The mode of election which has been described is in a mean between monarchy and democracy,and such a mean the state ought always to observe;for servants and masters never can be friends,nor good and bad,merely because they are declared to have equal privileges.For to unequals equals become unequal,if they are not harmonized by measure;and both by reason of equality,and by reason of inequality,cities are filled with seditions.The old saying,that "equality makes friendship,"is happy and also true;but there is obscurity and confusion as to what sort of equality is meant.For there are two equalities which are called by the same name,but are in reality in many ways almost the opposite of one another;one of them may be introduced without difficulty,by any state or any legislator in the distribution of honours:this is the rule of measure,weight,and number,which regulates and apportions them.But there is another equality,of a better and higher kind,which is not so easily recognized.This is the judgment of Zeus;among men it avails but little;that little,however,is the source of the greatest good to individuals and states.For it gives to the greater more,and to the inferior less and in proportion to the nature of each;and,above all,greater honour always to the greater virtue,and to the less less;and to either in proportion to their respective measure of virtue and education.And this is justice,and is ever the true principle of states,at which we ought to aim,and according to this rule order the new city which is now being founded,and any other city which may be hereafter founded.To this the legislator should look-not to the interests of tyrants one or more,or to the power of the people,but to justice always;which,as I was saying,the distribution of natural equality among unequals in each case.But there are times at which every state is compelled to use the words,"just,""equal,"in a secondary sense,in the hope of escaping in some degree from factions.
For equity and indulgence are infractions of the perfect and strict rule of justice.And this is the reason why we are obliged to use the equality of the lot,in order to avoid the discontent of the people;and so we invoke God and fortune in our prayers,and beg that they themselves will direct the lot with a view to supreme justice.And therefore,although we are compelled to use both equalities,we should use that into which the element of chance enters as seldom as possible.
Thus,O my friends,and for the reasons given,should a state act which would endure and be saved.But as a ship sailing on the sea has to be watched night and day,in like manner a city also is sailing on a sea of politics,and is liable to all sorts of insidious assaults;and therefore from morning to night,and from night to morning,rulers must join hands with rulers,and watchers with watchers,receiving and giving up their trust in a perpetual succession.Now a multitude can never fulfil a duty of this sort with anything like energy.Moreover,the greater number of the senators will have to be left during the greater part of the year to order their concerns at their own homes.They will therefore have to be arranged in twelve portions,answering to the twelve months,and furnish guardians of the state,each portion for a single month.Their business is to be at hand and receive any foreigner or citizen who comes to them,whether to give information,or to put one of those questions,to which,when asked by other cities,a city should give an answer,and to which,if she ask them herself,she should receive an answer;or again,when there is a likelihood of internal commotions,which are always liable to happen in some form or other,they will,if they can,prevent their occurring;or if they have already occurred,will lose time in making them known to the city,and healing the evil.
Wherefore,also,this which is the presiding body of the state ought always to have the control of their assemblies,and of the dissolutions of them,ordinary as well as extraordinary.All this is to be ordered by the twelfth part of the council,which is always to keep watch together with the other officers of the state during one portion of the year,and to rest during the remaining eleven portions.
Thus will the city be fairly ordered.And now,who is to have,the superintendence of the country,and what shall be the arrangement?
Seeing that the whole city and the entire country have been both of them divided into twelve portions,ought there not to be appointed superintendents of the streets of the city,and of the houses,and buildings,and harbours,and the agora,and fountains,and sacred domains,and temples,and the like?
Cle.To be sure there ought.