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_ We shall next proceed to show how that government which is peculiarly
called a state arises alongside of democracy and oligarchy, and how it
ought to be established; and this will at the same time show what are
the proper boundaries of both these governments, for we must mark out
wherein they differ from one another, and then from both these compose
a state of such parts of each of them as will show from whence they
were taken.
There are three different ways in which two states may be blended and
joined together; for, in the first place, all those rules may be
adopted which the laws of each of them have ordered; as for instance
in the judicial department, for in an oligarchy the rich are fined if
they do not come to the court as jurymen, but the poor are not paid
for their attendance; but in democracies they are, while the rich are
not fined for their neglect. Now these things, as being common to
both, are fit to be observed in a free [1294b] state which is composed
of both. This, then, is one way in which they may be joined together.
In the second place, a medium may be taken between the different
methods which each state observes; for instance, in a democracy the
right to vote in the public assembly is either confined by no census
at all, or limited by a very small one; in an oligarchy none enjoy it
but those whose census is high: therefore, as these two practices are
contrary to each other, a census between each may be established in
such a state. In the third place, different laws of each community may
be adopted; as, for instance, as it seems correspondent to the nature
of a democracy, that the magistrates should be chosen by lot, but an
aristocracy by vote, and in the one state according to a census, but
not in the other: let, then, an aristocracy and a free state copy
something from each of them; let them follow an oligarchy in choosing
their magistrates by vote, but a democracy in not admitting of any
census, and thus blend together the different customs of the two
governments. But the best proof of a happy mixture of a democracy and
an oligarchy is this, when a person may properly call the same state a
democracy and an oligarchy. It is evident that those who speak of it
in this manner are induced to it because both these governments are
there well blended together: and indeed this is common to all mediums,
that the extremes of each side should be discerned therein, as at
Lacedaemon; for many affirm that it is a democracy from the many
particulars in which it follows that form of government; as for
instance, in the first place, in the bringing up of their children,
for the rich and poor are brought up in the same manner; and their
education is such that the children of the poor may partake of it; and
the same rules are observed when they are youths and men, there is no
distinction between a rich person and a poor one; and in their public
tables the same provision is served to all. The rich also wear only
such clothes as the poorest man is able to purchase. Moreover, with
respect to two magistracies of the highest rank, one they have a right
to elect to, the other to fill; namely, the senate and the ephori.
Others consider it as an oligarchy, the principles of which it follows
in many things, as in choosing all their officers by vote, and not by
lot; in there being but a few who have a right to sit in judgment on
capital causes and the like. Indeed, a state which is well composed of
two others ought to resemble them both, and neither, Such a state
ought to have its means of preservation in itself, and not without;
and when I say in itself, I do not mean that it should owe this to the
forbearance of their neighbours, for this may happen to a bad
government, but to every member of the community's not being willing
that there should be the least alteration in their constitution. Such
is the method in which a free state or aristocracy ought to be
established. _
Read next: BOOK IV: CHAPTER X
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