buildings. From this place all goods for sale are rigidly excluded,
and all hawkers and hucksters with their yells and cries and
vulgarities. They must go elsewhere, so that their clamour may not
mingle with and mar the grace and orderliness of the educated classes.
[4] This square, where the public buildings stand, is divided into
four quarters which are assigned as follows: one for the boys, another
for the youths, a third for the grown men, and the last for those who
are past the age of military service. The law requires all the
citizens to present themselves at certain times and seasons in their
appointed places. The lads and the grown men must be there at
daybreak; the elders may, as a rule, choose their own time, except on
certain fixed days, when they too are expected to present themselves
like the rest. Moreover, the young men are bound to sleep at night
round the public buildings, with their arms at their side; only the
married men among them are exempt, and need not be on duty at night
unless notice has been given, though even in their case frequent
absence is thought unseemly. [5] Over each of these divisions are
placed twelve governors, twelve being the number of the Persian
tribes. The governors of the boys are chosen from the elders, and
those are appointed who are thought best fitted to make the best of
their lads: the governors of the youths are selected from the grown
men, and on the same principle; and for the grown men themselves and
their own governors; the choice falls on those who will, it is hoped,
make them most prompt to carry out their appointed duties, and fulfil
the commands imposed by the supreme authority. Finally, the elders
themselves have presidents of their own, chosen to see that they too
perform their duty to the full.

[6] We will now describe the services demanded from the different
classes, and thus it will appear how the Persians endeavour to improve