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。