CHAPTER II
Since, then, according to our first method in treating of the
different forms of government, we have divided those which are regular
into three sorts, the kingly, the aristocratical, the free states,
and shown the three excesses which these are liable to: the kingly, of
becoming tyrannical; the aristocratical, oligarchical; and the free
state, democratical: and as we have already treated of the
aristocratical and kingly; for to enter into an inquiry what sort of
government is best is the same thing as to treat of these two
expressly; for each of them desires to be established upon the
principles of virtue: and as, moreover, we have already determined
wherein a kingly power and an aristocracy differ from each other, and
when a state may be said to be governed by a king, it now remains that
we examine into a free state, and also these other governments, an
oligarchy, a democracy, and a [1289b] tyranny; and it is evident of
these three excesses which must be the worst of all, and which next to
it; for, of course, the excesses of the best and most holy must be the
worst; for it must necessarily happen either that the name of king
only will remain, or else that the king will assume more power than
belongs to him, from whence tyranny will arise, the worst excess
imaginable, a government the most contrary possible to a free state.
The excess next hurtful is an oligarchy; for an aristocracy differs
much from this sort of government: that which is least so is a
democracy.
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