In the next place,we have to consider what sort of property will be most convenient.There is no difficulty either in understanding or acquiring most kinds of property,but there is great difficulty in what relates to slaves.And the reason is that we speak about them in a way which is right and which is not right;for what we say about our slaves is consistent and also inconsistent with our practice about them.
Megillus.I do not understand,Stranger,what you mean.
Ath.I am not surprised,Megillus,for the state of the Helots among the Lacedaemonians is of all Hellenic forms of slavery the most controverted and disputed about,some approving and some condemning it;there is less dispute about the slavery which exists among the Heracleots,who have subjugated the Mariandynians,and about the Thessalian Penestae.Looking at these and the like examples,what ought we to do concerning property in slaves?I made a remark,in passing,which naturally elicited a question about my meaning from you.It was this:-We know that all would agree that we should have the best and most attached slaves whom we can get.For many a man has found his slaves better in every way than brethren or sons,and many times they have saved the lives and property of their masters and their whole house-such tales are well known.
Meg.To be sure.
Ath.But may we not also say that the soul of the slave is utterly corrupt,and that no man of sense ought to trust them?And the wisest of our poets,speaking of Zeus,says:
Far-seeing Zeus takes away half the understanding of men whom the day of slavery subdues.
Different persons have got these two different notions of slaves in their minds-some of them utterly distrust their servants,and,as if they were wild beasts,chastise them with goads and whips,and make their souls three times,or rather many times,as slavish as they were before;-and others do just the opposite.
Meg.True.
Cle.Then what are we to do in our own country,Stranger,seeing that there are,such differences in the treatment of slaves by their owners?
Ath.Well,Cleinias,there can be no doubt that man is a troublesome animal,and therefore he is not very manageable,nor likely to become so,when you attempt to introduce the necessary division,slave,and freeman,and master.
Cle.That is obvious.
Ath.He is a troublesome piece of goods,as has been often shown by the frequent revolts of the Messenians,and the great mischiefs which happen in states having many slaves who speak the same language,and the numerous robberies and lawless life of the Italian banditti,as they are called.A man who considers all this is fairly at a loss.Two remedies alone remain to us-not to have the slaves of the same country,nor if possible,speaking the same language;in this way they will more easily be held in subjection:secondly,we should tend them carefully,not only out of regard to them,but yet more out of respect to ourselves.And the right treatment of slaves is to behave properly to them,and to do to them,if possible,even more justice than to those who are our equals;for he who naturally and genuinely reverences justice,and hates injustice,is discovered in his dealings with any class of men to whom he can easily be unjust.
And he who in regard to the natures and actions of his slaves is undefiled by impiety and injustice,will best sow the seeds of virtue in them;and this may be truly said of every master,and tyrant,and of every other having authority in relation to his inferiors.Slaves ought to be punished as they deserve,and not admonished as if they were freemen,which will only make them conceited.The language used to a servant ought always to be that of a command,and we ought not to jest with them,whether they are males or females-this is a foolish way which many people have of setting up their slaves,and making the life of servitude more disagreeable both for them and for their masters.
Cle.True.
Ath.Now that each of the citizens is provided,as far as possible,with a sufficient number of suitable slaves who can help him in what he has to do,we may next proceed to describe their dwellings.
Cle.Very good.
Ath.The city being new and hitherto uninhabited,care ought to be taken of all the buildings,and the manner of building each of them,and also of the temples and walls.These,Cleinias,were matters which properly came before the marriages;but,as we are only talking,there is no objection to changing the order.If,however,our plan of legislation is ever to take effect,then the house shall precede the marriage if God so will,and afterwards we will come to the regulations about marriage;but at present we are only describing these matters in a general outline.
Cle.Quite true.