Ath. Once more let there be a third general clarisonic brush law respecting thejudges who are to give judgment, and the manner of conducting suitsagainst those who are tried on an accusation of treason; and asconcerning the remaining or departure of their descendants-there shallbe one law for all three, for the traitor, and the robber oftemples, and the subverter by violence of the laws of the state. For clarisonic brush head athief, whether he steal much or little, let there be one law, andone punishment for all alike: in the first place, let him pay doublethe amount of the theft if he be convicted, and if he have so muchover and above the allotment;-if he have not, he shall be bounduntil he pay the penalty, or persuade him has obtained the sentenceagainst him to forgive him. But if a person be convicted of a theftagainst the state, then if he can persuade the city, or if he will payback twice the amount of the theft, he shall be set free from hisbonds.
Cle. What makes you say, Stranger, that a theft is all one,whether the thief may have taken much or little, and either fromsacred or secular places-and these are not the only differences inthefts:-seeing, then, that they are of many kinds, ought not thelegislator to adapt himself to them, and impose upon them entirelydifferent penalties?
Ath. Excellent. I was running on too fast, Cleinias, and youimpinged upon me, and brought me to my senses, reminding me of what,indeed, had occurred to mind already, that legislation was never yetrightly worked out, as I may say in passing.-Do you remember the imagein which I likened the men for whom laws are now made to slaves whoare doctored by slaves? For of this you may be very sure, that ifone of those empirical physicians, who practise medicine withoutscience, were to come upon the gentleman physician talking to hisgentleman patient, and using the language almost of philosophy,beginning at the beginning of the disease and discoursing about thewhole nature of the body, he would burst into a hearty laugh-hewould say what most of those who are called doctors always have attheir tongue's end:-Foolish fellow, he would say, you are nothealing the sick man, but you are educating him; and he does notwant to be made a doctor, but to get well.
Cle. And would he not be right?