Selecta capita ex scriptoribus Graecis in usum classis quintae Carolinae

But the Persian laws, having anticipated this, take care that from the beginning the citizens will not be such as to desire any wicked or shameful deed. They take care in this way. There is for them a "free square" The eleuthera agora was the center of civic and political life in the Persian system as described by Xenophon. so-called, where both the royal palace and the other government offices have been built. From there, both goods for sale and the market-folk, and their cries and vulgarities, have been driven away to another place, so that their confusion may not mingle with the good order of those who have been educated.

This square, the one around the government offices, is divided into four parts. Of these, one is for boys, one for youths, another for perfect men, and another for those who have passed the military age. By law, each of these comes to their own places: the boys and the perfect men at daybreak, and the elders whenever it suits each one, except on the appointed days on which they must be present. The youths even sleep around the government offices with their practice weapons, except those who are married. These are not required to be present unless it is proclaimed, but it is not honorable for them to be absent often.

There are twelve rulers for each of these parts (for the tribes of the Persians are also divided into twelve). Over the boys are those of the elders who seem likely to demonstrate the boys as best. Over the youths are those of the perfect men who seem likely to provide them as the best youths. Over the perfect men are those who seem