Ifmanexchangeseithermoneyformoney，oranythingwhateverforanythingelse，eitherwithorwithoutlife，lethimgiveandreceivethemgenuineandunadulterated，inaccordancewiththelaw。Andletushaveapreludeaboutallthissortofroguery，likethepreludesofourotherlaws。Everymanshouldregardadulterationasofoneandthesameclasswithfalsehoodanddeceit，concerningwhichthemanyaretoofondofsayingthatatpropertimesandplacesthepracticemayoftenberight。Buttheyleavetheoccasion，andthewhen，andthewhere，undefinedandunsettled，andfromthiswantofdefinitenessintheirlanguagetheydoagreatdealofharmtothemselvesandtoothers。Nowalegislatoroughtnottoleavethematterundetermined；
　　heoughttoprescribesomelimit，eithergreaterorless。Letthisbetheruleprescribed：-NooneshallcalltheGodstowitness，whenhesaysordoesanythingfalseordeceitfulordishonest，unlesshewouldbethemosthatefulofmankindtothem。Andheismosthatefultothemtakesafalseoath，andpaysnoheedtotheGods；andinthenextdegree，hewhotellsafalsehoodinthepresenceofhissuperiors。Nowbettermenarethesuperiorsofworsemen，andingeneraleldersarethesuperiorsoftheyoung；whereforealsoparentsarethesuperiorsoftheiroffspring，andmenofwomenandchildren，andrulersoftheirsubjects；forallmenoughttoreverenceanyonewhoisinanypositionofauthority，andespeciallythosewhoareinstateoffices。AndthisisthereasonwhyIhavespokenofthesematters。
　　Foreveryonewhoisguiltyofadulterationintheagoratellsafalsehood，anddeceives，andwhenheinvokestheGods，accordingtothecustomsandcautionsofthewardensoftheagora，hedoesbutswearwithoutanyrespectforGodorman。Certainly，itisanexcellentrulenotlightlytodefilethenamesoftheGods，afterthefashionofmeningeneral，whocarelittleaboutpietyandpurityintheirreligiousactions。Butifamanwillnotconformtothisrule，letthelawbeasfollows：-Hewhosellsanythingintheagorashallnotasktwopricesforthatwhichhesells，butheshallaskoneprice，andifhedonotobtainthis，heshalltakeawayhisgoods；andonthatdayheshallnotvaluethemeitheratmoreorless；
　　andthereshallbenopraisingofanygoods，oroathtakenaboutthem。
　　Ifapersondisobeysthiscommand，anycitizenwhoispresent，notbeinglessthanthirtyyearsofage，maywithimpunitychastiseandbeattheswearer，butifinsteadofobeyingthelawshetakesnoheed，heshallbeliabletothechargeofhavingbetrayedthem。Ifamansellsanyadulteratedgoodsandwillnotobeytheseregulations，hewhoknowsandcanprovethefact，anddoesproveitinthepresenceofthemagistrates，ifhebeaslaveorametic，shallhavetheadulteratedgoods；butifhebeacitizen，anddonotpursuethecharge，heshallbecalledarogue，anddeemedtohaverobbedtheGodsoftheagora；orifheprovesthecharge，heshalldedicatethegoodstotheGodsoftheagora。Hewhoisprovedtohavesoldanyadulteratedgoods，inadditiontolosingthegoodsthemselves，shallbebeatenwithstripes-astripeforadrachma，accordingtothepriceofthegoods；andtheheraldshallproclaimintheagoratheoffenceforwhichheisgoingtobebeaten。Thewardenoftheagoraandtheguardiansofthelawshallobtaininformationfromexperiencedpersonsabouttherogueriesandadulterationsofthesellers，andshallwriteupwhattheselleroughtandoughtnottodoineachcase；
　　andlettheminscribetheirlawsonacolumninfrontofthecourtofthewardensoftheagora，thattheymaybeclearinstructorsofthosewhohavebusinessintheagora。Enoughhasbeensaidinwhathasprecededaboutthewardensofthecity，andifanythingseemstobewanting，letthemcommunicatewiththeguardiansofthelaw，andwritedowntheomission，andplaceonacolumninthecourtofthewardensofthecitytheprimaryandsecondaryregulationswhicharelaiddownforthemabouttheiroffice。
　　Afterthepracticesofadulterationnaturallyfollowthepracticesofretailtrade。Concerningthese，wewillfirstofallgiveawordofcounselandreason，andthelawshallcomeafterwards。Retailtradeinacityisnotbynatureintendedtodoanyharm，butquitethecontrary；forisnotheabenefactorwhoreducestheinequalitiesandincommensurabilitiesofgoodstoequalityandcommonmeasure？
　　Andthisiswhatthepowerofmoneyaccomplishes，andthemerchantmaybesaidtobeappointedforthispurpose。Thehirelingandthetavern-keeper，andmanyotheroccupations，someofthemmoreandotherslessseemly-alikehavethisobject；-theyseektosatisfyourneedsandequalizeourpossessions。Letusthenendeavourtoseewhathasbroughtretailtradeintoill-odour，andwherein，liesthedishonourandunseemlinessofit，inorderthatifnotentirely，wemayyetpartially，curetheevilbylegislation。Toeffectthisisnoeasymatter，andrequiresagreatdealofvirtue。
　　Cleinias。Whatdoyoumean？
　　AthenianStranger。DearCleinias，theclassofmenissmall-theymusthavebeenrarelygiftedbynature，andtrainedbyeducation-who，whenassailedbywantsanddesires，areabletoholdoutandobservemoderation，andwhentheymightmakeagreatdealofmoneyaresoberintheirwishes，andpreferamoderatetoalargegain。Butthemassofmankindaretheveryopposite：theirdesiresareunbounded，andwhentheymightgaininmoderationtheyprefergainswithoutlimit；whereforeallthatrelatestoretailtrade，andmerchandise，andthekeepingoftaverns，isdenouncedandnumberedamongdishonourablethings。ForifwhatItrustmayneverbeandwillnotbe，weweretocompel，ifImayventuretosayaridiculousthing，thebestmeneverywheretokeeptavernsforatime，orcarryonretailtrade，ordoanythingofthatsort；orif，inconsequenceofsomefateornecessity，thebestwomenwerecompelledtofollowsimilarcallings，thenweshouldknowhowagreeableandpleasantallthesethingsare；andifallsuchoccupationsweremanagedonincorruptprinciples，theywouldbehonouredaswehonouramotheroranurse。Butnowthatamangoestodesertplacesandbuildsbouseswhichcanonlybereachedbelongjourneys，forthesakeofretailtrade，andreceivesstrangerswhoareinneedatthewelcomeresting-place，andgivesthempeaceandcalmwhentheyaretossedbythestorm，orcoolshadeintheheat；andtheninsteadofbehavingtothemasfriends，andshowingthedutiesofhospitalitytohisguests，treatsthemasenemiesandcaptiveswhoareathismercy，andwillnotreleasethemuntiltheyhavepaidthemostunjust，abominable，andextortionateransom-thesearethesortofpractices，andfoulevilstheyare，whichcastareproachuponthesuccourofadversity。Andthelegislatoroughtalwaystobedevisingaremedyforevilsofthisnature。Thereisanancientsaying，whichisalsoatrueone-“Tofightagainsttwoopponentsisadifficultthing，“asisseenindiseasesandinmanyothercases。Andinthiscasealsothewarisagainsttwoenemies-wealthandpoverty；oneofwhomcorruptsthesoulofmanwithluxury，whiletheotherdriveshimbypainintouttershamelessness。Whatremedycanacityofsensefindagainstthisdisease？Inthefirstplace，theymusthaveasfewretailtradersaspossible；andinthesecondplace，theymustassigntheoccupationtothatclassofmenwhosecorruptionwillbetheleastinjurytothestate；andinthethirdplace，theymustdevisesomewaywherebythefollowersoftheseoccupationsthemselveswillnotreadilyfallintohabitsofunbridledshamelessnessandmeanness。
　　Afterthisprefaceletourlawrunasfollows，andmayfortunefavourus：-NolandowneramongtheMagnetes，whosecitytheGodisrestoringandresettling-noone，thatis，ofthe5040families，shallbecomearetailtradereithervoluntarilyorinvoluntarily；
　　neithershallhebeamerchant，ordoanyserviceforprivatepersonsunlesstheyequallyservehim，exceptforhisfatherorhismother，andtheirfathersandmothers；andingeneralforhiselderswhoarefreemen，andwhomheservesasafreeman。Nowitisdifficulttodetermineaccuratelythethingswhichareworthyorunworthyofafreeman，butletthosewhohaveobtainedtheprizeofvirtuegivejudgmentabouttheminaccordancewiththeirfeelingsofrightandwrong。Hewhoinanywaysharesintheilliberalityofretailtradesmaybeindictedfordishonouringhisracebyanyonewholikes，beforethosewhohavebeenjudgedtobethefirstinvirtue；
　　andifheappeartothrowdirtuponhisfather’shousebyanunworthyoccupation，lethimbeimprisonedforayearandabstainfromthatsortofthing；andifherepeattheoffence，fortwoyears；andeverytimethatheisconvictedletthelengthofhisimprisonmentbedoubled。Thisshallbethesecondlaw：-Hewhoengagesinretailtrademustbeeitherameticorastranger。Andathirdlawshallbe：-Inorderthattheretailtraderwhodwellsinourcitymaybeasgoodoraslittlebadaspossible，theguardiansofthelawshallrememberthattheyarenotonlyguardiansofthosewhomaybeeasilywatchedandpreventedfrombecominglawlessorbad，becausetheyarewellbornandbred；butstillmoreshouldtheyhaveawatchoverthosewhoareofanothersort，andfollowpursuitswhichhaveaverystrongtendencytomakemenbad。And，therefore，inrespectofthemultifariousoccupationsofretailtrade，thatistosay，inrespectofsuchofthemasareallowedtoremain，becausetheyseemtobequitenecessaryinastate-aboutthesetheguardiansofthelawshouldmeetandtakecounselwiththosewhohaveexperienceoftheseveralkindsofretailtrade，aswebeforecommanded，concerningadulterationwhichisamatterakintothis，andwhentheymeettheyshallconsiderwhatamountofreceipts，afterdeductingexpenses，willproduceamoderategaintotheretailtrades，andtheyshallfixinwritingandstrictlymaintainwhattheyfindtobetherightpercentageofprofit；thisshallbeseentobythewardensoftheagora，andbythewardensofthecity，andbythewardensofthecountry。Andsoretailtradewillbenefiteveryone，anddotheleastpossibleinjurytothoseinthestatewhopractiseit。
　　Whenamanmakesanagreementwhichhedoesnotfulfil，unlesstheagreementbeofanaturewhichthelaworavoteoftheassemblydoesnotallow，orwhichhehasmadeundertheinfluenceofsomeunjustcompulsion，orwhichheispreventedfromfulfillingagainsthiswillbysomeunexpectedchance，theotherpartymaygotolawwithhiminthecourtsofthetribes，fornothavingcompletedhisagreement，ifthepartiesarenotablepreviouslytocometotermsbeforearbitersorbeforetheirneighbours。TheclassofcraftsmenwhohavefurnishedhumanlifewiththeartsisdedicatedtoHephaestusandAthene；andthereisaclassofcraftsmenwhopreservetheworksofallcraftsmenbyartsofdefence，thevotariesofAresandAthene，towhichdivinitiestheytooarerightlydedicated。Allthesecontinuethroughlifeservingthecountryandthepeople；someofthemareleadersinbattle；othersmakeforhireimplementsandworks，andtheyoughtnottodeceiveinsuchmatters，outofrespecttotheGodswhoaretheirancestors。Ifanycraftsmanthroughindolenceomittoexecutehisworkinagiventime，notreverencingtheGodwhogiveshimthemeansoflife，butconsidering，foolishfellow，thatheishisownGodandwilllethimoffeasily，inthefirstplace，heshallsufferatthehandsoftheGod，andinthesecondplace，thelawshallfollowinasimilarspirit。Heshallowetohimwhocontractedwithhimthepriceoftheworkswhichhehasfailedinperforming，andheshallbeginagainandexecutethemgratisinthegiventime。Whenamanundertakesawork，thelawgiveshimthesameadvicewhichwasgiventotheseller，thatheshouldnotattempttoraisetheprice，butsimplyaskthevalue；thisthelawenjoinsalsoonthecontractor；
　　forthecraftsmanassuredlyknowsthevalueofhiswork。Wherefore，infreestatesthemanofartoughtnottoattempttoimposeuponprivateindividualsbythehelpofhisart，whichisbynatureatruething；
　　andhewhoiswrongedinamatterofthissort，shallhavearightofactionagainstthepartywhohaswrongedhim。Andifanyoneletsoutworktoacraftsman，anddoesnotpayhimdulyaccordingtothelawfulagreement，disregardingZeustheguardianofthecityandAthene，whoarethepartnersofthestate，andoverthrowsthefoundationsofsocietyforthesakeofalittlegain，inhiscaseletthelawandtheGodsmaintainthecommonbondsofthestate。Andlethimwho，havingalreadyreceivedtheworkinexchange，doesnotpaythepriceinthetimeagreed，paydoubletheprice；andifayearhaselapsed，althoughinterestisnottobetakenonloans，yetforeverydrachmawhichheowestothecontractorlethimpayamonthlyinterestofanobol。Suitsaboutthesemattersaretobedecidedbythecourtsofthetribes；andbytheway，sincewehavementionedcraftsmenatall，wemustnotforgettheothercraftofwar，inwhichgeneralsandtacticiansarethecraftsmen，whoundertakevoluntarilytheworkofoursafety，asothercraftsmenundertakeotherpublicworks；-iftheyexecutetheirworkwellthelawwillnevertireofpraisinghimwhogivesthemthosehonourswhicharethejustrewardsofthesoldier；butifanyone，havingalreadyreceivedthebenefitofanynobleserviceinwar，doesnotmaketheduereturnofhonour，thelawwillblamehim。Letthisthenbethelaw，havinganingredientofpraise，notcompellingbutadvisingthegreatbodyofthecitizenstohonourthebravemenwhoarethesavioursofthewholestate，whetherbytheircourageorbytheirmilitaryskill；-theyshouldhonourthem，Isay，inthesecondplace；forthefirstandhighesttributeofrespectistobegiventothosewhoareableaboveothermentohonourthewordsofgoodlegislators。
　　Thegreaterpartofthedealingsbetweenmanandmanhavebeennowregulatedbyuswiththeexceptionofthosethatrelatetoorphansandthesupervisionoforphansbytheirguardians。Thesefollownextinorder，andmustberegulatedinsomeway。Buttoarriveatthemwemustbeginwiththetestamentarywishesofthedyingandthecaseofthosewhomayhavehappenedtodieintestate。WhenIsaid，Cleinias，thatwemustregulatethem，Ihadinmymindthedifficultyandperplexityinwhichallsuchmattersareinvolved。Youcannotleavethemunregulated，forindividualswouldmakeregulationsatvariancewithoneanother，andrepugnanttothelawsandhabitsofthelivingandtotheirownprevioushabits，ifapersonweresimplyallowedtomakeanywillwhichhepleased，andthisweretotakeeffectinwhateverstatehemayhavebeenattheendofhislife；formostofusloseoursensesinamanner，andfeelcrushedwhenwethinkthatweareabouttodie。
　　Cle。Whatdoyoumean，Stranger？