Ath。OCleinias，amanwhenheisabouttodieisanintractablecreature，andisapttouselanguagewhichcausesagreatdealofanxietyandtroubletothelegislator。
Cle。Inwhatway？
Ath。Hewantstohavetheentirecontrolofallhisproperty，andwilluseangrywords。
Cle。Suchaswhat？
Ath。OyeGods，hewillsay，howmonstrousthatIamnotallowedtogive，ornottogivemyowntowhomIwill-lesstohimwhohasbeenbadtome，andmoretohimwhohasbeengoodtome，andwhosebadnessandgoodnesshavebeentestedbymeintimeofsicknessorinoldageandineveryothersortoffortune!
Cle。WellStranger，andmayhenotveryfairlysayso？
Ath。Inmyopinion，Cleinias，theancientlegislatorsweretoogood-natured，andmadelawswithoutsufficientobservationorconsiderationofhumanthings。
Cle。Whatdoyoumean？
Ath。Imean，myfriendthattheywereafraidofthetestator’sreproaches，andsotheypassedalawtotheeffectthatamanshouldbeallowedtodisposeofhispropertyinallrespectsasheliked；butyouandI，ifIamnotmistaken，willhavesomethingbettertosaytoourdepartingcitizens。
Cle。What？
Ath。Omyfriends，wewillsaytothem，hardisitforyou，whoarecreaturesofaday，toknowwhatisyours-hardtoo，astheDelphicoraclesays，toknowyourselvesatthishour。NowI，asthelegislator，regardyouandyourpossessions，notasbelongingtoyourselves，butasbelongingtoyourwholefamily，bothpastandfuture，andyetmoredoregardbothfamilyandpossessionsasbelongingtothestate；wherefore，ifsomeonestealsuponyouwithflattery，whenyouaretossedontheseaofdiseaseoroldage，andpersuadesyoutodisposeofyourpropertyinawaythatisnotforthebest，Iwillnot，ifIcanhelp，allowthis；butIwilllegislatewithaviewtothewhole，consideringwhatisbestbothforthestateandforthefamily，esteemingasIoughtthefeelingsofanindividualatalowerrate；andIhopethatyouwilldepartinpeaceandkindnesstowardsus，asyouaregoingthewayofallmankind；andwewillimpartiallytakecareofallyourconcerns，notneglectinganyofthem，ifwecanpossiblyhelp。Letthisbeourpreludeandconsolationtothelivinganddying，Cleinias，andletthelawbeasfollows：
Hewhomakesadispositioninatestament，ifhebethefatherofafamily，shallfirstofallinscribeashisheiranyoneofhissonswhomhemaythinkfit；andifhegivesanyofhischildrentobeadoptedbyanothercitizen，lettheadoptionbeinscribed。Andifhehasasonremainingoverandabovewhohasnotbeenadopteduponanylot，andwhomaybeexpectedtobesentouttoacolonyaccordingtolaw，tohimhisfathermaygiveasmuchashepleasesoftherestofhisproperty，withtheexceptionofthepaternallotandthefixturesonthelot。Andifthereareothersons，lethimdistributeamongthemwhatthereismorethanthelotinsuchportionsashepleases。Andifoneofthesonshasalreadyahouseofhisown，heshallnotgivehimofthemoney，norshallhegivemoneytoadaughterwhohasbeenbetrothed，butifsheisnotbetrothedhemaygivehermoney。Andifanyofthesonsordaughtersshallbefoundtohaveanotherlotoflandinthecountry，whichhasaccruedafterthetestamenthasbeenmade，theyshallleavethelotwhichtheyhaveinheritedtotheheirofthemanwhohasmadethewill。Ifthetestatorhasnosons，butonlydaughters，lethimchoosethehusbandofanyoneofhisdaughterswhomhepleases，andleaveandinscribehimashissonandheir。Andifamanhavelosthisson，whenhewasachild，andbeforehecouldbereckonedamonggrown-upmen，whetherhisownoranadoptedson，letthetestatormakementionofthecircumstanceandinscribewhomhewilltobehissecondsoninhopeofbetterfortune。Ifthetestatorhasnochildrenatall，hemayselectandgivetoanyonewhomhepleasesthetenthpartofthepropertywhichhehasacquired；butlethimnotbeblamedifhegivesalltheresttohisadoptedson，andmakesafriendofhimaccordingtothelaw。Ifthesonsofamanrequireguardians，and：thefatherwhenhediesleavesawillappointingguardians，thosehavebeennamedbyhim，whoevertheyareandwhatevertheirnumberbe，iftheyareableandwillingtotakechargeofthechildren，shallberecognizedaccordingtotheprovisionsofthewill。Butifhediesandhasmadenowill，orawillinwhichhehasappointednoguardians，thenthenextofkin，twoonthefather’sandtwoonthemother’sside，andoneofthefriendsofthedeceased，shallhavetheauthorityofguardians，whomtheguardiansofthelawshallappointwhentheorphansrequireguardians。Andthefifteeneldestguardiansofthelawshallhavethewholecareandchargeoftheorphans，dividedintothreesaccordingtoseniority-abodyofthreeforoneyear，andthenanotherbodyofthreeforthenextyear，untilthecycleofthefiveperiodsiscomplete；andthis，asfaraspossible，istocontinuealways。Ifamandies，havingmadenowillatall，andleavessonswhorequirethecareofguardians，theyshallshareintheprotectionwhichisaffordedbytheselaws。
Andifamandyingbysomeunexpectedfateleavesdaughtersbehindhim，lethimpardonthelegislatorifhegivestheminmarriage，hehavearegardonlytotwooutofthreeconditions-nearnessofkinandthepreservationofthelot，andomitsthethirdcondition，whichafatherwouldnaturallyconsider，forhewouldchooseoutofallthecitizensasonforhimself，andahusbandforhisdaughter，withaviewtohischaracteranddisposition-thefather，say，shallforgivethelegislatorifhedisregardsthis，whichtohimisanimpossibleconsideration。Letthelawaboutthesematterswherepracticablebeasfollows：-Ifamandieswithoutmakingawill，andleavesbehindhimdaughters，lethisbrother，beingthesonofthesamefatherorofthesamemother，havingnolot，marrythedaughterandhavethelotofthedeadman。Andifhehavenobrother，butonlyabrother’sson，inlikemannerletthemmarry，iftheybeofasuitableage；andiftherebenotevenabrother’sson，butonlythesonofasister，letthemdolikewise，andsointhefourthdegree，iftherebeonlythetestator’sfather’sbrother，orinthefifthdegree，hisfather’sbrother’sson，orinthesixthdegree，thechildofhisfather’ssister。Letkindredbealwaysreckonedinthisway：ifapersonleavesdaughterstherelationshipshallproceedupwardsthroughbrothersandsisters，andbrothers’andsisters’children，andfirstthemalesshallcome，andafterthemthefemalesinthesamefamily。
Thejudgeshallconsideranddeterminethesuitablenessorunsuitablenessofageinmarriage；heshallmakeaninspectionofthemalesnaked，andofthewomennakeddowntothenavel。Andiftherebealackofkinsmeninafamilyextendingtograndchildrenofabrother，ortothegrandchildrenofagrandfather’schildren，themaidenmaychoosewiththeconsentofherguardiansanyoneofthecitizenswhoiswillingandwhomshewills，andheshallbetheheirofthedeadman，andthehusbandofhisdaughter。Circumstancesvary，andtheremaysometimesbeastillgreaterlackofrelationswithinthelimitsofthestate；andifanymaidenhasnokindredlivinginthecity，andthereissomeonewhohasbeensentouttoacolony，andsheisdisposedtomakehimtheheirofherfather’spossessions，ifhebeindeedofherkindred，lethimproceedtotakethelotaccordingtotheregulationofthelaw；butifhebenotofherkindred，shehavingnokinsmenwithinthecity，andhebechosenbythedaughterofthedeadman，andempoweredtomarrybytheguardians，lethimreturnhomeandtakethelotofhimwhodiedintestate。Andifamanhasnochildren，eithermaleorfemale，anddieswithoutmakingawill，letthepreviouslawingeneralhold；
andletamanandawomangoforthfromthefamilyandsharethedesertedhouse，andletthelotbelongabsolutelytothem；andlettheheiressinthefirstdegreebeasister，andinaseconddegreeadaughterofabrother，andinthethird，adaughterofasister，inthefourthdegreethesisterofafather，andinthefifthdegreethedaughterofafather’sbrother，andinasixthdegreeofafather’ssister；andtheseshalldwellwiththeirmalekinsmen，accordingtothedegreeofrelationshipandright，asweenactedbefore。Nowwemustnotconcealfromourselvesthatsuchlawsareapttobeoppressiveandthattheremaysometimesbeahardshipinthelawgivercommandingthekinsmanofthedeadmantomarryhisrelation；
bemaybethoughtnottohaveconsideredtheinnumerablehindranceswhichmayariseamongmenintheexecutionofsuchordinances；fortheremaybecasesinwhichthepartiesrefusetoobey，andarereadytodoanythingratherthanmarry，whenthereissomebodilyormentalmaladyordefectamongthosewhoarebiddentomarryorbemarried。Personsmayfancythatthelegislatorneverthoughtofthis，buttheyaremistaken；whereforeletusmakeacommonpreludeonbehalfofthelawgiverandofhissubjects，thelawbeggingthelattertoforgivethelegislator，inthathe，havingtotakecareofthecommonweal，cannotorderatthesametimethevariouscircumstancesofindividuals，andbegginghimtopardonthemifnaturallytheyaresometimesunabletofulfiltheactwhichheinhisignoranceimposesuponthem。
Cle。Andhow，Stranger，canweactmostfairlyunderthecircumstances？
Ath。Theremustbearbiterschosentodealwithsuchlawsandthesubjectsofthem。
Cle。Whatdoyoumean？
Ath。Imeantosay，thatacasemayoccurinwhichthenephew，havingarichfather，willbeunwillingtomarrythedaughterofhisuncle；hewillhaveafeelingofpride，andhewillwishtolookhigher。Andtherearecasesinwhichthelegislatorwillbeimposinguponhimthegreatestcalamity，andhewillbecompelledtodisobeythelaw，ifheisrequired，forexample，totakeawifewhoismad，orhassomeotherterriblemaladyofsoulorbody，suchasmakeslifeintolerabletothesufferer。Thenletwhatwearesayingconcerningthesecasesbeembodiedinalaw：-Ifanyonefindsfaultwiththeestablishedlawsrespectingtestaments，bothastoothermattersandespeciallyinwhatrelatestomarriage，andassertsthatthelegislator，ifhewerealiveandpresent，wouldnotcompelhimtoobey-thatistosay，wouldnotcompelthosewhoarebyourlawrequiredtomarryorbegiveninmarriage，todoeither-andsomekinsmanorguardiandisputethis，thereplyisthatthelegislatorleftfifteenoftheguardiansofthelawtobearbitersandfathersoforphans，maleorfemale，andtothemletthedisputantshaverecourse，andbytheiraiddetermineanymattersofthekind，admittingtheirdecisiontobefinal。Butifanyonethinksthattoogreatpoweristhusgiventotheguardiansofthelaw，lethimbringhisadversariesintothecourtoftheselectjudges，andtherehavethepointsindisputedetermined。Andhewholosesthecauseshallhavecensureandblamefromthelegislator，which，byamanofsense，isfelttobeapenaltyfarheavierthanagreatlossofmoney。
Thuswillorphanchildrenhaveasecondbirth。Aftertheirfirstbirthwespokeoftheirnurtureandeducation，andaftertheirsecondbirth，whentheyhavelosttheirparents，weoughttotakemeasuresthatthemisfortuneoforphanhoodmaybeaslittlesadtothemaspossible。Inthefirstplace，wesaythattheguardiansofthelawarelawgiversandfatherstothem，notinferiortotheirnaturalfathers。Moreover，theyshalltakechargeofthemyearbyyearasoftheirownkindred；andwehavegivenbothtothemandtothechildren’sownguardiansasuitableadmonitionconcerningthenurtureoforphans。Andweseemtohavespokenopportunelyinourformerdiscourse，whenwesaidthatthesoulsofthedeadhavethepowerafterdeathoftakinganinterestinhumanaffairs，aboutwhichtherearemanytalesandtraditions，longindeed，buttrue；
andseeingthattheyaresomanyandsoancient，wemustbelievethem，andwemustalsobelievethelawgivers，whotellusthatthesethingsaretrue，iftheyarenottoberegardedasutterfools。Butifthesethingsarereallyso，inthefirstplacemenshouldhaveafearoftheGodsabove，whoregardthelonelinessoftheorphans；
andinthesecondplaceofthesoulsofthedeparted，whobynatureinclinetotakeanespecialcareoftheirownchildren，andarefriendlytothosewhohonour，andunfriendlytothosewhodishonourthem。Menshouldalsofearthesoulsofthelivingwhoareagedandhighinhonour；whereveracityiswellorderedandprosperous，theirdescendantscherishthem，andsolivehappily；oldpersonsarequicktoseeandhearallthatrelatestothem，andarepropitioustothosewhoarejustinthefulfilmentofsuchduties，andtheypunishthosewhowrongtheorphanandthedesolate，consideringthattheyarethegreatestandmostsacredoftrusts。Toallwhichmatterstheguardianandmagistrateoughttoapplyhismind，ifhehasany，andtakeheedofthenurtureandeducationoftheorphans，seekingineverypossiblewaytodothemgood，forheismakingacontributiontohisowngoodandthatofhischildren。Hewhoobeysthetalewhichprecedesthelaw，anddoesnowrongtoanorphan，willneverexperiencethewrathofthelegislator。Buthewhoisdisobedient，andwrongsanyonewhoisbereftoffatherormother，shallpaytwicethepenaltywhichhewouldhavepaidifhehadwrongedonewhoseparentshadbeenalive。Astouchingotherlegislationconcerningguardiansintheirrelationtoorphans，orconcerningmagistratesandtheirsuperintendenceoftheguardians，iftheydidnotpossessexamplesofthemannerinwhichchildrenoffreemenshouldbebroughtupinthebringingupoftheirownchildren，andofthecareoftheirpropertyinthecareoftheirown，oriftheyhadnotjustlawsfairlystatedabouttheseverythings-therewouldhavebeenreasoninmakinglawsforthem，undertheideathattheywereapeculiar-class，andwemightdistinguishandmakeseparaterulesforthelifeofthosewhoareorphansandofthosewhoarenotorphans。