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Cle。Thereissomethingridiculous，Stranger，inourproposingsuchanalternativeasifwewerelegislators，simplyboundundersomegreatnecessitywhichcannotbedeferredtothemorrow。Butwe，asI
maybygraceofHeavenaffirm，like，gatherersofstonesorbeginnersofsomecompositework，maygatheraheapofmaterials，andoutofthis，atourleisure，selectwhatissuitableforourprojectedconstruction。Letusthensupposeourselvestobeatleisure，notofnecessitybuilding，butratherlikemenwhoarepartlyprovidingmaterials，andpartlyputtingthemtogether。Andwemaytrulysaythatsomeofourlaws，likestones，arealreadyfixedintheirplaces，andotherslieathand。
Ath。Certainly，inthatcase，Cleinias，ourviewoflawwillbemoreinaccordancewithnature。Forthereisanothermatteraffectinglegislators，whichImustearnestlyentreatyoutoconsider。
Cle。Whatisit？
Ath。Therearemanywritingstobefoundincities，andamongthemthere，arecomposedbylegislatorsaswellasbyotherpersons。
Cle。Tobesure。
Ath。Shallwegiveheedrathertothewritingsofthoseothers-poetsandthelike，whoeitherinmetreoroutofmetrehaverecordedtheiradviceabouttheconductoflife，andnottothewritingsoflegislators？orshallwegiveheedtothemaboveall？
Cle。Yes；tothemfaraboveallothers。
Ath。Andoughtthelegislatoraloneamongwriterstowithholdhisopinionaboutthebeautiful，thegood，andthejust，andnottoteachwhattheyare，andhowtheyaretobepursuedbythosewhointendtobehappy？
Cle。Certainlynot。
Ath。AndisitdisgracefulforHomerandTyrtaeusandotherpoetstolaydownevilpreceptsintheirwritingsrespectinglifeandthepursuitsofmen，butnotsodisgracefulforLycurgusandSolonandotherswhowerelegislatorsaswellaswriters？Isitnottruethatofallthewritingstobefoundincities，thosewhichrelatetolaws，whenyouunfoldandreadthem，oughttobebyfarthenoblestandthebest？andshouldnototherwritingseitheragreewiththem，oriftheydisagree，bedeemedridiculous？Weshouldconsiderwhetherthelawsofstatesoughtnottohavethecharacteroflovingandwiseparents，ratherthanoftyrantsandmasters，whocommandandthreaten，and，afterwritingtheirdecreesonwalls，gotheirways；andwhether，indiscoursingoflaws，weshouldnottakethegentlerviewofthemwhichmayormaynotbeattainable-atanyrate，wewillshowourreadinesstoentertainsuchaview，andbepreparedtoundergowhatevermaybetheresult。Andmaytheresultbegood，andifGodbegracious，itwillbegood!
Cle。Excellent；letusdoasyousay。
Ath。Thenwewillnowconsideraccurately，asweproposed，whatrelatestorobbersoftemples，andallkindsofthefts，andoffencesingeneral；andwemustnotbeannoyedif，inthecourseoflegislation，wehaveenactedsomethings，andhavenotmadeupourmindsaboutsomeothers；forasyetwearenotlegislators，butwemaysoonbe。Letus，ifyouplease，considerthesematters。
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。Concerningallthingshonourableandjust，letusthenendeavourtoascertainhowfarweareconsistentwithourselves，andhowfarweareinconsistent，andhowfarthemany，fromwhomatanyrateweshouldprofessadesiretodiffer，agreeanddisagreeamongthemselves。
Cle。Whataretheinconsistencieswhichyouobserveinus？
Ath。Iwillendeavourtoexpl
