Andnowletussayinwhatcasesandunderwhatcircumstancesthemurdererisrightlyfreefromguilt：-Ifamancatchathiefcoming，intohishousebynighttosteal，andhetakeandkillhim，orifheslayafootpadinself-defence，heshallbeguiltless。Andanyonewhodoesviolencetoafreewomanorayouth，shallbeslainwithimpunitybytheinjuredperson，orbyhisorherfatherorbrothersorsons。Ifamanfindhiswifesufferingviolence，hemaykilltheviolator，andbeguiltlessintheeyeofthelaw；orifapersonkillanotherinwardingoffdeathfromhisfatherormotherorchildrenorbrethrenorwifewhoaredoingnowrong，heshallassuredlybeguiltless。
Thusmuchastothenurtureandeducationofthelivingsoulofman，havingwhich，hecan，andwithoutwhich，ifheunfortunatelybewithoutthem，hecannotlive；andalsoconcerningthepunishments：-whicharetobeinflictedforviolentdeaths，letthusmuchbeenacted。Ofthenurtureandeducationofthebodywehavespokenbefore，andnextinorderwehavetospeakofdeedsofviolence，voluntaryandinvoluntary，whichmendotooneanother；
thesewewillnowdistinguish，asfarasweareable，accordingtotheirnatureandnumber，anddeterminewhatwillbethesuitablepenaltiesofeach，andsoassigntothemtheirproperplaceintheseriesofourenactments。Thepoorestlegislatorwillhavenodifficultyindeterminingthatwoundsandmutilationsarisingoutofwoundsshouldfollownextinorderafterdeaths。Letwoundsbedividedashomicidesweredivided-intothosewhichareinvoluntary，andwhicharegiveninpassionorfromfear，andthoseinflictedvoluntarilyandwithpremeditation。Concerningallthis，wemustmakesomesuchproclamationasthefollowing：-Mankindmusthavelaws，andconformtothem，ortheirlifewouldbeasbadasthatofthemostsavagebeast。Andthereasonofthisisthatnoman’snatureisabletoknowwhatisbestforhumansociety；orknowing，alwaysableandwillingtodowhatisbest。Inthefirstplace，thereisadifficultyinapprehendingthatthetrueartorpoliticsisconcerned，notwithprivatebutwithpublicgoodforpublicgoodbindstogetherstates，butprivateonlydistractsthem；andthatboththepublicandprivategoodaswellofindividualsasofstatesisgreaterwhenthestateandnottheindividualisfirstconsidered。
Inthesecondplace，althoughapersonknowsintheabstractthatthisistrue，yetifhebepossessedofabsoluteandirresponsiblepower，hewillneverremainfirminhisprinciplesorpersistinregardingthepublicgoodasprimaryinthestate，andtheprivategoodassecondary。Humannaturewillbealwaysdrawinghimintoavariceandselfishness，avoidingpainandpursuingPleasurewithoutanyreason，andwillbringthesetothefront，obscuringthejusterandbetter；
andsoworkingdarknessinhissoulwillatlastfillwithevilsbothhimandthewholecity。Forifamanwerebornsodivinelygiftedthathecouldnaturallyapprehendthetruth，hewouldhavenoneedoflawstoruleoverhim；forthereisnolawororderwhichisaboveknowledge，norcanmind，withoutimpiety，bedeemedthesubjectorslaveofanyman，butratherthelordofall。Ispeakofmind，trueandfree，andinharmonywithnature。Butthenthereisnosuchmindanywhere，oratleastnotmuch；andthereforewemustchooselawandorder，whicharesecondbest。Theselookatthingsastheyexistforthemostpartonly，andareunabletosurveythewholeofthem。AndthereforeIhavespokenasIhave。
Andnowwewilldeterminewhatpenaltyheoughttopayorsufferwhohashurtorwoundedanother。Anyonemayeasilyimaginethequestionswhichhavetobeaskedinallsuchcases：-Whatdidhewound，orwhom，orhow，orwhen？forthereareinnumerableparticularsofthissortwhichgreatlyvaryfromoneanother。Andtoallowcourtsoflawtodetermineallthesethings，ornottodetermineanyofthem，isalikeimpossible。Thereisoneparticularwhichtheymustdetermineinallcases-thequestionoffact。Andthen，again，thatthelegislatorshouldnotpermitthemtodeterminewhatpunishmentistobeinflictedinanyofthesecases，butshouldhimselfdecideabout，ofthem，smallorgreat，isnexttoimpossible。
Cle。Thenwhatistobetheinference？
Ath。Theinferenceis，thatsomethingsshouldbelefttocourtsoflaw；othersthelegislatormustdecideforhimself。
Cle。Andwhatoughtthelegislatortodecide，andwhatoughthetoleavetocourtsoflaw？
Ath。Imayreply，thatinastateinwhichthecourtsarebadandmute，becausethejudgesconcealtheiropinionsanddecidecausesclandestinely；orwhatisworse，whentheyaredisorderlyandnoisy，asinatheatre，clappingorhootinginturnthisorthatorator-Isaythatthenthereisaveryseriousevil，whichaffectsthewholestate。
Unfortunateisthenecessityofhavingtolegislateforsuchcourts，butwherethenecessityexists，thelegislatorshouldonlyallowthemtoordainthepenaltiesforthesmallestoffences；ifthestateforwhichheislegislatingbeofthischaracter，hemusttakemostmattersintohisownhandsandspeakdistinctly。Butwhenastatehasgoodcourts，andthejudgesarewelltrainedandscrupulouslytested，thedeterminationofthepenaltiesorpunishmentswhichshallbeinflictedontheguiltymayfairlyandwithadvantagebelefttothem。Andwearenottobeblamedfornotlegislatingconcerningallthatlargeclassofmatterswhichjudgesfarworseeducatedthanourswouldbeabletodetermine，assigningtoeachoffencewhatisduebothtotheperpetratorandtothesufferer。Webelievethoseforwhomwearelegislatingtobebestabletojudge，andthereforetothemthegreaterpartmaybeleft。Atthesametime，asIhaveoftensaid，weshouldexhibittothejudges，aswehavedone，theoutlineandformofthepunishmentstobeinflicted，andthentheywillnottransgressthejustrule。Thatwasanexcellentpractice，whichweobservedbefore，andwhichnowthatweareresumingtheworkoflegislation，maywithadvantageberepeatedbyus。
Lettheenactmentaboutwoundingbeinthefollowingterms：-Ifanyonehasapurposeandintentiontoslayanotherwhoisnothisenemy，andwhomthelawdoesnotpermithimtoslay，andhewoundshim，butisunabletokillhim，hewhohadtheintentandhaswoundedhimisnottobepitied-hedeservesnoconsideration，butshouldberegardedasamurdererandbetriedformurder。Stillhavingrespecttothefortunewhichhasinamannerfavouredhim，andtotheprovidencewhichinpitytohimandtothewoundedmansavedtheonefromafatalblow，andtheotherfromanaccursedfateandcalamity-asathank-offeringtothisdeity，andinordernottoopposehiswill-insuchacasethelawwillremitthepunishmentofdeath，andonlycompeltheoffendertoemigratetoaneighbouringcityfortherestofhislife，whereheshallremainintheenjoymentofallhispossessions。Butifhehaveinjuredthewoundedman，heshallmakesuchcompensationfortheinjuryasthecourtdecidingthecauseshallassess，andthesamejudgesshalldecidewhowouldhavedecidedifthemanhaddiedofhiswounds。Andifachildintentionallywoundhisparents，oraservanthismaster，deathshallbethepenalty。Andifabrotherorasisterintentionallywoundabrotherorasister，andisfoundguilty，deathshallbethepenalty。Andifahusbandwoundawife，orawifeahusband，withintenttokill，lethimorherundergoperpetualexile；iftheyhavesonsordaughterswhoarestillyoung，theguardiansshalltakecareoftheirproperty，andhavechargeofthechildrenasorphans。Iftheirsonsaregrownup，theyshallbeundernoobligationtosupporttheexiledparent，buttheyshallpossessthepropertythemselves。Andifhewhomeetswithsuchamisfortunehasnochildren，thekindredoftheexiledmantothedegreeofsonsofcousins，bothonthemaleandfemaleside，shallmeettogether，andaftertakingcounselwiththeguardiansoftheandthepriests，shallappointa5040thcitizentobetheheirofthehouse，consideringandreasoningthatnohouseofallthe5040
belongstotheinhabitantortothewholefamily，butisthepublicandprivatepropertyofthestate。Nowthestateshouldseektohaveitshousesasholyandhappyaspossible。Andifanyoneofthehousesbeunfortunate，andstainedwithimpiety，andtheownerleavenoposterity，butdiesunmarried，ormarriedandchildless，havingsuffereddeathasthepenaltyofmurderorsomeothercrimecommittedagainsttheGodsoragainsthisfellow-citizens，ofwhichdeathisthepenaltydistinctlylaiddowninthelaw；orifanyofthecitizensbeinperpetualexile，andalsochildless，thathouseshallfirstofallbepurifiedandundergoexpiationaccordingtolaw；andthenletthekinsmenofthehouse，aswewerejustnowsaying，andtheguardiansofthelaw，meetandconsiderwhatfamilythereisinthestatewhichisofthehighestreputeforvirtueandalsoforgoodfortune，inwhichthereareanumberofsons；fromthatfamilyletthemtakeoneandintroducehimtothefatherandforefathersofthedeadmanastheirson，and，forthesakeoftheomen，lethimbecalledso，thathemaybethecontinueroftheirfamily，thekeeperoftheirhearth，andtheministeroftheirsacredriteswithbetterfortunethanhisfatherhad；andwhentheyhavemadethissupplication，theyshallmakehimheiraccordingtolaw，andtheoffendingpersontheyshallleavenamelessandchildlessandportionlesswhencalamitiessuchastheseovertakehim。
Nowtheboundariesofsomethingsdonottouchoneanother，butthereisaborderlandwhichcomesinbetween，preventingthemfromtouching。Andweweresayingthatactionsdonefrompassionareofthisnature，andcomeinbetweenthevoluntaryandinvoluntary。Ifapersonbeconvictedofhavinginflictedwoundsinapassion，inthefirstplaceheshallpaytwicetheamountoftheinjury，ifthewoundbecurable，or，ifincurable，fourtimestheamountoftheinjury；orifthewoundbecurable，andatthesametimecausegreatandnotabledisgracetothewoundedperson，heshallpayfourfold。Andwheneveranyoneinwoundinganotherinjuresnotonlythesufferer，butalsothecity，andmakeshimincapableofdefendinghiscountryagainsttheenemy，he，besidestheotherpenalties，shallpayapenaltyforthelosswhichthestatehasincurred。Andthepenaltyshallbe，thatinadditiontohisowntimesofservice，heshallserveonbehalfofthedisabledperson，andshalltakehisplaceinwar；or，ifherefuse，heshallbeliabletobeconvictedbylawofrefusaltoserve。Thecompensationfortheinjury，whethertobetwofoldorthreefoldorfourfold，shallbefixedbythejudgeswhoconvicthim。
Andif，inlikemanner，abrotherwoundsabrother，theparentsandkindredofeithersex，includingthechildrenofcousins，whetheronthemaleorfemaleside，shallmeet，andwhentheyhavejudgedthecause，theyshallentrusttheassessmentofdamagestotheparents，asisnatural；andiftheestimatebedisputed，thenthekinsmenonthemalesideshallmaketheestimate，oriftheycannot，theyshallcommitthemattertotheguardiansofthelaw。Andwhensimilarchargesofwoundingarebroughtbychildrenagainsttheirparents，thosewhoaremorethansixtyyearsofage，havingchildrenoftheirown，notadopted，shallberequiredtodecide；andifanyoneisconvicted，theyshalldeterminewhetherheorsheoughttodie，orsuffersomeotherpunishmenteithergreaterthandeath，or，atanyrate，notmuchless。Akinsmanoftheoffendershallnotbeallowedtojudgethecause，notevenifhebeoftheagewhichisprescribedbythelaw。Ifaslaveinafitofangerwoundafreeman，theowneroftheslaveshallgivehimuptothewoundedman，whomaydoashepleaseswithhim，andifbenotgivehimupheshallhimselfmakegoodtheinjury。Andifanyonesaysthattheslaveandthewoundedmanareconspiringtogether，lethimarguethepoint，andifheiscast，heshallpayforthewrongthreetimesover，butifhegainshiscase，thefreemanwhoconspiredwiththeslaveshallreliabletoanactionforkidnapping。Andifanyoneunintentionallywoundsanotherheshallsimplypayfortheharm，fornolegislatorisabletocontrolchance。Insuchacasethejudgesshallbethesameasthosewhoareappointedinthecaseofchildrensuingtheirparents；andtheyshallestimatetheamountoftheinjury。
Alltheprecedinginjuriesandeverykindofassaultaredeedsofviolence；andeveryman，woman，orchildoughttoconsiderthattheelderhastheprecedenceoftheyoungerinhonour，bothamongtheGodsandalsoamongmenwhowouldliveinsecurityandhappiness。WhereforeitisafoulthingandhatefultotheGodstoseeaneldermanassaultedbyayoungerinthecity；anditisreasonablethatayoungmanwhenstruckbyaneldershouldlightlyendurehisanger，layingupinstoreforhimselfalikehonourwhenheisold。Letthisbethelaw：-Everyoneshallreverencehiselderinwordanddeed；
heshallrespectanyonewhoistwentyyearsolderthanhimself，whethermaleorfemale，regardinghimorherashisfatherormother；andheshallabstainfromlayinghandsonanyonewhoisofanagetohavebeenhisfatherorhismother，outofreverencetotheGodswhopresideoverbirth；similarlyheshallkeephishandsfromastranger，whetherhebeanoldinhabitantornewlyarrived；heshallnotventuretocorrectsuchanonebyblows，eitherastheaggressororinself-defence。Ifhethinksthatsomestrangerhasstruckhimoutofwantonnessorinsolence，andoughttobepunished，heshalltakehimtothewardensofthecity，butlethimnotstrikehim，thatthestrangermaybekeptfarawayfromthepossibilityofliftinguphishandagainstacitizen，andletthewardensofthecitytaketheoffenderandexaminehim，notforgettingtheirdutytotheGodofStrangers，andincasethestrangerappearstohavestruckthecitizenunjustly，lettheminflictuponhimasmanyblowswiththescourgeashehashimselfinflicted，andquellhispresumption。Butifhebeinnocent，theyshallthreatenandrebukethemanwhoarrestedhim，andletthembothgo。Ifapersonstrikesanotherofthesameageorsomewhatolderthanhimself，whohasnochildren，whetherhebeanoldmanwhostrikesanoldmanorayoungmanwhostrikesayoungman，letthepersonstruckdefendhimselfinthenaturalwaywithoutaweaponandwithhishandsonly。Hewho，beingmorethanfortyyearsofage，darestofightwithanother，whetherhebetheaggressororinselfdefence，shallberegardedasrudeandill-manneredandslavish；-thiswillbeadisgracefulpunishment，andthereforesuitabletohim。Theobedientnaturewillreadilyyieldtosuchexhortations，butthedisobedient，whoheedsnottheprelude，shallhavethelawreadyforhim：-Ifanymansmiteanotherwhoisolderthanhimself，eitherbytwentyorbymoreyears，inthefirstplace，hewhoisathand，notbeingyoungerthanthecombatants，northeirequalinage，shallseparatethem，orbedisgracedaccordingtolaw；butifhebetheequalinageofthepersonwhoisstruckoryounger，heshalldefendthepersoninjuredashewouldabrotherorfatherorstillolderrelative。Further，lethimwhodarestosmiteanelderbetriedforassault，asIhavesaid，andifhebefoundguilty，lethimbeimprisonedforaperiodofnotlessthanayear，orifthejudgesapproveofalongerperiod，theirdecisionshallbefinal。