andhewhowilldulyexecutethesacredoffice，accordingtothelawsofreligion，mustbenotlessthansixtyyearsofage-thelawsshallbethesameaboutpriestesses。Asfortheinterpreters，theyshallbeappointedthus：-Letthetwelvetribesbedistributedintogroupsoffour，andleteachgroupselectfour，oneoutofeachtribewithinthegroup，threetimes；andletthethreewhohavethegreatestnumberofvotes[outofthetwelveappointedbyeachgroup]，afterundergoingascrutiny，nineinall，besenttoDelphi，inorderthattheGodmayreturnoneoutofeachtriad；theirageshallbethesameasthatofthepriests，andthescrutinyofthemshallbeconductedinthesamemanner；letthembeinterpretersforlife，andwhenanyonediesletthefourtribesselectanotherfromthetribeofthedeceased。Moreover，besidespriestsandinterpreters，theremustbetreasurers，whowilltakechargeofthepropertyoftheseveraltemples，andofthesacreddomains，andshallhaveauthorityovertheproduceandthelettingofthem；andthreeofthemshallbechosenfromthehighestclassesforthegreatertemples，andtwoforthelesser，andonefortheleastofall；themanneroftheirelectionandthescrutinyofthemshallbethesameasthatofthegenerals。Thisshallbetheorderofthetemples。
Leteverythinghaveaguardasfaraspossible。Letthedefenceofthecitybecommitedtothegenerals，andtaxiarchs，andhipparchs，andphylarchs，andprytanes，andthewardensofthecity，andoftheagora，whentheelectionofthemhasbeencompleted。Thedefenceofthecountryshallbeprovidedforasfollows：-Theentirelandhasbeenalreadydistributedintotwelveasnearlyaspossibleequalparts，andletthetribeallottedtoadivisionprovideannuallyforitfivewardensofthecountryandcommandersofthewatch；andleteachbodyoffivehavethepowerofselectingtwelveothersoutoftheyouthoftheirowntribe-theseshallbenotlessthantwenty-fiveyearsofage，andnotmorethanthirty。Andlettherebeallottedtothemseverallyeverymonththevariousdistricts，inorderthattheymayallacquireknowledgeandexperienceofthewholecountry。Thetermofserviceforcommandersandforwatchersshallcontinueduringtwoyears。Afterhavinghadtheirstationsallottedtothem，theywillgofromplacetoplaceinregularorder，makingtheirroundfromlefttorightastheircommandersdirectthem；whenI
speakofgoingtotheright，Imeanthattheyaretogototheeast。Andatthecommencementofthesecondyear，inorderthatasmanyaspossibleoftheguardsmaynotonlygetaknowledgeofthecountryatanyoneseasonoftheyear，butmayalsohaveexperienceofthemannerinwhichdifferentplacesareaffectedatdifferentseasonsoftheyear，theirthencommandersshallleadthemagaintowardstheleft，fromplacetoplaceinsuccession，untiltheyhavecompletedthesecondyear。Inthethirdyearotherwardensofthecountryshallbechosenandcommandersofthewatch，fiveforeachdivision，whoaretobethesuperintendentsofthebandsoftwelve。Whileonserviceateachstation，theirattentionshallbedirectedtothefollowingpoints：-Inthefirstplace，theyshallseethatthecountryiswellprotectedagainstenemies；theyshalltrenchanddigwhereverthisisrequired，and，asfarastheycan，theyshallbyfortificationskeepofftheevil-disposed，inordertopreventthemfromdoinganyharmtothecountryortheproperty；theyshallusethebeastsofburdenandthelabourerswhomtheyfindonthespot：thesewillbetheirinstrumentswhomtheywillsuperintend，takingthem，asfaraspossible，atthetimeswhentheyarenotengagedintheirregularbusiness。Theyshallmakeeverypartofthecountryinaccessibletoenemies，andasaccessibleaspossibletofriends；thereshallbewaysformanandbeastsofburdenandforcattle，andtheyshalltakecaretohavethemalwaysassmoothastheycan；andshallprovideagainsttherainsdoingharminsteadofgoodtotheland，whentheycomedownfromthemountainsintothehollowdells；andshallkeepintheoverflowbythehelpofworksandditches，inorderthatthevalleys，receivinganddrinkinguptherainfromheaven，andprovidingfountainsandstreamsinthefieldsandregionswhichlieunderneath，mayfurnisheventothedryplacesplentyofgoodwater。
Thefountainsofwater，whetherofriversorofsprings，shallbeornamentedwithplantationsandbuildingsforbeauty；andletthembringtogetherthestreamsinsubterraneouschannels，andmakeallthingsplenteous；andiftherebeasacredgroveordedicatedprecinctintheneighbourhood，theyshallconductthewatertotheactualtemplesoftheGods，andsobeautifythematallseasonsoftheyear。Everywhereinsuchplacestheyouthshallmakegymnasiaforthemselves，andwarmbathsfortheaged，placingbythemabundanceofdrywood，forthebenefitofthoselabouringunderdisease-therethewearyframeoftherustic，wornwithtoil，willreceiveakindlywelcome，farbetterthanhewouldatthehandsofanotover-wisedoctor。
Thebuildingoftheseandthelikeworkswillbeusefulandornamental；theywillprovideapleasingamusement，buttheywillbeaseriousemploymenttoo；forthesixtywardenswillhavetoguardtheirseveraldivisions，notonlywithaviewtoenemies，butalsowithaneyetoprofessingfriends。Whenaquarrelarisesamongneighboursorcitizens，andanyone，whetherslaveorfreemanwrongsanother，letthefivewardensdecidesmallmattersontheirownauthority；butwherethechargeagainstanotherrelatestogreatermatters，theseventeencomposedofthefivesandtwelves，shalldetermineanychargeswhichonemanbringsagainstanother，notinvolvingmorethanthreeminae。Everyjudgeandmagistrateshallbeliabletogiveanaccountofhisconductinoffice，exceptthosewho，likekings，havethefinaldecision。Moreover，asregardstheaforesaidwardensofthecountry，iftheydoanywrongtothoseofwhomtheyhavethecare，whetherbyimposinguponthemunequaltasks，orbytakingtheproduceofthesoilorimplementsofhusbandrywithouttheirconsent；alsoiftheyreceiveanythinginthewayofabribe，ordecidesuitsunjustly，oriftheyyieldtotheinfluencesofflattery，letthembepubliclydishonoured；andinregardtoanyotherwrongwhichtheydototheinhabitantsofthecountry，ifthequestionbeofamina，letthemsubmittothedecisionofthevillagersintheneighbourhood；butinsuitsofgreateramount，orincaseoflesser，iftheyrefusetosubmit，trustingthattheirmonthlyremovalintoanotherpartofthecountrywillenablethemtoescape-insuchcasestheinjuredpartymaybringhissuitinthecommoncourt，andifheobtainaverdicthemayexactfromthedefendant，whorefusedtosubmit，adoublepenalty。
Thewardensandtheoverseersofthecountry，whileontheirtwoyearsservice，shallhavecommonmealsattheirseveralstations，andshallalllivetogether；andhewhoisabsentfromthecommonmeal，orsleepsout，ifonlyforonedayornight，unlessbyorderofhiscommanders，orbyreasonofabsolutenecessity，ifthefivedenouncehimandinscribehisnametheagoraasnothavingkepthisguard，lethimbedeemedtohavebetrayedthecity，asfaraslayinhispower，andlethimbedisgracedandbeatenwithimpunitybyanyonewhomeetshimandiswillingtopunishhim。Ifanyofthecommandersisguiltyofsuchanirregularity，thewholecompanyofsixtyshallseetoit，andhewhoiscognizantoftheoffence，anddoesnotbringtheoffendertotrial，shallbeamenabletothesamelawsastheyoungeroffenderhimself，andshallpayaheavierfine，andbeincapableofevercommandingtheyoung。Theguardiansofthelawaretobecarefulinspectorsofthesematters，andshalleitherpreventorpunishoffenders。Everymanshouldremembertheuniversalrule，thathewhoisnotagoodservantwillnotbeagoodmaster；amanshouldpridehimselfmoreuponservingwellthanuponcommandingwell：firstuponservingthelaws，whichisalsotheserviceoftheGods；inthesecondplace，uponhaving。servedancientandhonourablemeninthedaysofhisyouth。Furthermore，duringthetwoyearsinwhichanyoneisawardenofthecountry，hisdailyfoodoughttobeofasimpleandhumblekind。Whenthetwelvehavebeenchosen，letthemandthefivemeettogether，anddeterminethattheywillbetheirownservants，and，likeservants，willnothaveotherslavesandservantsfortheirownuse，neitherwilltheyusethoseofthevillagersandhusbandmenfortheirprivateadvantage，butforthepublicserviceonly；andingeneraltheyshouldmakeuptheirmindstoliveindependentlybythemselves，servantsofeachotherandofthemselves。Further，atallseasonsoftheyear，summerandwinteralike，letthembeunderarmsandsurveyminutelythewholecountry；thustheywillatoncekeepguard，andatthesametimeacquireaperfectknowledgeofeverylocality。Therecanbenomoreimportantkindofinformationthantheexactknowledgeofaman’sowncountry；andforthisaswellasformoregeneralreasonsofpleasureandadvantage，huntingwithdogsandotherkindsofsportsshouldbepursuedbytheyoung。Theservicetowhomthisiscommittedmaybecalledthesecretpolice，orwardensofthecountry；thenamedoesnotmuchsignify，buteveryonewhohasthesafetyofthestateatheartwillusehisutmostdiligenceinthisservice。
Afterthewardensofthecountry，wehavetospeakoftheelectionofwardensoftheagoraandofthecity。Thewardensofthecountryweresixtyinnumber，andthewardensofthecitywillbethree，andwilldividethetwelvepartsofthecityintothree；liketheformer，theyshallhavecareoftheways，andofthedifferenthighroadswhichleadoutofthecountryintothecity，andofthebuildings，thattheymaybeallmadeaccordingtolaw；-alsoofthewaters，whichtheguardiansofthesupplypreserveandconveytothem，carebeingtakenthattheymayreachthefountainspureandabundant，andbebothanornamentandabenefittothecity。Thesealsoshouldbemenofinfluence，andatleisuretotakecareofthepublicinterest。Leteverymanproposeaswardenofthecityanyonewhomhelikesoutofthehighestclass，andwhenthevotehasbeengivenonthem，andthenumberisreducedtothesixwhohavethegreatestnumberofvotes，lettheelectingofficerschoosebylotthreeoutofthesix，andwhentheyhaveundergoneascrutinyletthemholdofficeaccordingtothelawslaiddownforthem。Next，letthewardensoftheagorabeelectedinlikemanner，outofthefirstandsecondclass，fiveinnumber：tenaretobefirstelected，andoutofthetenfivearetobechosenbylot，asintheelectionofthewardensofthecity：-thesewhentheyhaveundergoneascrutinyaretobedeclaredmagistrates。Everyoneshallvoteforeveryone，andhewhowillnotvote，ifhebeinformedagainstbeforethemagistrates，shallbefinedfiftydrachmae，andshallalsobedeemedabadcitizen。
Letanyonewholikesgototheassemblyandtothegeneralcouncil；
itshallbecompulsorytogooncitizensofthefirstandsecondclass，andtheyshallpayafineoftendrachmaeiftheybefoundnotansweringtotheirnamesattheassembly。thethirdandfourthclassshallbeundernocompulsion，andshallbeletoffwithoutafine，unlessthemagistrateshavecommandedalltobepresent，inconsequenceofsomeurgentnecessity。Thewardensoftheagorashallobservetheorderappointedbylawfortheagora，andshallhavethechargeofthetemplesandfountainswhichareintheagora；andtheyshallseethatnooneinjuresanything，andpunishhimwhodoes，withstripesandbonds，ifhebeaslaveorstranger；butifhebeacitizenwhomisbehavesinthisway，theyshallhavethepowerthemselvesofinflictingafineuponhimtotheamountofahundreddrachmae，orwiththeconsentofthewardensofthecityuptodoublethatamount。Andletthewardensofthecityhaveasimilarpowerofimposingpunishmentsandfinesintheirowndepartment；andletthemimposefinesbytheirowndepartment；andletthemimposefinesbytheirownauthority，uptoamina，oruptotwominaewiththeconsentofthewardensoftheagora。
Inthenextplace，itwillbepropertoappointdirectorsofmusicandgymnastic，twokindsofeach-oftheonekindthebusinesswillbeeducation，oftheother，thesuperintendenceofcontests。Inspeakingofeducation，thelawmeanstospeakofthosewhohavethecareoforderandinstructioningymnasiaandschools，andofthegoingtoschool，andofschoolbuildingsforboysandgirls；andinspeakingofcontests，thelawreferstothejudgesofgymnasticsandofmusic；theseagainaredividedintotwoclasses，theonehavingtodowithmusic，theotherwithgymnastics；andthesamewhojudgeofthegymnasticcontestsofmen，shalljudgeofhorses；butinmusicthereshallbeonesetofjudgesofsolosinging，andofimitation-I
meanofrhapsodists，playersontheharp，thefluteandthelike，andanotherwhoshalljudgeofchoralsong。Firstofall，wemustchoosedirectorsforthechorusesofboys，andmen，andmaidens，whomtheyshallfollowintheamusementofthedance，andforourothermusicalarrangements；-onedirectorwillbeenoughforthechoruses，andheshouldbenotlessthanfortyyearsofage。Onedirectorwillalsobeenoughtointroducethesolosingers，andtogivejudgmentonthecompetitors，andheoughtnottobelessthanthirtyyearsofage。Thedirectorandmanagerofthechorusesshallbeelectedafterthefollowingmanner：-Letanypersonswhocommonlytakeaninterestinsuchmattersgotothemeeting，andbefinediftheydonotgotheguardiansofthelawshalljudgeoftheirfault，butthosewhohavenointerestshallnotbecompelled。Theelectorshallproposeasdirectorsomeonewhounderstandsmusic，andheinthescrutinymaybechallengedontheonepartbythosewhosayhehasnoskill，anddefendedontheotherhandbythosewhosaythathehas。Tenaretobeelectedbyvote，andheofthetenwhoischosenbylotshallundergoascrutiny，andleadthechorusesforayearaccordingtolaw。Andinlikemannerthecompetitorwhowinsthelotshallbeleaderofthesoloandconcertmusicforthatyear；andhewhoisthuselectedshalldelivertheawardtothejudges。Inthenextplace，wehavetochoosejudgesinthecontestsofhorsesandofmen；theseshallbeselectedfromthethirdandalsofromthesecondclassofcitizens，andthreefirstclassesshallbecompelledtogototheelection，butthelowestmaystayawaywithimpunity；andlettherebethreeelectedbylotoutofthetwentywhohavebeenchosenpreviously，andtheymustalsohavethevoteandapprovaloftheexaminers。Butifanyoneisrejectedinthescrutinyatanyballotordecision，othersshallbechoseninthesamemanner，andundergoasimilarscrutiny。
Thereremainstheministeroftheeducationofyouth，maleandfemale；hetoowillruleaccordingtolaw；onesuchministerwillbesufficient，andhemustbefiftyyearsold，andhavechildrenlawfullybegotten，bothboysandgirlsbypreference，atanyrate，oneortheother。Hewhoiselected，andhewhoistheelector，shouldconsiderthatofallthegreatofficesofstate，thisisthegreatest；forthefirstshootofanyplant，ifitmakesagoodstarttowardstheattainmentofitsnaturalexcellence，hasthegreatesteffectonitsmaturity；andthisisnotonlytrueofplants，butofanimalswildandtame，andalsoofmen。Man，aswesay，isatameorcivilizedanimal；nevertheless，herequiresproperinstructionandafortunatenature，andthenofallanimalshebecomesthemostdivineandmostcivilized；butifhebeinsufficientlyorilleducatedheisthemostsavageofearthlycreatures。Whereforethelegislatoroughtnottoallowtheeducationofchildrentobecomeasecondaryoraccidentalmatter。Inthefirstplace，hewhowouldberightlyprovidentaboutthem，shouldbeginbytakingcarethatheiselected，whoofallthecitizensisineverywaybest；himthelegislatorshalldohisutmosttoappointguardianandsuperintendent。Tothisendallthemagistrates，withtheexceptionofthecouncilandprytanes，shallgotothetempleofApollo，andelectbyballothimoftheguardiansofthelawwhomtheyseverallythinkwillbethebestsuperintendentofeducation。Andhewhohasthegreatestnumberofvotes，afterhehasundergoneascrutinyatthehandsofallthemagistrateswhohavebeenhiselectors，withtheexceptionoftheguardiansofthelaw-shallholdofficeforfiveyears；andinthesixthyearletanotherbechoseninlikemannertofillhisoffice。