Ta 
pev eye hnuara ypadeu, 6 SpKov 88 Bay érouvivat, 
Kal Tov devyovTa Kata TavTa TY dpynow 

ypabavta tapadodvat Tots dpxoveup av@MOTOV. 
devvov yap Tov ducav yy ev moder Tohh@v 
yevopévev ev eldévat o uLKpod dety ToUs Hpioes 

E aur av eTL@pPKNKOTAS, eV Eveoutios TE adraprots 
eV XEPOS ovyylyvopévous cal év adhaus cuvovataus 
Te Kal iovwtikals ouyyernrerw ExaoTo@v. vopmos 
én Keio bw Sucaarhy pev opvivae Oundferv péd- 
AovTa, Kal TOV Tas apxas TO Kow@ katioravtTa 

949 dv’ Sprev 7) dua popas pibon, ad’ lepav pépovta, 
dpav adel Td ToLodTov, Kal KpiTnv ad Yyopav Kal 
Tans Hovarts Kal yup aD TE Kal immTriK@y 
a0 hav émiataTas Kal BpaPéas Kal amdvtT@p 
omToca a) péper _Képdos KaTa TI av0 pwrivny 
b0€av T@ €7LopKouvTe’ TOV dé omdca eEapyndévre 
kai eLopocaper KépSos péya havepdy elvar Soxei, 
TavTa 6€ bua Sixav Opkav  Xepls xpiverOat 

B Evumavtas TOUS émixaodyras ANA} OLS. kal TO 
TapaTay ev diy TOUS Mpoedpous 442) emer pemely 
pajre OmyeyTe éyeu muOavorntos Xap pate 
eTrap@mevoy éauT@ Kat yevet MaTE ineretaus 
Xp@mevov aoKXn ort bate olKTOLS yuvarkeious, 
aXXa TO Sixarov bev” evdnuias biddoKovra Kal 
pavOavovta del Svatereiv, ei dé un, KaOdtrep EEw 





1 Cp. 934 E. 
498 


eS ss 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


therefore, the opinions of men about the gods have 
changed, so also must their laws change. In legal 
actions laws that are framed intelligently ought to 
debar both litigants from taking oaths; he that is 
bringing an action against anyone ought to write 
down his charges, but swear no oath, and the 
defendant in like manner ought to write down his 
denial and hand it to the magistrates without an 
oath. For truly it is a horrible thing to know full 
well that, inasmuch as lawsuits are frequent in a 
State, well-nigh half the citizens are perjurers, 
although they have no scruple in associating with 
one another at common meals and at other public 
and private gatherings. So it shall be laid down 
by law that a judge shall take an oath when he 
is about to give judgment, and likewise oaths shall 
be taken by him who is appointing public officials 
by voting under oath or by bringing his votes from 
a sacred spot, and by the judge of choirs or of 
any musical performance, and by the presidents and 
umpires of gymnastic and horse-racing contests, or 
of any matters which do not, in human opinion, 
bring gain to him who commits perjury. But in all 
cases where it obviously appears that a large gain 
will accrue to him who denies stoutly and swears 
ignorance, all the contending parties must be judged 
by trials without oaths, And in general, during 
a trial, the presidents of the court shall not permit 
a man to speak under oath for the sake of gaining 
credence, or to imprecate curses upon himself and 
his family, or to make use of unseemly supplications 
and womanish sobbings, but only and always to 
state and hear what is just in proper language ;! 
otherwise, the magistrate shall check him for 


499 
K K 2 


PLATO 


Tob oryou A€éyorTos, TOUS dpxovras wadw éra- 
varyew els (TOV mepl Tob mpadypatos adel Aoyor. 
Eévw 8 elvat mpos Eévovs, kaldrep ta viv, 
déxeaBai TE dpkous Tap adrAnrov, av eéXwct, 

C Kai didovar Kuplos: ov yap kataynpdcovaty ovd" 
évveoT TevovTes év TH Tohet @$ TO TOA TOLOVTOUS 
adXous Kuplous TH xepas mapéEovrat Evytpo- 
ous: Suey Te Tepl Ankews TOV avTov TpoTrov 
eivat Tpos GAAHnAOUS TaoL THY Kpiow. 

“Oca tis €dXevOepos areOet TH Tor, pNT Ovv 
Tryyav aka pnd ad deapav pnde Gavarou, 
mept Oé xopetas TWODV porryjoewy o TOM Teva EwV 
i) TOLOUT@Y TWOY aAXov Kowa Koo pHa Ew 7) 

D devroupyav, oroca epi Ovoias elpyvects i) TONE- 
puK@v ela popav eivera, TavTOV TOV TOLOUT@V iid 
Tporny avaryeny TAT TEL eivat Tas* 1 Enpias, Tots dé 
pa) mevBopévors € éveyupaciav TOUTOLS ois av modus 
apa Kal vopos _elomparrey TpooTatTy, Tov 6é 
ameBouvTov Tals évexvpaciars mMpaci TOV éVveE- 

Upwv eivaL, TO éé VOmLo pa yeyver Par TH TONE” 
éav O€ Enuias déwvTat Tetovos, Tas apxas éxd- 
atas Tois ameBodar Tas TpeTroveas Cnmias emrt- 

E Badxrovaas elo dryer els TO duxacTyptov, & éws av 
eOeAyjowot dpav TO mpoarax der, 

TloXer 5€ Ares av pajre xXpnmarignras may TOV 
ex Is XPnMaT vc mov par euTropednral, Tept atro- 
dnpias € éavTav é&@ Tis Yopas Kal Eéveov drodoxiis 
adroVev  avdyKn Repovreiabas tt yp Spar. 


1 rdrrew. .. TAS? daThy . . . THs Mss, (raxthy Winck.) 


rors 





1 Cp. 850 B ff. 
500 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


digressing from the point, and shall call him back 
to deal with the matter in hand. In the case of 
resident aliens dealing with aliens, it shall be 
permitted them, as now, to give and receive oaths 
of a binding character one from another, if so they 
choose,—for these men will not grow old in the 
State? nor, as a rule, will they make their nest in 
it, and rear up others like themselves to become 
nataralised in the country; and in respect of the 
private actions they bring against one another, 
they shall all have the same privilege during the 
trial 


In all cases where a free man disobeys the State, 
not by acts deserving of stripes, imprisonment or 
death, but in respect of matters such as attendance 
at festivals or processions or public ceremonies of 
a similar kind—matters involving either a sacrifice 
in peace or a contribution in time of war,—in all 
such cases the first necessity is to assess the penalty ; 
in case of disobedience, those officers whom the 
State and the law appoint to exact the penalty 
shall take a pledge; and if any disregard the pledg- 
ings, the things pledged shall be sold, and the price 
shall go to the State; and if a greater penalty 
be required, the official proper in each case shall 
impose on the disobedient the suitable penalties and 
shall summon them before the court, until they 
consent to do what they are bidden. 

For a State which makes no money except from 
the produce of its soil, and which does not engage 
in commerce, it is necessary to determine what 
action it ought to take regarding the emigration 
of its citizens te outside countries and the admission 
of aliens from elsewhere. In giving counsel con- 


501 


PLATO 


oupPovrevew oop Tov vomobérny Set tovTev TEpL 
mp@rov reiPovta eis divapuy. mépuce bé 7) 
TONEY émiurEia Tmodeow On Kepavvevar TAaVTO- 
data, Katvoropuias arXnrots ET OLOUYT@Y févov 
950 Eévous 6 82) Tots pev ed TOMTEVOMEVOLS bua vopoy 
opbay BraBny a ay pépor peyioTnv TagOv, Tais bé€ 
TrELT TALS TOAECLY, ATE ovda“as ebvopoupevats, 
oudev Siad éper puper Bau Sexouévous T év avutois 4 
Eévous Kal. avTous eis Tas. a\Aas émixapatovras 
TONES, oTav emeOugmrjon Tls amoonpias omyoby 
Kal omore eiTe véos elTe Kal mpeaBurepos o Ov. TO 
& av unre adous déxer Oar pare avTous adrooe 
amobnpeiv & apa pev OvK  &yxepet TO ye Tapdrav, 
B ére dé airyprov kal amnves gaivoir’ av tots adXots 
avOpwrots, 6 ovopact TE Naren ois Taioe Neyouévars 
Eevnraciats Ypwpévous al T porous avdadeot Kal 
Xarerois, @s Soxotey av. xpi Se ovmore mepl 
THLKPOD Tmoveta Oat TO Soxety ayabods elvat ToLS 
aAXoLS 7) 7) Soxeiv. ov yap dcov ovcias aperiis 
amreo parpevor TuyxXavovow Oi ToAXol, ToaouTov 
Kal TOU Kpivew Tovs adous, dco.” movnpot Kal 
XPNTT OL, Geiov dé Te Kal eVaTOXOV éverte Kal 
TOLL KaKots, OTE mapmoXoe Kal. TaV spodpa 
C kana eV Tots hoyous Kal Tabs SoEaus Svatpodurae 
TOUS dpeivous Tov avOpwaTorv Kab Tavs Xeipovas. 
610 KaXov Tats Torais TONECL TO Tapaxéreupma 
€oTl, TpoTiuay thy evdokiay mpos TOV TOAAOY. 


1 + é& atrois Stallbaum: te abrots MSS. 
2 Sco: MSS. marg., Stallb.: of MSS., Zur., ai: 


1 Cp. 704 KE, 

* By a law of Lycurgus, strangers were forbidden to reside 
at Sparta; cp. Aristoph. Av. 1012 éerep &vy Aakedaluov 
tevnAarovvrat. 3 Cp. Meno 99 B, C. 


502 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


cerning these matters the lawgiver must begin by 
using persuasion, so far as he can. The intermixture 
of States with States naturally results in a blending of 
characters of every kind, as strangers import among 
strangers novel customs: and this result would 
cause immense damage to peoples who enjoy a good 
polity under right laws; but the majority of States 
are by no means well governed, so that to them it, 
makes no difference if their population is mixed 
through the citizens admitting strangers and through 
their own members visiting other States whenever 
any one of them, young or old, at any time or place, 
desires to go abroad. Now for the citizens to refuse 
altogether either to admit others or to go abroad 
themselves is by no means a possible policy, and, 
moreover, it would appear to the rest of the world 
to be both churlish and cross-grained, since they 
would get the reputation of adopting harsh language, 
such as that of the so-called “Aliens Expulsion 
Acts,” 2 and methods both tyrannical and severe; 
and reputation in the eyes of others, whether for 
goodness or the reverse, is a thing that should never 
be lightly esteemed. For the majority of men, 
even though they be far removed from real goodness 
themselves, are not equally lacking in the power 
of judging whether others are bad or good; and 
even in the wicked there resides a divine and 
correct intuition,? whereby a vast number even of 
the extremely wicked distinguish aright, in their 
speech and opinions, between the better men and 
the worse. Accordingly, for most States, the ex- 
hortation to value highly a good public reputation 
is a right exhortation. The most correct and most 
important rule is this,—that the man who pursues 


593 


D 


E 


951 


PLATO 


\ A \ > / A / ” > \ 
TO “ev yap OpOoTaTov Kai péyrotov bvTa ayabov 
adnOas obtw@ Tov evdoEov Blov Onpevew, xwpis é 

nr , }- + > , ‘ \ 
pndap@s, Tov ye TédXeov avdpa écomevov. Kal dy 

\ nr \ , , / ’ / 
kal TH Kata Kpnrny oixifopévn ode tpétrov av 
ein S0fav mpos TaY aXXov avOpoTrwv OTL KAarKIC- 
Thy Te Kal apioTny TapacKevales Oar Tpos apeTHy 
maoa & édTis avTny éx TOY EiKOT@Y, aVTEp KATA 
Aoyov yiyvynTaL, pet GAiywv prov dYecOat Kal 
Tous adXous Oeods €v tats evvomors TOdEoL Kal 
yepats. 

*O8e odv ypyn Toveiv rept atrodnpias eis adKaS 
xX@pas Kal tomous Kal mepl troboyis Eévav. 
Tp@Tov pev vewTép@ eTaY TeTTAPaKOVTA Un ekéEoTH 
aroénphoa pndauh pndapas, ere re idla pndevi, 

4 7” la a , a , 
Snpocta 6 cor@ xiputev i) wpeaBetats iH) Kat Twat 
Gewpois' tas b€ Kata Todenov Kal oTpateias 
> , > > > la lal »” 
amrodnpmias ovK éy éxdnpiats TodTiKals akLov 
> tA ¢ 4 PA , an ? , 
ayopevew @s TovTav ovcas: IlvOade 7H *AmroA- 
Awe Kai eis ‘OdXvprriav to Ati kai eis Nepéav 
kal eis "loOnov ypi Téutrewy, kowv@vodvtas Ovctav 
Te Kal aywvwv TovTOLs Tots Oeois, méumety Se Eis 
dvvapty 6TL TrELa TOUS Gua Kal KaAXiaTOUS TE Kal 
apiartous, oitives evdoKipov THY TOAD év iepais Te 
kal eipnvixais avvovotats troijoovat Soxeiv, Tots 

\ \ , > , > , fe 
Tepl TOV TOAEMOV aVTiaTpopov aTodLoovTes Sons 

/ > , \ ¥ 8 4, \ 
TmapacKkeunv, EMovtes b€ oixade bidaEovet Tods 

, ov , Noe oe ” > ‘ hg " 

véous Ott SevTepa Ta TOV AdrOV éoTL romtpa TA 
\ \ f \ x »” > 

mepl Tas TodTEelas. Oewpods Sé adXous exTréu- 

504 


KK — —-—_— 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


after a good reputation should himself be truly 
good, and that he should never pursue it without 
goodness (if he is to be really a perfect man); and 
furthermore, as regards the State we are founding 
in Crete, it would well become it to gain for itself 
in the eyes of the rest of the world the best and 
noblest reputation possible for goodness; and if it 
develop according to plan, there is every hope that, 
as is natural, it (and but few others) will be num- 
bered among the well-ordered States and countries 
upon which the Sun and all the other gods look 
down. 

In regard, therefore, to the question of going abroad 
to other lands and places and of the admission of 
foreigners we must act as follows :—First, no man 
under forty years old shall be permitted to go abroad 
to any place whatsoever; next, no man shall be per- 
mitted to go abroad in a private capacity, but in a 
public capacity permission shall be granted to heralds, 
embassies, and. certain commissions of inspection. 
Military expeditions in war it would be improper to 
reckon among official visits abroad. It is right that 
embassies should be sent to Apollo at Pytho and 
to Zeus at Olympia, and to Nemea and the Isthmus, 
to take part in the sacrifices and games in honour 
of these gods; and it is right also that the am- 
bassadors thus sent should be, so far as is practicable, 
as numerous, noble and good as possible,—men who 
will gain for the State a high reputation in the 
sacred congresses of peace, and confer on it a 
glorious repute that will rival that of its warriors; 
and these men, when they return home, will teach 
the youth that the political institutions of other 
countries are inferior to theirown. Also, they ought 


59S 


PLATO 


Tew xpewy Tovovade TLVAaS TOUS vopopuhakas 
Mapewevous- a tives ertOupaace TOV TOMTOV TA 
TOV ddrov avOperav Tpaypata Oewpnoat KaTa 
TWa mreto o ony, amecpyéroo pndels TOUTOUS 

B vopos. ouTe yap atretpos ovoa TOMS avOparov 
KAKOY Kal ayabov Svvaur’ av ore, dvopidntos 
ovca, TEpOS (KAVOS elva Kal TEAEOS, ove av 
Tovs vowous Siagudarrew a aveu TOU youn AaBely 
avToUS, GANG p27) povov ecu. elal yap év Tois 
ToAols avOpwrrot ael Oeioi tives, oO TOAXKOL, TaV- 
TOs o aEvou EvyyiyverOau, puopevor ovdey HadXov 
év eUvomoupevals TOAETLY 7) Kal un, OV KAT ixVOS 
ael xen Tov ép Tats evvopoupevars Too Lv 
oixobvra éEvovtTa Kara Oddarrav Kal yiv Snreiv, 

C bs av adidpOapros 7; Ta _pev BeBavotpevov TOV 
vopimov, doa KaX@s avTors Ketrat, Ta & émavop- 
ovpevor, el TL mapanetrerae. avev yap Tavrns 
THs Oewpias Kal Entncews ob pevet! rote TEXws 
mods, ovd av KaKos auTny Oewpaow. 

KA. IIds ody av yeyvorr’ duporepa. ; ; 

Ao. Tpée. _ MPOrov HEV 0 Gewpos 0 ToLovTos 
Huiv yeyovms Extw TAELOVMOY TOY 7) TEVTHKOVTA, 
étt O€ TOV EvdoKi“~wY Ta Te GANA Kal Eis TOV 
TONEMOV €oTW ryEyEvNMEVOS, ec péAReL TO TOV 

D vopopudaxcv doypa? eis Tas addXas peOrjoew 
Tones’ mAéov O€ eEneovta.. “ryeryoves eTav pnKete 
Jewocitw. Oewpnoas 5é omoc’ av ern BovrnOy 


1 weve? Wagner : peves MSS. 
2 Séyua Madvig: de?yua MSS., edd, 





1 Cp. Rep. 619 A. 
506 


— rrr 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


to send out other inspecting commissioners (when 
they have obtained leave from the Law-wardens) of 
the following kind :—If any of the citizens desire to 
survey the doings of the outside world in a leisurely 
way, no law shall prevent them; for a State that 
is without experience of bad men and good would 
never be able (owing to its isolation) to become 
fully civilized and perfect, nor would it be able 
to safeguard its laws unless it grasped them, not 
by habit only, but also by conviction.1 Amongst 
the mass of men there always exist—albeit in small 
numbers—men that are divinely inspired; inter- 
course with such men is of the greatest value, and 
they spring up in badly-governed States just as 
much as in those that are well governed. In search 
of these men it is always right for one who dwells 
in a well-ordered State to go forth on a voyage 
of enquiry by land and sea, if so be that he himself 
is incorruptible, so as to confirm thereby such of 
his native laws as are rightly enacted, and to amend 
any that are deficient. For without this inspection 
and enquiry a State will not permanently remain 
perfect, nor again if the inspection be badly con- 
ducted. 

cin. How, then, might both these objects be 
secured ? 

atu. In this way. First, our overseas inspector 
shall be more than fifty years old; secondly, he 
shall have proved himself a man of high repute 
both in military and other affairs, if it is intended 
that he shall be despatched into other States with 
the approval of the Law-wardens ; but when he has 
passed sixty years of age, he shall cease to act as 
inspector. When he has been inspecting for as 


b red? 


952 


PLATO 


TOV déxa Kat adixdpevos oixade eis TOV obdKoyov 
ira Tov TOV mepl vOMouUsS emomTevovT@v. obTos eS 
éore véov Kat m peo Burépwv HELLY HEVOS, ExadoTns 
bev nwépas: ou eyouevos e& avaryKns an opOpov 
PEXpLTED av Aros avacxy,* TpOTov bev Tov 
fepewy TOV TA dpa reta en porov, éreiTa TOV 
vopopuddakay TOUS del mpeo Bevovtas déxa, € ete be 
o rept TiS mratdelas maons empehnr ns 6 Te véos 
ot Te ex THs apxns TavTys dmmrRarypevor. ExagTos 
d€ TovTwY p71) movos, GAN itw peta véou amo 
TPLAKOVTA ETOY péxpL TeTTAPaKOWTA, TOY apéo- 
KOVTa avT@® TpocdapBavev. tHv b€ cuvoveiay 
elvat TovTOLs Kal TOUS AOYOUS TEpPL VOwwY adel THS 
TE oiketas Toews mépt, Kal €av ado. muv0 dvev- 
Tab TL TEpl TOV TOLOUT@Y Siapépov, kai 5 Kal 
rept pabnuarev, om0a ay év TavTy TH onewer 
box} ouppéperv [a]? wadodor pev evaryéorepov 
yiyvecbat, 11) paboiar 5é oKoTwdéaTEpa 7a mept 
vowous avrois paiverGar Kail acadi. a e av 
TOUT@D éyKpivact ot YEpaitepot, TOUS VEwTEpoUS 
Taon oT OVOn pavOaver, € éav 6€ Ts avaktos So0x7 
TOV Tapaxexn1évov elvat, TO mapaxahodvTt 
pepper bau Tov Tuhoyov Sdov: Tods evookt- 
podvTas TOUTMY TOY véwr duArAadTTELY THY aAANV 
Tod, atToBrérrovtas eis adTovs Svadeportws Te 
THpovvTas, Kal Tewdy pev katopbobvras, arpa lew 
5é parXrov TOV arrow, éav arroBaivect xelpous 
TOV TOAA@Y. «is 6%) ToOvTOY TOV aUANOYOY Oo 


1 avdoxn MSS. : avioxn Zur., vulg. 
2 [&] om. in MSS.: added by MS. marg., Zur., vulg. 





1 Cp. 908 A, 909 A. 2 (ip. 807 D & 
508 





=r 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


many years out of the ten as he wishes and has 
returned home, he shall go to the synod! of those 


who supervise the laws; and this synod shall be a hp 
mixed body of young men and old ser is ovlged 3 399 


to meet every day between daw sunris 
Shall “consist; first; of the priests a ret oer 77 


the award of merit,’ and secondly, of the ten senior’ — 
Law-wardens; and it shall also include the Presi- 
dent of Education who. has been last appointed, and 
his predecessors in office as well. None of these 
members shall go alone, but each of them shall 
bring with him a companion—a young man, selected 
by himself, between thirty and forty years old. 
Their conference and discourse shall deal always 
with the subject of laws and of their own State, 
and with anything important they may have learnt 
elsewhere which bears on this subject, or any 
branches of knowledge which are thought likely to 
assist in their enquiry, in that the learning of them 
helps towards a clearer view of legal matters, 
whereas ignorance of them conduces to a view that 
is dim and blurred. Whatsoever of these matters 
are approved by the elder members the younger 
shall learn with all diligence; and should any of 
the young men invited to attend be deemed un- 
worthy, the person who has invited him shall be 
censured by the whole synod, but such of them 
as are held in good repute shall be watched over 
by the rest of the citizens, who shall regard and 
observe them with special care, honouring them 
when they do right, but dishonouring them more 
than other men if they turn out worse than most. 
To this synod he that has inspected the legal in- 


5 Cp. 946 E. 
5°9 


PLATO AJ 


Gewpnoas Ta év tois aAXowts avOp@rots vouipa 
adixopevos evOvds tropevécOw, kal ef tiva dhpnv 
tTwav Tept Oécews vopwv 4 Tratdelas 7) Tpodhs 
edpé tivas exovtas dpatew, eite Kal avtos vevon- 
K@S ATTA HKOL, KOLVOUTM TO TUANOYO ATravTL Kal 
C éav te pndev xeipwrv ndé te BeXtiov Hew So€n, 
yapw yoo THs chddpa mpoOvyias aiveicOw: éav 
5€ word Bertiov, word 7 érratveioOw wadrov Cov 
TeMevTHoarTa Te Tipais avTov TpoonKkovoas » 
TOV cUAXEYoUEeVOY Ti“aTw Svvapmis. éav be Sie- 
PO appEvos adicea Oar d0En, pndevi Evyyuyvec Ow 
pte véw pajre mpea Burépy T poo Tov 1evos elvan 
copes. Kal éay pev meiOntar trois apyovow, 
idu@tns tntw, éav dé py, TeOvatw, édv y év 
Sixactnpi@ adXk@ TodvTpaypwov@v Te Tepl THY 
Tatdeiav Kal Tovs vopous, eav 6€ aéLoy ovtTa eis 
D dicactypiov eiodye apxovtov pndels eladyn, 
dverdos atroxeicOw Tois apXovow. €is. THY TOY 
dpuarelov dvadixactav. ru 
‘O pév odv éxdnudv otto Kal ToLodTos ap 
exdnpeito, Tov & eioemdnijoavra pera ToUTOV 
xp? puroppoveta ar. TETTAPES e celal Eevoe Ov 
det mépe oyov tia moveio Oat. 6 pey o) TP@TOS 
te kai 81a. tédous del Gepivos as 7a TOA 
SiateA@v Tals hornoect, kaDaTep oi TOY dpvibwr 
E dvatropevopevot, Kat tovtTwy of moXdol Kata 
Odrattav atexvas olov TeTopmevot Xpnuatio pov 





1 Cp. 915 D. 
510 





se 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


stitutions of other peoples shall repair immediately 
after his return home; and if he has discovered 
any persons able to declare any oracle regarding 
legislation or education or nurture, or if he has 
brought back any personal observations of his own, 
he shall communicate them to the whole synod; 
and if it appear that he has come back in no respect 
worse (nor yet any better) than when he went, still 
because of his extreme zeal he shall be commended ; 
while if it appear that he has come back much 
better, he shall be much more highly commended 
during his life, and when dead, due honours shall 
be paid to him by the synod’s authority. But if, 
on the other hand, such an inspector appear to be 
corrupted on his return, in spite of his pretensions 
to wisdom, he shall be forbidden to associate with 
anyone, young or old; wherein if he obeys the 
magistrates, he shall live as a private person, but 
if not, he shall be put to death—if, that is to 
say, he be convicted in a court of law of being a 
meddler in respect of education and the laws. And 
if, when such an one deserves to be summoned 
before a court, none of the magistrates summons 
him, the magistrates shall be censured at the ad- 
judication of awards of merit. 

Such, then, shall be the character and the pro- 
cedure of him that travels abroad. Next to him we 
must deal in friendly wise with the visitor from abroad. 
There are four types of stranger which call for mention. 
The first and inevitable immigrant is the one who 
chooses summer,’ as a rule, for his annual visits, 
in the fashion of migratory birds—and, like birds, 
the most of these cross the sea, just as if they had 
wings, for the sake of making gain by their trading, 


511 


953 


C 


PLATO 


Xap Eu Mopevopevor érous apa TETOVTAL TPOS 
Tas addas Toes" Sv ayopais Kal Arpeoe cal 
Snpociors oikodopunmacty 0) Ths TONES pos TH 
TONEL brodéxer Pau Xpr ToVvs El TOVTOLS dpxovras 
TETAYMEVOUS, purdrrovras pn) veorepity Tis Th 
TOV TOLOUT@Y Eevov, Kal dixas avtois opbas 
Sravepovras, a avayKkata pév, @s ON ytaTa 8 em LXpo- 
peevous. 0 0€ deuTepos, 6 Oppbacw OVTOS Bewpos 6 éca 
te Movoay @oly eVveTat ewpiypara: TO On 
TOLOVT@® TaVvTL Ypi) KaTAaNVGELS mpos iepots eivat 
girokeviacs avOpomov Taper KEVvATHEVAS, xp? 6é 
Kal T@v ToLOUTwY iepéas TE Kal VEWKOpPOUS éTI- 
pereiobar Kat Thpereiv, &wst ay tov pet pov 
emipetvavtes xpovov, idovTes Te Kal aKovoavTes 
av xdpw adixovro, aBraBeis rod dpacat Te «al 
madetv arrardarrovrar Sixac ras & avrois evar 
TOUS iepéas, édy adeny TUS avTa@v Tia n Tv adXov 
cdouKh) TLS TOUTMY boa évToOs Spaxmay TEVTHKOVT A” 
€av 8 TL peifov eye hynpa autos yoyntat, T pos 
Tots aryopavasots eivat det diKas Tots TOLOUTOLS. 
Tpitov dé Eévov brodéxer Gat xP?) Snpooig TOV 
Kata TL Sn pda tov eg adhns YoOpas éguypévov" ov 
orpaTyyois TE Kat immapxows Kal Takiapxors 
modexteov éatl Movers, THY 7 err pe deav TOV 
ToLouT@Y neta TOV mpuTaveov mountéov éxeiv@ 
map’ éT@ TUS av aut av TW Katdduo w Eevaabels 
TOUjonT a pov. TérapTos. dé ay more TUS adixn- 
Tal, o mdvLos pév, av & ody moré Tus €XOn TOV 
Tap piv Cewpov avriot popos é& ads Yopas, 


éws MSS.: éxws MSS. marg., Zur, 


512 











LAWS, BOOK XII 


and fly over to foreign cities during the summer 
season; this stranger must be received, when he 
comes to the city, at the markets, harbours, and 
public buildings outside the city, by the officials 
in charge thereof; and they shall have a care 
lest any such strangers introduce any innovation, 
and they shall duly dispense justice to them, and 
shall hold such intercourse as is necessary with 
them, but to the least extent possible. The second 
type of stranger is he who is an inspector, in the 
literal sense, with his eyes, and with his ears also 
of all that appertains to musical exhibitions: for all 
such there must be lodgings provided at the temples, 
to afford them friendly accommodation, and the 
priests and temple-keepers must show them care 
and attention, until they have sojourned for a 
reasonable length of time and have seen and heard 
all that they intended; after which, if no harm has 
been done or suffered by them, they shall be dismissed. 
And for these the priests shall act as judges, in 
case anyone injures one of them or one of them 
injures anyone else, if the claim does not exceed fifty 
drachmae ; but if any greater claim is made, the trial 
for such strangers must take place before the market- 
stewards. The third type which requires a public 
reception is he who comes from another country 
on some public business: he must be received by 
none but the generals, hipparchs and taxiarchs, 
and the care of a stranger of this kind must be 
entirely in the hands of the official with whom 
he lodges, in conjunction with the prytaneis. The 
fourth type of stranger comes rarely, if ever: should 
there, however, come at any time from another 
country an inspector similar to those we send 


533 


VOL, II. LL 


954 


PLATO 


Tpa@tov pev eXaTTOV éTaV pndey TEVTHKOVTA 
yeyovws Ertw, Tpos TOUT@ 5é aEtav TL Kadov ideiv 
TOV év tais ddXats TOrET Siadépov év KadXovais 
1) Kal detEai TL KaTa TavTa addy Tone. ite pev 
viv das aKéhevaT os 0 ToLovTOS él Tas TOV 
mougiwy Kal copay Ovpas, TOLOUTOS Erepos 
autos wv: én yap TV TOD Tis mardelas 
émrupehoupevov maons oiknow ito mioTevov 
ixavas eivat Eévos 7 TOLOUT® Eéve, a) TH Tov 
vixnpopov Tivos em peri Evvev 6é TovTev 
Tiol TO pev SiddEas, TO b€ wabov amadraTTécOo, 
piros Tapa pirov S@pos Kal Trpats mperrovoars 
Timm ets. TovTols 67) Tots vopots dmodéxeaOat TE 
xen mavTas Eévous TE Kal Eévas é& adrs Xepas 
Kal Tous avuTov cxrréwmely, TiOvTas Eéviov 
Aia, pa) Spo@pact Kat Ovpact Tas Eevnhactas 
TroLoupevous, xa dmep moLovor vov Opempara 
Neidou, pnde Knpvypacty aypiots. 

"Eyyinv jv av éyyuatai tis, diappydny ey- 
yuacOw, TH mpakw Tacav Soporoyoupevos év 
ocuyypadn Kal évavtiov paptipev pun éaTTov Y] 
TpLOV, Oca evTOS XiMon, Ta © vmép Mas a) 
éXaTTov % mTévTe. eyyuntys pev 69 Kab Oo 
mpoTohav oTlodyv TOD un evdiKas TodobVTOS 7 
Kal unoauas akvox pew" umodixos 8 éotw Kal o 
mpoTwrav, Kabdmep 6 atrodomevos. 





1 i.e. by forbidding their presence at ceremonial feasts ; 
or, because (as Grote says) ‘‘ the Egyptian habits as to eating 
and sacrifice were intolerably repulsive to a foreigner.” 

2 Cp. 950 A, B. 


514 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


abroad, he shall come on these conditions :—First, 
he shall be not less than fifty years old; and 
secondly, his purpose in coming must be to view 
some noble object which is superior in beauty to 
anything to be found in other States, or else to 
display to another State something of that descrip- 
tion. Every visitor of this kind shall go as an 
unbidden guest to the doors of the rich and wise, 
he being both rich and wise himself; and he shall 
go also to the abode of the General Superintendent 
of Education, believing himself to be a proper 
guest for such a host, or to the house of one of 
those who have won a prize for virtue; and when 
he has communed with some of these, by the giving 
and receiving of information, he shall take his 
departure, with suitable gifts and distinctions be- 
stowed on him as a friend by friends. Such are 
the laws in conformity with which they must receive 
all strangers, of either sex, from another country, 
and send out their own citizens; thus doing honour 
to Zeus, Patron of Strangers, instead of expelling 
strangers by means of meats and ceremonies! (as is 
now done by the nurslings of the Nile), or else by 
savage proclamations.? 

If anyone gives a security, he shall give it in 
express terms, setting forth the whole transaction 
in a written record ; and this he shall do before not 
less than three witnesses, if the amount be under 
1,000 drachmae, and before not less than five, if it be 
over 1,000. The broker in a sale shall act as security 
for the seller should the latter have no real right to 
the goods sold or be quite unable to guarantee their 
possession; and the broker shall be legally liable 
equally with the seller. 


515 
LL2 


PLATO 


Pwpav dé a ay cern Tis TL Tap or@oby, yupvos 
[7]? 1 yuTwvioKov Xan, alworos, Tpoouoras Tovs 
vopt ous Oeods 7 pay édmrivew evpyce, ovTw 
dapdv: o &é TapexeT@o THY oikiav, Ta Te ceon- 
pac neva Kal Ta ao yjpavra, dopav. éay é TUS 
épevvay Bovropevy hopgv Bn 8:80, dixdleaPar bev 
TOV am etpy oprevov TLuna dpevov TO epevvapevor, 

B av 6é tis pry, THY Suthaciav TOU TenOevTos 
Bra Bnv ex riven. éay d6€ arodnpav oixias 
Seamorns TUYXaV), Ta pev AonMavTA TApPEYOVT@V 
ol evoLtKoDVTES épeuvdy, Ta oe ceonwacpéva 
Tapacnunvac bo Kal ov av e0éXy dvvNaKa Ka- 
TacTnTaTe TevTE npepas 0 popav éav 8é 
mreiova Xpovov ath, TOUS do TUvOMoUS Tapa- 
AaBav ottawa popate, vor Kal Ta ceonpac eva, 

C radu be pera TOY olKel@y Kal TOV aoTUPOMwY 
Kata TavTa onunvdacbo. 

Tév d.puduo Bytrnoipov Xpovov <6de>* Gpos, dv 
€av TLS 7} KEKTNMLEVOS, NKET aupic Byreiv éFeivar. 
Yo pia@v pev olKnce@y Te THde ovK éor appio By- 
THOS" TOV bé a eov 6 Te a TH exTNwEVvOS > éav 
pev KaTa doru Kal Kat ayopav Kal lepa yp@pmevos 
paivntar Kal paoels émuhaSnrat, pn oe Enreiv 
TovTOV Tov _xpovor, o 6é pH GrroxpuT To pevos 
pavepos 7} 7}, CAV OUTW TLS éveauTov oTLooV ExT NUEVOS, 

Do 6&€ fntav siayévovtat, pr e&éot@ ToLtovTov 


, th ] bracketed by Hermann. 
2 < é3e > added by W. R. Paton, England (3: some 
MSS). 





' Cp. Aristoph. Nwb. 500, 966. 
516 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


If anyone wishes to make a search! on any man’s 
premises, he shall strip to his shirt and wear no 
girdle, and when he has first taken an oath by 
the appointed gods that of a truth he expects to find 
the object, he shall make his search; and the other 
man shall grant him the right to search his house, 
including things both sealed and unsealed. But if, 
when a man desires to search, the other party refuses 
leave, the man so prevented shall take legal pro- 
ceedings, assessing the value of the object sought ; 
and any man thus convicted shall pay as damages 
twice the value of the object assessed. And if the 
master of the house happens to be away from home, 
the occupants shall allow, the claimant to search 
what is unsealed, and he that searches shall counter- 
seal what is sealed, and shall set any man he chooses 
to stand guard over it for five days; and if the 
master be absent longer, the claimant shall call in 
the city-stewards, and so make his search, in which 
he shall open also what is sealed, and he shall seal 
this up again in the same way in the presence of the 
household and of the city-stewards, 

In cases of disputed claims there must be a limit of 
time, after which it shall be no longer possible to 
dispute the claim of the person in possession, In 
our State no dispute is possible in respect of lands or 
houses; but in respect of anything else which a man 
has acquired, if the possessor be seen to be using it in 
the city, market, and temple, and if no one lays claim 
to it,—then if some man asserts that he has been 
looking for it all this time, while it is plain that its 
possessor has made no concealment of it, and if this 
goes on for a year, the possessor still keeping the 
article and the other man still seeking, at the expir- 


517 


PLATO 


KTHuaTOS eTIAABEc Oar undéva TrapEedOovTos éviav- 
Tov. éay dé Kat aotv pev py pnde Kat’ ayopav 
Xpirat, Kat aypovs é havepas, wy Tpootvyis 
dé €y mévte erect yévntat Tis, T@VY TevTE 
eEeXovtwy érav punxéte [Tod AottOdD ypovov]! 
ékéctw TovT@ Tov ToLovToU émiAaBécBar. av Oe 
Kat oixias év adore. TE TLS YpHTaL, TpLeTH THV 
mpoGecuiay elvat, éav 5é Kat’ aypods év adavet 

E xextntat, déxa étav, dav & év adrA0dnuia, TOD 
TavTos ypovouv Stay avevpn Tov, undeuiav eivat 
mpoleruav THs ETA Weas. 

"Eady ris tia dixn tapayevécOar Kor0on Bia, 
elite avTov ere waptupas, éav wey SoddAO” ei Te AUTOD 
elite GXXOTPLOV, aTEAH Kal aKupov yiyverOar THY 

955 Sieny, éav & éXevOepov, mpds TH aTerH SeOAvar pev 
éviauTov, UTodiKoy Sé avdpaTrodicpov TO eOédovTL 
yiyvecOa. éav Sé avtaywuothy yupvactiKis F 
fovatkns 7 TLvOs ayavos éETépov StaKk@dvy Tis Bia 
un TapayiyverOar, dpalérw pev o eOédwv Tois 
aOrobEeTats, oi & eis Tov ayava EhevOepov adievT@v 
Tov €Oédovta aywvilecOa. éav dé advvatncwotr, 
€av pev 0 Kwrvov aywviferOar viknon, Ta TE 
vuKnTnpia TO SiakwrvOérts Sidovar Kal viKnoavTa 

B ypdadev év iepois ols av éOéXy, TO O€ StaxwrAVoavTL 
pn é&éoto pndév avdOnua pnd ériypadny tod 
TotovTov aya@vos mote yevécOar, BrAaBns dé 
bmodcKos yiyvécOw, éav te HTTaTaL aywvitopevos 
éuv Te Kal ViKG. 

"Eav tis KAeupddsvov ® oTiody vmodéyntat 


1 [rod Aowrod xpévov] wanting in best MSS., bracketed by 
England. 


2 xAeupddioy MSS., vulg.: «rguua 8’ MS. marg., Zur. 
518 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


ation of the year no one shall be allowed to lay claim 
toits possession. And ifa man uses an article openly 
in the country—although not in the city or market, 
—and if no claimant confronts him within five years, 
after the expiration of the five years no claim to such a 
possession shall be allowed. And if a man uses an 
article indoors in the city, the time-limit shall be 
three years; if he uses it in a concealed place in 
the country, it shall be ten years; while if it be 
in a foreign country, there shall be no limit of 
time set to making a claim, whenever it is found. 

If any man forcibly prevent any person from 
appearing at an action at law—whether it be the 
person himself or his witnesses,—in case that person 
be a slave of his own or of another man, the action 
shall be null and void; and in case the person so 
prevented be a free man, in addition to the annul- 
ment of the action, the offender shall be imprisoned 
for a year and shall be liable to a charge of kid- 
napping at the hands of anyone who chooses. And 
if anyone forcibly prevents a rival competitor at 
a gymnastic, musical or other contest from appear- 
ing, whoso wishes shall report the fact to the Presi- 
dents of the Games, and they shall allow him that 
wishes to contend to enter for the contest free; but 
should they prove unable, in case he who prevented 
the competitor wins, they shall give the prize to the 
man prevented and shall inscribe his name as victor in 
whatever temples he chooses, whereas the preventer 
shall be forbidden to put up any tablet or inscription 
regarding such a contest, and he shall be liable to 
pay damages, whether he be defeated at the contest 
or be victorious. 

If anyone knowingly receive any stolen article, 


519 


C 


D 


E 


PLATO 


yiyvackwv, THY avTiy breyéT@ Sixnv TO KE- 
, A- @ nr / ” 7 

wavtu puyddos dé trodoyis Odvatos Esta Enpia. 
\ > A /- \ : X / lal 

Toy avtov didov Te Kat éxOpov vousleTm Tas 

a , 74 , a7 an / 
7H monet edy bé THs idia ToujTaL mpos Twas 
cipnvnv i) ToAELov avev Tov KoLvod, OavaTos ~rtw 
Kal TovT@ Enpia. éav Oé TL pépos THs Toews 
eipnvnv 7) WoNEMOV pos TivVas éavT@ ToLhrat, 
TOUS aitlovs of atpatnyol TavTns THs mpakews 
elcayovtav eis Suxactypiov, oprovts b& Guvatos 
éstw Oikn. Tos TH TaTpids SiaKxovodyTds TL 
SHopov xwpis xp Svaxovelv, mpodpaciw 8 eivat 
pnoeulay nde Noyov ératwovpevov ws er’ ayabois 

\ ° / a \ \ A CA A 
pev det déyer Oar Spa, érl € Pravpots od TO 
yap yrOvat Kal yvovta KapTtepeiy ovK evTrETés, 
> 4 \ > / 7 7 , 
axovovta 8 acharéotatov reiPecOar TO vomo, 
pmoev ert S@poice Siaxoveiv. 6 b€ pn TecOopevos 
e r 4 id \ rn / / 
amas teOvatw arors TH Sixkyn. XpnmaTov 
ela popas mépt TO KOLO, TeTipha Oat hey ExaoTov 
THY ovoiav éveka TONAGY XpEew@y Kat THY é€méTELOV 
emixapTiay év Ypappacwy arropépew ay povojors 
gvarétas, Gras av Svoiv ovcai Taiv eicdhopaiv, 
€ , \ / Nv r 4 
omoTtépa TO Sy poo tov av xpnocGac Bovdyrat, 

a > A > 
Xphtat Kat’ éviavtov Exactov Bovdevopevor, éav 
TE TOU TLULNMATOS OrOV wépe EdY TE THS yevomwévys 
én’ éviavtov Exdotote mpocddov, ywpls TOY Eis TA 
Evacitia TeNoVpEvar. 

Bcoic. dé avadnpara ypeov enpeTpa TOV per prov 
avopa avaTievta SwpeiaBar. yh pev oov éotia 
Te olxnoews lepa aot Tavtwv Gedy’ pndels odv 
520 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


he shall be liable to the same penalty as the 
thief; and for the crime of receiving an exile the 
penalty shall be death. Everyone shall regard the 
friend or enemy of the State as his own personal 
friend or enemy; and if anyone makes peace or war 
with any parties privately and without public consent, 
in his case also the penalty shall be death; and if 
any section of the State makes peace or war on its 
own account with any parties, the generals shall 
summon the authors of this action before the court, 
and the penalty for him who is convicted shall be 
‘death. Those who are performing any act of service 
to the State must do it without gifts ; and it shall be 
no excuse nor laudable plea to argue that for good 
deeds a man ought to receive gifts, though not for 
bad: to decide wisely, and firmly to abide by one’s 
decision, is no easy thing, and the safest course is for a 
man to listen and obey the law, which says, “ Perform 
no service for gifts.” Whoso disobeys, if convicted 
by the court, shall be put to death once for all. 
Touching money-contributions to the public treasury, 
not only must the property of every man be valued, 
for many reasons, but the tribesmen also must furnish 
an annual record of the year’s produce to the land- 
wardens, so that the Treasury may adopt whichever 
it may prefer of the two existing methods of con- 
tribution, and may determine year by year whether 
it will require a proportion of the whole assessed 
value, or a proportion of the current yearly income, 
exclusive of the taxes paid for the common meals. 
As regards votive offerings to the gods, it is proper 
for a reasonable man to present offerings of reasonable 
value. The soil and the hearth are in all cases sacred 
to all the gods; wherefore no one shall consecrate 


521 


PLATO 


deuTépws lepa Kkabtepovre Oeois. Xpuaos 6é Kab 
956 apyupos év dddats TOAcow idia Te Kal ev lepois 
éotiy eridOovov KTHpA, épas dé atroXeAouTrOTOS 
yoxny T@"ATOS ovK evaryes * avaOnua, aidnpos dé 
Kal YadKos Todguwv dpyava: Evrov bé wovoEvAov 
6 tt dv €OéXy Tis avaTibétw, Kal ALGov waavTas, 
Tpos TA KOLWA lepd. Udnv é p71) TEov Epyov <>? 
yuvaiKos pas Empnvor" Xpopara dé RevKa 
mperovT ay Geois ein kal adrolt ral ev pi: 
Rappara dé un tmpordépery aX % pos Ta 
B Tohemou KOT UNLaTa, Jevorara dé Sapa dpuides 
Te Kal dyahpara, doamep av év pea S@ypados 
nHEpg els amroTeAn Kal Tada éoTw KaTa Ta 
Towavra aval jpara Meplpnweva. 

“Ore 6é Hépn dueipntar TIS Toews Evyraons, 
dca Te Kal & bet yiyver Oat, Kal vojot mept TOY 
EvpBoraiov eis Stvayiw Tov peyictwov Tépt 
TavTwv elpnvtat, TO AoTOv 61 Sikas av ein 
Xpewy yiyver Oar. Sicaarnpiov be 70 bev Tp@rTov 
aiperot Sixactal yiryvowT av, ods av o pevyav 

C te kal 0 OLoK@V EXw@vTat KOWN, SLALTHTAL StKaTTOV 
TOUVOMA patdov T peTrov EXOVTES" _ Sevrepor dé 
Kopirat TE Kal purérat, Kara TO dwdéxaTov 
HE pos Sunpnpevor, év ols, dv my Stax pddaow 
év Tots Tpwrots, mepl Enuias pet Sovos lovT@v 
ary @vLovpevot, o 6é pevyov, ay rT h 70 devTepor, 
TO TEMTTHNMOPLOY ATOTLVETW TOU TLUNMATOS THS 


1 ehayts Euseb., most edd. : evxepts MSS. 
2 <> added by Stallbaum. 





1 Cp. Levit. 19,11: ‘He that toucheth the dead body of 
any man shall be unclean seven days.” 


522 


i ee ee 


+ ee ee 


OE RTE. ARI ET BES P 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


afresh what is already sacred. Gold and silver, 
which in other States are used both privately and in 
temples, are objects liable to cause envy ; and ivory, 
which comes from a body bereft of soul, is not a pure 
offering ;1 while iron and branze are instruments of 
war; of wood forming a single piece a man may 
offer in the public temples whatsoever he wishes, and 
of stone likewise, and of woven stuff an amount not 
exceeding a month’s output by one woman. For 
woven stuff and other materials, white will be a 
colour befitting the gods; but dyes they must not 
employ, save only for military decorations. Birds 
and statues make most godlike gifts, and they should 
be no larger than what one sculptor can complete in 
a single day; and all other votive offerings shall be 
modelled on similar lines. 

And now that we have stated in detail what and 
how many the divisions of the State as a whole 
must be, and have also stated to the best of our 
power the laws regarding all the most important 
business transactions,” it will be proper to deal next 
with judicial procedure.* Of law courts the first 
will be composed of selected judges, selected jointly 
by both plaintiff and defendant, and these will be 
called “arbitrators,” as being a more suitable name 
than “judges.’’ The second court shall be formed 
of the villagers and tribesmen (the tribes being 
divided into twelve parts); and if the cause be not 
decided in the first court, they shall come before 
these judges to fight a case involving a greater 
injury, and if at the second trial the defendant is 
defeated, he shall pay as an extra penalty the fifth 
part of the assessed amount of the penalty recorded ; 


2 Cp. 922 A, 3 Cp. 766 D ff. 
523 


957 


PLATO 


ypagelons Sixns. éav 8 éyxaX@v Tis Tots 
dixaotats TO Tpitov aywviter Oar BovAnTat, ayéTo 
pev el Tovs Stxactas Tovs exdNexTOUs THY BiKnD, 
éay O€ TddLy HTTNOH, THY Hutorlay TOD TLunMATOS 
aToTweTo. éav dé 6 bv@Kov yr7Oels év Tots 
TPOTOLS pH PeLDs eis 6€ Tous Sevtépous in, 
viknoas wey 61) TO TéuTTOY MEpos érohauBavere, 
vinbels b€ aTrOTWET@ TavTov pépos THs SiKys. 
éav & eis TO TpiTov €AOwar SuKkaaT pov arrev1)- 
cavres Tals eumpoo Bev dixats, 0 pev pevyov 
nt TnOels, domep eipnTat, Ty npodiav, o 6¢ 
SiwKkov THY huicevav TOU TimnpaTos aTroTLVETO. 
KrAnpwces Sé StxacTnpiov Kat wAnfeders Kal 
UTNpETLOV ExdoTaLs THY apYov KaTacTacels Kal 
xpovouvs év ols Exacta ylyvecOar xpewv, Kai 
dean picewy mépt Kal avaBonrav, Kal mwavO 
oTroga. ToOLWAvTA avaycaia mept dixas yiyvec Ba, 
TpoTepov te Kal totépwv An~EELS dmrox pia eov TE 
avayKas Kal TapaxataBacewy kal boa TOUT@V 
adergpa Evuravra, elropey pev Kab mpoa bev, 
Kadov 5é TO ye opOov Kal dls Kal Tpls. mTavTa 
& obv oTdca opikpa Kal padia vomrpa elpioKely, 
mpeo Burov vowobérou TapadwTovTos Tov véov 
avamhnpooy xe” vowobérny. Ta ev iva 6u- 
KacTypla TAaUTH TH yeyvopeva HET POV av _exor" 
ta 6€ Snpogta Kal Kowa Kal bcos apxas bet 
Xpomevas Ta mMpoonkovTa éKaoTN Tov apyay 
duoiKeiv, oT €V Todhais TONETLV OVK aaxnwova 
errieik@v avdpav ovK dArlya vomobeTnpaTa, b0ev 





1 Cp. 766 Dff., 846 Bie 
2 Cp. 754 C. 


524 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


and if, dissatisfied with his judges, he desires to fight 
his case before a court a third time, he shall bring it 
before the select judges, and if he be again worsted, 
he shall pay one and a half times the assessed 
amount. Again, if the plaintiff, when worsted in 
the first court, does not rest satisfied, but goes to 
the second court, in case he wins, he shall receive 
the fifth part, but in case he loses, he shall pay the 
same fraction of the penalty. And if, through dis- 
satisfaction with the previous verdict, they proceed 
to the third court, the defendant (as we have said) 
shall pay, if worsted, one and a half times the 
penalty, and the prosecutor one-half of it. As 
regards the allotting of courts, the filling of vacancies, 
the appointing of serjeants for the several boards of 
magistrates, the times prescribed for performing 
each of these duties, the recording of votes, adjourn- 
ments, and all other necessary judicial arrange- 
ments,—such as the fixing by lot of the order 
of trials, rules about counter-pleadings and counter- 
attendances, and all matters cognate thereto,— 
all these we have dealt with previously,? but 
nevertheless it is a proper thing to reiterate twice, 
—yea, thrice,—the truth.2_ The old lawgiver, how- 
ever, may pass over all such legal observances as are 
trivial and easy of discovery, and the young lawgiver 
shall fill up his omissions. In dealing with the 
private law courts this method would be reasonable, 
but in connection with the public courts of the State, 
and all those which the officials have to use in 
managing the affairs which belong to their several 
offices, there exist in many States quite a number of 
admirable ordinances of worthy men;* and from 


* Alluding, probably, to Athenian law in particular. 
525 


PLATO 


vowopUraKas Xpn Ta TpérovTAa TH viv yevvn evn 
B ronuteta KaTacKevatew ovddoyioapevous Kal érra- 
vopbovpévous, Tais éuTrerpiars biaBacaviforras, 
€ws av ixavas aut av Exacta _0€n KeloOat, TOTE 
bé TéNOS emOévtas, axiynta ovT@S ema ppayioa- 
pévous, xpnobar Tov amavra Biov. boa bé mept 
TE ouyny diuxactav Kal evpnulas Kal Tovvavtion, 
kal doa TtwapadddtTe tov [Today]! év tails 
adhais Toheot Sixaiov Kal ayabav [kal xadov],” 
Ta bev elpntat, Ta © & ere ™pos TO TédEL pnOnoeran. 
C mpos @ maura xp” TOV pédovra Sixaarny ts igov 
écec0ar kata dixnv Brérew Te Kal KEKTNMEVOV 
ypaupata avTav TEpl ; pavOdvev. TavTev yap 
pabnuatov KUpLoTaTa TOU Tov pavOdvovra 
Bedrio yiyverBau Ta Trepl Tous vopous weipeva, 
elmep op ds ein TeOevra, yeyvour” av, a7] parny 
Touvoua vp TpoohKoy KERTH av o Geios nip 
Kal Gavpacros vOHos. Kab én Kal Tay adXov 
D royor 6 doou Te év Ton ao w érawvou Kal Ypoyor 
mept TLY@Y AéyovTar Kal boo katahoyddny, eit’ 
év ypdupaci elite kal” judpay év tails adXats 
TAacas cuvovatais ba pAoverkias Te aphio8n- 
ToovTaL Kal Sua Evyyxopyceoy & éoti OTe Kat pada 
pataiwyv, TovTey TavTav dv Bdoavos ein cadis 
Ta TOU vomobéTou ypdupata, a Set KexTnpévov 
év avut@, ka0amtep areEipappaxa Tov adX\ov 
NOyor, Tov ayaboyv SixacTHv avTov Te opOodv Kal 
THY TOW, TOis pev aya0ois povas TaV Sikaiwy 


1 [woAAdv] bracketed by Hermann. 
2 [kal kad@v] omitted by best MSS. 
3 aép: MSS. : wdpa Steph., Zur. 


526 


2 EELS = 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


these the Law-wardens must construct a code which 
is suitable to the polity we are now framing, partly 
by comparing and amending them, partly by sub- 
mitting them to the test of experience, until each 
such ordinance be deemed satisfactory; and when 
they have been finally approved, and have been 
sealed as absolutely unchangeable, then the magis- 
trates shall put them into practice all their life long. 
All rules regarding silence and discreet speech, and 
the opposite of these, on the part of the judges, and 
all else that differs from the rules which obtain in 
the other States concerning justice and goodness —all 
these have been stated in part,! and in part they 
will be stated at the end. To all these matters he 
that purposes to be a righteous and just judge must 
attend, and that written exposition of them which 
he possesses he must learn. For of all studies, that 
of legal regulations, provided they be rightly framed, 
will prove the most efficacious in making the learner 
a better man; for were it not so, it would be in vain 
that our divine and admirable law bears a name akin 
to reason.2 Moreover, of all other speeches— 
whether they be of personal praise or blame, com- 
posed in verse or prose, written down or uttered 
from day to day at some gathering by way of 
controversy or by way of consent (often of a very 
futile character),—of all such speeches the writings 
of the lawgiver* will serve as a test; and inasmuch 
as he possesses these within himself, as a talisman 
against other speeches, the good judge will guide 
both himself and the State aright; for the good he 
will secure both the permanence and the increase of 
1 Cp. 766 D, 855 D. 2 yéuos = vous ; cp. 714 A. 
* Cp. 811 D, 858 C. 


522 


PLATO 


E xai énavéjow tapackevabovta, tots 8€ Kaxots 
> > / 27 > / \ / ‘ 
€& dapalias Kat aKoracias wat detdias xal 
Evry Bony maons abixias eis TO Svvarov peTa- 
Bonny, bcos idoupor d0fat Tay KaKay oboe é 
dvTws émiKekioopévat, Oavatov iaua tais 0TH 


958 Siar eBeioars poyais Savépovres, 6 ducaiws ei) 


ToXAKts ap elpnpévov, aEvot émaivou yiyvowT 
dy TH Tao ToAeL TOLOUTOL SikagTal Kal dikacTaY 
NYEMOVES. 

*Eredav 6€ ai Kat évavtov Sdixat Téhos 
exdixaabeira oX@aL, Tals mpagere vowous 
avTov Xpewv yiryver bac Tovade* 7 p@Tov pev 7 
duxdfouca apxn Ta TOD ophovros TO vexnoavre 
B xpyata travra amobiborw xeopis TOV avayKaiov 
KexTha Oar, pera THY Siaynpiow € éxaorny evus 
ome KNPUKOS, GKOVOVT@V TOV dixacray émesdav 
dé 6 0 TOV Sixacipav pnvav €YOMEVOS yevynrac par, 
édy TU iT) amradndatry TOV viKnoavra éxovTa 
EKOV, Y Sixdcaca apy) EvveTtouevy TO ViK@VTL 
Ta Tob oprovTos mapadibore Xpijpara. éav Oé 
7) EX@oW orrodev, édreiry éé it) eat Tov 
Spaxuns, m2 TpoTepov elvat TOUT dixas ™ pos 
adov pnbeve, mplv av é€xTANPwOH TO XpEos 
dav ™@ viKnoayre adows dé pos TovTov 
éstwoay oixat Kupiws. éav dé TLS abypArat Thy 
apxXnv THv KaTabikdoacay KaTadixacbeis, eica- 
yovT@y pév avToy €is TO TOY vo“odudaxaV 
SixaaTnptov ot adarpebevtes adios, éav Oé THs 
opry THY ToLtavTny SiKknv, ws ANY THY mon Kab 
vopous b0cipav Oavato Enprovcba. 





1 7.e, men whose false beliefs are ineradicable, beyond hope 
of conversion, 


528 


—_— ee 


ctrl Ten Bee 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


what is just, and for the bad a change as great as 
possible from their ignorance, intemperance and 
cowardice, and, in short, from their general iniquity, 
—that is to say, for all the bad whose opinions are 
curable ; but for those whose opinions are really fixed 
by Fate,'—if they assigned death as a cure for souls 
in this condition (a statement that deserves to be often 
repeated), such judges and leaders of judges would 
merit praise from the whole State.’ 

~ When all the lawsuits for the year have been finally 
adjudged, we must have laws for the execution of the 
verdicts to this effect :—First, the magistrate who is 
acting as judge shall assign to the victorious party all 
the goods of the party convicted, excepting such as the 
latter must necessarily retain in his possession ; and 
this he shall do in each case immediately after the 
voting has taken place by means of a herald’s proclama- 
tion made in the hearing of the judges ; and unless the 
loser settle with the victor to their mutual satisfaction 
by the end of the month next to those in which the 
courts are sitting, the magistrate who has tried the 
ease shall, at the instance of the victor, hand over to 
him the goods of the loser. And if the means are 
not forthcoming, and there be a deficiency of not less 
than a drachma, the loser in question shall be pre- 
eluded from suing anyone else until he has paid to 
the full his whole debt to the victor; but others may 
bring valid actions against him. If anyone, when 
condemned, obstructs the court which condemned 
him, the officials thus wrongfully obstructed shall 
summon him before the court of the Law-wardens, 
and anyone who is cast in such an action, as being 
guilty of subverting the whole State and its laws, 
shall be punished by death. 


529 


VOL, Il, MM 


PLATO 


"Avdpt 6) TO peta TodTo yevynBévts Kal 
éxtpapévte Kai yevyyicavte Kal éxOpéravte Téxva 
Dal Evppitavte EvpSdrara petpios, Sidovte Te 
Sixas el Tia nduanicer «al Tap érépou éxraBovtt, 
aby Tois vopous év poipa mpacavre TENEUT?) 
yeyvour’ av Kara  pvaw. Teph TedeuTHCavTas 57, 
elite Tis appny elte Tis OAS Hv, TA pev TEpl TA 
Geta vopepocs TOV Te UITO vis Pedy. Kal TaY THOE, 
doa MpoanKel TehetoGat, Tous €Enyntas yeyver Bar 
Kupious ppaterv: tas Onxas © elvar TaVv xeptooy 
oT0ca pev épydoima undamod, pnte TL wéya pte 
TL opixpov priya, & 5é 6) ywpiat mpos TodT 
E aito povoy diow exe, TA TOV TETEMEUTNKOT@OY 
cepata wddioTa aduTitas Tols Caot Sexopeva® — 
KpuTTe, TadTa éxTAnpodv: Tois € avOpwrots 
dca tpopiy [untnp ovca % Yh mpos Tadta]® 
mépuxe BovrecOar pépery, unre COv purjre Tis atro- 
Gavav otepeitw tov Cav0 Hav. yapa dé py 
xobv wYnddTepov Tévte avdpav Epyov, ev EVO” 
Hpépars atroteNovpevov' ALOwa bé émtotHpata 
pn peifm troeiv 7) doa SéyecOat Ta Tov TETE- 
AeuTNKOTOS éyxw@pia Biov, pr) wAEi@ TETTApwY 
959 ipwikay atixwv. tas bé mpoBéces mpa@Tov per 
Hn =paKpoTepov xpovov évdov yiyverOar Tod 
Sndodvtos Tov te éxteOvedta Kal Tov dvTwS 
teOvnkora, ein 8 dv oxeddv ws TavOpwriva péTpov 
éyovaa Tpitaia Tpos TO pviywa expopd. weiDecar 





1 $} xwpla:  xépa MSS... edd. (4. x#pa Hermann). 
2 Sexdueva: Sexouevn MSS., Edd. 


339 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


Next, when a man has been born and reared, 
and has himself begotten and reared up children, 
and has engaged reasonably in the transactions of 
business, giving or receiving (as the case may be) 
compensation for wrongs done,—when he has thus 
duly grown old in a law-abiding life, his end will 
come in the course of nature. Touching the dead, 
male or female, what the sacred rites are which 
require to be performed in respect of the gods 
of the underworld, or of this world, shall be 
declared by the Interpreters as the final authorities : 
no tombs, however, shall be put in places that are 
tilled,— whether the monument be small or great,— 
but they shall fill up those places where the soil 
is naturally fitted for this purpose only,—namely, 
to receive and hide the bodies of the dead with 
. the least hurt to the living; but as regards all 
the places which of their own nature desire to 
produce food for mankind, of these no one, living 
or dead, shall deprive us who are alive. And they 
shall not pile up a mound to a height greater 
than can be made by five men in five days; nor 
shall they erect stone pillars of a size more than 
is required to hold, at the most, a eulogy of the 
dead man’s life consisting of not more than four 
heroic lines. And as to the laying-out of the corpse, 
first, it shall remain in the house only for such 
a time as is required to prove that the man is not 
merely in a faint, but really dead ; and accordingly, 
in a normal case, the third will be the proper day 
for the carrying out to burial. As in other matters 





3 [uhrnp . . . tadta) I bracket (England brackets rpbs tavra) : 
ep. Rep, 414 E, 


531 
MM 2 


PLATO 


at aaa , : 
& éotl 1G vopobérn xpeay tad te aAXa Kal 
/ , a 
NéyorTse Wuyi coparos elvat TO Tay Siapépovear, 
bl lal nr / nr 
€v avT@ TE TO Bl@ TO TapexYopevov Huav ExadToV 
TovT elvas undév adr 4) THY Wuyny, TO Se Opa 
5] 8 / € an € , 4 \ 
WoadXOMEVOY HUOV ExaaToLs ETETOAaL, Kal TENEUTY- 
cdvtov AéyerOar Kard@s eldora elvar Ta TOV 
, nr 
veKp@V T@uaTa, Tov dé dvTAa Hudv ExacToY bYTaS, 
aBdvarov eivar rwuynv érovopatouevoy, mapa 
Geovs addovs amriévar dS@covTa oyor, KaOamep 
e , e 4 ré lal \ >. 60 @ xf re 
0 vomos 0 mWaTpLOs Aéyel, TO wey ayaO@ Oapparéor, 
a \ an 4 / n 
T@ 5€ KaK@ para oBepov, Bonberav te avTo 
pita meyadny elvar TeTeMeuTHKOTL: COvTL yap 
ée Bonbeiv mavras tovs mTpoonKovtas, oTws 
/ e al 
bt OtxatoTtatos ov Kal ooLwTtatos étn Te Cov Kal . 
TeXevTHoaS aTLLMpHTos [av]! Kaxdy apapTnuatov 
> , \ a \ b] 0 16 / > be LZ 
éyiyveto Tov peta Tov évOdde Biov. é« dé tovTaY 
A > / > , > r , 
oUTws éxdvTwy ovdérroTe oixopOopeiv ypx, Stade- 
povtws vouifovra tov avtTod todTov eivat Tov 
TOV capKav oyKov OarTomevov, GAN éxeivoy Tov 
[ay x > / x 4 , / , i a 
viov %) aderpov, % 6vTivd Tis padicO” Hryetrat 
mo0av Oamrew, olyecOat Tepaivovta Kal éutri- 
Tr\dvTa THY avToOD poipay, TO 5é mapov Seiv 
ed Tovey, TA péTPLA avaNicKovTa ws eis arpuyov 
fa} / / . \ 8e / 0é a 
xOoviov Bopov' Td 5é pétpiov vomobétns av 
\ 
pavrevoato ovK arxynuovéotata. &otw dH vdmos 


1 [&v] bracketed by Ast (&vdrwv Winck.). 





1 Cp. Phaedo 63 B. * Cp. 717 E, 719 D. 
532 





LAWS, BOOK XIl 


it is right to trust the lawgiver, so too we must 
believe him when he asserts that the soul is wholly 
superior to the body, and that in actual life what 
makes each of us to be what he is is nothing else 
than the soul, while the body is a semblance which 
attends on each of us, it being well said that the 
bodily corpses are images of the dead, but that 
which is the real self of each of us, and which 
we term the immortal soul, departs to the presence 
of other gods,' there (as the ancestral law declares) 
to render its account,—a prospect to be faced with 
courage by the good, but with uttermost dread by 
the evil. But to him who is dead no great help 
ean be given ; it was when he was alive that all 
his relatives should have helped him, so that when 
_ living his life might have been as just and holy 
as possible, and when dead he might be free during 
the life which follows this life from the penalty 
for wickedness and sin. This being so, one ought 
never to spend extravagantly on the dead, through 
supposing that the carcase of flesh that is being 
buried is in the truest sense one’s own relative; 
but one ought rather to suppose that the real son 
or brother—or whoever else it may be that a man 
fancies himself to be mournfully burying—has de- 
parted in furtherance and fulfilment of his own 
destiny, and that it is our duty to make a wise 
use of what we have and to spend in moderation,? 
as it were on a soulless altar to the gods below:% 
and what constitutes moderation the lawgiver will 
most properly divine. Let this, then, be the law :-— 


8 4.e. the corpse is like an altar which has no ‘‘real 
presence” to sanctify it; hence it is less worthy of costly 
fferings. 


.- 


533 


PLATO 


ovtos: Te pev 5 Tod peyliorou Tipjpatos eis 
Thy Tacav Tabny avadioKopeva WAV TéVTE 
pwav, T@ S€ Tod Seuvtépou Tpeis pvai, Kal Svo 
T®@ TOD Tpitov, uva 5é TH TOD TEeTapToV péTpOV 
ay éxot TOY avaXwopaTov. vopwoptvraks bé oda 
BA > tA / \ lal > 
Te GANA avayKn TpaTTeWv Kal ToOAN@Y eETI- 
KE pereioPar, tovtav 8 ovy heicta, Stas av 
maidov te Kal avdpav kal macns HrALKias érrt- 
perovpevor Caorr nai 6) Kal mpos TO TédOS 
€ / U , > n ak 
aravtwv vomopurak els yé Tus émiotatH, Ov av 
oi TOU TeTEAEUTHKOTOS éTioKOTrOV OiKEloL Tapa- 
AdBwow, & Kadrov 7 Ectw Kaas Kal peTpiws 
Ta Tept Tov TeTeNeUTHKOTA yiyvomeva Kal pH 
Kaas aiaxpov. mpolecis bé nal Tada EoT@ 
pev KaTa TOV Tepl Ta ToLAavTA VvOmoV Yyryvopueva, 
r A fal rj na Cal 
TO S€ TOMTIKG VOuw vopoleTOdDYTL TapaxwpeElv 
\ \ A 4 \ \ U 
pn Ta Tordde: Aaxpvey pev Tov TETEAEVTNKOTA 
960 émitatre 7) un auwophov, Opnveiv dé Kai é&w 
fol > , \ > / 3 ra \ 
THs oikias dwvnv eEayyéd\New atrayopevew, Kal 
Tov vexpov eis TO havepdvy mpodyew Tov dav 
/ ‘ > tal € n , 4 
KwArvEW, Kal €v Tais odois Topevouevov pOéy- 
yet0ar, Kal mpo apépas Ew Tis Toews eivar. 
tadta 51 KeioOm te ovTw Tepl TA ToLvadTa 
vouipa, Kal o uev weOdopevos ctw Enpias exTos, 
e Q > hal , aay | lal , e XN / 
0 6¢ ameav Evi TOV vopodvAdK@Y UTO TavT@V 
B fnuiovcbw tH S0Edcn mao Kown Enpia. boat 
8 ddrNat yiryvovtar mepi TeXevTHCAavTAas Tapat 
534 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


An expenditure on the whole funeral not exceeding 
five minas for a man of the highest property- 
class, three minas for one of the second class, 
two for one of the third, and one mina for one 
of the fourth class, shall be held to be moderate 
amounts. The Law-wardens must of necessity 
perform many other duties and supervise many 
other matters, but by no means the least of their 
duties is to live keeping a constant watch over 
children and men and people of every age; and 
at the end of his life above all everyone must have 
some one Law-warden to take charge of him—that 
one who is called in as overseer by the relatives 
of the dead man; and it shall stand to his credit 
if the arrangements about the dead man are 
carried out in a proper and moderate way, but if 
improperly, to his discredit. The laying-out of 
the corpse and the other arrangements shall be 
carried out in accordance with the custom concern- 
ing such matters, but it is right that custom should 
give way to the following regulations of State 
law :—Either to ordain or to prohibit weeping for 
the dead is unseemly, but we shall forbid loud 
mourning and lamentation outside the house, and 
we shall prohibit the carrying out of the dead on 
to the open roads and making lamentation while 
he is borne through the streets, and the funeral 
party must be outside the city-bounds before day- 
break. These shall be the legal regulations re- 
garding such matters: he that obeys them shall 
be free from penalty, but he that disobeys a single 
one of the Law-wardens shall be penalized by them 
all with the penalty adjudged by all in common. 
All other interments of the dead, or disposal of 


535 


PLATO 


\ ” / 
elite Kat atapor mpdtets, wept ratpodédver Kab 
iepoovhov Kal Tov ToLovToY TdavTwY, eipnuevat 
év tots Eutrpoober Keivrar bia vouwy, Wate cyedov 
 vouobecia tédos av huiv eyo. Tay TavT@P 
8 éxdotote Tédos ov TO Spacai te ayedov ovdé 
’ A 
TO xtTnoac0ar KatoKicar 7 éoTiv, Grd TO 
yevynOévts owtnpiay é€eupovta teréws del TOT” 
non vouitew av baov eet mpaxOhvar mem paxOat, 
mpoTepov © ateres elvat TO OAOV. 
n ? / / \ ¢ \ \ 
KA. Kards, @ féve, Aéyerss mpds 6 Te S5é Td 
a @ e¢ \ yy sy) » / 
viv ad pnbéev eipntar, dpat’ ért capéatepor. 
3 / \ al y” na 
Ae. °Q KrXevia, 1ro\dd Tov Ewrpocbev Karas 
buvntar, oxedov b€ ody Hetora Ta Tov Mopar 
Tpoopyuata. 
a / 
KA. Iota 87 ; 
ao. To Adxyeow pév thy rperny eivat, Krwbe 
dé tiv devtépay, tiv “Atporrov 8€ tpitny cwrerpar, 
[Tov AexOévtwr, atexacpeva TH] 1 Tov Krwcber- 
TOV TO KUpEL THY GueTaoTpopoY aTrepyatopévny 2 
Suvayuv. iv? &% nal moder wxal roditais* det 
M1) movoy byieav Kal cwrnpiav Tols copa. Tapa- 
oxevafew, adda Kal edvouiav év tais :uyais, 
padroy S€ cwtnpiay Tov voywv. hyiv & ere por 
paiverOas Soxei Todt’ €dXeimov Tois vopors elvat, 
TOS KPH THY aweTaoTtpopoy avtois éyyiyverOar 
Kata pvow Svvapmty. 


1 [Tay AcxOevtwr, dwexacuéva +H] I bracket, and for zupl, 
I read xdpe: {for 7G rvpt, Herm. ci, cwrnpla, alii alia). 

® awepyaCouevny Schmidt, Stallb, : dmepyaouévwy MSS. 

3 fv Ast: & MSS. 

* woAlrats: modrreiaz MSS., edd. (moAfrais kal moAlrias 
Badh. ) 


536 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


corpses without interment in the cases of parricides, 
temple-robbers, and all such criminals,—have been 
previously+ dealt with and laid down by law, so 
that our task of legislation has nearly come to an 
end. But in every case, the full end does not 
consist in the doing, gaining or founding of an 
object ; rather our view should be that it is only 
when we have discovered a means of salvation, 
endless and complete, for our creation, that we 
are at length justified in believing that we have 
done all that ought to be done: until then, we 
must believe, the whole of our creation is incomplete. 

cumin. You say well, Stranger; but explain to 
us yet more clearly the purport of your last ob- 
servation. 

atu. O Clinias, many of the sayings of old time 
have been nobly uttered, and of these not the least, 
I may say, are the titles given to the Fates. 

cin. What titles, pray ? 

aTH. That the first of them is Lachesis, the 
second Clotho, and Atropos the saviour-third 7—she 
that bestows on the dooms ratified by Clotho the 
quality of irreversibility. She it is that must 
furnish also to the State and its citizens, not merely 
health and salvation for their bodies, but also right 
legality in their souls, or rather the salvation of 
the laws. And this, as it seems clear to me, is 
what our laws still lack—namely, a right mode of 
naturally implanting in them this irreversible quality. 


1 Cp. 854 D ff., 873 Cf. 

2 Cp. Rep. 620 E. Atropos is called ‘‘ the saviour-third ” 
(cp. 7d rplroy TF ZwtHp1) because she completes the work of 
the other Fates by making the thread of life (doom) spun by 
them irreversible. (&-rporos = ‘‘ unturnable,”’) 


537 


PLATO 


KA. Ov opixpor réyers, elrep €oti uty OvvaTOV 
evpely Orn yiyvorr av marth kta te+ [ro] 
TOLOUTOV. 

E ao. “AA gore pny Suvatov, as yé pot Ta viv 
TavTaTact katapaiverat. 

KA. My) Toivuy advor@peba pndevi TpoT@, 
mp ay Todt’ avto exTropica@peba Tois elpnuevors 
vomols: yéNolov yap TO ye paTnY TovncavTa 
oTLoby eis undev BéBarov cataBanely. 

Ae. ‘OpOas Tapaxerevel, Kal éue ToLodTov 
evupnoels AAXop. 

Ka. Karas 80 Aévyeus. Tis obv 57, Pus, co- 
Thpia yiyvor’ av Kal Tiva TpoTOV TodTEia TE 
Kal Tots vowous nuiy ; ; 

961 ao. Ap’ ov« eitropev bre Set ovANOYOV tyiv 
év TH Woe yiyver@ar Towuvoe TiVa ; déxa pev 
TOV vowopunhaxev TOUS mpeo Burarous Gel, Tous 
d€ Taproreia eihn potas dmavras dey eis TadTO 
gvrArE yer Oat TOUTOLS” ETL 6é Tavs exdnujcavtas 
emt Sitjow el Ti Tov mpos THv vowopudaxiay 
yiyvoito éyKxarpov axodcat, Kal cwbévtas oikade 
dofav totto” avtois, SiaBacavicbévtas, Tov 
EvAXoyou aktoxowwvntous elvat' mpos TovToLs 

B éé &va éxaa Tov deiv mpoohamBavew TOV véwy, 7) 
EXaT Tov y) TPLAKOVTAETH yeyovora, ™parov dé 
avTov xpivavTa ematvov eivar puoer Kal Tpopy 
Tov véov obTws els TOUS AANoUS elohéperv, Kal ay 
pev b0& Kal Tois aAXoLs, TpocAap Pave, ei Sé 


1 xrhud re Burnet: «thwart MSS. 3 xtqwati 7d Zur., vulg. 
2 '§dtav rotro W.-Millendorff : ddfa: rovros MSS., edd 





1 Cp. 951 D ff. 
538 


NN eee 


ot eae tN th. 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


cuwsx. The point you mention is a serious one, 
if it is really impossible to discover a means whereby 
everything may acquire some such quality. 

atu. Nay, but it is possible, as I now perceive 
quite clearly. 

cuin. Then let us by no means desist until we 
have secured this very quality for the laws we have 
stated; for it would be ridiculous for us to have 
wasted all this labour on an object, and then not 
base it on any firm foundation. 

ata, You are right in your exhortation, and you 
will find me as ready as yourself to proceed. 

cuin. Very good. Then what is it you say will 
prove a means of salvation to our polity and its laws, 
and how will it do so? 

atu. Did we not say! that we must have in 
our State a synod of the following kind :—The ten 
senior members, at the moment, of the body of 
Law-wardens shall form the synod, in company 
with all who have won the award of merit; and, 
moreover, those inspectors who have gone abroad? 
to diseover if they could hear of anything pertinent 
to the safe-keeping of laws, and who, in the belief 
that they have succeeded, have come safely home 
again, shall, after undergoing a searching test, be 
deemed worthy to take part in the synod? In 
addition to these, every member must bring with 
him one of the young men, not less than thirty 
years old, whom he has first selected as being both 
by nature and training a suitable person; after 
selecting him, he shall introduce him among the 
members, and if they also approve, he shall keep 
him as a colleague, but if they disapprove, the fact 


2 Cp. 951 A ff 
539 


PLATO 


M1, aTrOpp Tov elvat TI syeyouviay Kplow Tots TE 
adXots 61) Kal paddior’ avT@ To amon pibevre- dety 
5€ dpO prov eivas Tov ovdnoror, joie av TOV addhov 
mpatewy iSieov Te Kal Kowdy Kal padior” Ue Tus 
oXOM) Tavti. TovodTov TL mov AexOev Hyiv Hv év 

C tots eum poo bev oyors ; ; 

KA. "Hy yap ovv. 

ao. Tovtov on TE pL Tod ovAdoyou TadLy ava- 
AaBov Aéyouw’ a 70 To.ovoe, oni, el TUS 
TovTov BddoTo olov ayxupay Taons THs TOdEwS, 
TwavTa éxoucay Ta wpochopa éavtn cwolew av 
Evuravta & Bovdopeba. 

KA. Ids 89) 5 ; 

ao. Td peta TovTO TMETEpos av Kaipos yiyvouTo 
opO as ppafovras pndév amohebmety mpobuuias. 

KA. Kal para xaras eitves, rote 0 datrep 
Kal dtavoet. 

D_sae@. Xp Tolvuy, a Knreuvia, TAyTOS Tépt 
voficar cwThpa TOV elKdTa év éxdoTous TOV Epyov, 
was év Com Wwuyn Kal Keharyn Td ye pméytoTov 
mepvKatov. 

KA. Ilas av ys ; j 

ae. “H TOUTOW apeTn 5) Tov mavtl mapéxer 
Sow cwTnptar. 

KA. Ils; 

ao, Vuyn pev Tpos Tots aAXots vods eyyeyve- 
pevos, Kepany & av ™ pos Tos adnous dyes Kab 
akon. EvdrjBSnv é vous pera Tov karhiorav 
aia Onoewv Kpabels ryevopevds te eis Ev cwTnpia 
éxadotov dixatoTaT av ein KaXovpéern. 


540 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


of his original selection must be concealed from 
all the rest, and especially from the person thus 


rejected. The synod must_meet at an early_hour, 
when Pesce hase Ce soca free from other 
business, private or public. Was it not some such 
organisation as this that we described in our previous 
discourse ? 

cin. It was. 

aTH. Resuming, then, the subject of this synod, 
I will say this:—If one were to lay this down as 
an anchor for the whole State, possessing all the 
requisite conditions,—then, | affirm, it would secure 
the salvation of all that we desire. 

cuin. How so? 

atH. Now will be the time for us to display 
no lack of zeal in declaring truly what follows. 

cuin. Excellently spoken! Proceed as you pro- 
pose. 

aTH. One ought to observe, Clinias, in regard 
to every object, in each of its operations, what 
constitutes its appropriate saviour—as, for example, 
in an animal, the soul and the head are eminently 
such by nature. 

ctin. How do you mean? 

aTH. Surely it is the goodness of those parts that 
provides salvation to every animal. 

cin. How? 

atu. By the existence of reason in the soul, in 
addition to all its other qualities, and by the exist- 
ence of sight and hearing, in addition to all else, in 
the head; thus, to summarize the matter, it is the 
combination of reason with the finest senses, and 
their union in one, that would most justly be 
termed the salvation of each animal. 


541 


E 


962 


PLATO 


KA. “Eotxe voor. 

ao. “Eorxe yap. aA 0 repli Ti vods per 
aicOncewv xpabels cwrnpia TroiwY ev ye YEtwact 
Kal év evdiais yiyvort dv ; ap’ ov« év vyt KuBep- 
viTns aya Kal vadtat Tas aicOnoes TO KUBEpyn- 
TUK@ V@® ovyKepacdpevor o@Lovow avTOUS TE Kal 
Ta TEpl THY VadY ; 

KA. Ti unv; 

ao. Ovddev 8) rodday Sei TOY TEpL TA TOLAdTA 
Tapaserypatav, add oloy mept atpatoTédav 
vongwpev <i) cwpdtov>, tiva Oéuevor oTpaTnyot 
cKkoTov Kai latpixn Umnpecia maca otoxatouT 
av THs cwTnplas OpOas.2 ap ovx 1 pev viKny Kai 
Kpatos Todepioy, 7 Sé iaTpav Te Kal bTnpEToV 
bylelas o@paTe TAapAacKeVH ; 

KA. Ids yap ov ; 

ao. “latpos 8%) TO wept c@ua ayvowr, 6 Tpo- 
ceitopev vyieay viv, 7 vikny oTpaTnyos 7) TOV 
ddXwv boa 51) SindOopev, Eo Straws dv vodv Tept 
TL TOUTMY av exw paivorto ; 

KA. Kat 7s; 

ao. Ti dé 8% wepl wordy ; el tus TOY GKOTOY ob 
Brérev Sei tov modtiKoy paivoito ayvowy, apa 
dpyov péev mpatov dikaiws av mpocayopevoito, 


lal 4 
Belta cotew av Suvatos ein TovTO ov. TOY TKOTOV 


\ / ? > , 
TO Tapdray pnd eidein ; 
KA. Kal 7as; 
ao. Aci 67 cal Ta viv, ws Eorxev, el rep wérdev 
1 <4 copudrwvy) I add (Baiter adds «al véowy after 
oTpatorédwy), 


2 3p0as is assigned by Zur. and most edd. (except Burnet) 
to Clin. 


542 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


cun. That is certainly probable. 

aTH. Itis probable. But what kind of reason is 
it which, when combined with senses, will afford 
salvation to ships in stormy weather and calm? On 
shipboard is it not the pilot and the sailors who, by 
combining the senses with the pilot reason, secure 
salvation both for themselves and for all that belongs 
to the ship? 

cuux. Of course. 

atu. There is no need of many examples to illus- 
trate this. Consider, for instance, what would be the 
right mark for a general to set up to shoot at in the 
case of an army, or the medical profession in the case 
of a human body, if they were aiming at salvation. 
Would not the former make victory his mark, and 
mastery over the enemy, while that of the doctors 
and their assistants would be the providing of health 
to the body ? 

cin. Certainly. 

ata. But if a doctor were ignorant of that bodily 
condition which we have now called ‘ health,” or a 
general ignorant of victory, or any of the other 
matters we have mentioned, could he possibly be 
thought to possess reason about any of these things? 

cLin. How could he? 

aTH. What, now, shall we say about a State? 
If a man were to be plainly ignorant as regards 
the political mark to be aimed at, would he, first of 
all, deserve the title of magistrate, and, secondly, 
would he be able to secure the salvation of that 
object concerning the aim of which he knows 
nothing at all? 

cLin. How could he? 

aTH. So now, in our present case, if our settle- 


543 


PLATO 


Téhos 0 KATOLKLG MOS THS Xwpas nptv eFew, elvai 
TL TO yiyrooxov év avT@ 7 p@TOV pev TovTo 6 
Aéyouev, TOY GKOTOV, GoTIS TOTE 6 TONLTLKOS wY 
hpiy Tuyyaver, émerta bvTwa tpémov Set peTa- 
oxelv TovToU Kal Tis avT Karas 7) Wx) TvUBov- 
Aever TOY vO L@V auTay T™paTor, éretta avOpwrwr. 
et 8 éoras Tob TOLOUTOU Kev7} TUS TONS, ovdev 
C Javpacrov dvous ovca Kal avaic Ontos el mpaker 
TO T™ pooruxXov éxdotote év éxdotals Tov Tpakewv. 

KA. ‘Ady O éyers. 

ao. Nov ody jpiv év tim mote TOV THS TOAEWS 
pep@v %) éritndevpatov éotiv ixavov KaTecKevac- 
pévov oTLovv ToLodToy guvdraKTipiov; e~xopev 
ppater ; 

KA. Ov dfra, & Eéve, cadds yer ef 8 ovdv 
toTmratew det, Soxe? pow Teivery 0 NOYOS OUTOS «Eis 
Tov dUANOYoY Ov eitres VOV 6H VUKTwp Seiv Evviévat. 

D ao. Kardric? tiréraBes, @ Knrewia, wal det 
oy) toTov, @S 0 vv TApeTTNKOS nat Adyos 
bnvier, tacav apetny éyew* Hs apye TO Hi) 
TravacBat ™ pos TONGA oroxaldpevor, aXr’ eis 
év BXérrovta pos TovTO adel Ta TavTa olov Bédn 
aptévat. 

KA. Ilavtamace pév ovv. 

ao. Nov 67 padnoopcba btt Oavpacrtov ovdéev 
Travacbat Ta THY TOAEMY VOpLwa, OTL TpOS AXXO 
avAAn BrErret TOV vomobeciov ev TH WOE EXACT. 
Kal Ta pev TOANA ovoeV Gavpac tov TO Tots pep 

E TOV Spov elvat Tov Sicaiwy, ows dpfovat Tues 
év TH TONEL, ELT ovv Bexrtiovs elte xelpous 





1 Cp. 705 E, 934 B. 
544 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


ment of the country is to be finally completed, there 
must, it would seem, exist in it some element which 
knows, in the first place, what that political aim, of 
which we are speaking, really is, and, secondly, in 
what manner it may attain this aim, and which of the 
laws, in the first instance, and secondly of men, gives 
it good counsel or bad. But if any State is destitute 
of such an element, it will not be surprising if, being 
thus void of reason and void of sense, it acts at hap- 
hazard always in all its actions. 

cin. Very true. 

ata. In which, then, of the parts or institutions 
of our State have we now got anything so framed as 
to prove an adequate safeguard of this kind? Can 
we answer that question ? 

cin. No, Stranger; at least, not clearly. But if 
I must make a guess, it seems to me that this 
discourse of yours is leading up to that synod which 
has to meet at night, as you said. just now. 

aTH, An excellent reply, Clinias! And, as our 
present discourse shows, this synod must possess 
every virtue; and the prime virtue is not to keep 
shifting its aim among a number of objects, but to 
concentrate its gaze always on one particular mark, 
and at that one mark to shoot, as it were, all its 
arrows continually. 

cLin, Most certainly. 

ATH. So now we shall understand that it is by no 
means surprising if the legal customs in States 
keep shifting, seeing that different parts of the codes 
in each State look in different directions, And, in 
general, it is not surprising that, with some states- 
men, the aim of justice is to enable a certain class of 
people to rule in the State (whether they be really 


545 


VOL. Il. NN 


PLATO 


Tuyydvovow dvtes: Tois 8, dws TAOUTHTOVELW, 
elt’ ovv So0dX0l Tivwv OvTes ete Kal py TOV 8 1 
mpoOupia mpos tov érevOepov 5 Biov m@pynuévn: 
ot 8& Kai Edvivo vopyobeTodvTa, mpds apudw 
Brérrovtes, €XevOepol Te Strws GAY TE TOAECwV 
écovtar Seorotas of 5& copwTatoL, ws olovTat, 
TMpos TavTad Te Kal Ta ToladTa EvwravTa, eis Ev 
5é <od,>1 obdév SiahepovtTas TeTimnuévov ExovTEs 
dpatery eis 6 TAAN avtois det Brew. 

963 KA. Odxodv 10 ¥’ nuétepov, @ Eéve, 6p0ds av 
eln Tada TLOéuevov ; mpds yap év Epapev Seiv 
del trav?’ jhyiv ta Tov vopwv BdréTovT eivat, 
TovTo & apetyv tov Evveywpodpev mavu op0as 
éyer Oa. 

ae. Nai. 

KA. Tov dé ye dpernv tétTapa bepuév ov. 

ao. Ilavu per odv. 

KA. Nody dé ye ravt@y tovTwy Hyenova, Tpos 
dv 67 Ta Te GANA TavTa Kal TOUT@Y Ta Tpia Seiv 
Brérrewy. 

ao. Kaddrduor éraxorovbels, @ Krewia. Kai 
Ta Roira bé EvvaxorovGer. vodv yap 57 KU- 
Bepyntixoy péev kal iatpixov Kal otpatnytxor 

B elzropev eis TO Ev éxeivo of Set Brémew, Tov dé 
TorTiKoY édéyxovTes évTadl’ éopev viv, Kal 
Kkadarep avOpwrov émavepwtartes eltrommev av, 
"QQ. Oavpaore, od S¢ 8n wot ocKxomels ; Ti TOT 


1 <o8,> added by Stephens, H. Richards. 





1 Op, 630 E ff. 
546 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


superior, or inferior), while with others the aim is 
how to acquire wealth (whether or not they be 
somebody's slaves); and others again direct their 
efforts to winning a life of freedom. Still others 
make two objects at once the joint aim of their 
legislation,—namely, the gaining of freedom for 
themselves, and mastery over other States; while 
those who are the wisest of all, in their own conceit, 
aim not at one only, but at the sum total of these 
and the like objects, since they are unable to 
specify any one object of pre-eminent value towards 
which they would desire all else to be directed. 

cuin. Then, Stranger, was not the view we stated 
long ago the right one? We said? that all our 
laws must always aim at one single object, which, as 
we agreed, is quite rightly named “ virtue.” 

aTH. Yes. 

eux, And we stated that virtue consists of four 
things. 

aTH. Certainly. 

cun. And that the chief of all the four is reason;? 
at which the other three, as well as everything else, 
should aim. 

atu. You follow us admirably, Clinias; and now 
follow us in what comes next. In the case of the 
pilot, the doctor, and the general, reason is directed, 
as we said, towards the one object of aim which is 
proper in each case ; and now we are at the point of 
examining reason in the case of a statesman, and, 
addressing it as a man, we shall question it thus :— 
“ O admirable sir, what is your aim? Medical reason 

2 Cp. 631 C ff: ‘‘reason” (or ‘‘ wisdom”) as the most 


**divine” stands first, the others being temperance, justice 
and courage. 


547 
NN2 


PLATO 


éxeive éoTl TO &, } én capas o pev elise voids 
exer ppatew> ov & dp 81) Sia épeov, os gat ms av, 
TaVvT@V TOV euppover, ovx bets eimeiv ; “H ot 
e, Meyirre Kal Krevvia, exeTov dia pOpodvres 

rap avTov pater ™ pos ene Th Tore pare elvas 
TOUTO, Kkabatep tmrép addN\ov eyo Tpos vpmas 
TVYVOV Siwpilounp 5 ; 

KA. Ovdapds, a @ Eéve. 

ao. Ti 8; ote Set mpoOvpetoOar te Evvidety 
avTO Kal ép ots; 

KA. Olov év tiot déyets ; 

ao. Olov ote réttapa éfyoapev apetfs eidn 
yeyoveva, Sihov as év Exactov avayen davai, 
TETTAP@DV ye | OvT@D. 

KA. Tt pay 5 ; 

ao. Kal pny & ye aTavTa TavTa ™ poo aryo- 
pevouev. avdpiav yap papev aperny elvat, Kal 
THY ppovnow dpeTny, Kal Ta 8vo Tada, as 
dvTws dvTa Ov Toa aXN ev TODTO movoyv, apeTHV. 

KA. Ilavu pev ovv. 

ao.- “He bev Tolvuy Siadeper ov abroty TOUTW 
T® Ovo Kal ov ovopara édaBerny Kal Taha, 
ovdev Xaderov elmreiy" mn € & dwpoiv em @v0- 
pacapev aperiy Kal Tois aANoLS, OvK EVTETES ETL. 

KA. II@s Aéyets ; 

ao. Ovdev Xander ov 5 ye? Aéyo nagar. ota 
verwopela yap GdAjrols THY. ep@TnoW Kal 
aTroKpLow. 

kA. Ids ad ppaters ; ; 

ao. "Epwrtnaov pe ti more &v mpocayopevortes 





1 Cp. 893 A. 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


is able to state clearly the one single object at which 
it aims; so will you be unable to state your one 
object—you who are superior, as perhaps you will 
say, to all the wise?” Can you two, Megillus and 
Clinias, define that object on his behalf, and tell me 
what you say it is, just as I, on behalf of many 
others, defined their objects for you ? 

cuin. We are totally unable to do so. 

atu. Well then, can you declare that we need 
zeal in discerning both the object itself as a whole 
and the forms it assumes? 

cin. Illustrate what you mean by “the forms” 
you speak of. 

aTH. For example, when we said that there are 
four forms of virtue, obviously, since there are four, 
we must assert that each is a separate one. 

cLin. Certainly. 

atu. And yet we call them all by one name: we 
assert that courage is virtue, and wisdom virtue, and 
the other two likewise, as though they were really 
not a plurality, but solely this one thing—virtue. 

cLIN. Very true. 

atu. Now it is not hard to explain wherein 
these two (and the rest) differ from one another, 
and how they have got two names; but to explain 
why we have given the one name “ virtue” to both 
of them (and to the rest) is no longer an easy 
matter. 

cin. How do you mean? 

aTH. It is not hard to make clear my meaning. 
Let one of us adopt the réle of questioner, the other 
of answerer. 

cuin. In what way? 

aTH. Do you ask me this question—why, when 


549 


PLATO 


diperny appotepa ovo mahuw aura _Tpoceirrouen, 
TO mev avdpiav, TO 5é ppovnow. ep yep cot Ty 
aitiav, ore TO pév €oTL mepl poPov, od Kal Ta 
Onpia peTexer Tis avépias Kal Ta ye TOY Traidor 
n0n Tov Tavu véwr: dvev yap Aoyou Kal pucet 
yiyverat avipeta yey avev oe ad Doryou yx 
ppovtpos TE Kal VodY EYouTca OUT.  eyéveto TOTOTE 
ouT éatiwv ovd adlis tote yevnoeTal, ws OVTOS 
ETépov. 

KA. ’AdnO} Aeyers. 

964 ao. “He bev Toivuy éaTov Sradépe, kal dvo, 
ov map’ ewod aTeiAngas TO oye" H Se &v Kal 
TAUTOV, GV TaAW aTrOd0S epol. Siavood 88 as 
ép@v Kal Onn TéTTapa dvta &y éortt, Kal épe be 
akéiov, cov SeiEavtos ws Ev, waddw bin TéTTapa. 
kal 61) TO peta TOTO oKoTa@mev Tov eEidoTa 
ixavas Tepl @vTivwvodY, ols eoTl ev voma, EoTe 
dé ad kal Adyos, woTepoy povoy émictacBat 
Tovvoua ypewv, Tov 5é Adyov ayvoeiv, } TOV YE 
OvTa TL Kai Tept TOV SiahepovTwy peyéOer Te Kal 

B cadre ravta Ta ToLadTa ayvoely aicxpov. 

KA. “Kote your. 

Ao. Metfov én Tt vomobétn TE cal vouwopvAakt 
ral Os apeTi mdyTov dvapépery oletas Kal viKn- 
Thpla. ToUT@Y avToV elAndev, 4 TaAVTAa avTa Teph 
av viv Néyouev, avdpia, cwhpoctvn, dikatocvvn, 
dpovnats ; 

KA. Kat ras ; 

Ao. Tovtawyv 8% répt tovs éEnyntds, Tovds &- 


le 





1 Cp. Laches 196 D ff., Protag. 349 B ff. 
55° 








LAWS, BOOK XII 


calling both the two by the single name of “ virtue,’’ 
did we again speak of them as two—courage and 
wisdom? Then I shall tell you the reason,—which 
is, that the one of them has to do with fear, namely 
courage,’ in which beasts also share, and the cha- 
racters of very young children; for a courageous soul 
comes into existence naturally and without reason- 
ing, but without reasoning there never yet came into 
existence, and there does not nor ever will exist, a 
soul that is wise and rational, it being a distinct kind. 

cin. That is true. 

aTH. Wherein they differ and are two you have 
now learnt from my reply. So do you, in turn, 
inform me how it is that they are one and identical. 
Imagine you are also going to tell me how it is that, 
though four, they are yet one; and then, after 
you have shown me how they are one, do you again 
ask me how they are four. And after that, let us 
enquire regarding the person who has full knowledge 
of any objects which possess both a name and a 
definition, whether he ought to know the name only, 
and not know the definition, or whether it is not a 
shameful thing for a man worth anything to be 
ignorant of all these points in regard to matters of 
surpassing beauty and importance. 

cuin. It would certainly seem to be so. 

atu. For the lawgiver and the Law-warden, and 
for him who thinks he surpasses all men in virtue 
and who has won prizes for just such qualities, is 
there anything more important than these very 
qualities with which we are now dealing—courage, 
temperance, justice, and wisdom ? 

cin. Impossible. 

ATH. In regard to these matters, is it not right 


55! 


PLATO 


dacKdrous, Tos vopobéras, tov GAXwY TOdS 
firakas, TH Seopévme yvoval te Kal eiddvar 4) 
T@ Seopévm Koddlecbal te al émimrAnEar duap- 

C ravovts, morepov ov Set diSdoKxovta Av Svvaptv 
exer KaKia Te Kal apety) Kal mdvtws SdodvTa 
Siapépew Tov GrAwv, GAN 4 ont Tiva 
EhOovta eis THY TONY %) TaLdeuTHY Véwv pdoKorT’ 
eivat Bertin daiverOar Tod Tacay aperhy veviKn- 
KOTOS ; eiTa év TH ToLa’Ty TOE brrOU pr OY 
Epy Te ixavol pudraxes elev, dperhs Tépe yuyvo- 
gKovTes (Kavas, Oavpactoy tLe TavTHY THY TOALY 
apvraktov ovtoav macxev & ToAAAal mdoxovot 

D Tov viv Todor ; 

KA. Ovddév ye, ws eixos. 

Ao. Ti odv; 5 Aéyopev viv, Toinréov hyuiv, 7 
TOS; Tos PUAaKas axpiBeaTépovs TOV TONY 
mepl apeths épyw Kal Koyo KatacKevacTéoy ; 
Tiva TpoTov TH Tov éudpovwy Keharh Te Kal 
aic@rjcecw opowwOnoetar tiv mods, Os 
TOLavTHY TVA huraKiy KEeKTHMEVN ev AUTH ; 

KA. IIs ody 6) Kal tiva tporov, @ Eéve, 
ametkalovtTes AUTO TOLOUT@ TLL éyoueD ; 

EK ao. Arov ws avdtiis péev THs wodews ovans 
Tov KUTOUS, TOY S€ hvdAdKwY TOS pwev VvEéovs oloV 
€v axpa Kopuph arreteypévous! rods edvpveorta- 
tous o€vTnTas év maon TH ux Exovtas mepl 
SAnv KikrQ@ thy wordy opav, dpoupodvtas 8é 
Tapadidovat pev Tas aicOnoers Tails wvypwass, Tots 
mpeaBurtépos Sé éEayyéXous yiyverOat ravtTwev 

965 Trav Kata TodALV, Tods S€ vO aterxacpevous TO 

1 QmreiAeyuevous MSS, : dareiAnupevous MSS. marg., Zur., 
vulg. 
552 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


that the interpreters, the teachers, the lawgivers, as 
the wardens of the rest, in dealing with him that 
requires knowledge and information, or with him 
that requires punishment and reproof for his sin, 
should excel all others in the art of instructing him 
in the quality of vice and virtue and exhibiting it 
fully? Or is some poet who comes into the State, 
or one who calls himself a trainer of youth, to be 
accounted evidently superior to him that has won 
prizes for all the virtues? In a State like that, 
where there are no wardens who are competent both 
in word and deed, and possessed of a competent 
knowledge of virtue,—is it surprising, I ask, if such 
a State, all unwarded as it is, suffers the same fate as 
do many of the States which exist to-day? 

cin. Not at all, I should say. 

atu. Well then, must we do what we now pro- 
pose, or what? Must we contrive how our wardens 
shall have a more accurate grasp of virtue, both in 
word and deed, than the majority of men? For 
otherwise, how shall our State resemble a wise man’s 
head and senses, on the ground that it possesses 
within itself a similar kind of wardenship ? 

cuin. What is this resemblance we speak of, and 
wherein does it consist ? 

atu. Evidently we are comparing the State itself 
to the skull; and, of the wardens, the younger ones, 
who are selected as the most intelligent and nimble 
in every part of their souls, are set, as it were, like 
the eyes, in the top of the head, and survey the 
State all round; and as they watch, they pass on 
their perceptions to the organs of memory,—that is, 
they report to the elder wardens all that goes on in 
the State,—while the old men, who are likened to 


553 


PLATO 


Tone Kal a&ia oyou Siagepovtas poveiv, Tods 
yepovTas, Bourever Oat, kal Umnpéraes Xp@mévous 
peta EvpBovrias Tois véows, ob T@ 67 Kowy cote 
dapporépors 6 OVvT@S Thy TOAW OANY. TOTEpOV OVTw 
héyouen, i) TOS addros Seip Katana Neate 3 ‘ 
H@v opotous mavTas KexTnpevny * Kal oa) 1n- 
KpiBopévws eat ods tpadévtas Te Kal TeTat- 
Sevpévous ; 

KA. "AAX,@ Oavpacte, advvatov. 

Ae. ‘Iréov dpa eri Tia ipsa matoelav 
THs Eutrpocben. 

KA. “Ios. 

AO. “Ap ovv As 87) viv xeon epnyapela, 
TuyX avo. av ovoa hs xpelav Exomev avy ; 

KA. Iavtamac. pev odv. 

ae. Ovdxodv éhéyomev TOV Ye pos: éxacTa 
ax pov Snpoupyov Te Kal puraKa uy povov deiv 
mpos Ta TOANA BETrELY Suvarov eivat, Tpos de TO 
év éreiyeo Oat, ywavat Te Kal yvovTa mpos éKxeivo 
ovvtafac bat Twavra EvvopavTa ; 

KA. ’O peas. 

C Ae. "Ap obv axpiBeorépa oKeyris Géa 7’ av 
mepl oTovody oT@ody yiyvorro a TO pos play 
iSéay ex TOV TOAAOY Kal dvopotwv Svvarov elvat 
Brérrevv ; 

KA. “Iows<ov>.? 


1 xextnuevny W.-Méllendorff: xexrnuérvovs MSS., edd. 
2 <ob> I add. 





1 962 E, 963 B ff. 2 Cp. 903 C, D, 961 E. 
* Cp. Rep. 537 B ff., where the “dialectic” method is 


554 


ae bly bmn a 
a ei a a 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


the reason because of their eminent wisdom in many 
matters of importance, act as counsellors, and make 
use of the young men as ministers and colleagues 
also in their counsels, so that both these classes by 
their co-operation really effect the salvation of the 
whole State. Is this the way, or ought we to contrive 
some other? Should the State, do you think, have 
all its members equal, instead of having some more 
highly trained and educated ? 

cuin, , Nay, my good sir, that were impossible. 

atu. We must proceed, then, to expound a type 
of education that is higher than the one previously 
described. 

cLtn. I suppose so. 

atu. Will the type which we hinted at just now ! 
prove to be that which we require ? 

cin, Certainly. 

atu, Did we not say? that he who is a first-class 
craftsman.or warden, in any department, must not 
only be able to pay regard to the many, but must 
be able also to press towards the One? so as to dis- 
cern it and, on discerning it, to survey and organise 
all the rest with a single eye to it? 

cLIN. Quite right. 

aTH. Can any man get an accurate vision and 
view of any object better than by being able to 
look from the many and dissimilar to the one 
unifying form? 

cin. Probably not. 


described as a kind of induction (cvvaywyh) whereby the 
mind ascends from ‘“‘the many” particulars to ‘‘ the one” 
universal concept or ‘‘ idea” : a comprehensive view (ctvoyis) 
of the whole is what marks the dialectician (6 ouvortixds 
diadextixéds). 


555 


PLATO 


ao. Ovd« icas, aAWN Gvtas, @ Satpovie, TAUTNS 
ovK éott cadhertépa pé0odos avOporrav ovdevi. 

KA. ol muctevwv, @ Eéve, cvyyxapd 67, Kal 
TavTn Topev@ucla AéyovTes. 

ao. "Avayxactéov ap, ws oie, Kal TOUS TAS 
Oeias moditeias juiv pvdaxas axpiBas ideiv 
mMp@tov 0 TL Tote Sia TdvT@Y TaY TEeTTAPwV 

D tavtov tuyxyave, 0 by dapev & Te avdpia Kai 
cwppoctvy Kal Sixatocvvyn Kal év ppovyce ev ov 
apetiy évl Sixaiws av dvoyaTe mpocayopevecOat. 
Todt, @ piro., eb pev BovropeOa, Ta viv olovrrep 
apodpa miécavtes pn) avayev, Tplv av ikavas 
elm@pev TL TOT éaTiv, els 6 BrewTéov, elTe WS EV 
elte ws OXov elite Auhotepa eite GMS TOTE TEdU- 
Kev. 1%) TovToV dSiadvyovtTos Huds oloueOd Tote 
Hpiv ixavas ee Ta Tpos apeTHV, TEpl As oUTE 
€f TOAAG é€oT OUT et TéTTApa OVO’ ws Ev SuvaToOL 

E dpatew éodpc0a ; ovxodv édv ye nuiv EvpBovros 
TeOwopeba, auas yé Tas pnxyavncopmela ev TH 
mode. eyyeyovévas TODO Hiv: et & dpa TO Tapa- 
nav Soxet édv, édv 69+ ypewv. 

KA. “Hxicta, vy tov Eéviov, @ Eéve, Oeor, 
éatéov tov TO ToLlovTov, émet SoKels Hyiv dpOo- 
Tata déyev. adr\a &) Tas THs TodT ap 
UNXAVHTALTO ; 

966 Ao. Mijrw 70 7as av unyavncaipeba Néyoper 
ei Set 5é 7) un, TPaTOV BeBarwoa@pela TH Evvo- 
poroyla mpos nuas avTous. 

KA. "AAA ppv See ye, elep Suvatov. 


1 2av, eav 3h Baiter: éav Spe (al. dpm) MSS.: egy Zur. 
(éav, dpav 3) Winck., Burnet), 


556 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


atu. It is certain, my friend, rather than probable, 
that no man can possibly have a clearer method than 
this. 

cin. I believe you, Stranger, and I assent; so let 
us employ this method in our subsequent discourse. 

atH. Naturally we must compel the wardens also 
of our divine polity to observe accurately, in the first 
place, what that identical element is which pervades 
all the four virtues, and which,—since it exists as a 
unity in courage, temperance, justice and wisdom,— 
may justly be called, as we assert, by the single 
name of “virtue.” This element, my friends, we 
must now (if we please) hold very tight, and not 
let go until we have adequately explained the 
essential nature of the object to be aimed at— 
whether, that is, it exists by nature as a unity, or 
as a whole, or as both, or in some other way. Else, 
if this eludes us, can we possibly suppose that we 
shall adequately grasp the nature of virtue, when we 
are unable to state whether it is many or four or 
one? Accordingly, if we follow our own counsel, 
we shall contrive somehow, by hook or by crook, 
that this knowledge shall exist in our State. Should 
we decide, however, to pass it over entirely—pass it 
over we must. 

cun, Nay, Stranger, in the name of the Stranger’s 
God, we must by no means pass over a matter such 
as this, since what you say seems to us most true. 
But how is this to be contrived ? 

atu. It is too early to explain how we are to 
contrive it: let us first make sure that we agree 
among ourselves as to whether or not we ought to 
do so. 

cin. Well, surely we ought, if we can. 


557 


PLATO 


ao. Ti dat 89; mepl narod te Kal ayabod 
TaUTOV TOUTO Stavoovpmeba ; WS TOXN éotl povory 
[ov]* &eactov tovtwv, tos pvdakas Huiv 
yootéor, } kal bras & Te kal bry ; 

KA. Lyeddv gor’ é& avayxns Seiv Kal dtrws év 
diavoeicbat. 

Ao. Ti 8, évvociy pév, thy dé évdecEw TO KOYO 
advvatety évdeixvuc Oat ; 

KA. Kal mas; dvdparddov yap twa ad 
Déyers EEwv. 

ae. Tt dai; mepi mavtov tav orovdaiwv ap’ 
Hiv O avTos NOyos, StL Set TOS dvTwWS PUAAKAS 
é€couévous TaV vduwv dvtws eldévat TA Tepl TV 
arnbevav avTav, Kal AOy@ TE ixavos Eppnvevew 
elvat Kal Ttois épyors Evvaxorovbeiv, Kpivovtas 
Td TE KANOS Yyiryvopmeva Kai TA ) KATA How ; 

KA. Ils yap ov ; 

ao. Map ovv ody & tay KadXoTtov éotl 7d 
mept Tors Oeovs, & bn orrovdy SieTepavdueba, ws 
eligi te kal bons daivovtat Kvpior duvdapews, 
eldévar Te eis Ooov Suvatov éott TAadT avOpwtrov 
ylyveoKkew, Kal Tois péev mrAEloTOLS TOY KaTa 
Tok Evyyvyvecke TH Pyun movoy TAY vomwV 
cuvakorovbodvat, Tols b¢ durakhs peOéEovcr pnde 
émitpémev, Os ay py Svatovyonta, TO Tacap 
miatw AaBely Tov ovciav Tépt® Oey ; THY SE wy 
D éritpomiy eivar TO pndérote TOY vopoduddKwv 
aipetoOar Tov pry Ociov Kal SvaTremovnKdTa mpos 
avtd, pnd’ ad Tav mpds apeTnv éyxpitov 
ylyvec Oat ; 

1 [by] wanting in MSS.: added by MSS. marg., Zur. 


2 ovalay wépi: ovoa@v wept MSS., edd. 
3 éyxpitwy L. Dindorf, Herm, : éyxpirov MSS. 


558 


sn 


ere 
TEES? 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


atu. Very well then; do we hold the same view 
about the fair and the good? Ought our wardens 
to know only that each of these is a plurality, or 
ought they also to know how and wherein they are 
each a unity? 

cin. Itis fairly obvious that they must necessarily 
also discern how these are a unity. 

ath. Well then, ought they to discern it, but be 
unable to give a verbal demonstration of it ? 

cin. Impossible! The state of mind you describe 
is that of a slave. 

ATH. Well then, do we hold the same view about 
all forms of goodness, that those who are to be real 
wardens of the laws must really know the true 
nature of them, and be capable both of expounding 
it in word and conforming to it in deed, passing 
judgment on fair actions and foul according to their 
real character? 

cuin. Certainly. 

atu. And is not one of the fairest things the 
doctrine about the gods, which we expounded 
earnestly,1—to know both that they exist, and what 
power they manifestly possess, so far as a man is 
capable of learning these matters; so that while one 
should pardon the mass of the citizens if they merely 
follow the letter of the law, one must exclude from 
_ office those who are eligible for wardenship, unless 
they labour to grasp all the proofs there are about the 
existence of gods? Such exclusion from office con- 
sists in refusing ever to choose as a Law-warden, or 
to number among those approved for excellence, a 
man who is not divine himself, nor has spent any 
labour over things divine. 


1 In Book X. 
559 


967 


PLATO 


KA. Aixavov yoo, @s Revers, TOV meph Ta 
Toratta apyov 7) advvatoy aroxpiverOat Toppe 
TOV KANOD. 

Ao. "Apa ovv lopev 6tt bv éotovy TH TreEpl 
Oedv adyovte eis trict boa SindOopev év Tots 
mpoober ;¥x 

KA. Ilota ; 

ao. “Ep Hey r) mepl THD yuxny éAeyouen, os 
mpeoButarov Te kal Oeroratov éore mavT@v ov 
Kivnows yéveov maparaBobaa aévaov ovciay 
émopurey" év 6é TO Tmepl THY popay, os exer 
Takews, datpov Te Kal dowv addov éyepatis 
vous éorl TO Tay SvaxexocpnKkas. 6 yap iSov 
Tatra wn pavr\ws pnd iSimTiKds, ovdels obTws 
adeos avOporev Tore mepuxer, és ov TovvavTiov 
érrabev 7 TO 7 po SoK@pevov vm6 TOV TONOD. 
of pep yap Stavoobyrat Tous Ta Toabra peta- 
xetpirapevous dot povopia Te kal tals pera 
TAUTNS avaryKratats adraus Téyvats abéous yiryve- 
oOar, Kabewpaxoras, @s olovtat,! yiyvopueva 
avayKats Tpayyar aX’ ov Stavoiats BovAncews 
ayal av mee TEAOVLEVOY. 

KA. To 6é 5 TOS éyov av ein : 

Ao. lav, Orep elTov, Touvavtiov éxyet viv TE 
Kal OTe dpuxa aura ot Sravoovpevot dtevoodvT0. 
Javpara pev ody Kal TOTE UTEOVETO mept avrd, 
Kal UT@NMTEVETO TO VOY dYTWS Sedoypevor, daot 
THS axpiBeias aut ay HM TOVTO, étws pytoT av 
dyuxya ovta ottwas eis axpiBerav Oavpacrois 


1 ofovrat, Madvig, Apelt: ofdv re MSS., edd. 
1 Cp. 893 B ff. 2 Cp. 898 C ff. 





560 


LAWS, BOOK XIl 


cuin. It is certainly just, as you say, that the 
man who is idle or incapable in respect of this 
subject should be strictly debarred from the ranks 
of the noble. 

atu, Are we assured, then, that there are two 
causes, amongst those we previously discussed," 
which lead to faith in the gods? 

cuin. What two? 

atu. One is our dogma about the soul,—that it 
is the most ancient and divine of all the things 
whose motion, when deyeloped into “ becoming,’ 
provides an ever-flowing fount of “being’’; and the 
other is our dogma concerning the ordering of the 
motion of the stars? and all the other bodies under 
the control of reason, which has made a “cosmos” 
of the All. For no man that views these objects in 
no careless or amateurish way has ever proved so 
godless as not to be affected by them in a way just 
the opposite of that which most people expect. For 
they imagine that those who study these objects in 
astronomy and the other necessary allied arts become 
atheists through observing, as they suppose, that all 
things come into being by necessary forces and not 
by the mental energy of the will aiming at the 
fulfilment of good. 

cin. What in fact is the real state of the case? 

atH. The position at present is, as I said, exactly 
the opposite of what it was when those who con- 
sidered these objects considered them to be soulless. 
Yet even then they were objects of admiration, and 
the conviction which is now actually held was sus- 
pected by all who studied them accurately—namely, 
that if they were soulless, and consequently devoid 
of reason, they could never have employed with such 


564 
VOL, II. 00 


PLATO 


Aoyea pois av EXpHTO, vodv [) KexTnMévas Kai 
TwWeES eTOAmeov TovTO ye. avro TapaKxwouvevery 
Kal TOTE, AéyovTes os vous ei, 0 StaKeKxoc unKas 
mavO” daa Kar ovpavov. ot oe avutTol mad 
dpaptdvovres Wwuxis pvoews, OTL peo Butepov 
eln THULATOY, dvavonBevres 6é ws vedTEpor, 
anavO ws eitrety eros. avétpeway Taw, éavTous 
dé modv paddov: Ta yap mpo TOV Opp reov 
TavTa avrois epavn Ta Kar’ ovpavov pepopeva, 
peora elvat Ao Kai ys Kal TONY adov 
anroxeov TWLATOV Stavepovroy Tas aitias TavTos 
TOU KO 1ov. Taor iy Ta TOTE efepyacdpeva 
ToAas abeorntas Kal ducyepeias TOV ToLOvTwY 
antes Oat Kal 51) Kal Nowdopyoes rye émOov 
ToLnTais, TOUS prrocopovvras Kuol paratas 
arena SovTas Xpopévarow trakais, adda TE 
dvonra, eimeiv. viv O€, Omep elpntat, wav 
TOUVaVTLOV EVEL. 

KA. IIds ; 

Ae. Ovx« éote rote yevéoOat BeBaiws CeoceBh 
Ounrav avOpoTrov ovdéva, Os ay Ha Ta NEeyoueva 
TadTa vov Ovo AaBn, wuxy TE WS ECTL mpeo BvTa- 
Tov aTavTov boa ryov"s pereihnbev abavarov TE 
dpxee TE 67 copdrav Tdvrov, é emt dé TovToLoe 67, 
TO vov eipnpevov TONNAKES, Tov TE mynpévov + 
év Tots dar pou voov TOV OVT@V Ta Te po ToUT@Y 
avayxaia padnpata AdByn, Ta Te KATA THY 


1 jynuévoy : eipnuévov MSS. (add afriov after bvrwy ci. 
Stallb. ) 





1 An allusion to the saying of Anaxagoras, ‘‘ All things 
were together ;. then Reason (vos) came and set them in 


562 


i 


e 
3 





LAWS, BOOK XII 


precision calculations so marvellous; and even in 
those days there were some who dared to hazard 
the statement! that reason is the orderer of all that 
is in the heavens, But the same thinkers, through 
mistaking the nature of the soul and conceiving her 
to be posterior, instead of prior, to body, upset again 
(so to say) the whole universe, and most of all them- 
selves ; for as regards the visible objects of sight, all 
that moves in the heavens appeared to them to be 
full of stones, earth and many other soulless bodies 
which dispense the causes of the wholecosmos. These 
were the views which, at that time, caused these 
thinkers to incur many charges of atheism and much 
odium, and which also incited the poets to abuse 
them? by likening philosophers to “dogs howling 
at the moon,’ with other such senseless slanders. 
But to-day, as we have said, the position is quite 
the reverse. 

citn. How so? 

atu. It is impossible for any mortal man to 
‘become permanently god-fearing if he does not 
grasp the two truths now stated,—namely, how 
that the soul is oldest of all things that partake 
of generation, and is immortal, and rules over all 
bodies,—and in addition to this, he must also grasp 
that reason which, as we have often affirmed, con- 
trols what exists among the stars, together with the 
necessary preliminary sciences ;? and he must observe 
order.” But A. ascribed to Reason only the initiation of a 
world-order ; in all other respects his doctrine was material- 
istic, and he used purely physical causes and processes in 
explaining the world, regarding the stars as fiery masses of 
matter (‘‘ full of earth, stones,” etc.). Cp. Phaedo 97 B ff. 

2 Cp. Rep. 607 B, C. 

5 Cp. 818 A ff. 


563 


9 


8 


PLATO 


Modcay tovtos Tis Kowwvias cuvOeacdpevos 
Xpyantar mpos Ta Tov Ody emiTmdevpara Kab 
vomepa TVVAPHLOTTOVTMS, boa Te Royov EXEL, 
TOUTOD duvaros 7 Sobvat TOV oyov [doa Te 41]. 
0 éé a) Taad’ olds 7 dv m™ pos Tats Snpootass 
aperais Kexrho Oat oxedov cipxov pev ovK ay 
TOTE yevorro ixavos dns TONEDS, Orrnperns & av 
aAXows dpxovoty. opay 57) Xpeov voy, @ Krewia 
cal Méyirre, 70 mpos Tots elpnwevors vopous 
dracw Scous dueAnvaper, e~ Kal ToDToy 
mpocotcoper, s pudaxny éo 6mevov KaTa vopov 
Xaptv cwTnplas Tov TOY apxKovT@y VUKTEpLOY 
oUANoyov Tatoelas 6 omoans deAnAVGapev KoLvMVOY 


B YevopEvov" 7) TOS TOL@|LEV $ é 


KA. “AN, ® NOaTE, TAS OV TpoToicoper, av 
7TH Kal KaTa Rpaxs, SuvnO dyer ; z 

ao. Kal piv mpos ye 70 TovodTOV apirrnOdpev 
mTayres. EvdAnTTe@p yap TovTOU ye opiv kal 
éy@ yiryvoiunv av mpoOvpwas, mpos 8 ewot Kai 
étépous lows evpjow, dia Thy mepl Ta ToLadT’ 
éutretpiay Te Kal oxeiy yeyovuidy pot Kal para 

/ 
oVXVHD. 

KA. TAN, @ Eéve, TAVTOS bev paiddov TAUTN 
TopevTeov Hrep Kal 0 Geos nas oxedov a aryel Tis 
dé 0 _TpoTOs ajyeiv ryiryvomevos opbas yiyvort’ av, 
TouTL 61 Ta voV AEeyoper Te Kal é Epevv@pyev. 

Ae. Ovnére vopous, @ MeyAre Kal Krevvia, 
mepl TOV TOLOUT@Y duvatov é éort vopobereiv, T piv 
dy xoounOy tote Sé Kupious ov avtovs det 
yliyvecOar vopobereiv. adda dn TO Ta TOLAdTA 





1 Cp. Rep. 401 D, 500 D, 531 ff. 
564 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


also the connection therewith of musical theory, and 
apply it harmoniously to the institutions and rules 
of ethics;+ and he must be able to give a rational 
explanation of all that admits of rational explanation. 
He that is unable to master these sciences, in ad- 
dition to the popular virtues,? will never make a 
competent magistrate of the whole State, but only 
a minister to other magistrates. And now, O 
Megillus and Clinias, it is time at_last to consider 
whether, in addition to all the previous laws which 
we have stated, we shall add this also—that the 
nocturnal synod of magistrates shall be legally es- 
tablished, and shall participate in all the education 
we have described, to keep ward over the State, 
‘and to secure its salvation; or what are we to do? 

cin. Of course we shall add this law, my ex- 
cellent sir, if we can possibly do so, even to a small 
‘extent. 

atu. Then, verily, let us all strive to do so. 
And herein you will find me a most willing helper, 
owing to my very long experience and study of 
this subject; and perhaps I shall discover other 
helpers also besides myself. 

cuin, Well, Stranger, we most certainly must 
proceed on that path along which God too, it 
would seem, is conducting us. But what is the 
right method for us to employ,—that is what we 
have now got to discover and state. 

aTH. It is not possible at this stage, Megillus 
and Clinias, to enact laws for such a body, before 
it has been duly framed; when it is, its members - 
must themselves ordain what authority they should 
possess; but it is already plain that what is re- 


2 Cp. 710 A. ° 
595 


D 


E 


969 


PLATO 


katacKevbatov didayy peta Evvovcias mods 
ylyvort av, et ylyvouro op0as. 

KA. Ids; ti Todro eipiabar Popev ad ; 

Ao. LIlparov péev 54 mov xatadXextéos av ein 
KaTaddoyos Tay doot émiTHdELoL TMpds THY THS 
dvarakhs pvow ap eiev tAtkiats Te Kal pabnpatov 
duvdpect Kal TpoTaY ere Kal eect. pera b€ 
ToDTO, & det pavOdvery, ove ebpety padvov ote 
eUpnKotos ddXov panty yevér bar. Tpos TOv- 
Tos O€ Xpovous obs Te kal év ols bel Tapahap- 
Bavew ExagTov, paratov tadt év ypdupace 
every ovde 4p auTots Tots pavOdvoucr oda 
yeyvorr’ av 6 TL pos Kaupov pavO aver as, mply 
évTOs THS Wuxiis éxdor@ ToD pabijparos ema 
Hnv yeyovevat. ob oF TavTa Ta Tept TadTa 
amroppnra ev AexOevra ovK av Opes réyouTo, 
am poppnta dé dua TO pendev mpoppnOévta Snrodv 
TOV Aeyouevony. 

KA. Té ody 52 rrointéov éxovT@y TovTwY OUTaS, 


ao. To ) Neyouevor, o pirot, év KOLV@ Kal pio 
€oLKev jpiy Keto Oat, Kal elarep cuvdvvevewv mept 
THS TodtTelas eOéXonev Evyrraans, H Tpls é€, 
dhaciv, i) tpeis KUBous Baddovtes, Tadta? rrom- 
Téov" eyo 5 Dpiy cuyKivduvevoo 7 ppaterv TE 
kal éEnyeioPar ta ye Sedoypeva épol Tept Ths 
raibelas Te Kal Tpopis Tis voY av Kexwwyuevns 


1 tadTa some MSS., Stallb.: wdvra al. MSS., Zur, 





1 Cp. Rep. 528 B ff. 
2 Cp. Epp. 7. 341 C. 


566 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


quired in order to form such a body, if it is to be 
rightly formed, is teaching by means of prolonged 
conferences. 

cin. Howso? What now are we to understand 
by this observation ? 

atu. Surely we must first draw up a list of all 
those who are fitted by age, intellectual capacity, 
and moral character and habit for the office of 
warden ; but as regards the next point, the subjects 
they should learn,—these it is neither easy to 
discover for oneself} nor is it easy to find another 
who has made the discovery and learn from him, 
Moreover, with respect to the limits of time, when 
and for how long they ought to receive instruction 
in each subject, it were idle to lay down written 
regulations ; ? for even the learners themselves 
could not be sure that they were learning at the 
opportune time until each of them had acquired 
within his soul some knowledge of the subject in 
question. Accordingly, although it would be wrong 
to term all these matters “indescribable,” they 
should be termed “imprescribable,” seeing that the 
prescribing of them beforehand does nothing to 
elucidate the question under discussion. 

cuix. What then must we do, Stranger, under 
these circumstances ? 

atu. Apparently, my friends, we must “ take 
our chance with the crowd” (as the saying is), and 
if we are willing to put the whole polity to the 
hazard and throw (as men say) three sixes or three 
aces, so it must be done; and I will go shares 
with you in the hazard by declaring and explaining 
my views concerning education and nurture, the 
subject now started anew in our discourse; but 


567 


PLATO 


Tots Aovyous* TO HEVTOL xudvveupa ov TpKpor ous” 
ET épous tial T poo pepes ap ein. ool 67) TOOTS 1 
@ Kvewvia, pérew _mapanehevopar ov yap Thy 
Mayyntov TOMY, i) @ av Oeds em evupov avr 
Toinon, KNEOS Apel péyoov KaTaC Kevdo as auriy 
spas, TO Ye avdpeoraros elvat b0Fae TOV 

Bo bo repov emuyvyvouevev OvK expevfer moré. édv 
ye pon ob Tos npiv o Oetos yevnt ar EvdAoyos, ra) 
birot éTatpot, mapadoréov TOUT@ THD woh, 
apie Bnrnots T ovK éor’ oddenta ovder) TOV 
vov ) Tapa tad? ws Eros eitrety vopoberav, 6 OvTas 
dé éotaia edov b trap dmorerehec wevov od opikpe 
mT poabev oveipatos &s TO oy édyrapeba, 
keparfs vod Te Kowvovias eikova TWA TOS 
Euppitavres, €av apa Hiv ot TE avdpes axptBas 

C exrex Oar," TaloEeve@at TE TPOoNKOVTMS, mawdev- 
Oévtes Te ev akpoTroAe TAS xwpas KaTOLKNTAYTES 
gvAakes atroTerecO@ow oiovs iets ovK eldopev 
év 7 mpdcbev Bim mpos apeTny cwrTnpias 
yevouevous. 

ME. °Q pire Knreuvia, €x Tov vov npiv elpnye- 
vO aT avT@v 7 THY Todt éatéov Tis KaTouKioEws 
) TOV Eévov Tovde OuK ageréor, GNA berjoeot kal 
pnxavais Taras KOLV@VOY ToLNTéov eri THY THS 
TONEWS KATOLKLOW. 

KA. "AdnOéctata Réyers, @ Méyirdre, Kal 
ey Te Toinow Tavl ottTw Kal <cv>? EvA- 

D AdpBave. 
ME. Evadnouar. 
1 éxAex@@o1 some MSS., Herm.: tuuutxeaor al. MSS., Zur., 


vulg. 
2 <ai> added by Ast. 


568 


LAWS, BOOK XII 


truly the hazard will be no small one, nor com- 
parable to any others. And you, Clinias, I specially 
exhort to take good heed to this matter. For as 
concerns the State of the Magnesians—or whoever 
else, by the god’s direction, gives your State its 
name,~—if you frame it aright, you will achieve 
most high renown, or at any rate you will inevitably 
gain the reputation of being the boldest of all your 
successors. If so be that this divine synod actually 
comes into existence, my dear colleagues, we must 
hand over to it the State; and practically all our 
present lawgivers agree to this without dispute. 
Thus we shall have as an accomplished fact and 
waking reality that result which we treated but 
a short while ago in our discourse as a mere dream, 
when we constructed a kind of picture of the union 
of the reason and the head,?—if, that is to say, we 
have the members carefully selected and suitably 
trained, and after their training quartered in the 
acropolis of the country, and thus finally made into 
wardens, the like of whom we have never before 
seen in our lives for excellence in safeguarding. 

mec. My dear Clinias, from all that has now 
been said it follows that either we must forgo the 
idea of settling the State, or else we must detain 
this Stranger here, and by prayers and every possible 
means secure his co-operation in the task of settling 
the State. 

cuin. That is most true, Megillus; I will do as 
you say, and do you yourself assist me. 

mec. Assist you I will. 

1 i.e. if the god should direct the State to be named, not 


after the Magnetes, but after some other person or place: 
ep. 704 A, 919 D. 2 Cp. 964 D ff. 


569 


, PPA aes 
ey oe eG: 
raat ae with aha F 
P, oar Ne 


rte 





INDEX 


ABOLITION (of debts), T. 193, ye 
Absolute power L 

aa esses a 
Achaeans, I. 187, 197, 263 


yore | gaat If, 219, 363 
Actors, I. oe 


geese 1: 
dies att * 


(penalty of), %, 497 f: i. 


Adultery 
ao bho 
Agamemnon, I. 263 
Agrarian legislation, 1. 
Agreement (breach of), 11. 413 ff. 


: I. 377; U. 171, 313 (ep. 
Aim, I. 223, 259, 297, 455; 11. 543 i. 
Aleman quoted), I. 1. 257 
Alien, I. 327; I. 169, 501 ff. (cp. 

dent, I. 179, 195, 243, 
289, 293, 397, 501 
All, the, I. 363 ff., 561 
Allotments, 1. 357, 369, 379 ff; UO. 


Anarchy, 247 fh: 1. 479 
Anaxagoras (alluded to), I. 333 n., 


Ancestors. 121 319, 365 
Anchor, U. 


Ancients, II. 95, 497 
Anger, IL. ai: ir. "a9 (cp. Passion, 
Rage) 


Angling, I. 121 
Animals, L 349, 491, 493; 1. 165, 267, 
Pl necieglS 
taeus, H..22 
sre Eo , 29, 91, 93, 199; m1. 491, 


Appeal, court of, I, 447 
Arbitrators, I. 443 
ae 259; IL. 59, 63, 87, 141, 


Arcturus, 
Ares, I. 153; i. 141, 413 
Argos, I. 189, 221, 265, 267 
> I. xvi, 183, 187 n., 247, 


Facies I. 359, 387; 1. 
73, 101, 102 n., 105 n 


= games), I. 105 
Arms, L. 7, 261; 1. 23, 25, 57 ff. 
— loss of, IL. 483 ff. 
(Arts), L. viii, x, xv, 103, 136 n., 
a 167 f£., 271, 305; 1. 311 ff, 


Artemisium, I. 265 
Artificial (products), I. 311 


Athena, I. 9, 381; 11. 29, 63, 413, 415 

Athenians, A’ Athens, L 47, 59, 61, 221 ff., 
239 ff., 399 

Athletes, 1. 121 

Athletic contests, . 131, 139 ff, 
(cp. Gymnastic) 


571 


INDEX 


Athos, I. 241 

Atomists (doctrines of), 11. 313 n. 
Atonement, Il, 229, 243, 265 ff. 
Atropos, Il. 537 

Audience, ~ 109 (ep. a ff.; I. 99) 
Avarice, IL. 

Avenger, I. 268, 291° 


Bacchic dances, Il. 93 

Bacchus, see Dionysus 

Bachelors Cpeaaliends, I. 313, 465 

Bail, I. 261 

Ball (games), I, 132 n. 

Banquets, I. 49, 153 (cp. Feasts) 

Baths, warm, 1. 427 

Beauty, I. 143; I, 219 ff., 315, 551 

Becoming (and perishing), il. 321, 
329 n. (cp. Generation) 

Bees, I. 267; I. 175 (cp. 171) 

Begging (forbidden), I. 465 

Beginning, I. 471 

Belief, I. 235, 299 ff. 

Bequest, right of, 11. 419 ff, 

Best polity, y So (cp. State) 

Betrothal, 1. 4 

Birds, I. 7, ia. (793 u. 7, 3, 165, 511 

Birth (gods of), eS 331; 2 87 

Birthday feasts, 1. 499 

Birth-rate, I. 367 

Blasphemy, t. 43, 113 

Body, 1. 329, 377; I. 5, 27, 255, 323, 
339, 365 ff., 533, 563 

Boeotians, I. 41 

Borrowing, I. 373 

Boundaries, 0. 171 ff. 

Boxing, I. 29, 105, 127, 131 

Branding, I. 203 

Briareus, I. 27 

Bribe, I. "427; Hs pois 371, 381 

Bronze, . 105, 5 

Burial, I. 27 (ep. Funeral 

Buying (and Selling), 11. Jot ff. 397 ff. 


Cadmean victory, I. 57 

Cadmus, I. 123 

Calculation, I, 67ff., I. 339 (cp. 
Reason) 

Cambyses, I. 227 ff 

Cancelling edie etc. ), 1. 185, 195 ff. 

Cannibalism, I. 

Careless (gods sot), Tr. 351 ff. 

Carian music, I. = 

Carthaginians, I. 45, 161 

Cause, I. 223; oa Til, 135, 139, 233, 
255 f., 329, 333 ff. 


572 


Cavalry, I. 409 

Ceians, I. 47 

Celts, I. 45 

Censure, I. 35 f., 49; I. 433, 511 

Cereyon, Il, 29 

Ceremonies, I. 501 

Challenge, I. 409, 443 

Chanee, I. 269 ff. 11. 311 #f. 

Change, I. 165 ff.; IL. 33 ff., 329, 333, 
365 ff., 443 

Chant, I. 113, 131, 185, 183; 1. 99,115 

Chariots, I. 145 ; 

Sharm, I. 113 n., 137. 

Cheerfulness, 1, 13, 1 

Cheese, I. 47 

Children, 1, 87, 83,89 89,.111, 127, 133, 
289, 300 ff., 313, 463 ff., 471; 11. 7f., 
51, 65, 70 n., 89 M., 449, “ast | 

Choice, 1. 343 ft., 3 

Choirs, I. 193, 127 i's 

Chords, I. 1 

Choristry, I. “5, 129 ff, 155 ff.; 0. 97 

Chorus, If. 99 

Cinyras, 1. 115 

Circular motion, IL. 327 ff., 342 ff. 

Circumference, I. 345 

Citations, I, 183 

City in and SOSNE - 381 

City-stewards, Fart 433 ff., 483; 
I. 23, 177, 181, a 191 ff, 287, 
293, 391, 405, 413, 465 517 

Civic (life, ete.) 1. 135, 449; 1. 27 

Civil War, 

Claim, 11. "481, 393, 513, 617 ff. 

Clan, 1. 179 ff., 187 n., 267 

Classes, I, 379 ff., 405 (ep. Property- 
class) 

Climate, I. 387 

Clotho, I. 537 

Club collections, I. 205, 397 

Cnosus, 1; 5, 203, 399, 405 

Cock-fights, 

Coin, Onintize: . 371 ff., 387 

Collusion, I. 285 

Colonists, Colony, I. ix, 253, 353, 367, 
399, 403; TI. 423, 429 


Comedy, I. 107; I, 97, 463 

Commanders, I. 49 ff., 63, 407 fh, 421 
(cp. Officer) : 

Commensurables, ..107 

Common meals, I. 5 ff., 29, 429, 481, 
485 ff.; IL. 65, 161, 169 (ep. Mess 


' 
ee a a  . e 


S.C CLT 





INDEX 


Community (of goods), I. 363; 1. 65 
Ir. 229 


Competition, I. 107, 435 (cp. Contest) 
Confederacy, I. 187 
Confidence, I. 67, 83 ff., 249 
Confiscation, I. 373; 1. 205 _ 
et 
I. 167, 171, 223, 277; 
ae CE 49 (cp. Government, 
1.31; ig 31, 129 ff., 139 ff, 
Gonteestirs. 331; I. 413 ff tie 
Contribution, I. 1359" 
Con’ a Nature), 1. 314-15 
Cord, I. 69, 343 
Corpses, IT. ea roe ff, 
Fs 
1.477 
Cosmos 343, “361 
i. 
Council (Bonlé), ee ante 409 ff., 417 


ee Land-stewards, 
we ry 429) ‘39, 137, 233, 345; 
‘Ir. 127, 54 


a 
I. 77, 81, 111; 1. 355, 359 
3, 271, 371; 


Orafta, Craftsmen, 1. 22: 
It. 183 ff., 191 ff., 411 ff. 
Se Le 
gma Po 


rer tad 59, 159, 187, 
It. 145, 


187 
éintnal TI. 203 ff., 223.f., 


Tr. 29 
Ourse, I. 204 n.: II. 203, 449, 461, 499 
Custom, I. 7, 45, 181, 493; 1. 19 ff., 
16 


1. 169 
Dagon 285 ff., 299, 341 n., 359 ff., 
‘ 49, 125, 189, 277 n., 373, 


385" 
Damage, 1. 175 ff. (ep. Injury) 
Dancing, I. 9 On ff, 159, ror tm. 13, 


Dead, Foy iy It. 45, 257, Maes 435, 
49 
Death, II. ia% 367 ff., 485 


penalt L 351; IL. 203 221, 
231, 291 Poor A? a2e es 


Debtor, I. 299 

Debts scsnoeting of), see Abolition, 

Decrease, see Increase, 

Definition, I. 335 ff. 
ne ea, oi I. 21, 71, 133, 
1 ' > (ep. Disquali- 
fication 

Delphi, I. 359, 421; 0. 391, 495 n, 

Deluge, I. 167, 185, 251 

Demeter, I. 49 31 

Democracy, I. ix, xv, xvi, 223 4f., 247, 
277, 281 ff. 

Democritus, qT. 302 n., 313.n. 

Deposit, Depositor, IL. 391 

Desertion, I. 429; I. 481, 559 

er I. 203 fh, 493; IL. 149 ff., 153, 


Despot, Pernt, 2 237 f£., 251, 361; 
II. 217 (cp. Monarchy) 

Deucalion, I. 166 n. 

Device, L 53, 177, 383, 453; IL 
135, 157 ff., “417 

Dialectic, I. 555 n, 

Diet, 1. 35 

Dionysia, I. 43 

Dionysiac Chorus, I. viii, xv, 129 ff. 

Dionysus, 1. 43, 87, 129, 153, 155, 
245; 1.177 

Diopompus, I. 163 

Di 29 

i L 1269, 345 ff.; 1. 237, 373, 

9 


Dicthectiniee, 0 m. 441 ff, 
Disposition, 1 85 ff; 11. 339, 381, 419, 
445 


Disqualification, I. 429, 499; Im. 75, 
169, 179, 463, 481, 561 (cp. Degra- 
dation) 

Dissolution, I. 191; I. 200, 489 ff. 

Distribution (ot produce), Tl, 187 ff. 

Dithyramb, 1 

Digit. a 99, 3573 I, 381, 389, 


573 


INDEX 
Divisions, (twelve), of city and Bulogy, II. 531 (cp. Praise) 
country, I. 383 Eunuch, the, 1. 229 


—— of land, I. 195, 357 ff. 

Divorce, I. 499; I. 445 

Doctors, I. 307 if., 315 ff., 427; I. 213 
(cp. Physic) 

Dogs, I. 121, 375 ff. 

Donkey, I. 249 

Dorians, I, 187 

Dowries (forbidden), I. 373, 467 

Drachma, It. 417 

Draughts (game of), 1.361; 1.109, 365 

Dreams, I. 385 

Drinking, I. 37, 493 ff, 

Drones, I. 355 

Drug, I. 83 

Drunkenness, I. 43 ff., 131 ff. (cep. 
Wine 

Dwellings, I. 381 ha 1. 189 

Dyes, 11. 185, 523 


Early man, 1. 167 ff. 

Early rising, I. 67 

Harth, I. 301, 303, 313 

Education, I. 63 ff., 101, 111, 115 ff., 
157; 11. 27 ff., 57 ff., 69 ff., 145, 149 

a (early), Tors 10, B ff. 

—— (higher), I. xiv; Tr. 561 ff. 

—— (officer of), I. 439 > erp 1 “71, 79, 
83 ff., 129, 147, 465, 509, 515 

—— (officials), I. 435 ff. 

Egypt, I. 101 ff., 113; 0. 37 

Egyptian, I. 389; 1. 105, 5147. 

Hileithyia, 1. 497 

Elder (as superior), I. 179, 211, 289, 
813; I1. 285, 401 

lection (of officials), I. 403 ff.; I. 

489 

Elements (four), 11. 313, 321 

Embassies, I. 241, 371 

Emigration, 1. 351 ff.; ID. 429, 441 ff., 
501 ff. 

Emmeleiai (dances), I. 95 

Encroachment, I. 483; 0. 173 

Endurance, I, 31; 0. 479 

Epeius, I. 29 

Ephors, I. 219, 281 

Epic poetry, 1. 109 

Epilepsy, I. 398 n. 

Epimenides, I. 61, 169 

Epitaphs, 1. 531 

Equality, 1. 193, 379, 413 

spore I. 239 ff. 
= 1.9, 93,°287; 1. 4, 
527, 537 


574 


Enrysthenes, I. 189, 197 n. 
Even numbers, I. 297; I. 337 
Evidence Gay, of), II. 467 ff. 
Evil, 1. 337, 339 ff. 
xaminers, a 487 ff. (cp. Scrutiny) 
Example, I. 33 
Bxcellence, I. 335 ff., 439, 463, 473 
(cf. Goodness, Virtue) 
Excess profits, I. 195 
Executioners, I. yee 
Exercise, 1. 5 ff., 6 7, 167 
Exile, 1. 237 ff., 279 ff., 293, 521 
Expectations, I. 67 
Exports, I. 257; 1. 185 ff. 
Expulsion (of aliens), TH. 503, 515° 
Extremes (political), & Ex, 225, 251 


Faction, I. 177, 215 (cp. Feud) 

Falsehood, Ir. 401 ff, 

False witness, If. 469 ff., 499 

Family, I. 13, 187 7 

Farm, ‘Farmer, 3 63, 181, 365, 431; 
I. 63, 171, 175 ff., 191 ff., 373, 375° 

Fate, I, 407, 537 

Father, see Parents. 

Fear, I. 67, 75 ff., 81 ff., 153; 1. 13 

Feasts, I. 91; IL. 73, 85, 125, 141 ff., 


Festivals, see Feasts. 
Feud, I. "329, 355, 413; 
cp. Strife e) 
* Feudality,’’ 1. 291 
Riction. I, 125 
Fiddle, 11. 25 
Fighting, I. 27, 87 ff., 141 
Figs, m1. 177 ff. 
a I. 381, 405, 411, 435; 1. 205, 


Fishing, 1. 119 

Flattery, 1. 33, sad: Tr. 421, 497 

Flood, see Deluge. 

Flute, I. 147, 247 

Folly, I. 209, 217 

Food, 1. 137, 493 ff.; 1. 187 

Footraces, I. 7; UU. 139ff. (cp. 
Running) 

Force, I. 11, 213; I. 315 (cp. Violence) 

Foreigner, I. 97, 179 ff., 191 ff. (ep. 
Alien, Stranger) 

Fountain, I. 41, 305, 425, 435; 1. 321 

Fowling, Tr. 119 ff 

Frankincense, It. 185 

Fraud, 1. 401 ff., 475 


TI, 209, 461 


nceaeiinea emai 


———Oe 


— 





INDEX 


hear ay Tt. 395 
vee Reeet eet), I. ix, xv, 223 ff, 
L 208, 31 217 243 
endship, 1. 223 ff., 
2, 3 331 ff, 77, 419, 457, 471; 0. 
Fruit-harvest, I 
Funerals 1200 ne 493 ff., 531 ff. 
Future Life, 1. 257, 291 ff., 367 ff., 
533 (cp. Hades) 
Gans. 4. £0, 7 ak Ir. 23 


Gan 
I. a7 mC (cp. 


Prison) 
Tr. 513, 521 wm Com- 


2, I. 95, 145 ff.; 11. 33 
Gifs, 299 ff., 371 ff., 521 ff. (cp. 
Girls (arill for), Ir. 21 ff., $7 ff., 143 ff. 

a 

God, I. 219, 271, 293 ff., 367, 415; 
Il. 355, 361 ff, te ee 
Gold, 1. 47, 105 
Golden 1.69 
I. 21ff., 29%, 61, 65 ff, 


89 ff., 97 ff., 139 #f., 373 fF., 493 ff.; - 


I. 127, 353 ff., 367ff., 559 (cp. 
Virtue 

Goods (classified), I. 25, 117, 235 ff., 

Government, I. 5, 13, 177 ff., 

211, sy 185 7 » 239, 289 (cp. Polity) 


Grapes, I. 177 
Greece, Grecia I. 177, 221° (cp. 


Hellas) 
Guarantors, I. 261, 393 


aaa dee Orph 427; 57 
L 7 1. 
Gymnastic, 1.41, 435 f.: Hi. 27 ff., 85, 


Habits, 1. 99 ff., 123, 261, 267, 463; 
It. 19, 27, 145, 471 

Hades, I. 257, 291 ff., 367 ff., 533 

Hair, 0. 479 


Half (and ap I. 215 (ep. Whole) 

Hands, I. 

Happines,1 : lis ff.,373 ff.; . 255 ff. 
Harbours, I. 255 ff. 


Harmony, I. 93, 129, 147ff., 211; 
II. 37, 51, 75, 81 ff., 373 n. 
Harp, 1. 107, 147; 11. 83 


Headship, I. 177, 183, 187 n. 


Health, I. 25, 161, 193, 309, 329, 
7, 545 


~ 488. 493 
Hellas, 11. 107, 255, 307 
Helots, I. 31 n., 473 

H It. 413 


53 

Heraclitus (alluded to), Il. 76 7. 

Lig 441, 475 
Herd, erdsman, I, 49, 167, 351; 
IL. 69, 373 

Hermes, I. 475 

Heroes, I. 299, 361; 1. 49, 199 

Hesiod, 1. 109, 169, 315, 303’; II. 302 n., 

pend a to 20 

I 3 I. 189, 207 

Hipparchus, 1. 407 ff. 

Hippolytus, 1. 205; 1. 449 

Homer, I. 107, 177 ‘f, 263, 475; I. 
55, 217, 368 Tuy 371 n., 375 ie 
448 Ny 483 n. 

Honour, I. 105, 231, 235 ff., 263, 297, 
313, 323 ff., 331, 377 ff.; 1. 179, 231, 
407, 417, 515 

Hope, I. 341 

Horn-struck (bean), 1. 20 

Horse-races, I. 437; I. ‘sft, 115, 
121, 145 

Hospitality (sanctity of), I. 333 

Household, I. 179, 211, 366 ff.; 0. 9 

Human (life, pany | I. po 269 ff.; 1. 
53, 57, 201, 271 ff 

Hunting, L 431; I. 17 “f. 

Hymns, I. 245 fi.; Ir. 39 ff., 493 ff. 


Iambics, I. “ye 
Tecus, 1. 163 


575 


INDEX 


Ida, 1. 183 ff. 

Idleness, I. 355 ff. 

Ignorance, I. 207 ff., 211 ff.; 1.105 ff., 
233 ff. 

Tlium, I. 183, 197 

Illusion, 1. 123 

Imitation (in art), I. 99, 139 ff., 305; 
I. 27, 91 ff. 

Immortality, I. 117, 287, 311 ff., 365, 
465, 471 ff., 563 

Impiety (penalties of), 1. 39, 311, 
351 ff., 377 ff. 

Imports, I. 185 

Sais y igre I, 135, 151; I. 373, 383, 

55 ff. 

Incest, I, 157 

Incommensurable, the, 1, 109 

Incontinence, I. 301, 459 

Increase (and Decrease), If. 329 ff., 341 

Incurable offenders, 1. 201 ff, 

Indolence, I. 351; 1, 355 ff. 

Informers, I. 335, 381; I. 237, 391, 


453 

Inheritance, I. 23 
Injuries, I, 225 ff., 467 
Injustice, L 119, 123; Il, 222 ff., 235 
Innkeepers, I. 407 ff. 
Innovation, I. 103, 113, 417; 1. 33 
Topi 1, 57, 85, 119, 217, 295, 467; 

Ih. 


Inspectors, I. 185, 505 ff., 539 

Inspiration, 1. 183, 305 

Institution, 1. 5, 39 ff., 43, 47, 51 ff., 
161, 261, 485 ft. I, 21 , 99, 161, 503 

Intemperance. I. Highly: 

Interest, I. 373; IL. 41 

Interpreters, I. #21, 169: 1. 125, 181, 
267, 401, 531, 553 

Intestacy, i, 419 ff., 427 

Inventions (of arts), T, 169 

Involuntary, see Voluntary. 

Ionian (life), I. 179 

Tron, I. 173 ff.; 0, 523 

Irony, 0, 381 

Irrigation, I. 425; 1. 175 

Isis, I. 103 

Italy, I. 111, My 

Ivory, I. 


Javelin, I. 143 ff., 239 

Jealousy, I. 335 ff. 

Jeasting, 1. 477; I. 465 

Joy, I, 341 

Judges, I. 13 ff., 111 n., 161, 441 ff.; 
I, 203 ff., 247, 459, 481, 523 ff. 


576 


Pa ee I, 327 
Judi , I. 523 ff, 


Juices coosen snes IL. 123 

Bea x 21, 25, SLM, 5.4.30 
Il. 5 225 ff, 263, 305, 315, 
373 fh, 71, 483 set 


Kaineus, I. 485 
Keeper, see Sa 
dred, 1. 331 ff, 441; at, 
249, 259 fF, 425 ff, 441 
King, 1. 117 ff, 183, er 219, 225, 
229 ff., 4273 If, 365 
Knowledge, 1. 273, 421, 551 ff, 
Koré, 1. 491, 


Lacedaemonians, Laconians, I : 

17, 43, 59 f., 179, 187 ff, a, ial 
313, 473; 1. 61 ff, 151 

Lachesis, Il. 537 

Laius, 1. 151 

Land, L itt ae 353 ff., 365, 369; 
I. 171 ff 

Land-stewards iiietia 
423 ff.; II. 173, Tt, ‘I91, 267, 293, 
391, 413, 465, 521 

Law La Laws, 1 xl 3 ff., 279, 289 ff, 


— = (olassited), I. 23; U1. 291, 370 ft., 


— {Giving 1 xiv, 287, 201 ff, 293, 


aN cities op, ed 25 ft, 
——prs phy * 
41, 67 ff., 181 f., > ‘ ‘ 
_— ‘(value of), Ir. 5 
—— (of Plato), 1! ME, 363, 395; 
Il. 65, 79 ff., 217. 
Law-courts, 443 ff.; TL 205 ff., 


I. 
273 ff., 433, 439, 453 ff, 469 ff, 495, 
499, 523 ff. 

Lawgiver, I, 15f,, 123, 183, 223, 
249, 257, 272 ff., 301 ff., 301, 309, 
381, 385 ff., 451 ff; 1. 199, 215 ff, 
275, S11, 317, 227, 431 

Lawlessness, I. 247 

Law-wardens, I. ay 153, 397, 405 ff., 
453 ff.; 1. 135, 129, 165, 205, 425, 

Ze st 539 ‘ies 

al procedure, II. 
on, 1. 393, 449 ff., 181 ff., 


189, 193, 267 ft. 449 ff.; I. 35, 171, 


211 "fh. 
Legislator, ah Lawgiver. 
Leisure, Il. 65 ff,, 127 
Letters, II. 





.) well 





INDEX 


ade ose a 
Life 1178, 383.2 i. 18, 19,55,281 


see Headzhip. 

Lot, I. 213, 369, 415, 419 

- wee I. 357, 365 #8, 
379 ff., 405, 471; 11. 205, 209 f., 
281, 423 


Love, I. 89, 339; 11. 153 ff. 

Loyalty, 1.21 

Lust, I. 493; IL. 255 

Laxury, 1. 45, 215, 229 ff.; 0. 15, 63, 

Lycurgus, I. 23, 29, 219n., 2317. 
180 2. Hl. 217, 502n. : 

Lyre playing, I. 73, 83 

Lyric, 1.463 


Macareus, I. 157 
Madness, I. 237, 251, 433, 443, 459 
I. 393ff.; I. 69 (ep. 


) 
Magnezian (State), I. ix, 
av, $52.n.; 11. 189, 225, 411, 491, 


Men “the measure, etc.), I. 295, 475, 
491 ff.; 1. 58, 339 


479; I. 


419, 433 ff.; I. 
191 ff., 293, 351, 405, 413, "465, 
513 


I. 25, 311 ff, 459 ff., 463 ff., 


1. 169 
I. 49, ot Thc. 413, 431, 
475 #.; 1. 147, 4 
ics, I. 387 fa Numbers) 
Matricide, 1. 251 
Meals (public), see Mess, Common 
Meals. 
Mean, I. 329; U1. 17 (cp. Extremes) 
Measure, due, I. 217 ff. 
Measures, I. 63, 387; 0.105 
Meats, 1. 491 (ep. Food) 
Medes, I. 229 


VOL. II, PLATO, 


inners 

egara, I. 2 

Memory, I. 278: I. 339 

Menoetios, I, 483 
Mercenaries, I. 21, 237 

are (omen of), Il. 129, 417, 481, 

Mess (public), I. 7, 483 ff. (ep. Common 
Meals) 


Messene, I. 189, 221 n., 241 

Metic, H. 397 (ep. Resident Alien) 

Midas, 1. 115 

Miletus, I. 41 

Military (service, officers, etc.), 1. 

408 ff., 501; 0. Fs ff., 477 ff. 

Mines, I. 179: 1 

Minister, I. 293; 1. are 479 

Minos, I. 3, 23, 29, 2 

Mirror, IT. 371 

Model (City, ete.), I. viii, xiiiff., 29 
301, 363, 385 

Moderation, I, xiv, 215 n., 299, 305 #f., 
355; 1. 407, 533 ff. 


Modesty, I. 77, 329 

Monarchy, I. Xv, 183, 223 ff., 273 ff., 

Money, I. 65, 371, 377, 381; U1. 135, 
389 (cp. Coin Gold) 

Monument, I. 331 

Moon, I. 113 ff., 349 

Mother, see Parents. 

Mother-forms (of constitution), 1. 223 

Motion, I. 154n., 159n.; I. 7 ff. 
327 ff., 337 ff., 561 

Mourners, I., 45, 535 

Murder, II. 239 f., 255 ff. 

Muse, Sy 91, 129, 145 ff., 155, 185, 
305, 495; cia 27, 31 

Music, I. 96 n., 97 ff., 107 ff., 127 n., 
136 n., 145 ff., 245 ff., 435 f.; m. 
37 ff., 45 n., 47 fF., 81 #2, 565 

Mystic (rites), I. 257, 381 

Myth, I. 279 (ep. Story, Tale) 


Naked Games, I. 31 n. 

Name, I. v 335 fF. 

Nature, I. 41, 81, Pp 99, 199, 213, 
275, 291, 389, 441; IL. ‘93, 27, 51, 
70 n., 103, 151 #., 159 ff, 271 ff. 
287, 311 ff., 315 ff. 381 

Naval (force, etc.), 1. 261 

Necessity, I. 367, 415; m. 101 ff. 

Neighbour, I. 35, 357, 427 f., 443, 
447; 1. 171 #f., 523 


Medicine, I. 73, 127 n., 133, 157 (cp. 
Physic c) 


577 


INDEX 


Nemea, I. 505 

Nemesis, I. 299 

Nestor, I. 279 

Nile, 0. 515 

Ninus, I. 197 

Noble (rule of), I. 213, 289 

Nocturnal Synod (Assembly), I, xiv ff.; 
II. 379, 383, 509 ff., 539 ff., 565 ff. 

N gs (musical), i. xiii, 245, 317, 469; 


Novelty, 1, 113; 1. 33 ff., 97 (ep. 
Innovation) 
Number, I. 297n., 357 ff., 369, 


387 ff., 457; 1. 103 ff., 337 ff. 
Nurse, IL 9, 15, 23 ff. 


torn) - Ill v., 191, 219; 1. 401 ff., 


ee! il I. ix, xiv, xv, 291; 11. 161 

Obstruction, I. 529 

Oedipus, I. 157, 449 

Offerings, I. 521 ff. 

Office, Officers, Officials, I. 291 ff., 
349, 379, 393 ff., 401, 405 ff., 
419 ff., 435 ff., 447 ff., 501 

Old (age), I. vii, xv, 105, 109, 131 ff., 
293, 331, 335, 435 ff., 443, 449 ff. 

Oligarchy, L. 273 ff. 

Olive, I. 491; 1. 481, 491 

Olympia, I. 331; q. 67, 115, 163 

Olympus, I. 169 

Papen (legislative), 1. 459, 483; 
1. 5 


One (and Many), 1. 549 ff., 555 ff. 
sr ae I. 28, 139; I. 339, 499, 


Opportunity, 1. 401 

Opposites, I. 463; I. 97, 313, 339 ff., 
373 n., 445 

Oracle, I. 3, 61, 129, 279, 281, 359, 
421, 457, 461; IL. 209, 225, 391, 421, 
511 


Orphans, I. 383, 419 ff., 433 ff. 
Orpheus, Orphie, I. 147, 169, 293 n., 
493; 11.129 
Outline, I. 4533; 11. 51, 371 
Outrage, I. 285 ff., 297 


Paean, I. 245 

Paian (Apollo), I. 127 

Pain, I. 31 ff., 209, 273, 325, al. 
Sees Painting, 1. 103, 449 ff.; I. 


31 
Palamedes, I. 169 
Pan, It. 93 


578 


BB sae Pancratium, U. 27, 131, 


Parents, I. 13, 179ff., 211, 249, 
299 ff., 321, 333, 419: 1. 249 ff, 


Parmenides (alluded to), Il. 333 n. 

Parricide, 1. 251 ff., ae 

Part (and Whole), Ir 

Passion, I. 71, 337; i. oo fh, 219 ff., 
231 ff., 243 ff., 253, 281 

Pasture-land, m. 175 

Patient, I. 309; Ir. 213, 239 

Patriarchal (law), I. 177 

Patriotism, I. 239 

Patroclus, 1. 483 

Pattern, I. 79 

Payment, IL. 57, 398 ff., 401, 415 ff. 

Peace, I. 7 ff., "15 it; + TE. 65, 91 ff., 
127, 521 

sbi Peddling, I. 65; 1. 171, 407, 


Peleus, 11. 483 

Pelopidae, I. 197 

Peloponnesus, I, 195 

Peltast, 1. 143 

Penalty, I. 81, 295, 307; 1. 199 ff., 
225 ff, 257, 523. (cp. Punish- 
ment) 

Penestae, I. 473 t 

Perjury, I. 499 (cp. Oath) 

Persep one, I. I. 491 2. 

Persian, I. 45, 61, 221 ff., 237 ff. 

Persuasion, L xiii, 113, 117, 279, 301, 
307 ff., a ff., 399, 497; 1. 301, 
305, 377 

Pestilence, I. 269 

Pherecydes (alluded to), If. 302 n. 

Phoenician, I. 389 

Phoenix, I. 449 

Phrourarchs, I. 423 ff.; 1. 172 2. 

Phylarchs, 1. 407 ff., 421; 1. 145 

Phylé, 1. 383 

Physic, Physician, I. 17; I. 361, 365, 
375 (cp. Doctor, Medicine e) 

Piety, 1. 297 ff. 

Piiot, 1. 263, 269; TL. 361, 543 

Pindar, I. 213, 291; I. 451 n. 

Planets, I. 113 

Planting, 1. 175 

Plataea, I. 265 

Play, I. 63 ff., 157 ff., 161, 195; TZ. 
33 ‘ft. , 03 ff. 

Pleasure, I. 67 ff., 89 f£., 97 f£., 109 ff., 
137 ff., 247, 341 E23 1. 17 ff., 153, 
163, 231 ff. 


Fe i tr ee a ei ee ee 


 1A0S O S eey reo" 


INDEX 


Pluto, 1. 127 
Pocty, 01, 11, ff 
ie “141, 
145 ff., 179, 183, 305: * 
“474, 97 #.. 129, 215 £f., 299, 315, 
463 ff, 413, 527 
Poison, 11. 453 ff. 


Political justice) 1. 413 
—— (types), L. 
Polity, I. ix, 225 ft, 251, 279 ff., 291 
cep. | 
n, 1. 248, 5 265, 353 
Populace, I. 247, 447 
Population I. 273 
Sonnet 85 it; ee 
Potion, I. 79 #., 161 
mae 175, 269, 9, 355, 375, 379; 
5 I. Xv, 217, 279 f£., 291 
ei 


27, 123, 201, 277, 333; m1. 
49, 117 a. 129, 527 


a 


Hee 


Priest, Priestess, I. 369, 419.5; 0. 
39, 43, 299, 385, 493, 309, 513 
Prison, 11. 379 ff. 


Private (life, > I. 363, 485; 1. 


3, 9, 271 ff., 29 
1. 103m I, 129, 141 ff., 
481, 519, 551 
i ao Ht. 29 
Procles, I. 
Procreation, I. 41, 163, 461, 469, 497 
Produce, 11. 187 #., 521 


oe tg I. 413 


Prop, H. 2 
I. 193, 351, 355, 379 ff.; 
. 195. 279, 399, 421 ff., 477, 521 
~class, I. 405 (ep. 239, 379), 
net aya 433, 439, 465 ff: I. 
ff. (ep. 395) 
Raheny: 1. 61 


(equality), I. 4137”. 


Proverbs (proverbial avin. . 43, 
; 193, 215, 249, 295, "319, 
339, 363, 371, 395, 401, 413, 470 n., 
481, 487; I. 19, 57, él, 101, 103, 
171, 305, 317, 389, 403, 421, 525, 567 


, I. 327, 351; 1. 21, 205, 
247, 291 if., 391, 459, 483 ff., 553 
(cp. Penal enalty) 

Puppet, I. 69 #., 107; 0. 57 

Purification, I, 381 ££.; 
ML. 237 259, 265 f%., 399 


Purple, 1. 
Pursuit, I. 3s a I. 59, 183, 217 
Pyrrhiché, 0. 9 

a gg Il. 256 n. 
Pythian, 1. 65, 421, 4: 
ee 


Quality : = 8 273 ff.; m. 341, 
551 ff 


Rage, 1. 245 ff. (ep. Passion) 
Rational, I. xiv, 29, rye 205, 
208 n., 209, 238 n., 283, 449; 4H. 
273, 343, 355, 527, 547 fh, 555, 
563, 569 
Recollection 
Register, I. 403 Hm 381); 1. 195, 205, 
393 (ep. 521) 
incarnation, Il. 367 n. 
Religion I. x, xiv, 419 ff.; 11, 403 (ep. 
God, Prayer, Priest 
Reputation, I. 75, 331; m1. 503 &. 
Resident alien, see Alien, 
Rest (state of), Il. 327 ff. 
trade, I. 257; 1. 193 (ep. 171), 


ce, I. xiv, 243, 299, 331; 4. 

35, 285 ff., 401 (cp. Modesty) 

Revolution, » L 41 n., 269; 1. 209, 
327 ff., 

Rhadamanthys, I. 3; 1. 497 

mg Le e, Rhapsody, I. 107 #.; oO. 

Rhetoric, D0. 471 n 

Rhythm, I. 93, 97, “101, 113, 117, 129, 
145 ff.; 0. 37, 51, $1 ep. Harmony) 

Tear: bees 7.43 , 381, 461 fF. 

Riding, 1. 23, 5: 

Right, 1. 211 ae 291 

Ritual, I. 299 

Road, I. 425, 433; 0.179 

eer’ I. 119 ff., 459, 497 (cp. 


Réskien chokes’: il 
579 


INDEX 


Rule, Ruler, 1. 208 n.,; 211 ff., 237, 
275, 279, 283 ff., 289 ff.; mm. 273, 
401, 479 

et Pye: (races), I. 7, 431; 1. 141 ff., 


Rural stewards, see Land-stewards. 


Sacred line (in draughts), I. 361 

Sacrifices, I. 297 ff., 493; m1. 55 ff., 
73, 113, 125 ff., 241, 307, 383 ff., 
497, 501, 505 

Safety, see Salvation. 

Salamis, I. 239, 263 ff. 

Sale, II. 191 ff., 397 ff., 515 

Salvation (safety, safe-keeping), I. 
241, 263, 287, 293; I. 325, 537 f£., 
565 


Satyrs, I. 93 

Sauromatides, II. 59, 63 

Saviour, I. xv, 219, 257, 471; I. 
537, 541 (cp I. 453) 

School, 1. 435; I. 57, 75 

Science, Scientist, I. 49; I. 315 ff. 

Scourging, Il. 203, 263, 293 ff., 393 

Scrutiny, I. 433, 439 ff., 445; I. 495 
(cp. Test) 

Sculptor, I. 523 

Scythian, I. 45; I. 25 

Sea, I. 257 

Search, Hl. 517 

Second-best (state, etc.), I. 361, 385; 
I. 65, 167, 273 

Secret-Service, I. 31 7., deve 

Security, 1. 515 (cp. Surety) 

Select judges, 1. 207, 237, 433, 471, 
491, 497, 525 (cp. I. 445) 

Self-defence, I. 287 ff. 

ye (- superior), I. 11 f£., 67; 
1. 167 

Self-love, I. 339 

Self-movement (principle of), I. xvi; 
Il. 331 ff., 337 

Serious (work, etc.), I. 161; I. 53 ff., 
77, 97, 313 

Service fealisrary etc.), I. 429 ff., 501; 
i. 481 ff., 

Sex (sexual relations, etc.), I. 495 f£.; 
Il. 149 ff., 157 ff., 163 ff. 

Shame, I. 77 n., 81, "153 (ep. Modesty) 

Shepherd, I. 229, 349 

Ship, I. 55, 259, 15; TI. 53 

Shrine, 1. 189, 203, "885 ff. 

Sicily, I. 111 

Sileni, 1. 93 

Silver, I. 175, 371 ff.; Mf. 47, 105, 523 


580 


Simonides, I. 367 2. 

Simplicity, I. 175 

Sin, I. 231 ff. 

Singing, I. 127%. (ep. Song) 

—— I. 245 ff., 309, 473 ff.; I. 21, 


9 ff. 

Sleep, I. 67 ff. 

Sling, . 143 

Smerdis, I. 228 n., 229 . 

Socrates Senay, ao Il. 222 n. 

Soldier, 1. 481, 487 

Solid, 1. 107 ff. 828 n. 

Solon, I. 355 .3 I. 217, 390-2. 

Song, I. 127 ff.; 0. 49 ff., 129 

Soothsayer, I. 389 

Sophist, 11. 381 

Sorcery, I. 455 ff, 

Sorrow, I. 341 

Soul, I. xiii, xvi, 208 n., 209, 323 ff., 
337; I. 335 ft., 365 ff., 533, 541, 
551 ff. , 561 ff. 

Spartan, Spartiate, I. 31 7., 43, 126 n., 
218 7., 399, 481; I. 502”. (ep. 
Laconian) 

** Sparti,’ 1. 57 n. 

Spectators, I. 107, 111 

** Sphaeromachia,”’ II. 132 n. 

Spices, I. 185 

Spring, I. 417, 425; 
Fountain) 

Stage, II. 99 

Standard, I. 4 

Star, IL. 113 ff. 349 ff., 367 n., 447 7., 
561 ff. 

Starting-principle, I1., 329 (ep. 333) 

State (esp. the Magnesian), I. 165 ff., 
208 n., 255 f£., 349 ff., 371 f£., 403 ff, 
441, 483 ff.; IL. 9, 15, 21, 33, 57 f£., 
67 ff., 85 ff., 109 ff., 125 ff., 167 f£., 
183 ff., 199 ff., 209 ff., 215 ff., 225, 
271 ff., 275, 279, 283, 375, 409ff. , 
421 ff., 441, 475, 489ff., 501 ff., 
521 ff., 537: ff., 353 ff., 569 (ep. 
Polity}. —Best State, 1. 279, 361 ff. ; 
Il. 65 n. 

Statues, I. 523 

Stepmother, I. 445 

Story, I. 41, 69, 129, 155, 163, 199, 
283 ff.; Il. 257, 263, 307, 389, 475 
(cp. Myth, Tale) 

Stranger, I. 331 2: Hi. 241 ff. 253, 
287 ff., 503 ff., 513 ff. (cp. Foreigner) 

Strife, I. 15, 267, 353; 1. 489 (cp. 
Faction, Feud) 

Substance, Il. 335 ff. 


1. 181 (ep. 


INDEX 


‘O07 
Sun, I. 113 ff., 181, 347 ff., 505 
ee i. 71, 85, 185, 191, 241, 


Suppliant, 1. 333 

Surety, I. 261, 265, 395 
Surface, I. 107 ff., 328 n., 367 
Swine, 0. 107 

Syracusan, 1. 47 

System, I. 29; 0. 61 

Tablet, 1. 369, 399 ff. 


wath, 8, 1 I. 117, 241, 351, 
Tradition) 


435, 437 (cp. Story, 
Tabet 3 30. 3 
Taxes, I. 58, 195, Pedy 
57, 57, 69 &., 79 fh; 105, 553 
Temenus, I. "189, 219 
, I. 463 
lemmperance, I. viii, xiv, 39, 79, ern 
278 f£.,279, 297, 335, 345 ff.; 1.1 63 
Tempte, iL 359, 417 ff. 425, 479; 1. 
189 £. 
Temple-robber, 11. 137, 201 ff. 
Test, I. 81, 85 ff., 353, 421 ff., 451; 
I. 421, 491, 527, 539 (cp. Scrutiny) 
Testator, IL. 5 
Thales cluded t}, It. 349 n. 
oe I. 137 ae 
Theatrocracy, I. 
Theft, gts a 269, 457, 475 ff., 520 ff. 


Thetis, I. 483 
Thracian, 1. 45, 117; 1. 61 
Thurii, 1. 41 
Thyestes, 1. 157 


Timber, I. 259 
Time, 1., 149, 165 ff.; uu. 82 2., 517 ff. 
Titans, I. 249 


405 ff. (cp. Retail trade) 


Tradition, 1. 187, 285 &., 293; 0. 435 
(cp. Story, Tale) 
Tragedy, 1. 107 #.; U1. 97 ff., 157 
Training, I. 31, 75, 81, 91, 161, 229, 
367, 441; I. 57, 131 f., 163, 203 
Coe Education) 
Traitor, Treason, H. 211, 237 


ormation, Tt. 
Travel (abroad), H. 511 ff. (ep. I. 371) 
, If. 389 fF. 
I. 465 ff.; 1. 421 
Trial, 0. 203 ff., 237 ff., 443 ff. 
Tribal courts, I. 447: I. 397, 523 
7 


5 

Trojan Tar etc.), I. 197, 263, 279 

Troy, I. . Lium 

oe : ats 139 ff., 333, 361; U. 
227 


Tune, I. 95 ff., 145 ff., 247 ff.; om. 41, 
51, 82 2., 147 


Typical ( (case), Hi. 43 ff., 
t, Tyranny, L 281, 7: I. 137, 
217 (ep. Despot) 
Tyrtaeus, I. 17 ff., 137; 0. 217, 291 ff. 
wane uae 1. 531 (cp. Hades) 
Unity, 1. 3 
Pulses aot All, World-all. 
Unjust, 1. 115 ff.; 0. 223 ff. 
Unwritten laws, i. 19 (ep. 117), 157, 
167 


Valuation, I. 379; 1. 173, 521 

Vault, 1. 495 

Vested interests, I. 353 

Vice, I. 347; 1. 391 

Victory, I. 7, “OE, 57, 77, 291, 331; 
I. 67, 163 

Village, Pea gnie, L $f, 429ff.; nm. 
23, 52 

Vine, Vineyard, I. 163, 491 

Vintage, t. 177 

Violation 1. 269 

Violence, I. 285, 291, 297 ff., 459, 477 

Virtue, I. viii, xiv, 109, 137, 205, 
257 ff., 272 n., 273, 277, 303; UO. 
117 #., 155, 389 ff., 545 f., 557 (cp. 
erect, Goodness) 

Voluntary, xi, 337, 345ff.; um. 
223 ff., 339, 245 ff., 233 


581 


INDEX 


Waggons, I, 43 

Walls, I. 181, 425, 481 

War, if 7 f., te ib ff., 253, 269, 367; 
II. 91 ff., 127 f., 521. 

Warden, 1. i I. 563 ff., 569 

witea 
Wateafulness, I. 415 ff.; 1. 69 

Water, I. 161, 353; 0. 175 ff., 181 

Wayside (Goddess of), ql. 391 

Wealth, I. 117, 175, 7s 329, 373 ff.; 
wi. 135, 255, 389, 4 5 ff. 

Weaving, I. 175 

Weeping, I. 15 (cp. 1. 43) 

Weights, I. 387; 1. 105 

White (garments, ss ), Tr. 493, 523 

Whole (and Parts), I. ix, xiii, 23, "215 n. Aq 
291; A i 363 ff., 557 ff. 

Wills, ‘t. 419 &. 

Wine, ‘ 45, 57, 63, 75, 83 ff., 133, 
155 ff., 161 f., 463, 469 

Wisdom, I. Xiv, xy, 25 f., 225, 272 n. 
Ir. 549 ff. (ep. Se 

Witchcraft, 0. 383, 4 

Witness, I. 47 ff; 1. Te3, 467 ff., 519 

Wives, 1. 363, 467 

Wolves, I. 375 


Women (nature and education of), I, 
45, 109, 365 ff., 487 ff., 497 ff.; om. 
49 ff 5 59 ff., 85 ff., 97 ff., 127 ff., 
143, 295 

Women (officials), I. 497 ff.; U1. 23, 
445 3 


45. 
> 
Wood, i. 523 (cp. Timber) 7 
Woot, I. 349 : 
Wickwar: tH. 61 

Word-play, 1. a n., 348 n.; I. 149 ». n. 
World-all, i. 363 

Worship, I. 473 (cP. Religion) 
Wounds, I. 271 ff } 

Woven stuff, I. 193, 523 

Wrestler, Wrestling, I. 27 ff., 143 
Writing, I. 75 


Xerxes, I. 231 


Young, Youth, 1. 35 ff, te 125 ff, 


313, 331; OH. 11 ff., 33, 119ff., 
285 "f., 307 ff., 401, 443, 493 


Zeus, I. 3, 5, 29, 33, 41, 121, 293 n., 
333, 413; u. 171, 293, 415, 467, 
475, 505 





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