It might be well if every man could come to the colony having equal property; but equality is impossible, and therefore we must avoid causes of offence by having property valued and by equalizing taxation.  To this end, let us make four classes in which the citizens may be placed according to the measure of their original property, and the changes of their fortune.  The greatest of evils is revolution; and this, as the law will say, is caused by extremes of poverty or wealth.  The limit of poverty shall be the lot, which must not be diminished, and may be increased fivefold, but not more.  He who exceeds the limit must give up the excess to the state; but if he does not, and is informed against, the surplus shall be divided between the informer and the Gods, and he shall pay a sum equal to the surplus out Of his own property.  All property other than the lot must be inscribed in a register, so that any disputes which arise may be easily determined.

The city shall be placed in a suitable situation, as nearly as possible in the centre of the country, and shall be divided into twelve wards.  First, we will erect an acropolis, encircled by a wall, within which shall be placed the temples of Hestia, and Zeus, and Athene.  From this shall be drawn lines dividing the city, and also the country, into twelve sections, and the country shall be subdivided into 5040 lots.  Each lot shall contain two parts, one at a distance, the other near the city; and the distance of one part shall be compensated by the nearness of the other, the badness and goodness by the greater or less size.  Twelve lots will be assigned to twelve Gods, and they will give their names to the tribes.  The divisions of the city shall correspond to those of the country; and every man shall have two habitations, one near the centre of the country, the other at the extremity.

The objection will naturally arise, that all the advantages of which we have been speaking will never concur.  The citizens will not tolerate a settlement in which they are deprived of gold and silver, and have the number of their families regulated, and the sites of their houses fixed by law.  It will be said that our city is a mere image of wax.  And the legislator will answer:  ’I know it, but I maintain that we ought to set forth an ideal which is as perfect as possible.  If difficulties arise in the execution of the plan, we must avoid them and carry out the remainder.  But the legislator must first be allowed to complete his idea without interruption.’

The number twelve, which we have chosen for the number of division, must run through all parts of the state,—­phratries, villages, ranks of soldiers, coins, and measures wet and dry, which are all to be made commensurable with one another.  There is no meanness in requiring that the smallest vessels should have a common measure; for the divisions of number are useful in measuring height and depth, as well as sounds and motions, upwards