concerning kingdoms
and empires signifies little to us who live in a democracy. Wherefore I
judge it convenient that every one of you, commencing with Solon, should
freely and impartially declare his sense of a popular state. The motion
pleased all the company; then saith Solon: My friend Mnesiphilus,
you heard, together with the rest of this good company, my opinion
concerning republics; but since you are willing to hear it again, I hold
that city or state happy and most likely to remain free, in which those
that are not personally injured are yet as forward to try and punish
wrongdoers as that person who is wronged. Bias added, Where all fear the
law as they fear a tyrant. Thirdly, Thales said, Where the citizens are
neither too rich nor too poor. Fourthly, Anacharsis said, Where, though
in all other respects they are equal, yet virtuous men are advanced and
vicious persons degraded. Fifthly, Cleobulus said, Where the rulers fear
reproof and shame more than the law. Sixthly, Pittacus said, Where evil
men are kept from ruling, and good men from not ruling. Chilo, pausing a
little while, determined that the best and most enduring state was
where the subject minded the law most and the lawyers least. Periander
concluded with his opinion, that all of them would best approve that
democracy which came next and was likest to an aristocracy.

After they had ended this discourse, I begged they would condescend to
direct me how to govern a house; for they were few who had cities and
kingdoms to govern, compared with those who had houses and families to
manage. Aesop laughed and said: I hope you except Anacharsis out of your
number; for having no house he glories because he can be contented with
a chariot only, as they say the sun is whirled about from one end of
the heavens to the other in his chariot. Therefore, saith Anacharsis, he
alone, or he principally, is most free among the gods, and ever at his
own liberty and dispose. He governs all, and is governed and subject
to none, but he rides and reigns; and you know not how magnificent
and broad his chariot is; if you did, you would not thus floutingly
depreciate our Scythian chariots. For you seem in my apprehension to
call these coverings made of wood and mud houses, as if you should call
the shell and not the living creature a snail. Therefore you laughed
when Solon told you how, when he viewed Croesus's palace and found it
richly and gloriously furnished, he yet could not