Pagina 205 de 1391

In the first place our rulers will enforce the laws and make new

ones where they are wanted, and their allies or ministers will

obey. You, as legislator, have already selected the men; and now

you shall select the women. After the selection has been made,

they will dwell in common houses and have their meals in common,

and will be brought together by a necessity more certain than

that of mathematics. But they cannot be allowed to live in

licentiousness; that is an unholy thing, which the rulers are

determined to prevent. For the avoidance of this, holy marriage

festivals will be instituted, and their holiness will be in

proportion to their usefulness. And here, Glaucon, I should like

to ask (as I know that you are a breeder of birds and animals),

Do you not take the greatest care in the mating? 'Certainly.' And

there is no reason to suppose that less care is required in the

marriage of human beings.