About property in general there is little difficulty, with the exception of property in slaves, which is an institution of a very doubtful character.  The slavery of the Helots is approved by some and condemned by others; and there is some doubt even about the slavery of the Mariandynians at Heraclea and of the Thessalian Penestae.  This makes us ask, What shall we do about slaves?  To which every one would agree in replying,—­Let us have the best and most attached whom we can get.  All of us have heard stories of slaves who have been better to their masters than sons or brethren.  Yet there is an opposite doctrine, that slaves are never to be trusted; as Homer says, ’Slavery takes away half a man’s understanding.’  And different persons treat them in different ways:  there are some who never trust them, and beat them like dogs, until they make them many times more slavish than they were before; and others pursue the opposite plan.  Man is a troublesome animal, as has been often shown, Megillus, notably in the revolts of the Messenians; and great mischiefs have arisen in countries where there are large bodies of slaves of one nationality.  Two rules may be given for their management:  first that they should not, if possible, be of the same country or have a common language; and secondly, that they should be treated by their master with more justice even than equals, out of regard to himself quite as much as to them.  For he who is righteous in the treatment of his slaves, or of any inferiors, will sow in them the seed of virtue.  Masters should never jest with their slaves:  this, which is a common but foolish practice, increases the difficulty and painfulness of managing them.

Next as to habitations.  These ought to have been spoken of before; for no man can marry a wife, and have slaves, who has not a house for them to live in.  Let us supply the omission.  The temples should be placed round the Agora, and the city built in a circle on the heights.  Near the temples, which are holy places and the habitations of the Gods, should be buildings for the magistrates, and the courts of law, including those in which capital offences are to be tried.  As to walls, Megillus, I agree with Sparta that they should sleep in the earth; ’cold steel is the best wall,’ as the poet finely says.  Besides, how absurd to be sending out our youth to fortify and guard the borders of our country, and then to build a city wall, which is very unhealthy, and is apt to make people fancy that they may run there and rest in idleness, not knowing that true repose comes from labour, and that idleness is only a renewal of trouble.  If, however, there must be a wall, the private houses had better be so arranged as to form one wall; this will have an agreeable aspect, and the building will be safer and more defensible.  These objects should be attended to at the foundation of the city.  The wardens of the city must see that they are carried out; and they must also enforce cleanliness, and preserve the public buildings from encroachments.  Moreover, they must take care to let the rain flow off easily, and must regulate other matters concerning the general administration of the city.  If any further enactments prove to be necessary, the guardians of the law must supply them.