more powerful (11)
citizens, it secures the balance of advantage to itself. It is only
those departments of government which bring emolument (12) and assist
the private estate that the People cares to keep in its own hands.

(3) Cf. "Mem." I. ii. 58 foll.

(4) Lit. "ply the oar and propel the galleys."

(5) See "Econ." viii. 14; Pollux, i. 96; Arist. "Knights," 543 foll.;
Plat. "Laws," v. 707 A; Jowett, "Plat." v. 278 foll.; Boeckh, "P.
E. A." bk. ii. ch. xxi.

(6) Lit. "pentecontarch;" see Dem. "In Pol." 1212.

(7) Aristot. "Pol." vi. 7; Jowett, "The Politics of Aristotle," vol.
i. p. 109.

(8) {klerotoi}, {airetoi}.

(9) Reading with Kirchhoff, {epeo tou}, or if {epeita}, "in the next
place."

(10) Hipparch.

(11) Cf. "Hipparch." i. 9; "Econ." ii. 8.

(12) E.g. the {dikasteria}.

In the next place, in regard to what some people are puzzled to
explain--the fact that everywhere greater consideration is shown to
the base, to poor people and to common folk, than to persons of good
quality--so far from being a matter of surprise, this, as can be shown,
is the keystone of the preservation of the democracy. It is these
poor people, this common folk, this riff-raff, (13) whose prosperity,
combined with the growth of their numbers, enhances the democracy.
Whereas, a shifting of fortune to the advantage of the wealthy and the
better classes implies the establishment on the part of the commonalty
of a strong power in opposition to itself. In fact, all the world over,
the cream of society is in opposition to the democracy. Naturally, since
the smallest amount of intemperance and injustice, together with the
highest scrupulousness in the pursuit of excellence, is to be found in
the ranks of the better class, while within the ranks of the People
will be found the greatest amount of ignorance, disorderliness,
rascality--poverty acting as a stronger incentive to base conduct, not
to speak of lack of education and ignorance, traceable to the lack of
means which afflicts the average of mankind. (14)

(13) Or, "these inferiors," "these good-for-nothings."

(14) Or, "some of these folk." The passage is corrupt.

The objection may be raised that it was a mistake to allow the universal
right of speech (15) and a seat in council. These should have been
reserved for the cleverest, the flower of the community. But here,
again, it will be found that they are acting with wise deliberation in
grant