Since, however, it is necessary that the multitude of the citizens should be distributed among the public tables, and that the walls should have bulwarks and towers in appropriate places, it is evident that it will be requisite to have some of the public tables in the towers. And these, indeed, may therefore be disposed after this manner, so as to be an ornament to the walls. It is fit, however, that the buildings assigned to the gods, and the principal public tables of the magistrates, should have an appropriate and the same place, except those temples which the law or some Pythian oracle orders to be separate from other buildings. But these should be in a place so conspicuously eminent, as to have every advantage of situation, and should be in the neighbourhood of that part of the city which is best fortified. It is also fit that under this place a forum should be constructed, such as that in Thessaly which they call the forum of liberty. This, however, ought to be pure from all merchandise; nor should any one engaged in sordid occupations, nor any husbandman, or such-like person, be permitted to enter into it, unless commanded by the magistrates. This place will likewise be very agreeable, if the gymnasia of the more elderly men are constructed in it. It is also proper that for performing these exercises the citizens should be divided according to their ages; and that certain magistrates should accompany both the younger and more elderly men. For the being present before the eyes of the magistrates will especially produce true shame and ingenuous fear. But it is requisite that there should be another forum besides this, and separate from it, for buying and selling, which should be so situated as to be commodious for the reception of goods both by sea and land. As, however, the multitude of the citizens may be divided into priests and magistrates, it is fit that the public tables of the priests should be arranged about the sacred buildings; but those of the magistrates who preside over contracts, indictments, and such-like, and also over the markets, and those whose office is what is called astynomia, or the inspection of the public buildings and roads, should be near the forum, or some public way. Such a place, however, as this is the forum where things are bought and sold. For the other forum was intended by us for those who are at leisure; but this, for necessary business. It is likewise requisite that the above-mentioned order should be imitated in the country; for there, also, the magistrates whom they call the surveyors of the woods and overseers of the grounds, must necessarily have their common tables and their towers for protection against an enemy. Temples, also, ought to be distributed through the region, partly to the gods, and partly to the heroes. It would, however, be superfluous to dwell accurately on these particulars at present. For it is not difficult to understand such things, but it is rather so to accomplish them; since to speak of them is the business of our wishes; but for them to happen conformably to our wishes, is the work of fortune. Hence, we shall omit at present to speak further about such particulars.
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