WHEN children, however, are born, it must be supposed that the quality of their food is of great consequence as to the strength of their body. But it appears from a survey of other animals, and of different nations, who are anxious to introduce a warlike habit into their children, that the nutriment of milk, when it is in abundance, is most adapted to their bodies, but without wine, in order to prevent disease. Those motions, also, which are natural to their age, are very advantageous. And that their limbs may not be distorted on account of their softness, some nations, even now, use certain machines which preserve the body from such-like injuries. It is, likewise, useful to accustom children to the cold, when they are very little; for this is most advantageous both to their health, and to warlike actions. Hence, it is the custom with many of the Barbarians to dip their children in rivers when the water is cold; and with others, to clothe them very slightly, as with the Celtæ. For, with respect to every thing which it is possible to be accustomed to, it is better to be accustomed to it from our birth; but by degrees. And the habit of children is naturally adapted on account of its heat to the endurance of cold. These, therefore, and other things of a similar nature, ought to be the first object of our attention. But the next age to this continues till the child is five years old; during which time it is best not to teach him any thing, nor employ him in necessary labours, lest it should hinder his growth; but he should be accustomed to use so much motion as is requisite to avoid an indolent habit of body. And this motion it is proper he should obtain through other actions, and also through play. It is, likewise, necessary that his play should be neither illiberal, nor laborious, nor slothful. Let their governors, also, who are called paidonomoi, or the masters of education, pay attention to what kind of narrations and fables it is proper for them to hear. For all such things ought to be preparatory to their future instruction. Hence, most of their sports ought to be imitations of the serious pursuits in which they are afterwards to engage. With respect to the disputes among children, and their crying, they do not act rightly who forbid them by law. For they contribute to their growth; since they are a sort of exercise to their bodies. For holding the breath produces strength in those that labour, which happens to children in their quarrels. The masters of their education, also, should pay attention to their manner of life in other respects, and should be particularly careful that they do not associate with slaves. For at this age, and until they are seven years old, it is necessary that they should be educated at home. It is very proper, therefore, to banish, both from their hearing and sight, every thing illiberal and degrading. In short, it is as necessary that the legislator should exterminate from the city indecent language, as any thing else. For the permission to speak whatever is shameful is soon followed by the commission of it. From their childhood, therefore, the greatest care should be taken that they neither speak nor hear any such thing. But if it appears that any freeman has said or done any thing that is forbidden, before, through his youth, he is thought worthy to partake of the common tables, let him be punished by disgrace and stripes; and if a freeman, who is above that age, does so, let him be treated like a slave with illiberal disgrace. Since, however, we exterminate all language of this kind, it is evident that children should neither see obscene pictures, nor read obscene stories. Let the magistrates, therefore, take care, that there is neither any statue or picture which imitates actions of this kind; unless they are statues or pictures dedicated to certain gods by permission of the law, which also allows persons of a certain age to pay their devotions to them for themselves, their wives, and children. It should, likewise, be illegal for young persons to be present either at iambics or comedies, before they are arrived at that age in which they are permitted to partake of the pleasures of the table. And education, indeed, will preserve them from the injury arising from things of this kind. At present, therefore, we have cursorily mentioned this affair; but hereafter it will be necessary to determine [more fully] whether, in the first place, this attention to children is necessary or not, and in what manner it must be accomplished. At present we have only mentioned it as necessary. For perhaps the saying of Theodorus, the tragic actor, is not a bad one, that he would not permit any one, not even the meanest actor, to go upon the stage before him, in consequence of the spectators being favourably disposed to those whom they hear first. The very same thing also happens in the associations with men and things. For what we first meet with we love in a greater degree. Hence, it is necessary to make every thing which is bad strange to youth; but particularly such things as are attended with depravity and obscenity. When, also, five years have elapsed, in the two next it is necessary they should be spectators of the disciplines which it will be requisite for them to learn. But there are two periods into which education ought to be divided; the one, indeed, being from seven years of age to the time of puberty; and the other, from thence to the age of one-and-twenty. For those who divide ages by sevens, for the most part do not speak well. It is necessary, however, to follow the division of nature. For every art and discipline wishes to supply what is defective in nature. In the first place, therefore, it must be considered whether any arrangement is to be made respecting children; and in the next place, whether it is advantageous to make the attention which should be paid to them common, or conducted after a private manner; which is at present the practice in most cities. But in the third place, what kind of attention this ought to be.
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