andcitiesarelikeindividualsinthis，foracityifgoodhasalifeofpeace，butifevil，alifeofwarwithinandwithout。Whereforethecitizensoughttopractisewar-notintimeofwar，butratherwhiletheyareatpeace。Andeverycitywhichhasanysense，shouldtakethefieldatleastforonedayineverymonth；andformoreifthemagistratesthinkfit，havingnoregardtowintercoldorsummerheat；
andtheyshouldgooutenmasse，includingtheirwivesandtheirchildren，whenthemagistratesdeterminetoleadforththewholepeople，orinseparateportionswhensummonedbythem；andtheyshouldalwaysprovidethatthereshouldbegamesandsacrificialfeasts，andtheyshouldhavetournaments，imitatinginaslivelyamannerastheycanrealbattles。Andtheyshoulddistributeprizesofvictoryandvalourtothecompetitors，passingcensuresandencomiumsononeanotheraccordingtothecharacterswhichtheybearinthecontestsandtheirwholelife，honouringhimwhoseemstobethebest，andblaminghimwhoistheopposite。Andletpoetscelebratethevictors-nothowevereverypoet，butonlyonewhointhefirstplaceisnotlessthanfiftyyearsofage；norshouldhebeonewho，althoughhemayhavemusicalandpoeticalgifts，hasneverinhislifedoneanynobleorillustriousaction；butthosewhoarethemselvesgoodandalsohonourableinthestate，creatorsofnobleactions-lettheirpoemsbesung，eventhoughtheybenotverymusical。Andletthejudgmentofthemrestwiththeinstructorofyouthandtheotherguardiansofthelaws，whoshallgivethemthisprivilege，andtheyaloneshallbefreetosing；buttherestoftheworldshallnothavethisliberty。Norshallanyonedaretosingasongwhichhasnotbeenapprovedbythejudgmentoftheguardiansofthelaws，notevenifhisstrainbesweeterthanthesongsofThamyrasandOrpheus；butonlyandOrpheus；butonlysuchpoemsashavebeenjudgedsacredanddedicatedtotheGods，andsuchasaretheworksofgoodmen，whichpraiseofblamehasbeenawardedandwhichhavebeendeemedtofulfiltheirdesignfairly。
Theregulationsaboutandaboutlibertyofspeechinpoitry，oughttoapplyequallytomenandwomen。Thelegislatormaybesupposedtoarguethequestioninhisownmind：-WhoaremycitizensforwhomI
havesetinorderthecity？Aretheynotcompetitorsinthegreatestofallcontests，andhavetheynotinnumerablerivals？Tobesure，willbethenatural，reply。Well，butifweweretrainingboxers，orpancratiasts，oranyothersortofathletes，wouldtheynevermeetuntilthehourofcontestarrived；andshouldwedonothingtoprepareourselvespreviouslybydailypractice？Surely，ifwewereboxersweshouldhavebeenlearningtofightformanydaysbefore，andexercisingourselvesinimitatingallthoseblowsandwardswhichwewereintendingtouseinthehourofconflict；andinorderthatwemightcomeasneartorealityaspossible，insteadofcestusesweshouldputonboxinggloves，thattheblowsandthewardsmightbepractisedbyustotheutmostofourpower。Andiftherewerealackofcompetitors，theridiculeoffoolswouldryotdeterusfromhangingupalifelessimageandpractisingatthat。Orifwehadnoadversaryatall，animateorinanimate，shouldwenotventureinthedearthofantagoniststosparbyourselves？Inwhatothermannercouldweeverstudytheartofself-defence？
Cle。ThewaywhichyoumentionStranger，wouldbetheonlyway。