temperance--not prudence, but that natural temperance which is the gift of
children and animals, and is hardly reckoned among goods--with this he
must be endowed, if the state is to acquire the form most conducive to
happiness in the speediest manner. And I must add one other condition: the
tyrant must be fortunate, and his good fortune must consist in his having
the co-operation of a great legislator. When God has done all this, He has
done the best which He can for a state; not so well if He has given them
two legislators instead of one, and less and less well if He has given
them a great many. An orderly tyranny most easily passes into the perfect
state; in the second degree, a monarchy; in the third degree, a democracy;
an oligarchy is worst of all. 'I do not understand.' I suppose that you
have never seen a city which is subject to a tyranny? 'I have no desire to
see one.' You would have seen what I am describing, if you ever had. The
tyrant can speedily change the manners of a state, and affix the stamp of
praise or blame on any action which he pleases; for the citizens readily
follow the example which he sets. There is no quicker way of making
changes; but there is a counterbalancing difficulty. It is hard to find
the divine love of temperance and justice existing in any powerful form of
government, whether in a monarchy or an oligarchy. In olden days there
were chiefs like Nestor, who was the most eloquent and temperate of
mankind, but there is no one his equal now. If such an one ever arises
among us, blessed will he be, and blessed they who listen to his words.
For where power and wisdom and temperance meet in one, there are the best
laws and constitutions. I am endeavouring to show you how easy under the
conditions supposed, and how difficult under any other, is the task of
giving a city good laws. 'How do you mean?' Let us old men attempt to
mould in words a constitution for your new state, as children make figures
out of wax. 'Proceed. What constitution shall we give--democracy,
oligarchy, or aristocracy?' To which of these classes, Megillus, do you
refer your own state? 'The Spartan constitution seems to me to contain all