Cle。Thatisverytrue。
Ath。Thenletusrecognizethedifficulty，andmakecleartoourownmindshowthebeginningistobeaccomplished。ThereisonlyoneproposalwhichIhavetooffer，andthatisonewhich，underourcircumstances，isbothnecessaryandexpedient。
Cle。Whatisit？
Ath。Imaintainthatthiscolonyofourshasafatherandmother，whoarenootherthanthecolonizingstate。WellIknowthatmanycolonieshavebeen，andwillbe，atenmitywiththeirparents。Butinearlydaysthechild，asinafamily，lovesandisbeloved；eveniftherecomeatimelaterwhenthetieisbroken，still，whileheisinwantofeducation，henaturallyloveshisparentsandisbelovedbythem，andfliestohisrelativesforprotection，andfindsinthemhisonlynaturalalliesintimeofneed；andthisparentalfeelingalreadyexistsintheCnosians，asisshownbytheircareofthenewcity；andthereisasimilarfeelingonthepartoftheyoungcitytowardsCnosus。AndIrepeatwhatIwassaying-forthereisnoharminrepeatingagoodthing-thattheCnosiansshouldtakeacommoninterestinallthesematters，andchoose，asfarastheycan，theeldestandbestofthecolonists，tothenumberofnotlessthanahundred；andlettherebeanotherhundredoftheCnosiansthemselves。These，Isay，ontheirarrival，shouldhaveajointcarethatthemagistratesshouldbeappointedaccordingtolaw，andthatwhentheyareappointedtheyshouldundergoascrutiny。Whenthishasbeeneffected，theCnosiansshallreturnhome，andthenewcitydothebestshecanforherownpreservationandhappiness。Iwouldhavetheseven-and-thirtynow，andinallfuturetime，chosentofulfilthefollowingduties：-Letthem，inthefirstplace，betheguardiansofthelaw；and，secondly，oftheregistersinwhicheachoneregistersbeforethemagistratetheamountofhisproperty，exceptingfourminaewhichareallowedtocitizensofthefirstclass，threeallowedtothesecond，twotothethird，andasingleminatothefourth。Andifanyone，despisingthelawsforthesakeofgain，befoundtopossessanythingmorewhichhasnotbeenregistered，letallthathehasinexcessbeconfiscated，andlethimbeliabletoasuitwhichshallbethereverseofhonourableorfortunate。Andletanyonewhowill，indicthimonthechargeoflovingbasegains，andproceedagainsthimbeforetheguardiansofthelaw。Andifhebecast，lethimlosehisshareofthepublicpossessions，andwhenthereisanypublicdistribution，lethimhavenothingbuthisoriginallot；andlethimbewrittendownacondemnedmanaslongashelives，insomeplaceinwhichanyonewhopleasescanreadabouthisonces。Theguardianofthelawshallnotholdofficelongerthantwentyyears，andshallnotbelessthanfiftyyearsofagewhenheiselected；orifheiselectedwhenheissixtyyearsofage，heshallholdofficefortenyearsonly；anduponthesameprinciple，hemustnotimaginethathewillbepermittedtoholdsuchanimportantofficeasthatofguardianofthelawsafterheisseventyyearsofage，ifhelivesolong。
Thesearethethreefirstordinancesabouttheguardiansofthelaw；