kingdom was subverted.  ‘Yes.’  But did we not say that kingdoms or governments can only be subverted by themselves?  ‘That is true.’  Yes, and the truth is now proved by facts:  there were certain conditions upon which the three kingdoms were to assist one another; the government was to be mild and the people obedient, and the kings and people were to unite in assisting either of the two others when they were wronged.  This latter condition was a great security.  ‘Clearly.’  Such a provision is in opposition to the common notion that the lawgiver should make only such laws as the people like; but we say that he should rather be like a physician, prepared to effect a cure even at the cost of considerable suffering.  ‘Very true.’  The early lawgivers had another great advantage—­they were saved from the reproach which attends a division of land and the abolition of debts.  No one could quarrel with the Dorians for dividing the territory, and they had no debts of long standing.  ‘They had not.’  Then what was the reason why their legislation signally failed?  For there were three kingdoms, two of them quickly lost their original constitution.  That is a question which we cannot refuse to answer, if we mean to proceed with our old man’s game of enquiring into laws and institutions.  And the Dorian institutions are more worthy of consideration than any other, having been evidently intended to be a protection not only to the Peloponnese, but to all the Hellenes against the Barbarians.  For the capture of Troy by the Achaeans had given great offence to the Assyrians, of whose empire it then formed part, and they were likely to retaliate.  Accordingly the royal Heraclid brothers devised their military constitution, which was organised on a far better plan than the old Trojan expedition; and the Dorians themselves were far superior to the Achaeans, who had taken part in that expedition, and had been conquered by them.  Such a scheme, undertaken by men who had shared with one another toils and dangers, sanctioned by the Delphian oracle, under the guidance of the Heraclidae, seemed to have a promise of permanence.  ‘Naturally.’  Yet this has not proved to be the case.  Instead of the three being one, they have always been at war; had they been united, in accordance with the original intention, they would have been invincible.

And what caused their ruin?  Did you ever observe that there are beautiful things of which men often say, ’What wonders they would have effected if rightly used?’ and yet, after all, this may be a mistake.  And so I say of the Heraclidae and their expedition, which I may perhaps have been justified in admiring, but which nevertheless suggests to me the general reflection,—­’What wonders might not strength and military resources have accomplished, if the possessor had only known how to use them!’ For consider:  if the generals of the army had only known how to arrange their forces, might they not have given their subjects everlasting freedom,