302
Stranger
Str. Just this: I mean that there are three forms of government, as we said at the beginning of the discussion which has now flowed in upon us—monarchy, the rule of the few, and the rule of the many.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, there were those three.
Stranger
Str. Let us, then, by dividing each of these into two parts, make six, and by distinguishing the right government from these, a seventh.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. How shall we make the division?
10
Stranger
Str. We said that monarchy comprised royalty and tyranny, and the rule of the few comprised aristocracy, which has a name of good omen, and oligarchy; but to the rule of the many we gave then only a single name, democracy; now, however, that also must be divided.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. How? On what principle shall we divide that?
Stranger
Str. On the same that we used for the others, though the name of this form is already twofold in meaning. The name is said to be twofold in meaning, probably because it was applied in cases in which there was a regularly constituted popular government and also in cases of mob rule. At any rate, the distinction between ruling according to law and without law applies alike to this and the rest.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, it does.
Stranger
Str. Before, when we were in search of the right government, this division was of no use, as we showed at the time but now that we have set that apart and have decided that the others are the only available forms of government, the principle of lawfulness and lawlessness bisects each of them.
15
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. So it seems, from what has been said.
