Book IX - Page 2

your might, and how you are to guard
we will explain to you. When any such thought comes into your mind, go and
perform expiations, go as a suppliant to the temples of the Gods who avert
evils, go to the society of those who are called good men among you; hear
them tell and yourself try to repeat after them, that every man should
honour the noble and the just. Fly from the company of the wicked--fly and
turn not back; and if your disorder is lightened by these remedies, well
and good, but if not, then acknowledge death to be nobler than life, and
depart hence.

Such are the preludes which we sing to all who have thoughts of unholy and
treasonable actions, and to him who hearkens to them the law has nothing
to say. But to him who is disobedient when the prelude is over, cry with a
loud voice--He who is taken in the act of robbing temples, if he be a
slave or stranger, shall have his evil deed engraven on his face and
hands, and shall be beaten with as many stripes as may seem good to the
judges, and be cast naked beyond the borders of the land. And if he
suffers this punishment he will probably return to his right mind and be
improved; for no penalty which the law inflicts is designed for evil, but
always makes him who suffers either better or not so much worse as he
would have been. But if any citizen be found guilty of any great or
unmentionable wrong, either in relation to the Gods, or his parents, or
the state, let the judge deem him to be incurable, remembering that after
receiving such an excellent education and training from youth upward, he
has not abstained from the greatest of crimes. His punishment shall be
death, which to him will be the least of evils; and his example will
benefit others, if he perish ingloriously, and be cast beyond the borders
of the land. But let his children and family, if they avoid the ways of
their father, have glory, and let honourable mention be made of them, as
having nobly and manfully escaped out of evil into good. None of them
should have their goods confiscated to the state, for the lots of the
citizens ought always to continue the same and equal.

Touching the exaction of penalties, when a man appears to have done
anything which deserves a fine, he shall pay the fine, if he have anything
in excess of the lot which is assigned to him; but more than that he shall
not pay. And to secure exactness, let the guardians of the law refer to
the registers, and inform the judges of the precise truth, in order that
none of the lots may go uncultivated for want of money. But if any one
seems to deserve a greater penalty, let him undergo a long and public
imprisonment and be dishonoured, unless some of his friends are willing to
be surety for him, and liberate him by assisting