As in the case of other laws, let us have a preamble, relating to all this class of crime.

Adulteration is a kind of falsehood about which the many commonly say that at proper times the practice may often be right, but they do not define at what times.

But the legislator will tell them, that no man should invoke the Gods when he is practising deceit or fraud, in word or deed.

For he is the enemy of heaven, first, who swears falsely, not thinking of the Gods by whom he swears, and secondly, he who lies to his superiors.

(Now the superiors are the betters of inferiors,--the elder of the younger, parents of children, men of women, and rulers of subjects.) The trader who cheats in the agora is a liar and is perjured--he respects neither the name of God nor the regulations of the magistrates.