Next follow the building for gymnasia and schools; these will be in the midst of the city, and outside will be riding-schools and archery-grounds.  In all of them there ought to be instructors of the young, drawn from foreign parts by pay, and they will teach them music and war.  Education shall be compulsory; the children must attend school, whether their parents like it or not; for they belong to the state more than to their parents.  And I say further, without hesitation, that the same education in riding and gymnastic shall be given both to men and women.  The ancient tradition about the Amazons confirms my view, and at the present day there are myriads of women, called Sauromatides, dwelling near the Pontus, who practise the art of riding as well as archery and the use of arms.  But if I am right, nothing can be more foolish than our modern fashion of training men and women differently, whereby the power the city is reduced to a half.  For reflect—­if women are not to have the education of men, some other must be found for them, and what other can we propose?  Shall they, like the women of Thrace, tend cattle and till the ground; or, like our own, spin and weave, and take care of the house? or shall they follow the Spartan custom, which is between the two?—­there the maidens share in gymnastic exercises and in music; and the grown women, no longer engaged in spinning, weave the web of life, although they are not skilled in archery, like the Amazons, nor can they imitate our warrior goddess and carry shield or spear, even in the extremity of their country’s need.  Compared with our women, the Sauromatides are like men.  But your legislators, Megillus, as I maintain, only half did their work; they took care of the men, and left the women to take care of themselves.

‘Shall we suffer the Stranger, Cleinias, to run down Sparta in this way?’

’Why, yes; for we cannot withdraw the liberty which we have already conceded to him.’

What will be the manner of life of men in moderate circumstances, freed from the toils of agriculture and business, and having common tables for themselves and their families which are under the inspection of magistrates, male and female?  Are men who have these institutions only to eat and fatten like beasts?  If they do, how can they escape the fate of a fatted beast, which is to be torn in pieces by some other beast more valiant than himself?  True, theirs is not the perfect way of life, for they have not all things in common; but the second best way of life also confers great blessings.  Even those who live in the second state have a work to do twice as great as the work of any Pythian or Olympic victor; for their labour is for the body only, but ours both for body and soul.  And this higher work ought to be pursued night and day to the exclusion of every other.  The magistrates who keep the city should be wakeful, and the master of the household should be up early and before all his servants; and the mistress, too, should awaken her handmaidens, and not be awakened by them.  Much sleep is not required either for our souls or bodies.  When a man is asleep, he is no better than if he were dead; and he who loves life and wisdom will take no more sleep than is necessary for health.  Magistrates who are wide awake at night are terrible to the bad; but they are honoured by the good, and are useful to themselves and the state.