to aim. You will say, How, and with what weapons? In the first place we
affirm, that after the Olympian Gods and the Gods of the state, honour
should be given to the Gods below, and to them should be offered
everything in even numbers and of the second choice; the auspicious odd
numbers and everything of the first choice are reserved for the Gods
above. Next demi-gods or spirits must be honoured, and then heroes, and
after them family gods, who will be worshipped at their local seats
according to law. Further, the honour due to parents should not be
forgotten; children owe all that they have to them, and the debt must be
repaid by kindness and attention in old age. No unbecoming word must be
uttered before them; for there is an avenging angel who hears them when
they are angry, and the child should consider that the parent when he has
been wronged has a right to be angry. After their death let them have a
moderate funeral, such as their fathers have had before them; and there
shall be an annual commemoration of them. Living on this wise, we shall be
accepted of the Gods, and shall pass our days in good hope. The law will
determine all our various duties towards relatives and friends and other
citizens, and the whole state will be happy and prosperous. But if the
legislator would persuade as well as command, he will add prefaces to his
laws which will predispose the citizens to virtue. Even a little
accomplished in the way of gaining the hearts of men is of great value.
For most men are in no particular haste to become good. As Hesiod says:

'Long and steep is the first half of the way to virtue, But when you have
reached the top the rest is easy.'

'Those are excellent words.' Yes; but may I tell you the effect which the
preceding discourse has had upon me? I will express my meaning in an
address to the lawgiver:--O lawgiver, if you know what we ought to do and
say, you can surely tell us;--you are not like the poet, who, as you were