Fifthly, that it is the government, which, attaining to
perfect equality, has such a libration in the frame of it, that
no man living can show which way any man or men, in or under it,
can contract any such interest or power as should be able to
disturb the commonwealth with sedition, wherefore an equal
commonwealth is that only which is without flaw and contains in
it the full perfection of government. But to return.

By what has been shown in reason and experience, it may
appear, that though commonwealths in general be governments of
the senate proposing, the people resolving, and the magistracy
executing, yet some are not so good at these orders as others,
through some impediment or defect in the frame, balance, or
capacity of them, according to which they are of divers kinds.

The first division of them is into such as are single, as
Israel, Athens, Lacedaemon, etc.; and such as are by leagues, as
those of the Achaeans, AEtolians, Lycians, Switz, and Hollanders.

The second (being Machiavel's) is into such as are for
preservation, as Lacedaemon and Venice, and such as are for
increase, as Athens and Rome; in which I can see no more than
that the former takes in no more citizens than are necessary for
defence, and the latter so many as are capable of increase.

The third division (unseen hitherto) is into equal and
Unequal, and this is the main point, especially as to domestic
peace and tranquillity; for to make a commonwealth unequal, is to
divide it into parties, which sets them at perpetual variance,
the one party endeavoring to preserve their eminence and