Ath。Thebrideandbridegroomshouldconsiderthattheyaretoproduceforthestatethebestandfairestspecimensofchildrenwhichtheycan。Nowallmenwhoareassociatedanyactionalwayssucceedwhentheyattendandgivetheirmindtowhattheyaredoing，butwhentheydonotgivetheirmindorhavenomind，theyfail；whereforeletthebridegroomgivehismindtothebrideandtothebegettingofchildren，andthebrideinlikemannergivehermindtothebridegroom，andparticularlyatthetimewhentheirchildrenarenotyetborn。Andletthewomenwhomwehavechosenbetheoverseersofsuchmatters，andlettheminwhatevernumber，largeorsmall，andatwhatevertimethemagistratesmaycommand，assembleeverydayinthetempleofEileithyiaduringathirdpartoftheday，andbeingthereassembled，lettheminformoneanotherofanyonewhomtheysee，whethermanorwoman，ofthosewhoarebegettingchildren，disregardingtheordinancesgivenatthetimewhenthenuptialsacrificesandceremonieswereperformed。Letthebegettingofchildrenandthesupervisionofthosewhoarebegettingthemcontinuetenyearsandnolonger，duringthetimewhenmarriageisfruitful。Butifanycontinuewithoutchildrenuptothistime，letthemtakecounselwiththeirkindredandwiththewomenholdingtheofficeofoverseerandbedivorcedfortheirmutualbenefit。If，however，anydisputearisesaboutwhatisproperandfortheinterestofeitherparty，theyshallchoosetenoftheguardiansofthelawandabidebytheirpermissionandappointment。Thewomenwhopresideoverthesemattersshallenterintothehousesoftheyoung，andpartlybyadmonitionsandpartlybythreatsmakethemgiveovertheirfollyanderror：iftheypersist，letthewomengoandtelltheguardiansofthelaw，andtheguardiansshallpreventthem。Butiftheytoocannotpreventthem，theyshallbringthematterbeforethepeople；andletthemwriteuptheirnamesandmakeoaththattheycannotreformsuchandsuchanone；andlethimwhoisthuswrittenup，ifhecannotinacourtoflawconvictthosewhohaveinscribedhisname，bedeprivedoftheprivilegesofacitizeninthefollowingrespects：-lethimnotgotoweddingsnortothethanksgivingsafterthebirthofchildren；andifhego，letanyonewhopleasesstrikehimwithimpunity；andletthesameregulationsholdaboutwomen：letnotawomanbeallowedtoappearabroad，orreceivehonour，orgotonuptialandbirthdayfestivals，ifsheinlikemannerbewrittenupasactingdisorderlyandcannotobtainaverdict。Andif，whentheythemselveshavedonebegettingchildrenaccordingtothelaw，amanorwomanhaveconnectionwithanothermanorwomanwhoarestillbegettingchildren，letthesamepenaltiesbeinflicteduponthemasuponthosewhoarestillhavingafamily；andwhenthetimeforprocreationhaspassedletthemanorwomanwhorefrainsinsuchmattersbeheldinesteem，andletthosewhodonotrefrainbeheldinthecontraryofesteem-thatistosay，disesteem。Now，ifthegreaterpartofmankindbehavemodestly，theenactmentsoflawmaybelefttoslumber；but，iftheyaredisorderly，theenactmentshavingbeenpassed，letthembecarriedintoexecution。
Toeverymanthefirstyearisthebeginningoflife，andthetimeofbirthoughttobewrittendowninthetemplesoftheirfathersasthebeginningofexistencetoeverychild，whetherboyorgirl。Leteveryphratriahaveinscribedonawhitedwallthenamesofthesuccessivearchonsbywhomtheyearsarereckoned。Andneartothemletthelivingmembersofthephratriabeinscribed，andwhentheydepartlifeletthembeerased。Thelimitofmarriageableagesforawomanshallbefromsixteentotwentyyearsatthelongest-foraman，fromthirtytothirty-fiveyears；andletawomanholdofficeatforty，andamanatthirtyyears。Letamangoouttowarfromtwentytosixtyyears，andforawoman，ifthereappearanyneedtomakeuseofherinmilitaryservice，letthetimeofservicebeaftersheshallhavebroughtforthchildrenuptofiftyyearsofage；andletregardbehadtowhatispossibleandsuitabletoeach。
BOOKVII
Andnow，assumingchildrenofbothsexestohavebeenborn，itwillbeproperforustoconsider，inthenextplace，theirnurtureandeducation；thiscannotbeleftaltogetherunnoticed，andyetmaybethoughtasubjectfittedratherforpreceptandadmonitionthanforlaw。Inprivatelifetherearemanylittlethings，notalwaysapparent，arisingoutofthepleasuresandpainsanddesiresofindividuals，whichruncountertotheintentionofthelegislator，andmakethecharactersofthecitizensvariousanddissimilar：-thisisanevilinstates；forbyreasonoftheirsmallnessandfrequentoccurrence，therewouldbeanunseemlinessandwantofproprietyinmakingthempenalbylaw；andifmadepenal，theyarethedestructionofthewrittenlawbecausemankindgetthehabitoffrequentlytransgressingthelawinsmallmatters。Theresultisthatyoucannotlegislateaboutthem，andstilllesscanyoubesilent。Ispeaksomewhatdarkly，butIshallendeavouralsotobringmywaresintothelightofday，forIacknowledgethatatpresentthereisawantofclearnessinwhatIamsaying。
Cleinias。Verytrue。
Athenian。Stranger。AmInotrightinmaintainingthatagoodeducationisthatwhichtendsmost，totheimprovementofmindandbody？
Cle。Undoubtedly。
Ath。Andnothingcanbeplainerthanthatthefairestbodiesarethosewhichgrowupfrominfancyinthebestandstraightestmanner？
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Anddowenotfurtherobservethatthefirstshootofeverylivingthingisbyfarthegreatestandfullest？Manywillevencontendthatamanattwenty-fivedoesnotreachtwicetheheightwhichheattainedatfive。
Cle。True。
Ath。Well，andisnotrapidgrowthwithoutproperandabundantexercisethesourceendlessevilsinthebody？
Cle。Yes。
Ath。Andthebodyshouldhavethemostexercisewhenitreceivesmostnourishment？
Cle。But，Stranger，arewetoimposethisgreatamountofexerciseuponnewly-borninfants？
Ath。Nay，ratheronthebodiesofinfantsstillunborn。
Cle。Whatdoyoumean，mygoodsir？Intheprocessofgestation？
Ath。Exactly。Iamnotatallsurprisedthatyouhaveneverheardofthisverypeculiarsortofgymnasticappliedtosuchlittlecreatures，which，althoughstrange，Iwillendeavourtoexplaintoyou。
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。Thepracticeismoreeasyforustounderstandthanforyou，byreasonofcertainamusementswhicharecarriedtoexcessbyusatAthens。Notonlyboys，butoftenolderpersons，areinthehabitofkeepingquailsandcocks，whichtheytraintofightoneanother。Andtheyarefarfromthinkingthatthecontestsinwhichtheystirthemuptofightwithoneanotheraresufficientexercise；for，inadditiontothis，theycarrythemabouttuckedbeneaththeirarmpits，holdingthesmallerbirdsintheirhands，thelargerundertheirarms，andgoforawalkofagreatmanymilesforthesakeofhealth，thatistosay，nottheirown，health，butthehealthofthebirds；wherebytheyprovetoanyintelligentperson，thatallbodiesarebenefitedbyshakingsandmovements，whentheyaremovedwithoutweariness，whethermotionproceedsfromthemselves，oriscausedbyaswing，oratsea，oronhorseback，orbyotherbodiesinwhateverwaymoving，andthatthusgainingthemasteryoverfoodanddrink，theyareabletoimpartbeautyandhealthandstrength。Butadmittingallthis，whatfollows？Shallwemakearidiculouslawthatthepregnantwomanshallwalkaboutandfashiontheembryowithinaswefashionwaxbeforeithardens，andafterbirthswathetheinfantfortwoyears？
Supposethatwecompelnurses，underpenaltyofalegalfine，tobealwayscarryingthechildrensomewhereorother，eithertothetemples，orintothecountry，ortotheirrelations，houses，untiltheyarewellabletostand，andtotakecarethattheirlimbsarenotdistortedbyleaningonthemwhentheyaretooyoung-theyshouldcontinuetocarrythemuntiltheinfanthascompleteditsthirdyear；thenursesshouldbestrong，andthereshouldbemorethanoneofthem。Shallthesebeourrules，andshallweimposeapenaltyfortheneglectofthem？No，no；thepenaltyofwhichwewerespeakingwillfalluponourownheadsmorethanenough。
Cle。Whatpenalty？
Ath。Ridicule，andthedifficultyofgettingthefeminineandservant-likedispositionsofthenursestocomply。
Cle。Thenwhywasthereanyneedtospeakofthematteratall？
Ath。Thereasonisthatmastersandfreemeninstates，whentheyhearofit，areverylikelytoarriveatatrueconvictionthatwithoutdueregulationofprivatelifeincities，stabilityinthelayingdownoflawsishardlytobeexpected；andhewhomakesthisreflectionmayhimselfadoptthelawsjustnowmentioned，and，adoptingthem，mayorderhishouseandstatewellandbehappy。
Cle。Likelyenough。
Ath。Andthereforeletusproceedwithourlegislationuntilwehavedeterminedtheexerciseswhicharesuitedtothesoulsofyoungchildren，inthesamemannerinwhichwehavebeguntogothroughtherulesrelatingtotheirbodies。
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。Letusassume，then，asafirstprincipleinrelationbothtothebodyandsoulofveryyoungcreatures，thatnursingandmovingaboutbydayandnightisgoodforthemall，andthattheyoungertheyare，themoretheywillneedit；infantsshouldlive，ifthatwerepossible，asiftheywerealwaysrockingatsea。Thisisthelessonwhichwemaygatherfromtheexperienceofnurses，andlikewisefromtheuseoftheremedyofmotionintheritesoftheCorybantes；forwhenmotherswanttheirrestlesschildrentogotosleeptheydonotemployrest，but，onthecontrary，motion-rockingthemintheirarms；nordotheygivethemsilence，buttheysingtothemandlaptheminsweetstrains；andtheBacchicwomenarecuredoftheirfrenzyinthesamemannerbytheuseofthedanceandofmusic。
Cle。Well，Stranger，andwhatisthereasonofthis？
Ath。Thereasonisobvious。
Cle。What？
Ath。TheaffectionbothoftheBacchantesandofthechildrenisanemotionoffear，whichspringsoutofanevilhabitofthesoul。
Andwhensomeoneappliesexternalagitationtoaffectionsofthissort，themotioncomingfromwithoutgetsthebetteroftheterribleandviolentinternalone，andproducesapeaceandcalminthesoul，andquietstherestlesspalpitationoftheheart，whichisathingmuchtobedesired，sendingthechildrentosleep，andmakingtheBacchantes，althoughtheyremainawake，todancetothepipewiththehelpoftheGodstowhomtheyofferacceptablesacrifices，andproducinginthemasoundmind，whichtakestheplaceoftheirfrenzy。
And，toexpresswhatImeaninaword，thereisagooddealtobesaidinfavourofthistreatment。
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Butiffearhassuchapowerweoughttoinferfromthesefacts，thateverysoulwhichfromyouthupwardhasbeenfamiliarwithfears，willbemademoreliabletofear，andeveryonewillallowthatthisisthewaytoformahabitofcowardiceandnotofcourage。
Cle。Nodoubt。
Ath。And，ontheotherhand，thehabitofovercoming，fromouryouthupwards，thefearsandterrorswhichbesetus，maybesaidtobeanexerciseofcourage。
Cle。True。
Ath。Andwemaysaythattheuseofexerciseandmotionintheearliestyearsoflifegreatlycontributestocreateapartofvirtueinthesoul。
Cle。Quitetrue。
Ath。Further，acheerfultemper，orthereverse，mayberegardedashavingmuchtodowithhighspiritontheonehand，orwithcowardiceontheother。
Cle。Tobesure。
Ath。Thennowwemustendeavourtoshowhowandtowhatextentwemay，ifweplease，withoutdifficultyimplanteithercharacterintheyoung。
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Thereisacommonopinion，thatluxurymakesthedispositionofyouthdiscontentedandirascibleandvehementlyexcitedbytrifles；