that made them?" "That is impossible," said Hippias, "because all men cannot be assembled in the same place, and they speak not all of them the same language." "Who, then, do you think gave us these laws?" "The gods," answered Hippias; "for the first command to all men is to adore the gods." "And is it not likewise commanded everywhere to honour one's father and mother?" "Yes, certainly," said Hippias. Socrates went on:--"And that fathers and mothers should not marry with their own children, is not that too a general command?" "No," answered Hippias, "this last law is not a Divine law, because I see some persons transgress it." "They observe not the others better," said Socrates; "but take notice, that no man violates with impunity a law established by the gods. There are unavoidable punishments annexed to this crime; but we easily secure ourselves from the rigour of human laws, after we have transgressed them, either by keeping ourselves hid, or defending ourselves by open force." "And what is this punishment," said Hippias, "which it is impossible for fathers, who marry with their own children, to avoid?" "It is very great," said Socrates; "for what can be more afflicting to men, who desire to have children than to have very bad ones?" "And how do you know," pursued Hippias, "that they will have bad children? What shall hinder them, if they are virtuous themselves, from having children that are so likewise?" "It is not enough," answered Socrates, "that the father and the mother be virtuous: they must, besides, be both of them in the vigour and perfection of their age. Now, do you believe, that the seed of persons who are too young, or who are already in their declining age, is equal to that of persons who are in their full strength?" "It is not likely that it is," said Hippias. "And which is the best?" pursued Socrates. "Without doubt," said Hippias, "that of a man in his strength." "It follows, then," continued Socrates, "that the seed of persons who are not yet come to their full strength, or who are past it, is not good." "In all appearance it is not." "In those ages, then, we ought not to get children?" said Socrates. "I think so." "Such, therefore, as indulge their lust in such untimely fruition will have very weakly children?" "I grant they will." "And are not weakly children bad ones?" "They are," said Hippias.