ery, not to disobey the magistrate,
and so forth; and on the transgressor they impose a penalty. [3] But the
Persian laws try, as it were, to steal a march on time, to make their
citizens from the beginning incapable of setting their hearts on any
wickedness or shameful conduct whatsoever. And this is how they set
about their object.

In their cities they have an open place or square dedicated to Freedom
(Free Square they call it), where stand the palace and other public
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
their citizens. The boys go to school and give their time to le