<head lang="la">II. De Variis Rerum Publicarum Formis</head><w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn">Ἑλληνικῶν</w> <w lemma="politeuma%2Ftwn">πολιτευμάτων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="hu%29%2Fchtai">ηὔξηται</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Flhfe">εἴληφε</w>, <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fan">ῥᾳδίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin:">ἀπόφασιν·</w>
<w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29caggei%3Dlai">ἐξαγγεῖλαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ginwsko%2Fmena">γινωσκόμενα</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>, <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="proeipei%3Dn">προειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="stoxazo%2Fmenon">στοχαζόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="eu%29mare%2Fs">εὐμαρές</w>.
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="eu%29xere%5Cs">εὐχερὲς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsasqai">ἐξηγήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poikili%2Fan">ποικιλίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="proeipei%3Dn">προειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29diwma%2Ftwn">ἰδιωμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%2Fshs">τυχούσης</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fsews">ἐπιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewri%2Fas">θεωρίας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Flloi">μέλλοι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fronta">διαφέροντα</w> <w lemma="kaqari%2Fws">καθαρίως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fyesqai">συνόψεσθαι</w>.
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Asumbai%2Fnei">Συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="didaskalikw%3Ds">διδασκαλικῶς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fein">ὑποδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kalou%3Dsi">καλοῦσι</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ristokrati%2Fan">ἀριστοκρατίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fan">δημοκρατίαν</w>.
<w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29paporh%3Dsai">ἐπαπορῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnas">μόνας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2F%27">Δί᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstas">ἀρίστας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29shgou%3Dntai">εἰσηγοῦνται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w>.
<w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Ftera">ἀμφότερα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dn">ἀγνοεῖν</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w>. <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fsthn">ἀρίστην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="i%29diwma%2Ftwn">ἰδιωμάτων</w> <w lemma="sunestw%3Dsan:">συνεστῶσαν·</w>
<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgw%7C">ἔργῳ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29lh%2Ffamen">εἰλήφαμεν</w>, <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsantos">συστήσαντος</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftou">πρώτου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnas">μόνας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="prosdekte%2Fon:">προσδεκτέον·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="monarxika%5Cs">μοναρχικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="turannika%5Cs">τυραννικὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="teqea%2Fmeqa">τεθεάμεθα</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="ai%28%5C">αἳ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousai">διαφέρουσαι</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsin:">δοκοῦσιν·</w>
<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumyeu%2Fdontai">συμψεύδονται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugxrw%3Dntai">συγχρῶνται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnarxoi">μόναρχοι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmati">ὀνόματι</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29ligarxika%5C">ὀλιγαρχικὰ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmata">πολιτεύματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w>, <w lemma="dokou%3Dnta">δοκοῦντα</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fmoion">παρόμοιον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ristokratikoi%3Ds">ἀριστοκρατικοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpos">ἔπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="diesta%3Dsin">διεστᾶσιν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w>
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<head>Classification of Constitutions</head>Of the Greek republics, which have again and again risen to greatness and fallen into insignificance, it is not difficult to speak, whether we recount their past history or venture an opinion on their future. For to report what is already known is an easy task, nor is it hard to guess what is to come from our knowledge of what has been. But in regard to the Romans it is neither an easy matter to describe their present state, owing to the complexity of their constitution; nor to speak with confidence of their future, from our inadequate acquaintance with their peculiar institutions in the past whether affecting their public or their private life. It will require then no ordinary attention and study to get a clear and comprehensive conception of the distinctive features of this constitution.Now, it is undoubtedly the case that most of those who<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note2">Classification of polities.</note>profess to give us authoritative instruction on this subject distinguish three kinds of constitutions, which they designate<term>kingship, aristocracy, democracy.</term>But in my opinion the question might fairly be put to them, whether they name these as being the<emph>only</emph>ones, or as the<emph>best.</emph>In either case I think they are wrong. For it is plain that we must regard as the<emph>best</emph>constitution that which partakes of all these three elements. And this is no mere assertion, but has been proved by the example of Lycurgus, who was the first to construct a constitution—that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>—on this principle. Nor can we<pb n="460" />admit that these are the<emph>only</emph>forms: for we have had before now examples of absolute and tyrannical forms of government, which, while differing as widely as possible from kingship, yet appear to have some points of resemblance to it; on which account all absolute rulers falsely assume and use, as far as they can, the title of king. Again there have been many instances of oligarchical governments having in appearance some analogy to aristocracies, which are, if I may say so, as different from them as it is possible to be. The same also holds good about democracy.
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Walbank Commentary