§ 009SbheO T9eT E
Hl
ALISHSAINA Vid
Presented to
THE LIBRARY
of
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Toronto
by
The late Dr. Carleton Stanley
https: ie 2 orgetalsplatowthengishseplauo
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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