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。