Ath。Thebrideandbridegroomshouldconsiderthattheyaretoproduceforthestatethebestandfairestspecimensofchildrenwhichtheycan。Nowallmenwhoareassociatedanyactionalwayssucceedwhentheyattendandgivetheirmindtowhattheyaredoing，butwhentheydonotgivetheirmindorhavenomind，theyfail；whereforeletthebridegroomgivehismindtothebrideandtothebegettingofchildren，andthebrideinlikemannergivehermindtothebridegroom，andparticularlyatthetimewhentheirchildrenarenotyetborn。Andletthewomenwhomwehavechosenbetheoverseersofsuchmatters，andlettheminwhatevernumber，largeorsmall，andatwhatevertimethemagistratesmaycommand，assembleeverydayinthetempleofEileithyiaduringathirdpartoftheday，andbeingthereassembled，lettheminformoneanotherofanyonewhomtheysee，whethermanorwoman，ofthosewhoarebegettingchildren，disregardingtheordinancesgivenatthetimewhenthenuptialsacrificesandceremonieswereperformed。Letthebegettingofchildrenandthesupervisionofthosewhoarebegettingthemcontinuetenyearsandnolonger，duringthetimewhenmarriageisfruitful。Butifanycontinuewithoutchildrenuptothistime，letthemtakecounselwiththeirkindredandwiththewomenholdingtheofficeofoverseerandbedivorcedfortheirmutualbenefit。If，however，anydisputearisesaboutwhatisproperandfortheinterestofeitherparty，theyshallchoosetenoftheguardiansofthelawandabidebytheirpermissionandappointment。Thewomenwhopresideoverthesemattersshallenterintothehousesoftheyoung，andpartlybyadmonitionsandpartlybythreatsmakethemgiveovertheirfollyanderror：iftheypersist，letthewomengoandtelltheguardiansofthelaw，andtheguardiansshallpreventthem。Butiftheytoocannotpreventthem，theyshallbringthematterbeforethepeople；andletthemwriteuptheirnamesandmakeoaththattheycannotreformsuchandsuchanone；andlethimwhoisthuswrittenup，ifhecannotinacourtoflawconvictthosewhohaveinscribedhisname，bedeprivedoftheprivilegesofacitizeninthefollowingrespects：-lethimnotgotoweddingsnortothethanksgivingsafterthebirthofchildren；andifhego，letanyonewhopleasesstrikehimwithimpunity；andletthesameregulationsholdaboutwomen：letnotawomanbeallowedtoappearabroad，orreceivehonour，orgotonuptialandbirthdayfestivals，ifsheinlikemannerbewrittenupasactingdisorderlyandcannotobtainaverdict。Andif，whentheythemselveshavedonebegettingchildrenaccordingtothelaw，amanorwomanhaveconnectionwithanothermanorwomanwhoarestillbegettingchildren，letthesamepenaltiesbeinflicteduponthemasuponthosewhoarestillhavingafamily；andwhenthetimeforprocreationhaspassedletthemanorwomanwhorefrainsinsuchmattersbeheldinesteem，andletthosewhodonotrefrainbeheldinthecontraryofesteem-thatistosay，disesteem。Now，ifthegreaterpartofmankindbehavemodestly，theenactmentsoflawmaybelefttoslumber；but，iftheyaredisorderly，theenactmentshavingbeenpassed，letthembecarriedintoexecution。
Toeverymanthefirstyearisthebeginningoflife，andthetimeofbirthoughttobewrittendowninthetemplesoftheirfathersasthebeginningofexistencetoeverychild，whetherboyorgirl。Leteveryphratriahaveinscribedonawhitedwallthenamesofthesuccessivearchonsbywhomtheyearsarereckoned。Andneartothemletthelivingmembersofthephratriabeinscribed，andwhentheydepartlifeletthembeerased。Thelimitofmarriageableagesforawomanshallbefromsixteentotwentyyearsatthelongest-foraman，fromthirtytothirty-fiveyears；andletawomanholdofficeatforty，andamanatthirtyyears。Letamangoouttowarfromtwentytosixtyyears，andforawoman，ifthereappearanyneedtomakeuseofherinmilitaryservice，letthetimeofservicebeaftersheshallhavebroughtforthchildrenuptofiftyyearsofage；andletregardbehadtowhatispossibleandsuitabletoeach。
BOOKVII
Andnow，assumingchildrenofbothsexestohavebeenborn，itwillbeproperforustoconsider，inthenextplace，theirnurtureandeducation；thiscannotbeleftaltogetherunnoticed，andyetmaybethoughtasubjectfittedratherforpreceptandadmonitionthanforlaw。Inprivatelifetherearemanylittlethings，notalwaysapparent，arisingoutofthepleasuresandpainsanddesiresofindividuals，whichruncountertotheintentionofthelegislator，andmakethecharactersofthecitizensvariousanddissimilar：-thisisanevilinstates；forbyreasonoftheirsmallnessandfrequentoccurrence，therewouldbeanunseemlinessandwantofproprietyinmakingthempenalbylaw；andifmadepenal，theyarethedestructionofthewrittenlawbecausemankindgetthehabitoffrequentlytransgressingthelawinsmallmatters。Theresultisthatyoucannotlegislateaboutthem，andstilllesscanyoubesilent。Ispeaksomewhatdarkly，butIshallendeavouralsotobringmywaresintothelightofday，forIacknowledgethatatpresentthereisawantofclearnessinwhatIamsaying。
Cleinias。Verytrue。