And now, what is this city?
I do not want to know what is to be the name of the place (for some accident,--a river or a local deity, will determine that), but what the situation is, whether maritime or inland.

'The city will be about eleven miles from the sea.' Are there harbours?
'Excellent.' And is the surrounding country self-supporting?
'Almost.' Any neighbouring states?
'No; and that is the reason for choosing the place, which has been deserted from time immemorial.' And is there a fair proportion of hill and plain and wood?
'Like Crete in general, more hill than plain.' Then there is some hope for your citizens; had the city been on the sea, and dependent for support on other countries, no human power could have preserved you from corruption.

Even the distance of eleven miles is hardly enough.

For the sea, although an agreeable, is a dangerous companion, and a highway of strange morals and manners as well as of commerce.

But as the country is only moderately fertile there will be no great export trade and no great returns of gold and silver, which are the ruin of states.