Ath。Buttohonourwithhymnsandpanegyricsthosewhoarestillaliveisnotsafe；amanshouldrunhiscourse，andmakeafairending，andthenwewillpraisehim；andletpraisebegivenequallytowomenaswellasmenwhohavebeendistinguishedinvirtue。Theorderofsongsanddancesshallbeasfollows：-Therearemanyancientmusicalcompositionsanddanceswhichareexcellent，andfromthesethenewly-foundedcitymayfreelyselectwhatisproperandsuitable；andtheyshallchoosejudgesofnotlessthanfiftyyearsofage，whoshallmaketheselection，andanyoftheoldpoemswhichtheydeemsufficienttheyshallinclude；anythataredeficientoraltogetherunsuitable，theyshalleitherutterlythrowaside，orexamineandamend，takingintotheircounselpoetsandmusicians，andmakinguseoftheirpoeticalgenius；butexplainingtothemthewishesofthelegislatorinorderthattheymayregulatedancing，music，andallchoralstrains，accordingtothemindofthejudges；
andnotallowingthemtoindulge，exceptinsomefewmatters，theirindividualpleasuresandfancies。Nowtheirregularstrainofmusicisalwaysmadetenthousandtimesbetterbyattainingtolawandorder，andrejectingthehoneyedMuse-nothoweverthatwemeanwhollytoexcludepleasure，whichisthecharacteristicofallmusic。Andifamanbebroughtupfromchildhoodtotheageofdiscretionandmaturityintheuseoftheorderlyandseveremusic，whenhehearstheoppositehedetestsit，andcallsitilliberal；butiftrainedinthesweetandvulgarmusic，hedeemsthesevererkindcoldanddispleasing。Sothat，asIwassayingbefore，whilehewhohearsthemgainsnomorepleasurefromtheonethanfromtheother，theonehastheadvantageofmakingthosewhoaretrainedinitbettermen，whereastheothermakesthemworse。
Cle。Verytrue。
Ath。Again，wemustdistinguishanddetermineonsomegeneralprinciplewhatsongsaresuitabletowomen，andwhattomen，andmustassigntothemtheirpropermelodiesandrhythms。Itisshockingforawholeharmonytobeinharmonical，orforarhythmtobeunrhythmical，andthiswillhappenwhenthemelodyisinappropriatetothem。Andthereforethelegislatormustassigntothesealsotheirforms。Nowbothsexeshavemelodiesandrhythmswhichofnecessitybelongtothem；andthoseofwomenareclearlyenoughindicatedbytheirnaturaldifference。Thegrand，andthatwhichtendstocourage，maybefairlycalledmanly；butthatwhichinclinestomoderationandtemperance，maybedeclaredbothinlawandinordinaryspeechtobethemorewomanlyquality。This，then，willbethegeneralorderofthem。
Letusnowspeakofthemannerofteachingandimpartingthem，andthepersonstowhom，andthetimewhen，theyareseverallytobeimparted。Astheshipwrightfirstlaysdownthelinesofthekeel，andthus，asitwere，drawstheshipinoutline，sodoIseektodistinguishthepatternsoflife，andlaydowntheirkeelsaccordingtothenatureofdifferentmen’ssouls；seekingtrulytoconsiderbywhatmeans，andinwhatways，wemaygothroughthevoyageoflifebest。Nowhumanaffairsarehardlyworthconsideringinearnest，andyetwemustbeinearnestaboutthem-asadnecessityconstrainsus。
Andhavinggotthusfar，therewillbeafitnessinourcompletingthematter，ifwecanonlyfindsomesuitablemethodofdoingso。ButwhatdoImean？Someonemayaskthisveryquestion，andquiterightly，too。
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Isaythataboutseriousmattersamanshouldbeserious，andaboutamatterwhichisnotseriousheshouldnotbe，serious；andthatGodisthenaturalandworthyobjectofourmostseriousandblessedendeavours，forman，asIsaidbefore，ismadetobetheplaythingofGod，andthis，trulyconsidered，isthebestofhim；
whereforealsoeverymanandwomanshouldwalkseriously，andpasslifeinthenoblestofpastimes，andbeofanothermindfromwhattheyareatpresent。
Cle。Inwhatrespect？
Ath。Atpresenttheythinkthattheirserioussuitsshouldbeforthesakeoftheirsports，fortheydeemwaraserious。pursuit，whichmustbemanagedwellforthesakeofpeace；butthetruthis，thatthereneitheris，norhasbeen，noreverwillbe，eitheramusementorinstructioninanydegreeworth，speakingofinwar，whichisneverthelessdeemedbyustobethemostseriousofourpursuits。Andtherefore，aswesay，everyoneofusshouldlivethelifeofpeaceaslongandaswellashecan。Andwhatistherightwayofliving？Arewetoliveinsportsalways？Ifso，inwhatkindofsports？Weoughttolivesacrificing，andsinging，anddancing，andthenamanwillbeabletopropitiatetheGods，andtodefendhimselfagainsthisenemiesandconquertheminbattle。Thetypeofsongordancebywhichhewillpropitiatethemhasbeendescribed，andthepathsalongwhichheistoproceedhavebeencutforhim。Hewillgoforwardinthespiritofthepoet：
Telemachus，somethingsthouwiltthyselffindinthyheart，butotherthingsGodwillsuggest；forIdeemthatthouwastnotbroughtupwithoutthewilloftheGods。
Andthisoughttobetheviewofouralumni；theyoughttothinkthatwhathasbeensaidisenoughforthem，andthatanyotherthingstheirGeniusandGodwillsuggesttothem-hewilltellthemtowhom，andwhen，andtowhatGodsseverallytheyaretosacrificeandperformdances，andhowtheymaypropitiatethedeities，andliveaccordingtotheappointmentofnature；beingforthemostpartpuppets，buthavingsomelittleshareofreality。
Megillus。Youhavealowopinionofmankind，Stranger。
Ath。Nay，Megillus，benotamazed，butforgiveme：-IwascomparingthemwiththeGods；andunderthatfeelingIspoke。Letusgrant，ifyouwish，thatthehumanraceisnottobedespised，butisworthyofsomeconsideration。
Nextfollowthebuildingsforgymnasiaandschoolsopentoall；
thesearetobeinthreeplacesinthemidstofthecity；andoutsidethecityandinthesurroundingcountry，alsointhreeplaces，thereshallbeschoolsforhorseexercise，andlargegroundsarrangedwithaviewtoarcheryandthethrowingofmissiles，atwhichyoungmenmaylearnandpractise。Ofthesementionhasalreadybeenmade，andifthementionbenotsufficientlyexplicit，letusspeak，furtherofthemandembodytheminlaws。Intheseseveralschoolslettherebedwellingsforteachers，whoshallbebroughtfromforeignpartsbypay，andletthemteachthosewhoattendtheschoolstheartofwarandtheartofmusic，andthechildrenshallcomenotonlyiftheirparentsplease，butiftheydonotplease；thereshallbecompulsoryeducation，asthesayingis，ofallandsundry，asfarthisispossible；andthepupilsshallberegardedasbelongingtothestateratherthantotheirparents。Mylawwouldapplytofemalesaswellasmales；theyshallbothgothroughthesameexercises。Iassertwithoutfearofcontradictionthatgymnasticandhorsemanshipareassuitabletowomenastomen。OfthetruthofthisIampersuadedfromancienttradition，andatthepresentdaytherearesaidtobecountlessmyriadsofwomenintheneighbourhoodoftheBlackSea，calledSauromatides，whonotonlyrideonhorsebacklikemen，buthaveenjoineduponthemtheuseofbowsandotherweaponsequallywiththemen。AndIfurtheraffirm，thatifthesethingsarepossible，nothingcanbemoreabsurdthanthepracticewhichprevailsinourowncountry，ofmenandwomennotfollowingthesamepursuitswithalltheirstrengthandwithonemind，forthusthestate，insteadofbeingawhole，isreducedtoahalf，buthasthesameimpoststopayandthesametoilstoundergo；andwhatcanbeagreatermistakeforanylegislatortomakethanthis？
Cle。Verytrue；yetmuchofwhathasbeenassertedbyus，Strangeriscontrarytothecustomofstates；still，insayingthatthediscourseshouldbeallowedtoproceed，andthatwhenthediscussioniscompleted，weshouldchoosewhatseemsbest，youspokeveryproperly，andInowfeelcompunctionforwhatIhavesaid。Tellme，then，whatyouwouldnextwishtosay。
Ath。Ishouldwishtosay，Cleinias，asIsaidbefore，thatifthepossibilityofthesethingswerenotsufficientlyproveninfact，thentheremightbeanobjectiontotheargument，butthefactbeingasI
havesaid，hewhorejectsthelawmustfindsomeothergroundofobjection；and，failingthis，ourexhortationwillstillholdgood，norwillanyonedenythatwomenoughttoshareasfaraspossibleineducationandinotherwayswithmen。Forconsider；-ifwomendonotshareintheirwholelifewithmen，thentheymusthavesomeotherorderoflife。
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Andwhatarrangementoflifetobefoundanywhereispreferabletothiscommunitywhichwearenowassigningtothem？ShallwepreferthatwhichisadoptedbytheThraciansandmanyotherraceswhousetheirwomentotillthegroundandtobeshepherdsoftheirherdsandflocks，andtoministertothemlikeslaves？-Orshallwedoasweandpeopleinourpartoftheworlddo-gettingtogether，asthephraseis，allourgoodsandchattelsintoonedwelling，weentrustthemtoourwomen，whoarethestewardsofthem，andwhoalsopresideovertheshuttlesandthewholeartofspinning？Orshallwetakeamiddlecourse，inLacedaemon，Megillus-lettingthegirlsshareingymnasticandmusic，whilethegrown-upwomen，nolongeremployedinspinningwool，arehardatworkweavingtheweboflife，whichwillbenocheapormeanemployment，andinthedutyofservingandtakingcareofthehouseholdandbringingupchildren，inwhichtheywillobserveasortofmean，notparticipatinginthetoilsofwar；andiftherewereanynecessitythattheyshouldfightfortheircityandfamilies，unliketheAmazons，theywouldbeunabletotakepartinarcheryoranyotherskilleduseofmissiles，norcouldthey，aftertheexampleoftheGoddess，carryshieldorspear，orstandupnoblyfortheircountrywhenitwasbeingdestroyed，andstriketerrorintotheirenemies，ifonlybecausetheywereseeninregularorder？Livingastheydo，theywouldneverdareatalltoimitatetheSauromatides，who，whencomparedwithordinarywomen，wouldappeartobelikemen。Lethimwhowill，praiseyourlegislators，butImustsaywhatIthink。Thelegislatoroughttobewholeandperfect，andnothalfamanonly；heoughtnottoletthefemalesexlivesoftlyandwastemoneyandhavenoorderoflife，whilehetakestheutmostcareofthemalesex，andleaveshalfoflifeonlyblestwithhappiness，whenhemighthavemadethewholestatehappy。
Meg。Whatshallwedo，Cleinias？ShallweallowastrangertorundownSpartainthisfashion？
Cle。Yes；foraswehavegivenhimlibertyofspeechwemustlethimgoonuntilwehaveperfectedtheworkoflegislation。
Meg。Verytrue。
Ath。ThennowImayproceed？
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。Whatwillbethemanneroflifeamongmenwhomaybesupposedtohavetheirfoodandclothingprovidedfortheminmoderation，andwhohaveentrustedthepracticeoftheartstoothers，andwhosehusbandry，committedtoslavespayingapartoftheproduce，bringsthemareturnsufficientformenlivingtemperately；who，moreover，havecommontablesinwhichthemenareplacedapart，andnearthemarethecommontablesoftheirfamilies，oftheirdaughtersandmothers，whichdaybyday，theofficers，maleandfemale，aretoinspect-theyshallseetothebehaviourofthecompany，andsodismissthem；afterwhichthepresidingmagistrateandhisattendantsshallhonourwithlibationsthoseGodstowhomthatdayandnightarededicated，andthengohome？Tomenwhoselivesarethusordered，istherenoworkremainingtobedonewhichisnecessaryandfitting，butshalleachoneofthemlivefatteninglikeabeast？Suchalifeisneitherjustnorhonourable，norcanhewholivesitfailofmeetinghisdue；andtheduerewardoftheidlefattedbeastisthatheshouldbetorninpiecesbysomeothervaliantbeastwhosefatnessisworndownbybravedeedsandtoil。Theseregulations，ifwedulyconsiderthem，willneverbeexactlycarriedintoexecutionunderpresentcircumstances，noraslongaswomenandchildrenandhousesandallotherthingsaretheprivatepropertyofindividuals；butifwecanattainthesecond-bestformofpolity，weshallbeverywelloff。
Andtomenlivingunderthissecondpolitythereremainsaworktobeaccomplishedwhichisfarfrombeingsmallorinsignificant，butisthegreatestofallworks，andordainedbytheappointmentofrighteouslaw。Forthelifewhichmaybetrulysaidtobeconcernedwiththevirtueofbodyandsoulistwice，ormorethantwice，asfulloftoilandtroubleasthepursuitafterPythianandOlympicvictories，whichdebarsamanfromeveryemploymentoflife。Forthereoughttobenobye-workinterferingwiththegreaterworkofprovidingthenecessaryexerciseandnourishmentforthebody，andinstructionandeducationforthesoul。Nightanddayarenotlongenoughfortheaccomplishmentoftheirperfectionandconsummation；andthereforetothisendallfreemenoughttoarrangethewayinwhichtheywillspendtheirtimeduringthewholecourseoftheday，frommorningtilleveningandfromeveningtillthemorningofthenextsunrise。Theremayseemtobesomeimproprietyinthelegislatordeterminingminutelythenumberlessdetailsofthemanagementofthehouse，includingsuchparticularsasthedutyofwakefulnessinthosewhoaretobeperpetualwatchmenofthewholecity；forthatanycitizenshouldcontinueduringthewholeofanynightinsleep，insteadofbeingseenbyallhisservants，alwaysthefirsttoawakeandgetup-this，whethertheregulationistobecalledalaworonlyapractice，shouldbedeemedbaseandunworthyofafreeman；alsothatthemistressofthehouseshouldbeawakenedbyherhandmaidensinsteadofherselffirstawakeningthem，iswhattheslaves，maleandfemale，andtheserving-boys，and，ifthatwerepossible，everybodyandeverythinginthehouseshouldregardasbase。Iftheyriseearly，theymayallofthemdomuchoftheirpublicandoftheirhouseholdbusiness，asmagistratesinthecity，andmastersandmistressesintheirprivatehouses，beforethesunisup。Muchsleepisnotrequiredbynature，eitherforoursoulsorbodies，orfortheactionswhichtheyperform。
Fornoonewhoisasleepisgoodforanything，anymorethanifheweredead；butheofuswhohasthemostregardforlifeandreasonkeepsawakeaslonghecan，reservingonlysomuchtimeforsleepasisexpedientforhealth；andmuchsleepisnotrequired，ifthehabitofmoderationbeoncerightlyformed。Magistratesinstateswhokeepawakeatnightareterribletothebad，whetherenemiesorcitizens，andarehonouredandreverencedbythejustandtemperate，andareusefultothemselvesandtothewholestate。
Anightwhichispassedinsuchamanner，inadditiontoalltheabove-mentionedadvantages，infusesasortofcourageintothemindsofthecitizens。Whenthedaybreaks，thetimehasarrivedforyouthtogototheirschoolmasters。Nowneithersheepnoranyotheranimalscanlivewithoutashepherd，norcanchildrenbeleftwithouttutors，orslaveswithoutmasters。Andofallanimalstheboyisthemostunmanageable，inasmuchashehasthefountainofreasoninhimnotyetregulated；heisthemostinsidious，sharp-witted，andinsubordinateofanimals。Whereforehemustbeboundwithmanybridles；inthefirstplace，whenhegetsawayfrommothersandnurses，hemustbeunderthemanagementoftutorsonaccountofhischildishnessandfoolishness；then，again，beingafreeman，hemustbecontrolledbyteachers，nomatterwhattheyteach，andbystudies；butheisalsoaslave，andinthatregardanyfreemanwhocomesinhiswaymaypunishhimandhistutorandhisinstructor，ifanyofthemdoesanythingwrong；andhewhocomesacrosshimanddoesnotinflictuponhimthepunishmentwhichhedeserves，shallincurthegreatestdisgrace；andlettheguardianofthelaw，whoisthedirectorofeducation，seetohimwhocominginthewayoftheoffenceswhichwehavementioned，doesnotchastisethemwhenheought，orchastisestheminawaywhichheoughtnot；lethimkeepasharplook-out，andtakeespecialcareofthetrainingofourchildren，directingtheirnatures，andalwaysturningthemtogoodaccordingtothelaw。