Ifanyoneknowinglyreceivesanythingwhichhasbeenstolen，heshallundergothesamepunishmentasthethief，andifamanreceivesanexileheshallbepunishedwithdeath。Everymanshouldregardthefriendandenemyofthestateashisownfriendandenemy；andifanyonemakespeaceorwarwithanotheronhisownaccount，andwithouttheauthorityofthestate，he，likethereceiveroftheexile，shallundergothepenaltyofdeath。AndifanyfractionoftheCitydeclarewarorpeaceagainstany，thegeneralsshallindicttheauthorsofthisproceeding，andiftheyareconvicteddeathshallbethepenalty。Thosewhoservetheircountryoughttoservewithoutreceivinggifts，andthereoughttobenoexcusingorapprovingthesaying，“Menshouldreceivegiftsastherewardofgood，butnotofevildeeds“；fortoknowwhichwearedoing，andtostandfastbyourknowledge，isnoeasymatter。Thesafestcourseistoobeythelawwhichsays，“Donoserviceforabribe，“andlethimwhodisobeys，ifhebeconvicted，simplydie。Withaviewtotaxation，forvariousreasons，everymanoughttohavehadhispropertyvalued：
andthetribesmenshouldlikewisebringaregisteroftheyearlyproducetothewardensofthecountry，thatinthiswaytheremaybetwovaluations；andthepublicofficersmayuseannuarywhicheveronconsiderationtheydeemthebest，whethertheyprefertotakeacertainportionofthewholevalue，oroftheannualrevenue，aftersubtractingwhatispaidtothecommontables。
TouchingofferingstotheGods，amoderatemanshouldobservemoderationinwhatheoffers。NowthelandandthehearthofthehouseofallmenissacredtoallGods；whereforeletnomandedicatethemasecondtimetotheGods。Goldandsilver，whetherpossessedbyprivatepersonsorintemples，areinothercitiesprovocativeofenvy，andivory，theproductofadeadbody，isnotaproperoffering；brassandiron，again，areinstrumentsofwar；butofwoodletamanbringwhatofferingshelikes，provideditbeasingleblock，andinlikemannerofstone，tothepublictemples；ofwovenworklethimnotoffermorethanonewomancanexecuteinamonth。WhiteisacoloursuitabletotheGods，especiallyinwovenworks，butdyesshouldonlybeusedfortheadornmentsofwar。Themostdivineofgiftsarebirdsandimages，andtheyshouldbesuchasonepaintercanexecuteinasingleday。Andletallotherofferingsfollowasimilarrule。
Nowthatthewholecityhasbeendividedintopartsofwhichthenatureandnumberhavebeendescribed，andlawshavebeengivenaboutallthemostimportantcontractsasfarasthiswaspossible，thenextthingwillbetohavejusticedone。Thefirstofthecourtsshallconsistofelectedjudges，whoshallbechosenbytheplaintiffandthedefendantincommon：theseshallbecalledarbitersratherthanjudges。Andinthesecondcourtthereshallbejudgesofthevillagesandtribescorrespondingtothetwelvefolddivisionoftheland，andbeforethesethelitigantsshallgotocontendforgreaterdamages，ifthesuitbenotdecidedbeforethefirstjudges；thedefendant，ifhebedefeatedthesecondtime，shallpayafifthmorethanthedamagesmentionedintheindictment；
andifhefindfaultwithhisjudgesandwouldtryathirdtime，lethimcarrythesuitbeforetheselectjudges，andifhebeagaindefeated，lethimpaythewholeofthedamagesandhalfasmuchagain。
Andtheplaintiff，ifwhendefeatedbeforethefirstjudgeshepersistingoingontothesecond，shallifhewinsreceiveinadditiontothedamagesafifthpartmore，andifdefeatedheshallpayalikesum；
butifheisnotsatisfiedwiththepreviousdecision，andwillinsistonproceedingtoathirdcourt，thenifhewinheshallreceivefromthedefendanttheamountofthedamagesand，asIsaidbefore，halfasmuchagain，andtheplaintiff，ifhelose，shallpayhalfofthedamagesclaimed，Nowtheassignmentbylotofjudgestocourtsandthecompletionofthenumberofthem，andtheappointmentofservantstothedifferentmagistrates，andthetimesatwhichtheseveralcausesshouldbeheard，andthevotingsanddelays，andallthethingsthatnecessarilyconcernsuits，andtheorderofcauses，andthetimeinwhichanswershavetobeputinandpartiesaretoappear-oftheseandotherthingsakintothesewehaveindeedalreadyspoken，butthereisnoharminrepeatingwhatisrighttwiceorthrice：-Alllesserandeasiermatterswhichtheelderlegislatorhasomittedmaybesuppliedbytheyoungerone。Privatecourtswillbesufficientlyregulatedinthisway，andthepublicandstatecourts，andthosewhichthemagistratesmustuseintheadministrationoftheirseveraloffices，existinmanyotherstates。Manyveryrespectableinstitutionsofthissorthavebeenframedbygoodmen，andfromthemtheguardiansofthelawmaybyreflectionderivewhatisnecessary，fortheorderofournewstate，consideringandcorrectingthem，andbringingthemtothetestofexperience，untileverydetailappearstobesatisfactorilydetermined；andthenputtingthefinalsealuponthem，andmakingthemirreversible，theyshallusethemforeverafterwards。Astowhatrelatestothesilenceofjudgesandtheabstinencefromwordsofevilomenandthereverse，andthedifferentnotionsofthejustandgoodandhonourablewhichexistinour：ownascomparedwithotherstates，theyhavebeenpartlymentionedalready，andanotherpartofthemwillbementionedhereafteraswedrawneartheend。Toallthesemattershewhowouldbeanequaljudge，shalljustlylook，andheshallpossesswritingsaboutthemthathemaylearnthem。Forofallkindsofknowledgetheknowledgeofgoodlawshasthegreatestpowerofimprovingthelearner；otherwisetherewouldbenomeaningthedivineandadmirablelawpossessinganameakintomindnous，nomos。Andofallotherwords，suchasthepraisesandcensuresofindividualswhichoccurinpoetryandalsoinprose，whetherwrittendownorutteredindailyconversation，whethermendisputeabouttheminthespiritofcontentionorweaklyassenttothem，asisoftenthecase-ofallthesetheonesuretestisthewritingsofthelegislator，whichtherighteousjudgeoughttohaveinhismindastheantidoteofallotherwords，andthusmakehimselfandthecitystandupright，procuringforthegoodthecontinuanceandincreaseofjustice，andforthebad，ontheotherhand，aconversionfromignoranceandintemperance，andingeneralfromallunrighteousness，asfarastheirevilmindscanbehealed，buttothosewhoseweboflifeisinrealityfinished，givingdeath，whichistheonlyremedyforsoulsintheircondition，asImaysaytrulyagainandagain。Andsuchjudgesandchiefsofjudgeswillbeworthyofreceivingpraisefromthewholecity。
Whenthesuitsoftheyeararecompletedthefollowinglawsshallregulatetheirexecution：-Inthefirstplace，thejudgeshallassigntothepartywhowinsthesuitthewholepropertyofhimwholoses，withtheexceptionofmerenecessaries，andtheassignmentshallbemadethroughtheheraldimmediatelyaftereachdecisioninthehearingofthejudges；andwhenthemontharrivesfollowingthemonthinwhichthecourtsaresittingunlessthegainerofthesuithasbeenpreviouslysatisfied，thecourtshallfollowupthecase，andhandovertothewinnerthegoodsoftheloser；butiftheyfindthathehasnotthemeansofpaying，andthesumdeficientisnotlessthanadrachma，theinsolventpersonshallnothaveanyrightofgoingtolawwithanyothermanuntilhehavesatisfiedthedebtofthewinningparty；butotherpersonsshallstillhavetherightofbringingsuitsagainsthim。Andifanyoneafterheiscondemnedrefusestoacknowledgetheauthoritywhichcondemnedhim，letthemagistrateswhoarethusdeprivedoftheirauthoritybringhimbeforethecourtoftheguardiansofthelaw，andifhebecast，lethimbepunishedwithdeath，asasubverterofthewholestateandofthelaws。
Thusamanisbornandbroughtup，andafterthismannerhebegetsandbringsuphisownchildren，andhashisshareofdealingswithothermen，andsuffersifhehasdonewrongtoanyone，andreceivessatisfactionifhehasbeenwronged，andsoatlengthinduetimehegrowsoldundertheprotectionofthelaws，andhisendcomesintheorderofnature。Concerningthedeadofeithersex，thereligiousceremonieswhichmayfittinglybeperformed，whetherappertainingtotheGodsoftheunderworldorofthis，shallbedecidedbytheinterpreterswithabsoluteauthority。Theirsepulchresarenottobeinplaceswhicharefitforcultivation，andthereshallbenomonumentsinsuchspots，eitherlargeorsmall，buttheyshalloccupythatpartofthecountrywhichisnaturallyadaptedforreceivingandconcealingthebodiesofthedeadwithaslittlehurtaspossibletotheliving。Noman，livingordead，shalldeprivethelivingofthesustenancewhichtheearth，theirfoster-parent，isnaturallyinclinedtoprovideforthem。Andletnotthemoundbepiledhigherthanwouldbetheworkoffivemencompletedinfivedays；
norshallthestonewhichisplacedoverthespotbelargerthanwouldbesufficienttoreceivethepraisesofthedeadincludedinfourheroiclines。Norshallthelayingoutofthedeadinthehousecontinueforalongertimethanissufficienttodistinguishbetweenhimwhoisinatranceonlyandhimwhoisreallydead，andspeakinggenerally，thethirddayafterdeathwillbeafairtimeforcarryingoutthebodytothesepulchre。Nowwemustbelievethelegislatorwhenhetellsusthatthesoulisinallrespectssuperiortothebody，andthateveninlifewhatmakeseachoneustobewhatweareisonlythesoul；andthatthebodyfollowsusaboutinthelikenessofeachofus，andtherefore，whenwearedead，thebodiesofthedeadarequiterightlysaidtobeourshadesorimages；forthetrueandimmortalbeingofeachoneofuswhichiscalledthesoulgoesonherwaytootherGods，beforethemtogiveanaccount-whichisaninspiringhopetothegood，butveryterribletothebad，asthelawsofourfatherstellus；andtheyalsosaythatnotmuchcanbedoneinthewayofhelpingamanafterheisdead。Buttheliving-heshouldbehelpedbyallhiskindred，thatwhileinlifehemaybetheholiestandjustestofmen，andafterdeathmayhavenogreatsinstobepunishedintheworldbelow。Ifthisbetrue，amanoughtnottowastehissubstanceundertheideathatallthislifelessmassoffleshwhichisinprocessofburialisconnectedwithhim；heshouldconsiderthattheson，orbrother，orthebelovedone，whoeverhemaybe，whomhethinksheislayingintheearth，hasgoneawaytocompleteandfulfilhisowndestiny，andthathisdutyisrightlytoorderthepresent，andtospendmoderatelyonthelifelessaltaroftheGodsbelow。Butthelegislatordoesnotintendmoderationtobetake，inthesenseofmeanness。Letthelaw，then，beasfollows：-Theexpenditureontheentirefuneralofhimwhoisofthehighestclassshallnotexceedfiveminae；andforhimwhoisofthesecondclass，threeminae，andforhimwhoisofthethirdclass，twominae，andforhim，whoisofthefourthclass，onemina，willbeafairlimitofexpense。Theguardiansofthelawoughttotakeespecialcareofthedifferentagesoflife，whetherchildhood，ormanhood，oranyotherage。Andattheendofall，lettherebesomeoneguardianofthelawpresiding，whoshallbechosenbythefriendsofthedeceasedtosuperintend，andletitbeglorytohimtomanagewithfairnessandmoderationwhatrelatestothedead，andadiscredittohimiftheyarenotwellmanaged。Letthelayingoutandotherceremoniesbeinaccordancewithcustom，buttothestatesmanwhoadoptscustomashislawwemustgivewayincertainparticulars。Itwouldbemonstrousforexamplethatheshouldcommandanymantoweeporabstainfromweepingoverthedead；buthemayforbidcriesoflamentation，andnotallowthevoiceofthemournertobeheardoutsidethehouse；also，hemayforbidthebringingofthedeadbodyintotheopenstreets，ortheprocessionsofmournersinthestreets，andmayrequirethatbeforedaybreaktheyshouldbeoutsidethecity。Letthese，then，beourlawsrelatingtosuchmatters，andlethimwhoobeysbefreefrompenalty；buthewhodisobeysevenasingleguardianofthelawshallbepunishedbythemallwithafittingpenalty。Othermodesofburial，oragainthedenialofburial，whichistoberefusedinthecaseofrobbersoftemplesandparricidesandthelike，havebeendevisedandareembodiedintheprecedinglaws，sothatnowourworkoflegislationisprettynearlyatanend；butinallcasestheenddoesnotconsistindoingsomethingoracquiringsomethingorestablishingsomething-theendwillbeattainedandfinallyaccomplished，whenwehaveprovidedfortheperfectandlastingcontinuanceofourinstitutionsuntilthenourcreationisincomplete。
Cle。ThatisverygoodStranger；butIwishyouwouldtellmemoreclearlywhatyoumean。
Ath。OCleinias，manythingsofoldtimewerewellsaidandsung；
andthesayingabouttheFateswasoneofthem。
Cle。Whatisit？
Ath。ThesayingthatLachesisorthegiverofthelotsisthefirstofthem，andthatClothoorthespinsteristhesecondofthem，andthatAtroposortheunchangingoneisthethirdofthem；andthatsheisthepreserverofthethingswhichwehavespoken，andwhichhavebeencomparedinafiguretothingswovenbyfire，theybothi。e。，Atroposandthefireproducingthequalityofunchangeableness。Iamspeakingofthethingswhichinastateandgovernmentgivenotonlyhealthandsalvationtothebody，butlaw，orratherpreservationofthelaw，inthesoul；and，ifIamnotmistaken，thisseemstobestillwantinginourlaws：wehavestilltoseehowwecanimplantinthemthisirreversiblenature。
Cle。Itwillbenosmallmatterifwecanonlydiscoverhowsuchanaturecanbeimplantedinanything。
Ath。Butitcertainlycanbe；somuchIclearlysee。
Cle。Thenletusnotthinkofdesistinguntilwehaveimpartedthisqualitytoourlaws；foritisridiculous，afteragreatdealoflabourhasbeenspent，toplaceathingatlastonaninsecurefoundation。
Megillus。Iapproveofyoursuggestion，andamquiteofthesamemindwithyou。
Cle。Verygood：Andnowwhat，accordingtoyou，istobethesalvationofourgovernmentandofourlaws，andhowisittobeeffected？
Ath。Werewenotsayingthattheremustbeinourcityacouncilwhichwastobeofthissort：-Thetenoldestguardiansofthelaw，andallthosewhohaveobtainedprizesofvirtue，weretomeetinthesameassembly，andthecouncilwasalsotoincludethosewhohadvisitedforeigncountriesinthehopeofhearingsomethingthatmightbeofuseinthepreservationofthelaws，andwho，havingcomesafelyhome，andhavingbeentestedinthesesamematters，hadprovedthemselvestobeworthytotakepartintheassembly；-eachofthememberswastoselectsomeyoungmanofnotlessthanthirtyyearsofage，hehimselfjudginginthe，firstinstancewhethertheyoungmanwasworthybynatureandeducation，andthensuggestinghimtotheothers，andifheseemedtothemalsotobeworthytheyweretoadopthim；butifnot，thedecisionatwhichtheyarrivedwastobekeptasecretfromthecitizensatlarge；and，moreespecially，fromtherejectedcandidate。Themeetingofthecouncilwastobeheldearlyinthemorning，wheneverybodywasmostatleisurefromallotherbusiness，whetherpublicorprivate-wasnotsomethingofthissortsaidbyusbefore？