these elements. Our state is a democracy and also an aristocracy; the
power of the Ephors is tyrannical, and we have an ancient monarchy.' 'Much
the same,' adds Cleinias, 'may be said of Cnosus.' The reason is that you
have polities, but other states are mere aggregations of men dwelling
together, which are named after their several ruling powers; whereas a
state, if an 'ocracy' at all, should be called a theocracy. A tale of old
will explain my meaning. There is a tradition of a golden age, in which
all things were spontaneous and abundant. Cronos, then lord of the world,
knew that no mortal nature could endure the temptations of power, and
therefore he appointed demons or demi-gods, who are of a superior race, to
have dominion over man, as man has dominion over the animals. They took
care of us with great ease and pleasure to themselves, and no less to us;
and the tradition says that only when God, and not man, is the ruler, can
the human race cease from ill. This was the manner of life which prevailed
under Cronos, and which we must strive to follow so far as the principle
of immortality still abides in us and we live according to law and the
dictates of right reason. But in an oligarchy or democracy, when the
governing principle is athirst for pleasure, the laws are trampled under
foot, and there is no possibility of salvation. Is it not often said that
there are as many forms of laws as there are governments, and that they
have no concern either with any one virtue or with all virtue, but are
relative to the will of the government? Which is as much as to say that
'might makes right.' 'What do you mean?' I mean that governments enact
their own laws, and that every government makes self-preservation its
principal aim. He who transgresses the laws is regarded as an evil-doer,
and punished accordingly. This was one of the unjust principles of
government which we mentioned when speaking of the different claims to
rule. We were agreed that parents should rule their children, the elder
the younger, the noble the ignoble. But there were also several other
principles, and among them Pindar's 'law of violence.' To whom then is our