Ath。Thetemplesaretobeplacedallroundtheagora，andthewholecitybuiltontheheightsinacircle，forthesakeofdefenceandforthesakeofpurity。Nearthetemplesaretobeplacedbuildingsforthemagistratesandthecourtsoflaw；intheseplaintiffanddefendantwillreceivetheirdue，andtheplaceswillberegardedasmostholy，partlybecausetheyhavetodowiththeholythings：andpartlybecausetheyarethedwelling-placesofholyGods：andinthemwillbeheldthecourtsinwhichcasesofhomicideandothertrialsofcapitaloffensesmayfitlytakeplace。Astothewalls，Megillus，IagreewithSpartainthinkingthattheyshouldbeallowedtosleepintheearth，andthatweshouldnotattempttodisinterthem；thereisapoeticalsaying，whichisfinelyexpressed，that“wallsoughttobeofsteelandiron，andnotofearth；besides，howridiculousofustobesendingoutouryoungmenannuallyintothecountrytodigandtotrench，andtokeepofftheenemybyfortifications，undertheideathattheyarenottobeallowedtosetfootinourterritory，andthen，thatweshouldsurroundourselveswithawall，which，inthefirstplace，isbynomeansconducivetothehealthofcities，andisalsoapttoproduceacertaineffeminacyinthemindsoftheinhabitants，invitingmentorunthitherinsteadofrepellingtheirenemies，andleadingthemtoimaginethattheirsafetyisduenottotheirkeepingguarddayandnight，butthatwhentheyareprotectedbywallsandgates，thentheymaysleepinsafety；asiftheywerenotmeanttolabour，anddidnotknowthattruereposecomesfromlabour，andthatdisgracefulindolenceandacarelesstemperofmindisonlytherenewaloftrouble。Butifmenmusthavewalls，theprivatehousesoughttobesoarrangedfromthefirstthatthewholecitymaybeonewall，havingallthehousescapableofdefencebyreasonoftheiruniformityandequalitytowardsthestreets。Theformofthecitybeingthatofasingledwellingwillhaveanagreeableaspect，andbeingeasilyguardedwillbeinfinitelybetterforsecurity。Untiltheoriginalbuildingiscompleted，theseshouldbetheprincipalobjectsoftheinhabitants；andthewardensofthecityshouldsuperintendthework，andshouldimposeafineonhimwhoisnegligent；andinallthatrelatestothecitytheyshouldhaveacareofcleanliness，andnotallowaprivatepersontoencroachuponanypublicpropertyeitherbybuildingsorexcavations。Further，theyoughttotakecarethattherainsfromheavenflowoffeasily，andofanyothermatterswhichmayhavetobeadministeredeitherwithinorwithoutthecity。Theguardiansofthelawshallpassanyfurtherenactmentswhichtheirexperiencemayshowtobenecessary，andsupplyanyotherpointsinwhichthelawmaybedeficient。Andnowthatthesematters，andthebuildingsabouttheagora，andthegymnasia，andplacesofinstruction，andtheatres，areallreadyandwaitingforscholarsandspectators，letusproceedtothesubjectswhichfollowmarriageintheorderoflegislation。
Cle。Byallmeans。
Ath。Assumingthatmarriagesexistalready，Cleinias，themodeoflifeduringtheyearaftermarriage，beforechildrenareborn，willfollownextinorder。Inwhatwaybrideandbridegroomoughttoliveinacitywhichistobesuperiortoothercities，isamatternotatalleasyforustodetermine。Therehavebeenmanydifficultiesalready，butthiswillbethegreatestofthem，andthemostdisagreeabletothemany。StillIcannotbutsaywhatappearstometoberightandtrue，Cleinias。
Cle。Certainly。
Ath。Hewhoimaginesthathecangivelawsforthepublicconductofstates，whileheleavestheprivatelifeofcitizenswhollytotakecareofitself；whothinksthatindividualsmaypassthedayastheyplease，andthatthereisnonecessityoforderinallthings；he，I