806
Megillus
Meg. What are we to do, Clinias? Shall we allow the Stranger to run down our Sparta in this fashion?
Clinias
Clin. Yes: now that we have granted him free speech we must let him be, until we have discussed the laws fully.
Megillus
Meg. You are right.
Athenian
Ath. May I, then, endeavor without more delay to proceed with my exposition?
5
Clinias
Clin. By all means.
Athenian
Ath. What manner of life would men live, supposing that they possessed a moderate supply of all the necessaries, and that they had entrusted all the crafts to other hands, and that their farms were hired out to slaves, and yielded them produce enough for their modest needs? Let us further suppose that they had public mess-rooms—separate rooms for men, and others close by for their households, including the girls and their mothers—