Butasthecasestands，theconditionoforphanswithusnotdifferentfromthecaseofthosewhohavefather，thoughinregardtohonouranddishonour，andtheattentiongiventothem，thetwoarenotusuallyplaceduponalevel。Wherefore，touchingthelegislationaboutorphans，thelawspeaksinseriousaccents，bothofpersuasionandthreatening，andsuchathreatasthefollowingwillbebynomeansoutofplace：-Hewhoistheguardianofanorphanofeithersex，andheamongtheguardiansofthelawtowhomthesuperintendenceofthisguardianhasbeenassigned，shalllovetheunfortunateorphanasthoughhewerehisownchild，andheshallbeascarefulanddiligentinthemanagementofhispossessionsashewouldbeiftheywerehisown，orevenmorecarefulanddilligent。Leteveryonewhohasthecareofanorphanobservethislaw。Butanyonewhoactscontrarytothelawonthesematters，ifhebeaguardianofthechild，maybefinedbyamagistrate，or，ifhebehimselfamagistrate，theguardianmaybringhimbeforethecourtofselectjudges，andpunishhim，ifconvicted，byexactingafineofdoubletheamountofthatinflictedbythecourt。Andifaguardianappearstotherelationsoftheorphan，ortoanyothercitizen，toactnegligentlyordishonestly，letthembringhimbeforethesamecourt，andwhateverdamagesaregivenagainsthim，lethimpayfourfold，andlethalfbelongtotheorphanandhalftohimwhoprocuredtheconviction。Ifanyorphanarrivesatyearsofdiscretion，andthinksthathehasbeenill-usedbyhisguardians，lethimwithinfiveyearsoftheexpirationoftheguardianshipbeallowedtobringthemtotrial；andifanyofthembeconvicted，thecourtshalldeterminewhatheshallpayorsuffer。Andifmagistrateshallappeartohavewrongedtheorphanbyneglect，andhebeconvicted，letthecourtdeterminewhatheshallsufferorpaytotheorphan，andiftherebedishonestyinadditiontoneglect，besidespayingthefine，lethimbedeposedfromhisofficeofguardianofthelaw，andletthestateappointanotherguardianofthelawforthecityandforthecountryinhisroom。
　　Greaterdifferencesthanthereoughttobesometimesarisebetweenfathersandsons，ontheparteitheroffatherswhowillbeofopinionthatthelegislatorshouldenactthattheymay，iftheywish，lawfullyrenouncetheirsonbytheproclamationofaheraldinthefaceoftheworld，orofsonswhothinkthattheyshouldbeallowedtoindicttheirfathersonthechargeofimbecilitywhentheyaredisabledbydiseaseoroldage。Thesethingsonlyhappen，asamatteroffact，wherethenaturesofmenareutterlybad；forwhereonlyhalfisbad，as，forexample，ifthefatherbenotbad，butthesonbebad，orconversely，nogreatcalamityistheresultofsuchanamountofhatredasthis。Inanotherstate，asondisownedbyhisfatherwouldnotofnecessityceasetobeacitizen，butinourstate，ofwhichthesearetobethelaws，thedisinheritedmustnecessarilyemigrateintoanothercountry，fornoadditioncanbemadeevenofasinglefamilytothe5040households；and，therefore，hewhodeservestosufferthesethingsmustberenouncednotonlybyhisfather，whoisasingleperson，butbythewholefamily，andwhatisdoneinthesecasesmustberegulatedbysomesuchlawasthefollowing：-Hewhointhesaddisorderofhissoulhasamind，justlyorunjustly，toexpelfromhisfamilyasonwhomhehasbegottenandbroughtup，shallnotlightlyoratonceexecutehispurpose；butfirstofallheshallcollecttogetherhisownkinsmenextendingtocousins，andinlikemannerhisson’skinsmenbythemother’sside，andintheirpresenceheshallaccusehisson，settingforththathedeservesatthehandsofthemalltobedismissedfromthefamily；andthesonshallbeallowedtoaddresstheminasimilarmanner，andshowthathedoesnotdeservetosufferanyofthesethings。Andifthefatherpersuadesthem，andobtainsthesuffragesofmorethanhalfofhiskindred，exclusiveofthefatherandmotherandtheoffenderhimself-Isay，ifheobtainsmorethanhalfthesuffragesofalltheothergrown-upmembersofthefamily，ofbothsexes，thefathershallbepermittedtoputawayhisson，butnototherwise。Andifanyothercitizeniswillingtoadoptthesonwhoisputaway，nolawshallhinderhim；forthecharactersofyoungmenaresubjecttomanychangesinthecourseoftheirlives。Andifhehasbeenputaway，andinaperiodoftenyearsnooneiswillingtoadopthim，letthosewhohavethecareofthesuperabundantpopulationwhichissentoutintocolonies，seetohim，inorderthathemaybesuitablyprovidedforinthecolony。Andifdiseaseorageorharshnessoftemper，orallthesetogether，makesamantobemoreoutofhismindthantherestoftheworldare-butthisisnotobservable，excepttothosewholivewithhim-andhe，beingmasterofhisproperty，istheruinofthehouse，andhissondoubtsandhesitatesaboutindictinghisfatherforinsanity，letthelawinthatcaseor，thatheshallfirstofallgototheeldestguardiansofthelawandtellthemofhisfather’smisfortune，andtheyshalldulylookintothematter，andtakecounselastowhetherheshallindicthimornot。Andiftheyadvisehimtoproceed，theyshallbebothhiswitnessesandhisadvocates；andifthefatheriscast，heshallhenceforthbeincapableoforderingtheleastparticularofhislife；lethimbeasachilddwellinginthehousefortheremainderofhisdays。Andifamanandhiswifehaveanunfortunateincompatibilityoftemper，tenoftheguardiansofthelaw，whoareimpartial，andtenofthewomenwhoregulatemarriages，shalllooktothematter，andiftheyareabletoreconcilethemtheyshallbeformallyreconciled；butiftheirsoulsaretoomuchtossedwithpassion，theyshallendeavourtofindotherpartners。Nowtheyarenotlikelytohaveverygentletempers；and，therefore，wemustendeavourtoassociatewiththemdeeperandsofternatures。Thosewhohavenochildren，oronlyafew，atthetimeoftheirseparation，shouldchoosetheirnewpartnerswithaviewtotheprocreationofchildren；butthosewhohaveasufficientnumberofchildrenshouldseparateandmarryagaininorderthattheymayhavesomeonetogrowoldwithandthatthepairmaytakecareofoneanotherinage。Ifawomandies，leavingchildren，maleorfemale，thelawwilladviseratherthancompelthehusbandtobringupthechildrenwithoutintroducingintothehouseastepmother。Butifhehavenochildren，thenheshallbecompelledtomarryuntilhehasbegottenasufficientnumberofsonstohisfamilyandtothestate。Andifamandiesleavingasufficientnumberofchildren，themotherofhischildrenshallremainwiththemandbring，themup。Butifsheappearstobetooyoungtolivevirtuouslywithoutahusband，letherrelationscommunicatewiththewomenwhosuperintendmarriage，andletbothtogetherdowhattheythinkbestinthesematters；ifthereisalackofchildren，letthechoicebemadewithaviewtohavingthem；twochildren，oneofeithersex，shallbedeemedsufficientintheeyeofthelaw。Whenachildisadmittedtobetheoffspringofcertainparentsandisacknowledgedbythem，butthereisneedofadecisionastowhichparentthechildistofollow-incaseafemaleslavehaveintercoursewithamaleslave，orwithafreemanorfreedman，theoffspringshallalwaysbelongtothemasterofthefemaleslave。Again，ifafreewomanhaveintercoursewithamaleslave，theoffspringshallbelongtothemasteroftheslave；butifachildbeborneitherofaslavebyhermaster，orofhismistressbyaslave-andthisbeprovenceoffspringofthewomananditsfathershallbesentawaybythewomenwhosuperintendmarriageintoanothercountry，andtheguardiansofthelawshallsendawaytheoffspringofthemananditsmother。
　　NeitherGod，noramanwhohasunderstanding，willeveradviseanyonetoneglecthisparents。Toadiscourseconcerningthehonouranddishonourofparents，apreludesuchasthefollowing，abouttheserviceoftheGods，willbeasuitableintroduction：-ThereareancientcustomsabouttheGodswhichareuniversal，andtheyareoftwokinds：someoftheGodsweseewithoureyesandwehonourthem，ofotherswehonourtheimages，raisingstatuesofthemwhichweadore；andthoughtheyarelifeless，yetweimaginethatthelivingGodshaveagoodwillandgratitudetousonthisaccount。Now，ifamanhasafatherormother，ortheirfathersormotherstreasuredupinhishousestrickeninyears，lethimconsiderthatnostatuecanbemorepotenttogranthisrequeststhantheyare，whoaresittingathishearthifonlyheknowshowtoshowtrueservicetothem。
　　Cle。Andwhatdoyoucallthetruemodeofservice？
　　Ath。Iwilltellyou，Omyfriend，forsuchthingsareworthlisteningto。
　　Cle。Proceed。
　　Ath。Oedipus，astraditionsays，whendishonouredbyhissons，invokedonthemcurseswhicheveryonedeclarestohavebeenheardandratifiedbytheGods，andAmyntorinhiswrathinvokedcursesonhissonPhoenix，andTheseusuponHippolytus，andinnumerableothershavealsocalleddownwrathupontheirchildren，whenceitisclearthattheGodslistentotheimprecationsofparents；forthecursesofparentsare，astheyoughttobe，mightyagainsttheirchildrenasnoothersare。Andshallwesupposethattheprayersofafatherormotherwhoisspeciallydishonouredbyhisorherchildren，areheardbytheGodsinaccordancewithnature；andthatifaparentishonouredbythem，andinthegladnessofhisheartearnestlyentreatstheGodsinhisprayerstodothemgood，heisnotequallyheard，andthattheydonotministertohisrequest？Ifnot，theywouldbeveryunjustministersofgood，andthatweaffirmtobecontrarytotheirnature。
　　Cle。Certainly。
　　Ath。Maywenotthink，asIwassayingjustnow，thatwecanpossessnoimagewhichismorehonouredbytheGods，thanthatofafatherorgrandfather，orofamotherstrickeninyears？whomwhenamanhonours，theheartoftheGodrejoices，andheisreadytoanswertheirprayers。And，truly，thefigureofanancestorisawonderfulthing，farhigherthanthatofalifelessimage。Fortheliving，whentheyarehonouredbyus，joininourprayers，andwhentheyaredishonoured，theyutterimprecationsagainstus；butlifelessobjectsdoneither。Andtherefore，ifamanmakesarightuseofhisfatherandgrandfatherandotheragedrelations，hewillhaveimageswhichaboveallotherswillwinhimthefavouroftheGods。
　　Cle。Excellent。
　　Ath。Everymanofanyunderstandingfearsandrespectstheprayersofparents，knowingwellthatmanytimesandtomanypersonstheyhavebeenaccomplished。Nowthesethingsbeingthusorderedbynature，goodmenthinkitablessingfromheaveniftheirparentslivetooldageandreachtheutmostlimitofhumanlife，oriftakenawaybeforetheirtimetheyaredeeplyregrettedbythem；buttobadmenparentsarealwaysacauseofterror。Whereforeleteverymanhonourwitheverysortoflawfulhonourhisownparents，agreeablytowhathasnowbeensaid。Butifthispreludebeanunmeaningsoundinthecarsofanyone，letthelawfollow，whichmayberightlyimposedintheseterms：-Ifanyoneinthiscitybenotsufficientlycarefulofhisparents，anddonotregardandgratifyineveryrespecttheirwishesmorethanthoseofhissonsandofhisotheroffspringorofhimself-lethimwhoexperiencesthissortoftreatmenteithercomehimself，orsendsomeonetoinformthethreeeldestguardiansofthelaw，andthreeofthewomenwhohavethecareofmarriages；andletthemlooktothematterandpunishyouthfulevil-doerswithstripesandbondsiftheyareunderthirtyyearsofage，thatistosay，iftheybemen，oriftheybewomen，letthemundergothesamepunishmentuptofortyyearsofage。Butif，whentheyarestillmoreadvancedinyears，theycontinuethesameneglectoftheirparents，anddoanyhurttoanyofthem，letthembebroughtbeforeacourtinwhicheverysingleoneoftheeldestcitizensshallbethejudges，andiftheoffenderbeconvicted，letthecourtdeterminewhatheoughttopayorsuffer，andanypenaltymaybeimposedonhimwhichamancanpayorsuffer。Ifthepersonwhohasbeenwrongedbeunabletoinformthemagistrates，letanyfreemanwhohearsofhiscaseinform，andifhedonot，heshallbedeemedbase，andshallbeliabletohaveasuitfordamagebroughtagainsthimbyanyonewholikes。Andifaslaveinform，heshallreceivefreedom；andifhebetheslaveoftheinjurerorinjuredparty，heshallbesetfreebythemagistrates，orifhebelongtoanyothercitizen，thepublicshallpayapriceonhisbehalftotheowner；
　　andletthemagistratestakeheedthatnoonewrongshimoutofrevenge，becausehehasgiveninformation。
　　Casesinwhichonemaninjuresanotherbypoisons，andwhichprovefatal，havebeenalreadydiscussed；butaboutothercasesinwhichapersonintentionallyandofmaliceharmsanotherwithmeats，ordrinks，orointments，nothinghasasyetbeendetermined。Fortherearetwokindsofpoisonsusedamongmen，whichcannotclearlybedistinguished。Thereisthekindjustnowexplicitlymentioned，whichinjuresbodiesbytheuseofotherbodiesaccordingtoanaturallaw；thereisalsoanotherkindwhichpersuadesthemoredaringclassthattheycandoinjurybysorceries，andincantations，andmagicknots，astheyaretermed，andmakesothersbelievethattheyaboveallpersonsareinjuredbythepowersofthemagician。Nowitisnoteasytoknowthenatureofallthesethings；norifamandoknowcanhereadilypersuadeotherstobelievehim。Andwhenmenaredisturbedintheirmindsatthesightofwaxenimagesfixedeitherattheirdoors，orinaplacewherethreewaysmeet，oronthesepulchresofparents，thereisnouseintryingtopersuadethemthattheyshoulddespiseallsuchthingsbecausetheyhavenocertainknowledgeaboutthem。Butwemusthavealawintwoparts，concerningpoisoning，inwhicheverofthetwowaystheattemptismade，andwemustentreat，andexhort，andadvisemennottohaverecoursetosuchpractices，bywhichtheyscarethemultitudeoutoftheirwits，asiftheywerechildren，compellingthelegislatorandthejudgetohealthefearswhichthesorcererarouses，andtotelltheminthefirstplace，thathewhoattemptstopoisonorenchantothersknowsnotwhatheisdoing，eitherasregardsthebodyunlesshehasaknowledgeofmedicine，orasregardshisenchantmentsunlesshehappenstobeaprophetordiviner。Letthelaw，then，runasfollowsaboutpoisoningorwitchcraft：-Hewhoemployspoisontodoanyinjury，notfatal，toamanhimself，ortohisservants，oranyinjury，whetherfatalornot，tohiscattleorhisbees，ifhebeaphysician，andbeconvictedofpoisoning，shallbepunishedwithdeath；orifhebeaprivateperson，thecourtshalldeterminewhatheistopayorsuffer。Buthewhoseemstobethesortofmaninjuresothersbymagicknots，orenchantments，orincantations，oranyofthelikepractices，ifhebeaprophetordiviner，lethimdie；andif，notbeingaprophet，hebeconvictedofwitchcraft，asinthepreviouscase，letthecourtfixwhatheoughttopayorsuffer。