720–721
Clinias
Clin. The double method, Stranger, is by far the better.
Athenian
Ath. Do you wish us to examine the double method and the single as applied also to actual legislation?
Clinias
Clin. Most certainly I wish it.
Athenian
Ath. Come, tell me then, in Heaven’s name,—what would be the first law to be laid down by the lawgiver? Will he not follow the order of nature, and in his ordinances regulate first the starting-point of generation in States?
Athenian
Ath. Does not the starting-point of generation in all States lie in the union and partnership of marriage?Cp. Plat. Laws 631d, 631e..
Athenian
Ath. So it seems that, if the marriage laws were the first to be enacted, that would be the right course in every State.
5
Clinias
Clin. Most assuredly.