Astotheinitiationofprivatesuits,letthemannerofdecidingcausesbetweenallcitizensbethesameasincasesinwhichanyfreemanisdisobedienttothestateinminormatters,ofwhichthepenaltyisnotstripes,imprisonment,ordeath。Butasregardsattendanceatchorusesorprocessionsorothershows,andasregardspublicservices,whetherthecelebrationofsacrificeinpeace,orthepaymentofcontributionsinwar-inallthesecases,firstcomesthenecessityofprovidingremedyfortheloss;andbythosewhowillnotobey,thereshallbesecuritygiventotheofficerswhomthecityandthelawempowertoexactthesumdue;andiftheyforfeittheirsecurity,letthegoodswhichtheyhavepledgedbe,andthemoneygiventothecity;butiftheyoughttopayalargersum,theseveralmagistratesshallimposeuponthedisobedientasuitablepenalty,andbringthembeforethecourt,untiltheyarewillingtodowhattheyareordered。
Nowastatewhichmakesmoneyfromthecultivationofthesoilonly,andhasnoforeigntrade,mustconsiderwhatitwilldoabouttheemigrationofitsownpeopletoothercountries,andthereceptionofstrangersfromelsewhere。Aboutthesemattersthelegislatorhastoconsider,andhewillbeginbytryingtopersuademenasfarashecan。Theintercourseofcitieswithoneanotherisapttocreateaconfusionofmanners;strangers,arealwayssuggestingnoveltiestostrangers。Whenstatesarewellgovernedbygoodlawsthemixturecausesthegreatestpossibleinjury;butseeingthatmostcitiesarethereverseofwell-ordered,theconfusionwhicharisesinthemfromthereceptionofstrangers,andfromthecitizensthemselvesrushingoffintoothercities,whenanyoneeitheryoungorolddesirestotravelanywhereabroadatwhatevertime,isofnoconsequence。Ontheotherhand,therefusalofstatestoreceiveothers,andfortheirowncitizensnevertogotootherplaces,isanutterimpossibility,andtotherestoftheworldislikelytoappearruthlessanduncivilized;itisapractiseadoptedbypeoplewhouseharshwords,suchasxenelasiaorbanishmentofstrangers,andwhohaveharshandmoroseways,asmenthink。Andtobethoughtornottobethoughtwellofbytherestoftheworldisnolightmatter;forthemanyarenotsofarwrongintheirjudgmentofwhoarebadandwhoaregood,astheyareremovedfromthenatureofvirtueinthemselves。Evenbadmenhaveadivineinstinctwhichguessesrightly,andverymanywhoareutterlydepravedformcorrectnotionsandjudgmentsofthedifferencesbetweenthegoodandbad。Andthegeneralityofcitiesarequiterightinexhortingustovalueagoodreputationintheworld,forthereisnotruthgreaterandmoreimportantthanthis-thathewhoisreallygoodIamspeakingofthemanwhowouldbeperfectseeksforreputationwith,butnotwithout,therealityofgoodness。AndourCretancolonyoughtalsotoacquirethefairestandnoblestreputationforvirtuefromothermen;andthereiseveryreasontoexpectthat,iftherealityanswerstotheidea,shewillbeforeofthefewwell-orderedcitieswhichthesunandtheotherGodsbehold。
Wherefore,inthematterofjourneystoothercountriesandthereceptionofstrangers,weenactasfollows:-Inthefirstplace,letnoonebeallowedtogoanywhereatallintoaforeigncountrywhoislessthanfortyyearsofage;andnooneshallgoinaprivatecapacity,butonlyinsomepublicone,asaherald,oronanembassy;oronasacredmission。Goingabroadonanexpeditionorinwar,nottobeincludedamongtravelsoftheclassauthorizedbythestate。ToApolloatDelphiandtoZeusatOlympiaandtoNemeaandtotheIsthmus,-citizensshouldbesenttotakepartinthesacrificesandgamestherededicatedtotheGods;andtheyshouldsendasmanyaspossible,andthebestandfairestthatcanbefound,andtheywillmakethecityrenownedatholymeetingsintimeofpeace,procuringaglorywhichshallbetheconverseofthatwhichisgainedinwar;
andwhentheycomehometheyshallteachtheyoungthattheinstitutionsofotherstatesareinferiortotheirown。Andtheyshallsendspectatorsofanothersort,iftheyhavetheconsentoftheguardians,beingsuchcitizensasdesiretolookalittlemoreatleisureatthedoingsofothermen;andthesenolawshallhinder。Foracitywhichhasnoexperienceofgoodandbadmenorintercoursewiththem,canneverbethoroughly,andperfectlycivilized,nor,again,canthecitizensofacityproperlyobservethelawsbyhabitonly,andwithoutanintelligentunderstandingofthem。Andtherealwaysareintheworldafewinspiredmenwhoseacquaintanceisbeyondprice,andwhospringupquiteasmuchinill-orderedasinwell-orderedcities。Thesearetheywhomthecitizensofawellorderedcityshouldbeeverseekingout,goingforthoverseaandoverlandtofindhimwhoisincorruptible-thathemayestablishmorefirmlyinstitutionsinhisownstatewhicharegoodalready;andamendwhatisdeficient;forwithoutthisexaminationandenquiryacitywillnevercontinueperfectanymorethaniftheexaminationisill-conducted。
Cleinias。Howcanwehaveanexaminationandalsoagoodone?
AthenianStranger。Inthisway:Inthefirstplace,ourspectatorshallbeofnotlessthanfiftyyearsofage;hemustbeamanofreputation,especiallyinwar,ifheistoexhibittoothercitiesamodeloftheguardiansofthelaw,butwhenheismorethansixtyyearsofageheshallnolongercontinueinhisofficeofspectator,Andwhenhehascarriedonhisinspectionduringasmanyoutofthetenyearsofhisofficeashepleases,onhisreturnhomelethimgototheassemblyofthosewhoreviewthelaws。Thisshallbeamixedbodyofyoungandoldmen,whoshallberequiredtomeetdailybetweenthehourofdawnandtherisingofthesun。Theyshallconsist,inthefirstplace,ofthepriestswhohaveobtainedtherewardsofvirtue;
andinthesecondplace,ofguardiansofthelaw,theteneldestbeingchosen;thegeneralsuperintendentofeducationshallalsobemember,aswellthelastappointedasthosewhohavebeenreleasedfromtheoffice;andeachofthemshalltakewithhimashiscompanionyoungman,whomsoeverhechooses,betweentheagesofthirtyandforty。Theseshallbealwaysholdingconversationanddiscourseaboutthelawsoftheirowncityoraboutanyspeciallygoodoneswhichtheymayheartobeexistingelsewhere;alsoaboutkindsofknowledgewhichmayappeartobeofuseandwillthrowlightupontheexamination,orofwhichthewantwillmakethesubjectoflawsdarkanduncertaintothem。Anyknowledgeofthissortwhichtheeldersapprove,theyoungermenshalllearnwithalldiligence;andifanyoneofthosewhohavebeeninvitedappeartobeunworthy,thewholeassemblyshallblamehimwhoinvitedhim。Therestofthecityshallwatchoverthoseamongtheyoungmenwhodistinguishthemselves,havinganeyeuponthem,andespeciallyhonouringthemiftheysucceed,butdishonouringthemabovetherestiftheyturnouttobeinferior。Thisistheassemblytowhichhewhohasvisitedtheinstitutionsofothermen,onhisreturnhomeshallstraightwaygo,andifhehavediscoveredanyonewhohasanythingtosayabouttheenactmentoflawsoreducationornurture,orifhehavehimselfmadeanyobservations,lethimcommunicatehisdiscoveriestothewholeassembly。Andifhebeseentohavecomehomeneitherbetternorworse,lethimbepraisedatanyrateforhisenthusiasm;andifhebemuchbetter,lethimbepraisedsomuchthemore;andnotonlywhilehelivesbutafterhisdeathlettheassemblyhonourhimwithfittinghonours。Butifonhisreturnhomeheappeartohavebeencorrupted,pretendingtobewisewhenheisnot,lethimholdnocommunicationwithanyone,whetheryoungorold;andifhewillhearkentotherulers,thenheshallbepermittedtoliveasaprivateindividual;butifhewillnot,lethimdie,ifhebeconvictedinacourtoflawofinterferingabouteducationandthelaws,Andifhedeservetobeindicted,andnoneofthemagistratesindicthim,letthatbecountedasadisgracetothemwhentherewardsofvirtuearedecided。
Letsuchbethecharacterofthepersonwhogoesabroad,andlethimgoabroadundertheseconditions。Inthenextplace,thestrangerwhocomesfromabroadshouldbereceivedinafriendlyspirit。Nowtherearefourkindsofstrangers,ofwhomwemustmakesomemention-thefirstishewhocomesandstaysthroughoutthesummer;
thisclassarelikebirdsofpassage,takingwinginpursuitofcommerce,andflyingovertheseatoothercities,whiletheseasonlasts;heshallbereceivedinmarket-placesandharboursandpublicbuildings,nearthecitybutoutside,bythosemagistrateswhoareappointedtosuperintendthesematters;andtheyshalltakecarethatastranger,whoeverhebe,dulyreceivesjustice;butheshallnotbeallowedtomakeanyinnovation。Theyshallholdtheintercoursewithhimwhichisnecessary,andthisshallbeaslittleaspossible。ThesecondkindisjustaspectatorwhocomestoseewithhiseyesandhearwithhisearsthefestivalsoftheMuses;suchoughttohaveentertainmentprovidedthematthetemplesbyhospitablepersons,andthepriestsandministersofthetemplesshouldseeandattendtothem。Buttheyshouldnotremainmorethanareasonabletime;letthemseeandhearthatforthesakeofwhichtheycame,andthengoaway,neitherhavingsufferednordoneanyharm。Thepriestsshallbetheirjudges,ifanyofthemreceiveordoanywronguptothesumoffiftydrachmae,butifanygreaterchargebebrought,insuchcasesthesuitshallcomebeforethewardensoftheagora。Thethirdkindofstrangerishewhocomesonsomepublicbusinessfromanotherland,andistobereceivedwithpublichonours。
Heistobereceivedonlybythegeneralsandcommandersofhorseandfoot,andthehostbywhomheisentertained,inconjunctionwiththePrytanes,shallhavethesolechargeofwhatconcernshim。
Thereisafourthdassofpersonsansweringtoourspectators,whocomefromanotherlandtolookatours。Inthefirstplace,suchvisitswillberare,andthevisitorshouldbeatleastfiftyyearsofage;hemaypossiblybewantingtoseesomethingthatisrichandrareinotherstates,orhimselftoshowsomethinginlikemannertoanothercity。Letsuchanone,then,gounbiddentothedoorsofthewiseandrich,beingoneofthemhimself:lethimgo,forexample,tothehouseofthesuperintendentofeducation,confidentthatheisafittingguestofsuchahost,orlethimgotothehouseofsomeofthosewhohavegainedtheprizeofvirtueandholddiscoursewiththem,bothlearningfromthem,andalsoteachingthem;andwhenhehasseenandheardall,heshalldepart,asafriendtakingleaveoffriends,andbehonouredbythemwithgiftsandsuitabletributesofrespect。Thesearethecustoms,accordingtowhichourcityshouldreceiveallstrangersofeithersexwhocomefromothercountries,andshouldsendforthherowncitizens,showingrespecttoZeus,theGodofhospitality,notforbiddingstrangersatmealsandsacrifices,asisthemannerwhichprevailsamongthechildrenoftheNile,nordrivingthemawaybysavageproclamations。
Whenamanbecomessurety,lethimgivethesecurityinadistinctform,acknowledgingthewholetransactioninawrittendocument,andinthepresenceofnotlessthanthreewitnessesifthesumbeunderathousanddrachmae,andofnotlessthanfivewitnessesifthesumbeaboveathousanddrachmae。Theagentofadishonestoruntrustworthysellershallhimselfberesponsible;boththeagentandtheprincipalshallbeequallyliable。Ifapersonwishestofindanythinginthehouseofanother,heshallenternaked,orwearingonlyashorttunicandwithoutagirdle,havingfirsttakenanoathbythecustomaryGodsthatheexpectstofinditthere;heshallthenmakehissearch,andtheothershallthrowopenhishouseandallowhimtosearchthingsbothsealedandunsealed。Andifapersonwillnotallowthesearchertomakehissearch,hewhoispreventedshallgotolawwithhim,estimatingthevalueofthegoodsafterwhichheissearching,andiftheotherbeconvictedheshallpaytwicethevalueofthearticle。Ifthemasterbeabsentfromhome,thedwellersinthehouseshalllethimsearchtheunsealedproperty,andonthesealedpropertythesearchershallsetanotherseal,andshallappointanyonewhomhelikestoguardthemduringfivedays;
andifthemasterofthehousebeabsentduringalongertime,heshalltakewithhimthewardensofthecity,andsomakehissearch,openingthesealedpropertyaswellastheunsealed,andthen,togetherwiththemembersofthefamilyandthewardensofthecity,heshallsealthemupagainastheywerebefore。Thereshallbealimitoftimeinthecaseofdisputedthings,andhewhohashadpossessionofthemduringacertaintimeshallnolongerbeliabletobedisturbed。Astohousesandlandstherecanbenodisputeinthisstateofours;butifamanhasanyotherpossessionswhichhehasusedandopenlyshowninthecityandintheagoraandinthetemples,andnoonehasputinaclaimtothem,andsomeonesaysthathewaslookingforthemduringthistime,andthepossessorisprovedtohavemadenoconcealment,iftheyhavecontinuedforayear,theonehavingthegoodsandtheotherlookingforthem,theclaimoftheseekershallnotbeallowedaftertheexpirationoftheyear;
orifhedoesnotuseorshowthelostpropertyinthemarketorinthecity,butonlyinthecountry,andnooneoffershimselfastheownerduringfiveyears,attheexpirationofthefiveyearstheclaimshallbebarredforeverafter;orifheusestheminthecitybutwithinthehouse,thentheappointedtimeofclaimingthegoodsshallbethreeyears,ortenyearsifhehastheminthecountryinprivate。Andifhehastheminanotherland,thereshallbenolimitoftimeorprescription,butwhenevertheownerfindsthemhemayclaimthem。
Ifanyonepreventsanotherbyforcefrombeingpresentatatrial,whetheraprincipalpartyorhiswitnesses;ifthepersonpreventedbeaslave,whetherhisownorbelongingtoanother,thesuitshallbeincompleteandinvalid;butifhewhoispreventedbeafreeman,besidesthesuitbeingincomplete,theotherwhohaspreventedhimshallbeimprisonedforayear,andshallbeprosecutedforkidnappingbyanyonewhopleases。Andifanyonehindersbyforcearivalcompetitoringymnasticormusic,oranyothersortofcontest,frombeingpresentatthecontest,lethimwhohasamindinformthepresidingjudges,andtheyshallliberatehimwhoisdesirousofcompeting;andiftheyarenotable,andhewhohinderstheotherfromcompetingwinstheprize,thentheyshallgivetheprizeofvictorytohimwhoisprevented,andinscribehimastheconquerorinanytempleswhichhepleases;andhewhohinderstheothershallnotbepermittedtomakeanyofferingorinscriptionhavingreferencetothatcontest,andinanycaseheshallbeliablefordamages,whetherhebedefeatedorwhetherheconquer。