Cle。Certainlynot：norissuchanotiontobeendured，andhewhoholdsthisopinionmaybefairlysingledoutandcharacterizedasofallimpiousmenthewickedestandmostimpious。
　　Ath。Thenarethethreeassertions-thattheGodsexist，andthattheytakecareofmen，andthattheycanneverbepersuadedtodoinjustice，nowsufficientlydemonstrated？Maywesaythattheyare？
　　Cle。Youhaveourentireassenttoyourwords。
　　Ath。IhavespokenwithvehemencebecauseIamzealousagainstevilmen；andIwilltelldearCleinias，whyIamso。Iwouldnothavethewickedthinkthat，havingthesuperiorityinargument，theymaydoastheypleaseandactaccordingtotheirvariousimaginationsabouttheGods；andthiszealhasledmetospeaktoovehemently；butifwehaveatallsucceededinpersuadingthementohatethemselvesandlovetheiropposites，thepreludeofourlawsaboutimpietywillnothavebeenspokeninvain。
　　Cle。Soletushope；andevenifwehavefailed，thestyleofourargumentwillnotdiscreditthelawgiver。
　　Ath。Afterthepreludeshallfollowadiscourse，whichwillbetheinterpreterofthelaw；thisshallproclaimtoallimpiouspersons：-thattheymustdepartfromtheirwaysandgoovertothepious。Andtothosewhodisobey，letthelawaboutimpietybeasfollows：-Ifamanisguiltyofanyimpietyinwordordeed，anyonewhohappenstopresentshallgiveinformationtothemagistrates，inaidofthelaw；andletthemagistrateswho。firstreceivetheinformationbringhimbeforetheappointedcourtaccordingtothelaw；
　　andifamagistrate，afterreceivinginformation，refusestoact，heshallbetriedforimpietyattheinstanceofanyonewhoiswillingtovindicatethelaws；andifanyonebecast，thecourtshallestimatethepunishmentofeachactofimpiety；andletallsuchcriminalsbeimprisoned。Thereshallbethreeprisonsinthestate：
　　thefirstofthemistobethecommonprisonintheneighbourhoodoftheagoraforthesafe-keepingofthegeneralityofoffenders；anotheristobeintheneighbourhoodofthenocturnalcouncil，andistobecalledthe“HouseofReformation“；another，tobesituatedinsomewildanddesolateregioninthecentreofthecountry，shallbecalledbysomenameexpressiveofretribution。Now，menfallintoimpietyfromthreecauses，whichhavebeenalreadymentioned，andfromeachofthesecausesarisetwosortsofimpiety，inallsix，whichareworthdistinguishing，andshouldnotallhavethesamepunishment。ForhewhodoesnotbelieveinGods，andyethasarighteousnature，hatesthewickedanddislikesandrefusestodoinjustice，andavoidsunrighteousmen，andlovestherighteous。ButtheywhobesidesbelievingthattheworldisdevoidofGodsareintemperate，andhaveatthesametimegoodmemoriesandquickwits，areworse；althoughbothofthemareunbelievers，muchlessinjuryisdonebytheonethanbytheother。TheonemaytalklooselyabouttheGodsandaboutsacrificesandoaths，andperhapsbylaughingatothermenhemaymakethemlikehimself，ifhebenotpunished。Buttheotherwhoholdsthesameopinionsandiscalledacleverman，isfullofstratagemanddeceit-menofthisclassdealinprophecyandjuggleryofallkinds，andoutoftheirrankssometimescometyrantsanddemagoguesandgeneralsandhierophantsofprivatemysteriesandtheSophists，astheyaretermed，withtheiringeniousdevices。Therearemanykindsofunbelievers，buttwoonlyforwhomlegislationisrequired；onethehypocriticalsort，whosecrimeisdeservingofdeathmanytimesover，whiletheotherneedsonlybondsandadmonition。InlikemanneralsothenotionthattheGodstakenothoughtofmenproducestwoothersortsofcrimes，andthenotionthattheymaybepropitiatedproducestwomore。Assumingthesedivisions，letthosewhohavebeenmadewhattheyareonlyfromwantofunderstanding，andnotfrommaliceoranevilnature，beplacedbythejudgeintheHouseofReformation，andorderedtosufferimprisonmentduringaperiodofnotlessthanfiveyears。Andinthemeantimeletthemhavenointercoursewiththeothercitizens，exceptwithmembersofthenocturnalcouncil，andwiththemletthemconversewithaviewtotheimprovementoftheirsoul’shealth。Andwhenthetimeoftheirimprisonmenthasexpired，ifanyofthembeofsoundmindlethimberestoredtosanecompany，butifnot，andifhebecondemnedasecondtime，lethimbepunishedwithdeath。AstothatclassofmonstrousnatureswhonotonlybelievethattherearenoGods，orthattheyarenegligent，ortobepropitiated，butincontemptofmankindconjurethesoulsofthelivingandsaythattheycanconjurethedeadandpromisetocharmtheGodswithsacrificesandprayers，andwillutterlyoverthrowindividualsandwholehousesandstatesforthesakeofmoney-lethimwhoisguiltyofanyofthesethingsbecondemnedbythecourttobeboundaccordingtolawintheprisonwhichisinthecentreoftheland，andletnofreemaneverapproachhim，butlethimreceivetherationsoffoodappointedbytheguardiansofthelawfromthehandsofthepublicslaves；andwhenheisdeadlethimbecastbeyondthebordersunburied，andifanyfreemanassistinburyinghim，lethimpaythepenaltyofimpietytoanyonewhoiswillingtobringasuitagainsthim。Butifheleavesbehindhimchildrenwhoarefittobecitizens，lettheguardiansoforphanstakecareofthem，justastheywouldofanyotherorphans，fromthedayonwhichtheirfatherisconvicted。
　　Inallthesecasesthereshouldbeonelaw，whichwillmakemeningenerallessliabletotransgressinwordordeed，andlessfoolish，becausetheywillnotbeallowedtopractisereligiousritescontrarytolaw。Andletthisbethesimpleformofthelaw：-Nomanshallhavesacredritesinaprivatehouse。Whenhewouldsacrifice，lethimgotothetemplesandhandoverhisofferingstothepriestsandpriestesses，whoseetothesanctityofsuchthings，andlethimprayhimself，andletanyonewhopleasesjoinwithhiminprayer。Thereasonofthisisasfollows：-Godsandtemplesarenoteasilyinstituted，andtoestablishthemrightlyistheworkofamightyintellect。Andwomenespecially，andmentoo，whentheyaresickorindanger，orinanysortofdifficulty，oragainontheirreceivinganygoodfortune，haveawayofconsecratingtheoccasion，vowingsacrifices，andpromisingshrinestoGods，demigods，andsonsofGods；
　　andwhentheyareawakenedbyterribleapparitionsanddreamsorremembervisions，theyfindinaltarsandtemplestheremediesofthem，andwillfilleveryhouseandvillagewiththem，placingthemintheopenair，orwherevertheymayhavehadsuchvisions；andwithaviewtoallthesecasesweshouldobeythelaw。Thelawhasalsoregardtotheimpious，andwouldnothavethemfancythatbythesecretperformanceoftheseactions-byraisingtemplesandbybuildingaltarsinprivatehouses，theycanpropitiatetheGodsecretlywithsacrificesandprayers，whiletheyarereallymultiplyingtheircrimesinfinitely，bringingguiltfromheavenuponthemselves，andalsouponthosewhopermitthem，andwhoarebettermenthantheyare；
　　andtheconsequenceisthatthewholestatereapsthefruitoftheirimpiety，which，inacertainsense，isdeserved。AssuredlyGodwillnotblamethelegislator，whowillenactthefollowinglaw：-NooneshallpossessshrinesoftheGodsinprivatehouses，andhewhoisfoundtopossessthem，andperformanysacredritesnotpubliclyauthorized-supposingtheoffendertobesomemanorwomanwhoisnotguiltyofanyothergreatandimpiouscrime-shallbeinformedagainstbyhimwhoisacquaintedwiththefact，whichshallbeannouncedbyhimtotheguardiansofthelaw；andletthemissueordersthatheorsheshallcarryawaytheirprivateritestothepublictemples，andiftheydonotpersuadethem，lettheminflictapenaltyonthemuntiltheycomply。Andifapersonbeprovenguiltyofimpiety，notmerelyfromchildishlevity，butsuchasgrown-upmenmaybeguiltyof，whetherhehavesacrificedpubliclyorprivatelytoanyGods，lethimbepunishedwithdeath，forhissacrificeisimpure。
　　Whetherthedeedhasbeendoneinearnest，oronlyfromchildishlevity，lettheguardiansofthelawdetermine，beforetheybringthematterintocourtandprosecutetheoffenderforimpiety。
　　BOOKXI
　　Inthenextplace，dealingsbetweenmanandmanrequiretobesuitablyregulated。Theprincipleofthemisverysimple：-Thoushaltnot，ifthoucansthelp，touchthatwhichismine，orremovetheleastthingwhichbelongstomewithoutmyconsent；andmayIbeofasoundmind，anddotoothersasIwouldthattheyshoulddotome。
　　First，letusspeakoftreasuretrove：-MayIneverpraytheGodstofindthehiddentreasure，whichanotherhaslaidupforhimselfandhisfamily，henotbeingoneofmyancestors，norlift，ifIshouldfind，suchatreasure。AndmayIneverhaveanydealingswiththosewhoarecalleddiviners，andwhoinanywayormannercounselmetotakeupthedepositentrustedtotheearth，forIshouldnotgainsomuchintheincreaseofmypossessions，ifItakeuptheprize，asI
　　shouldgrowinjusticeandvirtueofsoul，ifIabstain；andthiswillbeabetterpossessiontomethantheotherinabetterpartofmyself；forthepossessionofjusticeinthesoulispreferabletothepossessionofwealth。Andofmanythingsitiswellsaid-“Movenottheimmovables，“andthismayberegardedasoneofthem。Andweshalldowelltobelievethecommontraditionwhichsaysthatsuchdeedspreventamanfromhavingafamily。Nowastohimwhoiscarelessabouthavingchildrenandregardlessofthelegislator，takingupthatwhichneitherhedeposited，noranyancestorofhis，withouttheconsentofthedepositor，violatingthesimplestandnoblestoflawswhichwastheenactmentofnomeanman：-“Takenotupthatwhichwasnotlaiddownbythee“-ofhim，Isay，whodespisesthesetwolegislators，andtakesup，notsmallmatterwhichhehasnotdeposited，butperhapsagreatheapoftreasure，whatheoughttosufferatthehandsoftheGods，Godonlyknows；butIwouldhavethefirstpersonwhoseeshimgoandtellthewardensofthecity，iftheoccurrencehastakenplaceinthecity，oriftheoccurrencehastakenplaceintheagoraheshalltellthewardensoftheagora，orifinthecountryheshalltellthewardensofthecountryandtheircommanders。WheninformationhasbeenreceivedthecityshallsendtoDelphi，and，whatevertheGodanswersaboutthemoneyandtheremoverofthemoney，thatthecityshalldoinobediencetotheoracle；theinformer，ifhebeafreeman，shallhavethehonourofdoingrightly，andhewhoinformsnot，thedishonourofdoingwrongly；
　　andifhebeaslavewhogivesinformation，lethimbefreed，asheoughttobe，bythestate，whichshallgivehismasterthepriceofhim；butifhedonotinformheshallbepunishedwithdeath。Nextinordershallfollowasimilarlaw，whichshallapplyequallytomattersgreatandsmall：-Ifamanhappenstoleavebehindhimsomepartofhisproperty，whetherintentionallyorunintentionally，lethimwhomaycomeupontheleftpropertysufferittoremain，reflectingthatsuchthingsareundertheprotectionoftheGoddessofways，andarededicatedtoherbythelaw。Butifanyonedefiesthelaw，andtakesthepropertyhomewithhim，lethim，ifthethingisoflittleworth，andthemanwhotakesitaslave，bebeatenwithmanystripesbyhim，beingapersonofnotlessthanthirtyyearsofage。
　　Orifhebeafreeman，inadditiontobeingthoughtameanpersonandadespiserofthelaws，lethimpaytentimesthevalueofthetreasurewhichhehasmovedtotheleaver。Andifsomeoneaccusesanotherofhavinganythingwhichbelongstohim，whetherlittleormuch，andtheotheradmitsthathehasthisthing，butdeniesthatthepropertyindisputebelongstoother，ifthepropertyberegisteredwiththemagistratesaccordingtolaw，theclaimantshallsummonthepossessor，whoshallbringitbeforethemagistrates；andwhenitisbroughtintocourt，ifitberegisteredinthepublicregisters，towhichofthelitigantsitbelonged，lethimtakeitandgohisway。Orifthepropertyberegisteredasbelongingtosomeonewhoisnotpresent，whoeverwilloffersufficientsuretyonbehalfoftheabsentpersonthathewillgiveituptohim，shalltakeitawayastherepresentativeoftheother。Butifthepropertywhichisdepositedbenotregisteredwiththemagistrates，letitremainuntilthetimeoftrialwiththreeoftheeldestofthemagistrates；
　　andifitbeananimalwhichisdeposited，thenhewholosesthesuitshallpaythemagistratesforitskeep，andtheyshalldeterminethecausewithinthreedays。
　　Anyonewhoisofsoundmindmayarresthisownslave，anddowithhimwhateverhewillofsuchthingsasarelawful；andhemayarresttherunawayslaveofanyofhisfriendsorkindredwithaviewtohissafe-keeping。Andifanyonetakesawayhimwhoisbeingcarriedoffasaslave，intendingtoliberatehim，hewhoiscarryinghimoffshalllethimgo；buthewhotakeshimawayshallgivethreesufficientsureties；andifhegivethem，andnotwithoutgivingthem，hemaytakehimaway，butifhetakehimawayafteranyothermannerheshallbedeemedguiltyofviolence，andbeingconvictedshallpayasapenaltydoubletheamountofthedamagesclaimedtohimwhohasbeendeprivedoftheslave。Anymanmayalsocarryoffafreedman，ifhedonotpayrespectorsufficientrespecttohimwhofreedhim。
　　Nowtherespectshallbe，thatthefreedmangothreetimesinthemonthtothehearthofthepersonwhofreedhimandoffertodowhateverheought，sofarashecan；andheshallagreetomakesuchamarriageashisformermasterapproves。Heshallnotbepermittedtohavemorepropertythanhewhogavehimliberty，andwhatmorehehasshallbelongtohismaster。Thefreedmanshallnotremaininthestatemorethantwentyyears，butlikeotherforeignersshallgoaway，takinghisentirepropertywithhim，unlesshehastheconsentofthemagistratesandofhisformermastertoremain。Ifafreedmanoranyotherstrangerhasapropertygreaterthanthecensusofthethirdclass，attheexpiration。ofthirtydaysfromthedayonwhichthiscomestopass，heshalltakethatwhichishisandgohisway，andinthiscaseheshallnotbeallowedtoremainanylongerbythemagistrates。Andifanyonedisobeysthisregulation，andisbroughtintocourtandconvicted，heshallbepunishedwithdeath，hispropertyshallbeconfiscated。Suitsaboutthesemattersshalltakeplacebeforethetribes，unlesstheplaintiffanddefendanthavegotridoftheaccusationeitherbeforetheirneighboursorbeforejudgeschosenbythem。Ifamanlayclaimtoanyanimaloranythingelsewhichhedeclarestobehis，letthepossessorrefertothesellerortosomehonestandtrustworthyperson，whohasgiven，orinsomelegitimatewaymadeoverthepropertytohim；ifhebeacitizenorametic，sojourninginthecity，withinthirtydays，or，ifthepropertyhavebeendeliveredtohimbyastranger，withinfivemonths，ofwhichthemiddlemonthshallincludethesummersolstice。
　　Whengoodsareexchangedbysellingandbuying，amanshalldeliverthem，andreceivethepriceofthem，atafixedplaceintheagora，andhavedonewiththematter；butheshallnotbuyorsellanywhereelse，norgivecredit。Andifinanyothermannerorinanyotherplacetherebeanexchangeofonethingforanother，andthesellergivecredittothemanwhobuysframhim，hemustdothisontheunderstandingthatthelawgivesnoprotectionincasesofthingssoldnotinaccordancewiththeseregulations。Again，astocontributions，anymanwholikesmaygoaboutcollectingcontributionsasafriendamongfriends，butifanydifferencearisesaboutthecollection，heistoactontheunderstandingthatthelawgivesnoprotectioninsuchcases。Hewhosellsanythingabovethevalueoffiftydrachmasshallberequiredtoremaininthecityfortendays，andthepurchasershallbeinformedofthehouseoftheseller，withaviewtothesortofchargeswhichareapttoariseinsuchcases，andtherestitutionswhichthelawallows。Andletlegalrestitutionbeonthiswise：-Ifamansellsaslavewhoisinaconsumption，orwhohasthediseaseofthestone，orofstrangury，orepilepsy，orsomeothertediousandincurabledisorderofbodyormind，whichisnotdiscernibletotheordinaryman，ifthepurchaserbeaphysicianortrainer，heshallhavenorightofrestitution；norshalltherebeanyrightofrestitutionifthesellerhastoldthetruthbeforehandtothebuyer。Butifaskilledpersonsellstoanotherwhoisnotskilled，letthebuyerappealforrestitutionwithinsixmonths，exceptinthecaseofepilepsy，andthentheappealmaybemadewithinayear。Thecauseshallbedeterminedbysuchphysiciansasthepartiesmayagreetochoose；andthedefendant，ifhelosethesuit，shallpaydoublethepriceatwhichhesold。Ifaprivatepersonselltoanotherprivateperson，heshallhavetherightofrestitution，andthedecisionshallbegivenasbefore，butthedefendant，ifhebecast，shallonlypaybackthepriceoftheslave。Ifapersonsellsahomicidetoanother，andtheybothknowofthefact，lettherebenorestitutioninsuchacase，butifhedonotknowofthefact，thereshallbearightofrestitution，wheneverthebuyermakesthediscovery；andthedecisionshallrestwiththefiveyoungestguardiansofthelaw，andifthedecisionbethatthesellerwascognisantthefact，heshallpurifythehouseofthepurchaser，accordingtothelawoftheinterpreters，andshallpaybackthreetimesthepurchase-money。