wassaying，willbeforbiddentointer—marry。This，however，isnottobeunderstoodasanabsoluteprohibitionofthemarriageofbrothersandsisters；ifthelotfavoursthem，andtheyreceivethesanctionofthePythianoracle，thelawwillallowthem。
　　Quiteright，hereplied。
　　Suchisthescheme，Glaucon，accordingtowhichtheguardiansofourStatearetohavetheirwivesandfamiliesincommon。Andnowyouwouldhavetheargumentshowthatthiscommunityisconsistentwiththerestofourpolity，andalsothatnothingcanbebetter——wouldyounot？
　　Yes，certainly。
　　ShallwetrytofindacommonbasisbyaskingofourselveswhatoughttobethechiefaimofthelegislatorinmakinglawsandintheorganizationofaState，——whatisthegreatestIgood，andwhatisthegreatestevil，andthenconsiderwhetherourpreviousdescriptionhasthestampofthegoodoroftheevil？
　　Byallmeans。
　　Cantherebeanygreaterevilthandiscordanddistractionandpluralitywhereunityoughttoreign？oranygreatergoodthanthebondofunity？
　　Therecannot。
　　Andthereisunitywherethereiscommunityofpleasuresandpains——whereallthecitizensaregladorgrievedonthesameoccasionsofjoyandsorrow？
　　Nodoubt。
　　Yes；andwherethereisnocommonbutonlyprivatefeelingaStateisdisorganized——whenyouhaveonehalfoftheworldtriumphingandtheotherplungedingriefatthesameeventshappeningtothecityorthecitizens？
　　Certainly。
　　Suchdifferencescommonlyoriginateinadisagreementabouttheuseoftheterms’mine’and’notmine，’’his’and’nothis。’
　　Exactlyso。
　　Andisnotthatthebest—orderedStateinwhichthegreatestnumberofpersonsapplytheterms’mine’and’notmine’inthesamewaytothesamething？
　　Quitetrue。
　　Orthatagainwhichmostnearlyapproachestotheconditionoftheindividual——asinthebody，whenbutafingerofoneofusishurt，thewholeframe，drawntowardsthesoulasacenterandformingonekingdomundertherulingpowertherein，feelsthehurtandsympathizesalltogetherwiththepartaffected，andwesaythatthemanhasapaininhisfinger；andthesameexpressionisusedaboutanyotherpartofthebody，whichhasasensationofpainatsufferingorofpleasureatthealleviationofsuffering。
　　Verytrue，hereplied；andIagreewithyouthatinthebest—orderedStatethereisthenearestapproachtothiscommonfeelingwhichyoudescribe。
　　Thenwhenanyoneofthecitizensexperiencesanygoodorevil，thewholeStatewillmakehiscasetheirown，andwilleitherrejoiceorsorrowwithhim？
　　Yes，hesaid，thatiswhatwillhappeninawell—orderedState。
　　Itwillnowbetime，Isaid，forustoreturntoourStateandseewhetherthisorsomeotherformismostinaccordancewiththesefundamentalprinciples。
　　Verygood。
　　OurStatelikeeveryotherhasrulersandsubjects？
　　True。
　　Allofwhomwillcalloneanothercitizens？
　　Ofcourse。
　　ButistherenotanothernamewhichpeoplegivetotheirrulersinotherStates？
　　Generallytheycallthemmasters，butindemocraticStatestheysimplycallthemrulers。
　　AndinourStatewhatothernamebesidesthatofcitizensdothepeoplegivetherulers？
　　Theyarecalledsavioursandhelpers，hereplied。
　　Andwhatdotherulerscallthepeople？
　　Theirmaintainersandfoster—fathers。
　　AndwhatdotheycalltheminotherStates？
　　Slaves。
　　AndwhatdotherulerscalloneanotherinotherStates？
　　Fellow—rulers。
　　Andwhatinours？
　　Fellow—guardians。
　　DidyoueverknowanexampleinanyotherStateofarulerwhowouldspeakofoneofhiscolleaguesashisfriendandofanotherasnotbeinghisfriend？
　　Yes，veryoften。
　　Andthefriendheregardsanddescribesasoneinwhomhehasaninterest，andtheotherasastrangerinwhomhehasnointerest？
　　Exactly。
　　Butwouldanyofyourguardiansthinkorspeakofanyotherguardianasastranger？
　　Certainlyhewouldnot；foreveryonewhomtheymeetwillberegardedbythemeitherasabrotherorsister，orfatherormother，orsonordaughter，orasthechildorparentofthosewhoarethusconnectedwithhim。
　　Capital，Isaid；butletmeaskyouoncemore：Shalltheybeafamilyinnameonly；orshalltheyinalltheiractionsbetruetothename？Forexample，intheuseoftheword’father，’wouldthecareofafatherbeimpliedandthefilialreverenceanddutyandobediencetohimwhichthelawcommands；andistheviolatorofthesedutiestoberegardedasanimpiousandunrighteouspersonwhoisnotlikelytoreceivemuchgoodeitheratthehandsofGodorofman？
　　Arethesetobeornottobethestrainswhichthechildrenwillhearrepeatedintheirearsbyallthecitizensaboutthosewhoareintimatedtothemtobetheirparentsandtherestoftheirkinsfolk？
　　These，hesaid，andnoneother；forwhatcanbemoreridiculousthanforthemtoutterthenamesoffamilytieswiththelipsonlyandnottoactinthespiritofthem？
　　Theninourcitythelanguageofharmonyandconcordwillbemoreoftenbeardthaninanyother。AsIwasdescribingbefore，whenanyoneiswellorill，theuniversalwordwillbewithmeitiswell’
　　or’itisill。’
　　Mosttrue。
　　Andagreeablytothismodeofthinkingandspeaking，werewenotsayingthattheywillhavetheirpleasuresandpainsincommon？
　　Yes，andsotheywill。
　　Andtheywillhaveacommoninterestinthesamethingwhichtheywillalikecall’myown，’andhavingthiscommoninteresttheywillhaveacommonfeelingofpleasureandpain？
　　Yes，farmoresothaninotherStates。
　　Andthereasonofthis，overandabovethegeneralconstitutionoftheState，willbethattheguardianswillhaveacommunityofwomenandchildren？
　　Thatwillbethechiefreason。
　　Andthisunityoffeelingweadmittedtobethegreatestgood，aswasimpliedinourowncomparisonofawell—orderedStatetotherelationofthebodyandthemembers，whenaffectedbypleasureorpain？
　　Thatweacknowledged，andveryrightly。
　　ThenthecommunityofwivesandchildrenamongourcitizensisclearlythesourceofthegreatestgoodtotheState？
　　Certainly。
　　Andthisagreeswiththeotherprinciplewhichwewereaffirming，——thattheguardianswerenottohavehousesorlandsoranyotherproperty；theirpaywastobetheirfood，whichtheyweretoreceivefromtheothercitizens，andtheyweretohavenoprivateexpenses；
　　forweintendedthemtopreservetheirtruecharacterofguardians。
　　Right，hereplied。
　　Boththecommunityofpropertyandthecommunityoffamilies，asI
　　amsaying，tendtomakethemmoretrulyguardians；theywillnottearthecityinpiecesbydifferingabout’mine’and’notmine；’eachmandragginganyacquisitionwhichhehasmadeintoaseparatehouseofhisown，wherehehasaseparatewifeandchildrenandprivatepleasuresandpains；butallwillbeaffectedasfarasmaybebythesamepleasuresandpainsbecausetheyareallofoneopinionaboutwhatisnearanddeartothem，andthereforetheyalltendtowardsacommonend。
　　Certainly，hereplied。
　　Andastheyhavenothingbuttheirpersonswhichtheycancalltheirown，suitsandcomplaintswillhavenoexistenceamongthem；theywillbedeliveredfromallthosequarrelsofwhichmoneyorchildrenorrelationsaretheoccasion。
　　Ofcoursetheywill。
　　Neitherwilltrialsforassaultorinsulteverbelikelytooccuramongthem。Forthatequalsshoulddefendthemselvesagainstequalsweshallmaintaintobehonourableandright；weshallmaketheprotectionofthepersonamatterofnecessity。
　　Thatisgood，hesaid。
　　Yes；andthereisafurthergoodinthelaw；viz。thatifamanhasaquarrelwithanotherhewillsatisfyhisresentmentthenandthere，andnotproceedtomoredangerouslengths。
　　Certainly。
　　Totheeldershallbeassignedthedutyofrulingandchastisingtheyounger。
　　Clearly。
　　Norcantherebeadoubtthattheyoungerwillnotstrikeordoanyotherviolencetoanelder，unlessthemagistratescommandhim；
　　norwillheslighthiminanyway。Fortherearetwoguardians，shameandfear，mightytopreventhim：shame，whichmakesmenrefrainfromlayinghandsonthosewhoaretothemintherelationofparents；fear，thattheinjuredonewillbesuccouredbytheotherswhoarehisbrothers，sons，onewifathers。
　　Thatistrue，hereplied。
　　Thenineverywaythelawswillhelpthecitizenstokeepthepeacewithoneanother？
　　Yes，therewillbenowantofpeace。
　　Andastheguardianswillneverquarrelamongthemselvestherewillbenodangeroftherestofthecitybeingdividedeitheragainstthemoragainstoneanother。
　　Nonewhatever。
　　Ihardlylikeeventomentionthelittlemeannessesofwhichtheywillberid，fortheyarebeneathnotice：such，forexample，astheflatteryoftherichbythepoor，andallthepainsandpangswhichmenexperienceinbringingupafamily，andinfindingmoneytobuynecessariesfortheirhousehold，borrowingandthenrepudiating，gettinghowtheycan，andgivingthemoneyintothehandsofwomenandslavestokeep——themanyevilsofsomanykindswhichpeoplesufferinthiswayaremeanenoughandobviousenough，andnotworthspeakingof。
　　Yes，hesaid，amanhasnoneedofeyesinordertoperceivethat。
　　Andfromalltheseevilstheywillbedelivered，andtheirlifewillbeblessedasthelifeofOlympicvictorsandyetmoreblessed。
　　Howso？
　　TheOlympicvictor，Isaid，isdeemedhappyinreceivingapartonlyoftheblessednesswhichissecuredtoourcitizens，whohavewonamoregloriousvictoryandhaveamorecompletemaintenanceatthepubliccost。ForthevictorywhichtheyhavewonisthesalvationofthewholeState；andthecrownwithwhichtheyandtheirchildrenarecrownedisthefulnessofallthatlifeneeds；theyreceiverewardsfromthehandsoftheircountrywhileliving，andafterdeathhaveanhonourableburial。
　　Yes，hesaid，andgloriousrewardstheyare。
　　Doyouremember，Isaid，howinthecourseofthepreviousdiscussionsomeonewhoshallbenamelessaccusedusofmakingourguardiansunhappy——theyhadnothingandmighthavepossessedallthings—towhomwerepliedthat，ifanoccasionoffered，wemightperhapshereafterconsiderthisquestion，butthat，asatpresentadvised，wewouldmakeourguardianstrulyguardians，andthatwewerefashioningtheStatewithaviewtothegreatesthappiness，notofanyparticularclass，butofthewhole？
　　Yes，Iremember。
　　Andwhatdoyousay，nowthatthelifeofourprotectorsismadeouttobefarbetterandnoblerthanthatofOlympicvictors——isthelifeofshoemakers，oranyotherartisans，orofhusbandmen，tobecomparedwithit？
　　Certainlynot。
　　AtthesametimeIoughtheretorepeatwhatIhavesaidelsewhere，thatifanyofourguardiansshalltrytobehappyinsuchamannerthathewillceasetobeaguardian，andisnotcontentwiththissafeandharmoniouslife，which，inourjudgment，isofalllivesthebest，butinfatuatedbysomeyouthfulconceitofhappinesswhichgetsupintohisheadshallseektoappropriatethewholeStatetohimself，thenhewillhavetolearnhowwiselyHesiodspoke，whenhesaid，’halfismorethanthewhole。’
　　Ifheweretoconsultme，Ishouldsaytohim：Staywhereyouare，whenyouhavetheofferofsuchalife。
　　Youagreethen，Isaid，thatmenandwomenaretohaveacommonwayoflifesuchaswehavedescribed——commoneducation，commonchildren；andtheyaretowatchoverthecitizensincommonwhetherabidinginthecityorgoingouttowar；theyaretokeepwatchtogether，andtohunttogetherlikedogs；andalwaysandinallthings，asfarastheyareable，womenaretosharewiththemen？
　　Andinsodoingtheywilldowhatisbest，andwillnotviolate，butpreservethenaturalrelationofthesexes。
　　Iagreewithyou，hereplied。
　　Theenquiry，Isaid，hasyettobemade，whethersuchacommunitybefoundpossible——asamongotheranimals，soalsoamongmen——andifpossible，inwhatwaypossible？
　　YouhaveanticipatedthequestionwhichIwasabouttosuggest。
　　Thereisnodifficulty，Isaid，inseeinghowwarwillbecarriedonbythem。
　　How？
　　Why，ofcoursetheywillgoonexpeditionstogether；andwilltakewiththemanyoftheirchildrenwhoarestrongenough，that，afterthemanneroftheartisan’schild，theymaylookonattheworkwhichtheywillhavetodowhentheyaregrownup；andbesideslookingontheywillhavetohelpandbeofuseinwar，andtowaitupontheirfathersandmothers。Didyouneverobserveintheartshowthepotters’boyslookonandhelp，longbeforetheytouchthewheel？
　　Yes，Ihave。
　　Andshallpottersbemorecarefulineducatingtheirchildrenandingivingthemtheopportunityofseeingandpractisingtheirdutiesthanourguardianswillbe？
　　Theideaisridiculous，hesaid。
　　Thereisalsotheeffectontheparents，withwhom，aswithotheranimals，thepresenceoftheiryoungoneswillbethegreatestincentivetovalour。
　　Thatisquitetrue，Socrates；andyetiftheyaredefeated，whichmayoftenhappeninwar，howgreatthedangeris！thechildrenwillbelostaswellastheirparents，andtheStatewillneverrecover。
　　True，Isaid；butwouldyouneverallowthemtorunanyrisk？
　　Iamfarfromsayingthat。
　　Well，butiftheyareevertorunariskshouldtheynotdosoonsomeoccasionwhen，iftheyescapedisaster，theywillbethebetterforit？
　　Clearly。
　　Whetherthefuturesoldiersdoordonotseewarinthedaysoftheiryouthisaveryimportantmatter，forthesakeofwhichsomeriskmayfairlybeincurred。
　　Yes，veryimportant。
　　Thisthenmustbeourfirststep，——tomakeourchildrenspectatorsofwar；butwemustalsocontrivethattheyshallbesecuredagainstdanger；thenallwillbewell。
　　True。
　　Theirparentsmaybesupposednottobeblindtotherisksofwar，buttoknow，asfarashumanforesightcan，whatexpeditionsaresafeandwhatdangerous？
　　Thatmaybeassumed。
　　Andtheywilltakethemonthesafeexpeditionsandbecautiousaboutthedangerousones？
　　True。
　　Andtheywillplacethemunderthecommandofexperiencedveteranswhowillbetheirleadersandteachers？
　　Veryproperly。
　　Still，thedangersofwarcannotbealwaysforeseen；thereisagooddealofchanceaboutthem？
　　True。
　　Thenagainstsuchchancesthechildrenmustbeatoncefurnishedwithwings，inorderthatinthehourofneedtheymayflyawayandescape。
　　Whatdoyoumean？hesaid。
　　Imeanthatwemustmountthemonhorsesintheirearliestyouth，andwhentheyhavelearnttoride，takethemonhorsebacktoseewar：thehorsesmustbespiritedandwarlike，butthemosttractableandyettheswiftestthatcanbehad。Inthiswaytheywillgetanexcellentviewofwhatishereaftertobetheirownbusiness；andifthereisdangertheyhaveonlytofollowtheirelderleadersandescape。
　　Ibelievethatyouareright，hesaid。
　　Next，astowar；whataretobetherelationsofyoursoldierstooneanotherandtotheirenemies？Ishouldbeinclinedtoproposethatthesoldierwholeaveshisrankorthrowsawayhisarms，orisguiltyofanyotheractofcowardice，shouldbedegradedintotherankofahusbandmanorartisan。Whatdoyouthink？
　　Byallmeans，Ishouldsay。
　　Andhewhoallowshimselftobetakenprisonermayaswellbemadeapresentoftohisenemies；heistheirlawfulprey，andletthemdowhattheylikewithhim。
　　Certainly。
　　Buttheherowhohasdistinguishedhimself，whatshallbedonetohim？Inthefirstplace，heshallreceivehonourinthearmyfromhisyouthfulcomrades；everyoneoftheminsuccessionshallcrownhim。Whatdoyousay？
　　Iapprove。
　　Andwhatdoyousaytohisreceivingtherighthandoffellowship？
　　Tothattoo，Iagree。
　　Butyouwillhardlyagreetomynextproposal。
　　Whatisyourproposal？
　　Thatheshouldkissandbekissedbythem。
　　Mostcertainly，andIshouldbedisposedtogofurther，andsay：Letnoonewhomhehasamindtokissrefusetobekissedbyhimwhiletheexpeditionlasts。Sothatiftherebealoverinthearmy，whetherhislovebeyouthormaiden，hemaybemoreeagertowintheprizeofvalour。
　　Capital，Isaid。Thatthebravemanistohavemorewivesthanothershasbeenalreadydetermined：andheistohavefirstchoicesinsuchmattersmorethanothers，inorderthathemayhaveasmanychildrenaspossible？
　　Agreed。
　　Again，thereisanothermannerinwhich，accordingtoHomer，braveyouthsshouldbehonoured；forhetellshowAjax，afterhehaddistinguishedhimselfinbattle，wasrewardedwithlongchines，whichseemstobeacomplimentappropriatetoaherointheflowerofhisage，beingnotonlyatributeofhonourbutalsoaverystrengtheningthing。
　　Mosttrue，hesaid。
　　Theninthis，Isaid，Homershallbeourteacher；andwetoo，atsacrificesandonthelikeoccasions，willhonourthebraveaccordingtothemeasureoftheirvalour，whethermenorwomen，withhymnsandthoseotherdistinctionswhichwewerementioning；alsowithseatsofprecedence，andmeatsandfullcups；
　　andinhonouringthem，weshallbeatthesametimetrainingthem。
　　That，hereplied，isexcellent。
　　Yes，Isaid；andwhenamandiesgloriouslyinwarshallwenotsay，inthefirstplace，thatheisofthegoldenrace？
　　Tobesure。
　　Nay，havewenottheauthorityofHesiodforaffirmingthatwhentheyaredeadTheyareholyangelsupontheearth，authorsofgood，avertersofevil，theguardiansofspeech—giftedmen？
　　Yes；andweaccepthisauthority。
　　Wemustlearnofthegodhowwearetoorderthesepultureofdivineandheroicpersonages，andwhatistobetheirspecialdistinctionandwemustdoashebids？
　　Byallmeans。
　　Andinagestocomewewillreverencethemandknee。beforetheirsepulchresasatthegravesofheroes。Andnotonlytheybutanywhoaredeemedpre—eminentlygood，whethertheydiefromage，orinanyotherway，shallbeadmittedtothesamehonours。
　　Thatisveryright，hesaid。
　　Next，howshalloursoldierstreattheirenemies？Whataboutthis？
　　Inwhatrespectdoyoumean？
　　Firstofall，inregardtoslavery？DoyouthinkitrightthatHellenesshouldenslaveHellenicStates，orallowotherstoenslavethem，iftheycanhelp？Shouldnottheircustombetosparethem，consideringthedangerwhichthereisthatthewholeracemayonedayfallundertheyokeofthebarbarians？
　　Tosparethemisinfinitelybetter。
　　ThennoHelleneshouldbeownedbythemasaslave；thatisarulewhichtheywillobserveandadvisetheotherHellenestoobserve。
　　Certainly，hesaid；theywillinthiswaybeunitedagainstthebarbariansandwillkeeptheirhandsoffoneanother。
　　Nextastotheslain；oughttheconquerors，Isaid，totakeanythingbuttheirarmour？Doesnotthepracticeofdespoilinganenemyaffordanexcusefornotfacingthebattle？Cowardsskulkaboutthedead，pretendingthattheyarefulfillingaduty，andmanyanarmybeforenowhasbeenlostfromthisloveofplunder。
　　Verytrue。