Ifanyonedieswhileheisholdingapublicoffice，andmorethanthirtydaysbeforehistermofofficeexpires，letthosewhosebusinessitiselectanothertotheofficeinthesamemannerasbefore。Andifanyonewhoisentrustedwithorphansdies，lettherelationsbothonthefather’sandmother’sside，whoareresidingathome，includingcousins，appointanotherguardianwithintendays，orbefinedadrachmaadayforneglecttodoso。
Acitywhichhasnoregularcourtsoflawceasestobeacity；andagain，ifajudgeissilentandsaysnomoreinpreliminaryproceedingsthanthelitigants，asisthecaseinarbitrations，hewillneverbeabletodecidejustly；whereforeamultitudeofjudgeswillnoteasilyjudgewell，norafewiftheyarebad。Thepointindisputebetweenthepartiesshouldbemadeclear；andtime，anddeliberation，andrepeatedexamination，greatlytendtoclearupdoubts。Forthisreason，hewhogoestolawwithanothershouldgofirstofalltohisneighboursandfriendswhoknowbestthequestionsatissue。Andifhebeunabletoobtainfromthemasatisfactorydecision，lethimhaverecoursetoanothercourt；andifthetwocourtscannotsettlethematter，letathirdputanendtothesuit。
Nowtheestablishmentofcourtsofjusticemayberegardedasachoiceofmagistrates，foreverymagistratemustalsobeajudgeofsomethings；andthejudge，thoughhebenotamagistrate，yetincertainrespectsisaveryimportantmagistrateonthedayonwhichheisdeterminingasuit。Regardingthenthejudgesalsoasmagistrates，letussaywhoarefittobejudges，andofwhattheyaretobejudges，andhowmanyofthemaretojudgeineachsuit。Letthatbethesupremetribunalwhichthelitigantsappointincommonforthemselves，choosingcertainpersonsbyagreement。Andlettherebetwoothertribunals：oneforprivatecauses，whenacitizenaccusesanotherofwronginghimandwishestogetadecision；theotherforpubliccauses，inwhichsomecitizenisofopinionthatthepublichasbeenwrongedbyanindividual，andiswillingtovindicatethecommoninterests。Andwemustnotforgettomentionhowthejudgesaretobequalified，andwhotheyaretobe。Inthefirstplace，lettherebeatribunalopentoallprivatepersonswhoaretryingcausesoneagainstanotherforthethirdtime，andletthisbecomposedasfollows：-Alltheofficersofstate，aswellannualasthoseholdingofficeforalongerperiod，whenthenewyearisabouttocommence，inthemonthfollowingafterthesummersolstice，onthelastdaybutoneoftheyear，shallmeetinsometemple，andcallingGodtowitness，shalldedicateonejudgefromeverymagistracytobetheirfirst-fruits，choosingineachofficehimwhoseemstothemtobethebest，andwhomtheydeemlikelytodecidethecausesofhisfellow-citizensduringtheensuingyearinthebestandholiestmanner。Andwhentheelectioniscompleted，ascrutinyshallbeheldinthepresenceoftheelectorsthemselves，andifanyoneberejectedanothershallbechoseninthesamemanner。Thosewhohaveundergonethescrutinyshalljudgethecausesofthosewhohavedeclinedtheinferiorcourts，andshallgivetheirvoteopenly。Thecouncillorsandothermagistrateswhohaveelectedthemshallberequiredtobehearersandspectatorsofthecauses；andanyoneelsemaybepresentwhopleases。Ifonemanchargesanotherwithhavingintentionallydecidedwrong，lethimgototheguardiansofthelawandlayhisaccusationbeforethem，andhewhoisfoundguiltyinsuchacaseshallpaydamagestotheinjuredpartyequaltohalftheinjury；butifheshallappeartodeserveagreaterpenalty，thejudgesshalldeterminewhatadditionalpunishmentheshallsuffer，andhowmuchmoreheoughttopaytothepublictreasury，andtothepartywhobroughtthesuit。
Inthejudgmentofoffencesagainstthestate，thepeopleoughttoparticipate，forwhenanyonewrongsthestateallarewronged，andmayreasonablycomplainiftheyarenotallowedtoshareinthedecision。Suchcausesoughttooriginatewiththepeople，andtheoughtalsotohavethefinaldecisionofthem，butthetrialofthemshalltakeplacebeforethreeofthehighestmagistrates，uponwhomtheplaintiffandthedefendantshallagree；andiftheyarenotabletocometoanagreementthemselves，thecouncilshallchooseoneofthetwoproposed。Andinprivatesuits，too，asfarasispossible，allshouldhaveashare；forhewhohasnoshareintheadministrationofjustice，isapttoimaginethathehasnoshareinthestateatall。Andforthisreasonthereshallbeacourtoflawineverytribe，andthejudgesshallbechosenbylot；-theyshallgivetheirdecisionsatonce，andshallbeinaccessibletoentreaties。
Thefinaljudgmentshallrestwiththatcourtwhich，aswemaintain，hasbeenestablishedinthemostincorruptibleformofwhichhumanthingsadmit：thisshallbethecourtestablishedforthosewhoareunabletogetridoftheirsuitseitherinthecourtsofneighboursorofthetribes。
Thusmuchofthecourtsoflaw，which，asIwassaying，cannotbepreciselydefinedeitherasbeingornotbeingoffices；asuperficialsketchhasbeengivenofthem，inwhichsomethingshavebeentoldandothersomitted。Fortherightplaceofanexactstatementofthelawsrespectingsuits，undertheirseveralheads，willbeattheendofthebodyoflegislation；-letusthenexpectthemattheend。Hithertoourlegislationhasbeenchieflyoccupiedwiththeappointmentofoffices。Perfectunityandexactness，extendingtothewholeandeveryparticularofpoliticaladministration，cannotbeattainedtothefull，untilthediscussionshallhaveabeginning，middle，andend，andiscompleteineverypart。Atpresentwehavereachedtheelectionofmagistrates，andthismayberegardedasasufficientterminationofwhatpreceded。Andnowthereneednolongerbeanydelayorhesitationinbeginningtheworkoflegislation。
Cle。Ilikewhatyouhavesaid，Stranger-andIparticularlylikeyourmanneroftackingonthebeginningofyournewdiscoursetotheendoftheformerone。
Ath。Thusfar，then，theoldmen’srationalpastimehasgoneoffwell。
Cle。Youmean，Isuppose，theirseriousandnoblepursuit？
Ath。Perhaps；butIshouldliketoknowwhetheryouandIareagreedaboutacertainthing。
Cle。Aboutwhatthing？
Ath。Youknow。theendlesslabourwhichpaintersexpendupontheirpictures-theyarealwaysputtinginortakingoutcolours，orwhateverbethetermwhichartistsemploy；theyseemasiftheywouldneverceasetouchinguptheirworks，whicharealwaysbeingmadebrighterandmorebeautiful。
Cle。Iknowsomethingofthesemattersfromreport，althoughI
haveneverhadanygreatacquaintancewiththeart。
Ath。Nomatter；wemaymakeuseoftheillustrationnotwithstanding：-Supposethatsomeonehadamindtopaintafigureinthemostbeautifulmanner，inthehopethathisworkinsteadoflosingwouldalwaysimproveastimewenton-doyounotseethatbeingamortal，unlessheleavessomeonetosucceedhimwhowillcorrecttheflawswhichtimemayintroduce，andbeabletoaddwhatisleftimperfectthroughthedefectoftheartist，andwhowillfurtherbrightenupandimprovethepicture，allhisgreatlabourwilllastbutashorttime？
Cle。True。
Ath。Andisnottheaimofthelegislatorsimilar？First，hedesiresthathislawsshouldbewrittendownwithallpossibleexactness；inthesecondplace，astimegoesonandhehasmadeanactualtrialofhisdecrees，willhenotfindomissions？Doyouimaginethatthereeverwasalegislatorsofoolishasnottoknowthatmanythingsarenecessarilyomitted，whichsomeonecomingafterhimmustcorrect，iftheconstitutionandtheorderofgovernmentisnottodeteriorate，buttoimproveinthestatewhichhehasestablished？
Cle。Assuredly，thatisthesortofthingwhicheveryonewoulddesire。
Ath。Andifanyonepossessesanymeansofaccomplishingthisbywordordeed，orhasanywaygreatorsmallbywhichhecanteachapersontounderstandhowhecanmaintainandamendthelaws，heshouldfinishwhathehastosay，andnotleavetheworkincomplete。
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。AndisnotthiswhatyouandIhavetodoatthepresentmoment？
Cle。Whathavewetodo？
Ath。Asweareabouttolegislateandhavechosenourguardiansofthelaw，andareourselvesintheeveningoflife，andtheyascomparedwithusareyoungmen，weoughtnotonlytolegislateforthem，buttoendeavourtomakethemnotonlyguardiansofthelawbutlegislatorsthemselves，asfarasthisispossible。
Cle。Certainly；ifwecan。
Ath。Atanyrate，wemustdoourbest。
Cle。Ofcourse。
Ath。Wewillsaytothem-Ofriendsandsavioursofourlaws，inlayingdownanylaw，therearemanyparticularswhichweshallomit，andthiscannotbehelped；atthesametime，wewilldoourutmosttodescribewhatisimportant，andwillgiveanoutlinewhichyoushallfillup。AndIwillexplainonwhatprincipleyouaretoact。
MegillusandCleiniasandIhaveoftenspokentooneanothertouchingthesematters，andweareofopinionthatwehavespokenwell。Andwehopethatyouwillbeofthesamemindwithus，andbecomeourdisciples，andkeepinviewthethingswhichinourunitedopinionthelegislatorandguardianofthelawoughttokeepinview。Therewasonemainpointaboutwhichwewereagreed-thataman’swholeenergiesthroughoutlifeshouldbedevotedtotheacquisitionofthevirtuepropertoaman，whetherthiswastobegainedbystudy，orhabit，orsomemodeofacquisition，ordesire，oropinion，orknowledge-andthisappliesequallytomenandwomen，oldandyoung-theaimofallshouldalwaysbesuchasIhavedescribed；anythingwhichmaybeanimpediment，thegoodmanoughttoshowthatheutterlydisregards。Andifatlastnecessityplainlycompelshimtobeanoutlawfromhisnativeland，ratherthanbowhisnecktotheyokeofslaveryandberuledbyinferiors，andhehastofly，anexilehemustbeandendureallsuchtrials，ratherthanacceptanotherformofgovernment，whichislikelytomakemenworse。Theseareouroriginalprinciples；anddoyounow，fixingyoureyesuponthestandardofwhatamanandacitizenoughtoroughtnottobe，praiseandblamethelaws-blamethosewhichhavenotthispowerofmakingthecitizenbetter，butembracethosewhichhave；andwithgladnessreceiveandliveinthem；biddingalongfarewelltootherinstitutionswhichaimatgoods，astheyaretermed，ofadifferentkind。
Letusproceedtoanotherclassoflaws，beginningwiththeirfoundationinreligion。Andwemustfirstreturntothenumber5040-theentirenumberhad，andhas，agreatmanyconvenientdivisions，andthenumberofthetribeswhichwasatwelfthpartofthewhole，beingcorrectlyformedby21X20[5040/21X20，i。e。，5040/420=12]，alsohasthem。Andnotonlyisthewholenumberdivisiblebytwelve，butalsothenumberofeachtribeisdivisiblebytwelve。NoweveryportionshouldberegardedbyusasasacredgiftofHeaven，correspondingtothemonthsandtotherevolutionoftheuniverse。Everycityhasaguidingandsacredprinciplegivenbynature，butinsomethedivisionordistributionhasbeenmorerightthaninothers，andhasbeenmoresacredandfortunate。Inouropinion，nothingcanbemorerightthantheselectionofthenumber5040，whichmaybedividedbyallnumbersfromonetotwelvewiththesingleexceptionofeleven，andthatadmitsofaveryeasycorrection；forif，turningtothedividend5040，wededucttwofamilies，thedefectinthedivisioniscured。Andthetruthofthismaybeeasilyprovedwhenwehaveleisure。Butforthepresent，trustingtothemereassertionofthisprinciple，letusdividethestate；andassigningtoeachportionsomeGodorsonofaGod，letusgivethemaltarsandsacredrites，andatthealtarsletusholdassembliesforsacrificetwiceinthemonth-twelveassembliesforthetribes，andtwelveforthecity，accordingtotheirdivisions；thefirstinhonouroftheGodsanddivinethings，andthesecondtopromotefriendshipand“betteracquaintance，“asthephraseis，andeverysortofgoodfellowshipwithoneanother。Forpeoplemustbeacquaintedwiththoseintowhosefamiliesandwhomtheymarryandwiththosetowhomtheygiveinmarriage；insuchmatters，asfaraspossible，amanshoulddeemitallimportanttoavoidamistake，andwiththisseriouspurposeletgamesbeinstitutedinwhichyouthsandmaidensshalldancetogether，seeingoneanotherandbeingseennaked，ataproperage，andonasuitableoccasion，nottransgressingtherulesofmodesty。
Thedirectorsofchoruseswillbethesuperintendentsandregulatorsofthesegames，andthey，togetherwiththeguardiansofthelaw，willlegislateinanymatterswhichwehaveomitted；for，aswesaid，wheretherearenumerousandminutedetails，thelegislatormustleaveoutsomething。Andtheannualofficerswhohaveexperience，andknowwhatiswanted，mustmakearrangementsandimprovementsyearbyyear，untilsuchenactmentsandprovisionsaresufficientlydetermined。Atenyearsexperienceofsacrificesanddances，ifextendingtoallparticulars，willbequitesufficient；andifthelegislatorbealivetheyshallcommunicatewithhim，butifhebedeadthentheseveralofficersshallrefertheomissionswhichcomeundertheirnoticetotheguardiansofthelaw，andcorrectthem，untilallisperfect；andfromthattimethereshallbenomorechange，andtheyshallestablishandusethenewlawswiththeotherswhichthelegislatororiginallygavethem，andofwhichtheyarenever，iftheycanhelp，tochangeaught；or，ifsomenecessityovertakesthem，themagistratesmustbecalledintocounsel，andthewholepeople，andtheymustgotoalltheoraclesoftheGods；andiftheyareallagreed，inthatcasetheymaymakethechange，butiftheyarenotagreed，bynomannerofmeans，andanyonewhodissentsshallprevail，asthelawordains。
Wheneveranyoneovertwenty-fiveyearsofage，havingseenandbeenseenbyothers，believeshimselftohavefoundamarriageconnectionwhichistohismind，andsuitablefortheprocreationofchildren，lethimmarryifhebestillundertheageoffive-and-thirtyyears；
butlethimfirsthearhowheoughttoseekafterwhatissuitableandappropriate。For，asCleiniassays，everylawshouldhaveasuitableprelude。