butifastrangerispassingalongtheroad,anddesirestoeat,lethimtakeofthe“choice“grapesforhimselfandasinglefollowerwithoutpayment,asatributeofhospitality。Thelawhoweverforbidsstrangersfromsharinginthesortwhichisnotusedforeating;andifanyone,whetherhebemasterorslave,takesoftheminignorance,lettheslavebebeaten,andthefreemandismissedwithadmonitions,andinstructedtotakeoftheotherautumnalfruitswhichareunfitformakingraisinsandwine,orforlayingbyasdriedfigs。Astopears,andapples,andpomegranates,andsimilarfruits,thereshallbenodisgraceintakingthemsecretly;
  buthewhoiscaught,ifhebeoflessthanthirtyyearsofage,shallbestruckandbeatenoff,butnotwounded;andnofreemanshallhaveanyrightofsatisfactionforsuchblows。Ofthesefruitsthestrangermaypartake,justashemayofthefruitsofautumn。Andifanelder,whoismorethanthirtyyearsofage,eatofthemonthespot,lethim,likethestranger,beallowedtopartakeofallsuchfruits,buthemustcarryawaynothing。If,however,hewillnotobeythelaw,lethimrunriskoffailinginthecompetitionofvirtue,incaseanyonetakesnoticeofhisactionsbeforethejudgesatthetime。
  Wateristhegreatestelementofnutritioningardens,butiseasilypolluted。Youcannotpoisonthesoil,orthesoil,orthesun,ortheair,whichareotherelementsofnutritioninplants,ordivertthem,orstealthem;butallthesethingsmayverylikelyhappeninregardtowater,whichmustthereforebeprotectedbylaw。Andletthisbethelaw:-Ifanyoneintentionallypollutesthewaterofanother,whetherthewaterofaspring,orcollectedinreservoirs,eitherbypoisonoussubstances,orbydiggingorbytheft,lettheinjuredpartybringthecausebeforethewardensofthecity,andclaiminwritingthevalueoftheloss;iftheaccusedbefoundguiltyofinjuringthewaterbydeleterioussubstances,lethimnotonlypaydamages,butpurifythestreamorthecisternwhichcontainsthewater,insuchmannerasthelawsoftheinterpretersorderthepurificationtobemadebytheoffenderineachcase。
  Withrespecttothegatheringinofthefruitsofthesoil,letaman,ifhepleases,carryhisownfruitsthroughanyplaceinwhichheeitherdoesnoharmtoanyone,orhimselfgainsthreetimesasmuchashisneighbourloses。Nowofthesethingsthemagistratesshouldbecognisant,asofallotherthingsinwhichamanintentionallydoesinjurytoanotherortothepropertyofanother,byfraudorforce,intheusewhichhemakesofhisownproperty。Allthesemattersamanshouldlaybeforethemagistrates,andreceivedamages,supposingtheinjurytobenotmorethanthreeminae;orifhehaveachargeagainstanotherwhichinvolvesalargeramount,lethimbringhissuitintothepubliccourtsandhavetheevil-doerpunished。Butifanyofthemagistratesappeartoadjudgethepenaltieswhichheimposesinanunjustspirit,lethimbeliabletopaydoubletotheinjuredparty。Anyonemaybringtheoffencesofmagistrates,inanyparticularcase,beforethepubliccourts。Thereareinnumerablelittlemattersrelatingtothemodesofpunishment,andapplicationsforsuits,andsummonsesandthewitnessestosummonses-forexample,whethertwowitnessesshouldberequiredforasummons,orhowmany-andallsuchdetails,whichcannotbeomittedinlegislation,butarebeneaththewisdomofanagedlegislator。Theselessermatters,astheyindeedareincomparisonwiththegreaterones,letayoungergenerationregulatebylaw,afterthepatternswhichhavepreceded,andaccordingtotheirownexperienceoftheusefulnessandnecessityofsuchlaws;andwhentheyaredulyregulatedlettherebenoalteration,butletthecitizensliveintheobservanceofthem。
  Nowofartisans,lettheregulationsbeasfollows:-Inthefirstplace,letnocitizenorservantofacitizenbeoccupiedinhandicraftarts;forhewhoistosecureandpreservethepublicorderofthestate,hasanartwhichrequiresmuchstudyandmanykindsofknowledge,anddoesnotadmitofbeingmadeasecondaryoccupation;
  andhardlyanyhumanbeingiscapableofpursuingtwoprofessionsortwoartsrightly,orofpractisingonearthimself,andsuperintendingsomeoneelsewhoispractisinganother。Letthis,then,beourfirstprincipleinthestate:-Noonewhoisasmithshallalsobeacarpenter,andifhebeacarpenter,heshallnotsuperintendthesmith’sartratherthanhisown,underthepretextthatinsuperintendingmanyservantswhoareworkingforhim,heislikelytosuperintendthembetter,becausemorerevenuewillaccruetohimfromthemthanfromhisownart;butleteverymaninthestatehaveoneart,andgethislivingbythat。Letthewardensofthecitylabourtomaintainthislaw,andifanycitizeninclinetoanyotherartthanthestudyofvirtue,letthempunishhimwithdisgraceandinfamy,untiltheybringhimbackintohisownrightcourse;andifanystrangerprofesstwoarts,letthemchastisehimwithbondsandmoneypenalties,andexpulsionfromthestate,untiltheycompelhimtobeoneonlyandnotmany。
  Butastouchingpaymentsforhire,andcontractsofwork,orincaseanyonedoeswrongtoanyofthecitizensortheydowrongtoanyother,uptofiftydrachmae,letthewardensofthecitydecidethecase;butifgreateramountbeinvolved,thenletthepubliccourtsdecideaccordingtolaw。Letnoonepayanydutyeitherontheimportationorexportationofgoods;andastofrankincenseandsimilarperfumes,usedintheserviceoftheGods,whichcomefromabroad,andpurpleandotherdyeswhicharenotproducedinthecountry,orthematerialsofanyartwhichhavetobeimported,andwhicharenotnecessary-nooneshouldimportthem;noragain,shouldanyoneexportanythingwhichiswantedinthecountry。Ofallthesethingslettherebeinspectorsandsuperintendents,takenfromtheguardiansofthelaw;andtheyshallbethetwelvenextinordertothefiveseniors。Concerningarms,andallimplementswhichareformilitarypurposes,iftherebeneedofintroducinganyart,orplant,ormetal,orchainsofanykind,oranimalsforuseinwar,letthecommandersofthehorseandthegeneralshaveauthorityovertheirimportationandexportation;thecityshallsendthemoutandalsoreceivethem,andtheguardiansofthelawshallmakefitandproperlawsaboutthem。Butlettherebenoretailtradeforthesakeofmoney-making,eitherintheseoranyotherarticles,inthecityorcountryatall。
  Withrespecttofoodandthedistributionoftheproduceofthecountry,therightandproperwayseemstobenearlythatwhichisthecustomofCrete;forallshouldberequiredtodistributethefruitsofthesoilintotwelveparts,andinthiswayconsumethem。Letthetwelfthportionofeachasforinstanceofwheatandbarley,towhichtherestofthefruitsoftheearthshallbeadded,aswellastheanimalswhichareforsaleineachofthetwelvedivisionsbedividedindueproportionintothreeparts;onepartforfreemen,anotherfortheirservants,andathirdforcraftsmenandingeneralforstrangers,whethersojournerswhomaybedwellinginthecity,andlikeothermenmustlive,orthosewhocomeonsomebusinesswhichtheyhavewiththestate,orwithsomeindividual。Letonlythisthirdpartofallnecessariesberequiredtobesold;outoftheothertwo-thirdsnooneshallbecompelledtosell。Andhowwilltheybebestdistributed?Inthefirstplace,weseeclearlythatthedistributionwillbeofequalsinonepointofview,andinanotherpointofviewofunequals。
  Cle。Whatdoyoumean?
  Ath。Imeanthattheearthofnecessityproducesandnourishesthevariousarticlesoffood,sometimesbetterandsometimesworse。
  Cle。Ofcourse。
  Ath。Suchbeingthecase,letnooneofthethreeportionsbegreaterthaneitheroftheothertwo-neitherthatwhichisassignedtomastersortoslaves,noragainthatofthestranger;butletthedistributiontoallbeequalandalike,andleteverycitizentakehistwoportionsanddistributethemamongslavesandfreemen,hehavingpowertodeterminethequantityandquality。Andwhatremainsheshalldistributebymeasureandnumbamongtheanimalswhohavetobesustainedfromtheearth,takingthewholenumberofthem。
  Inthesecondplace,ourcitizensshouldhaveseparatehousesdulyordered,andthiswillbetheorderproperformenlikethem。Thereshallbetwelvehamlets,oneinthemiddleofeachtwelfthportion,andineachhamlettheyshallfirstsetapartamarket-place,andthetemplesoftheGods,andoftheirattendantdemigods;andiftherebeanylocaldeitiesoftheMagnetes,orholyseatsofotherancientdeities,whosememoryhasbeenpreserved,totheseletthempaytheirancienthonours。ButHestia,andZeus,andAthenewillhavetempleseverywheretogetherwiththeGodwhopresidesineachofthetwelvedistricts。Andthefirsterectionofhousesshallbearoundthesetemples,wherethegroundishighest,inordertoprovidethesafestandmostdefensibleplaceofretreatfortheguards。Alltherestofthecountrytheyshallsettleinthefollowingmanner:-Theyshallmakethirteendivisionsofthecraftsmen;oneofthemtheyshallestablishinthecity,andthis,again,theyshallsubdivideintotwelvelesserdivisions,amongthetwelvedistrictsofthecity,andtheremaindershallbedistributedinthecountryroundabout;andineachvillagetheyshallsettlevariousclassesofcraftsmen,withaviewtotheconvenienceofthehusbandmen。Andthechiefofficersofthewardensofthecountryshallsuperintendallthesematters,andseehowmanyofthem,andwhichclassofthem,eachplacerequires;
  andfixthemwheretheyarelikelytobeleasttroublesome,andmostusefultothehusbandman。Andthewardensofthecityshallseetosimilarmattersinthecity。
  Nowthewardensoftheagoraoughttoseetothedetailsoftheagora。Theirfirstcare,afterthetempleswhichareintheagorahavebeenseento,shouldbetopreventanyonefromdoinganyindealingsbetweenmanandman;inthesecond;place,asbeinginspectorsoftemperanceandviolence,theyshouldchastisehimwhorequireschastisement。Touchingarticlesofgale,theyshouldfirstseewhetherthearticleswhichthecitizensareunderregulationstoselltostrangersaresoldtothem,asthelawordains。Andletthelawbeasfollows:-onthefirstdayofthemonth,thepersonsincharge,whoevertheyare,whetherstrangersorslaves,whohavethechargeonbehalfofthecitizens,shallproducetothestrangerstheportionwhichfallstothem,inthefirstplace,atwelfthportionofthecorn;-thestrangershallpurchasecornforthewholemonth,andothercereals,onthefirstmarketday;andonthetenthdayofthemonththeonepartyshallsell,andtheotherbuy,liquidssufficienttolastduringthewholemonth;andonthetwenty-thirddaythereshallbeasaleofanimalsbythosewhoarewillingtoselltothepeoplewhowanttobuy,andofimplementsandotherthingswhichhusbandmensellsuchasskinsandallkindsofclothing,eitherwovenormadeoffeltandothergoodsofthesamesort,andwhichstrangersarecompelledtobuyandpurchaseofothers。Astotheretailtradeinthesethings,whetherofbarleyorwheatsetapartformealandflour,oranyotherkindoffood,nooneshallsellthemtocitizensortheirslaves,norshallanyonebuyofacitizen;butletthestrangerselltheminthemarketofstrangers,toartisansandtheirslaves,makinganexchangeofwineandfood,whichiscommonlycalledretailtrade。Andbutchersshallofferforsalepartsofdismemberedanimalstothestrangers,andartisans,andtheirservants。Letanystrangerwholikesbuyfuelfromdaytodaywholesale,fromthosewhohavethecareofitinthecountry,andlethimselltothestrangersasmuchhepleasesandwhenhepleases。Astoothergoodsandimplementswhicharelikelytobewanted,theyshallsellthemincommonmarket,atanyplacewhichtheguardiansofthelawandthewardensofthemarketandcity,choosingaccordingtotheirjudgment,shalldetermine;atsuchplacestheyshallexchangemoneyforgoods,andgoodsformoney,neitherpartygivingcredittotheother;andhewhogivescreditmustbesatisfied,whetherheobtainhismoneynot,forinsuchexchangeshewillnotbeprotectedbylaw。Butwheneverpropertyhasbeenboughtorsold,greaterinquantityorvaluethanisallowedbythelaw,whichhasdeterminedwithinwhatlimitedamanmayincreaseanddiminishhispossessions,lettheexcessberegisteredinthebooksoftheguardiansofthelaw;
  incaseofdiminution,lettherebeanerasuremade。Andletthesamerulebeobservedabouttheregistrationofthepropertyofthemetics。Anyonewholikesmaycomeandbeameticoncertainconditions;aforeigner,ifhelikes,andisabletosettle,maydwellintheland,buthemustpractiseanart,andnotabidemorethantwentyyearsfromthetimeatwhichhehasregisteredhimself;andheshallpaynosojourner’stax,howeversmall,exceptgoodconduct,noranyothertaxforbuyingandselling。Butwhenthetwentyyearshaveexpired,heshalltakehispropertywithhimanddepart。Andifinthecourseoftheseyearsheshouldchancetodistinguishhimselfbyanyconsiderablebenefitwhichheconfersonthestate,andhethinksthathecanpersuadethecouncilandassembly,eithertogranthimdelayinleavingthecountry,ortoallowhimtoremainforthewholeofhislife,lethimgoandpersuadethecity,andwhatevertheyassenttoathisinstanceshalltakeeffect。Forthechildrenofthemetics,beingartisans,andoffifteenyearsofage,letthetimeoftheirsojourncommenceaftertheirfifteenthyear;andletthemremainfortwentyyears,andthengowheretheylike;butanyofthemwhowishestoremain,maydoso,ifhecanpersuadethecouncilandassembly。Andifhedepart,lethimerasealltheentrieswhichhavebeenmadebyhimintheregisterkeptbythemagistrates。