A good city has peace, but the evil city is full of wars within and without.

To guard against the danger of external enemies the citizens should practise war at least one day in every month; they should go out en masse, including their wives and children, or in divisions, as the magistrates determine, and have mimic contests, imitating in a lively manner real battles; they should also have prizes and encomiums of valour, both for the victors in these contests, and for the victors in the battle of life.

The poet who celebrates the victors should be fifty years old at least, and himself a man who has done great deeds.

Of such an one the poems may be sung, even though he is not the best of poets.

To the director of education and the guardians of the law shall be committed the judgment, and no song, however sweet, which has not been licensed by them shall be recited.