下载辰思小说免费APP
Ath。Thetemplesaretobeplacedallroundtheagora,andthewholecitybuiltontheheightsinacircle,forthesakeofdefenceandforthesakeofpurity。Nearthetemplesaretobeplacedbuildingsforthemagistratesandthecourtsoflaw;intheseplaintiffanddefendantwillreceivetheirdue,andtheplaceswillberegardedasmostholy,partlybecausetheyhavetodowiththeholythings:andpartlybecausetheyarethedwelling-placesofholyGods:andinthemwillbeheldthecourtsinwhichcasesofhomicideandothertrialsofcapitaloffensesmayfitlytakeplace。Astothewalls,Megillus,IagreewithSpartainthinkingthattheyshouldbeallowedtosleepintheearth,andthatweshouldnotattempttodisinterthem;thereisapoeticalsaying,whichisfinelyexpressed,that“wallsoughttobeofsteelandiron,andnotofearth;besides,howridiculousofustobesendingoutouryoungmenannuallyintothecountrytodigandtotrench,andtokeepofftheenemybyfortifications,undertheideathattheyarenottobeallowedtosetfootinourterritory,andthen,thatweshouldsurroundourselveswithawall,which,inthefirstplace,isbynomeansconducivetothehealthofcities,andisalsoapttoproduceacertaineffeminacyinthemindsoftheinhabitants,invitingmentorunthitherinsteadofrepellingtheirenemies,andleadingthemtoimaginethattheirsafetyisduenottotheirkeepingguarddayandnight,butthatwhentheyareprotectedbywallsandgates,thentheymaysleepinsafety;asiftheywerenotmeanttolabour,anddidnotknowthattruereposecomesfromlabour,andthatdisgracefulindolenceandacarelesstemperofmindisonlytherenewaloftrouble。Butifmenmusthavewalls,theprivatehousesoughttobesoarrangedfromthefirstthatthewholecitymaybeonewall,havingallthehousescapableofdefencebyreasonoftheiruniformityandequalitytowardsthestreets。Theformofthecitybeingthatofasingledwellingwillhaveanagreeableaspect,andbeingeasilyguardedwillbeinfinitelybetterforsecurity。Untiltheoriginalbuildingiscompleted,theseshouldbetheprincipalobjectsoftheinhabitants;andthewardensofthecityshouldsuperintendthework,andshouldimposeafineonhimwhoisnegligent;andinallthatrelatestothecitytheyshouldhaveacareofcleanliness,andnotallowaprivatepersontoencroachuponanypublicpropertyeitherbybuildingsorexcavations。Further,theyoughttotakecarethattherainsfromheavenflowoffeasily,andofanyothermatterswhichmayhavetobeadministeredeitherwithinorwithoutthecity。Theguardiansofthelawshallpassanyfurtherenactmentswhichtheirexperiencemayshowtobenecessary,andsupplyanyotherpointsinwhichthelawmaybedeficient。Andnowthatthesematters,andthebuildingsabouttheagora,andthegymnasia,andplacesofinstruction,andtheatres,areallreadyandwaitingforscholarsandspectators,letusproceedtothesubjectswhichfollowmarriageintheorderoflegislation。
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。Assumingthatmarriagesexistalready,Cleinias,themodeoflifeduringtheyearaftermarriage,beforechildrenareborn,willfollownextinorder。Inwhatwaybrideandbridegroomoughttoliveinacitywhichistobesuperiortoothercities,isamatternotatalleasyforustodetermine。Therehavebeenmanydifficultiesalready,butthiswillbethegreatestofthem,andthemostdisagreeabletothemany。StillIcannotbutsaywhatappearstometoberightandtrue,Cleinias。
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Hewhoimaginesthathecangivelawsforthepublicconductofstates,whileheleavestheprivatelifeofcitizenswhollytotakecareofitself;whothinksthatindividualsmaypassthedayastheyplease,andthatthereisnonecessityoforderinallthings;he,I
say,whogivesupthecontroloft