Cleinias:  Very true.

Athenian.  Am I not right in maintaining that a good education is that which tends most to the improvement of mind and body?

Cleinias:  Undoubtedly.

Athenian:  And nothing can be plainer than that the fairest bodies are those which grow up from infancy in the best and straightest manner?

Cleinias:  Certainly.

Athenian:  And do we not further observe that the first shoot of every living thing is by far the greatest and fullest?  Many will even contend that a man at twenty-five does not reach twice the height which he attained at five.

Cleinias:  True.

Athenian:  Well, and is not rapid growth without proper and abundant exercise the source endless evils in the body?

Cleinias:  Yes.

Athenian:  And the body should have the most exercise when it receives most nourishment?

Cleinias:  But, Stranger, are we to impose this great amount of exercise upon newly-born infants?

Athenian:  Nay, rather on the bodies of infants still unborn.

Cleinias:  What do you mean, my good sir?  In the process of gestation?

Athenian:  Exactly.  I am not at all surprised that you have never heard of this very peculiar sort of gymnastic applied to such little creatures, which, although strange, I will endeavour to explain to you.

Cleinias:  By all means.

Athenian:  The practice is more easy for us to understand than for you, by reason of certain amusements which are carried to excess by us at Athens.  Not only boys, but often older persons, are in the habit of keeping quails and cocks (compare Republic), which they train to fight one another.  And they are far from thinking that the contests in which they stir them up to fight with one another are sufficient exercise; for, in addition to this, they carry them about tucked beneath their armpits, holding the smaller birds in their hands, the larger under their arms, and go for a walk of a great many miles for the sake of health, that is to say, not their own health, but the health of the birds; whereby they prove to any intelligent person, that all bodies are benefited by shakings and movements, when they are moved without weariness, whether the motion proceeds from themselves, or is caused by a swing, or at sea, or on horseback, or by other bodies in whatever way moving, and that thus gaining the mastery over food and drink, they are able to impart beauty and health and strength.  But admitting all this, what follows?  Shall we make a ridiculous law that the pregnant woman shall walk about and fashion the embryo within as we fashion wax before it hardens, and after birth swathe the infant for two years?  Suppose that we compel nurses, under penalty of a legal fine, to be always carrying the children somewhere or other, either to the temples,