LAWS

第29章

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

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