bestow rewards of honour properly; and this is the ruin of states.  ’Still, in Crete we say that the battle of Salamis was the salvation of Hellas.’  Such is the prevailing opinion.  But I and Megillus say that the battle of Marathon began the deliverance, and that the battle of Plataea completed it; for these battles made men better, whereas the battles of Salamis and Artemisium made them no better.  And we further affirm that mere existence is not the great political good of individuals or states, but the continuance of the best existence.  ‘Certainly.’  Let us then endeavour to follow this principle in colonization and legislation.

And first, let me ask you who are to be the colonists?  May any one come from any city of Crete?  For you would surely not send a general invitation to all Hellas.  Yet I observe that in Crete there are people who have come from Argos and Aegina and other places.  ’Our recruits will be drawn from all Crete, and of other Hellenes we should prefer Peloponnesians.  As you observe, there are Argives among the Cretans; moreover the Gortynians, who are the best of all Cretans, have come from Gortys in Peloponnesus.’

Colonization is in some ways easier when the colony goes out in a swarm from one country, owing to the pressure of population, or revolution, or war.  In this case there is the advantage that the new colonists have a community of race, language, and laws.  But then again, they are less obedient to the legislator; and often they are anxious to keep the very laws and customs which caused their ruin at home.  A mixed multitude, on the other hand, is more tractable, although there is a difficulty in making them pull together.  There is nothing, however, which perfects men’s virtue more than legislation and colonization.  And yet I have a word to say which may seem to be depreciatory of legislators.  ‘What is that?’

I was going to make the saddening reflection, that accidents of all sorts are the true legislators,—­wars and pestilences and famines and the frequent recurrence of bad seasons.  The observer will be inclined to say that almost all human things are chance; and this is certainly true about navigation and medicine, and the art of the general.  But there is another thing which may equally be said.  ‘What is it?’ That God governs all things, and that chance and opportunity co-operate with Him.  And according to yet a third view, art has part with them, for surely in a storm it is well to have a pilot?  And the same is true of legislation:  even if circumstances are favourable, a skilful lawgiver is still necessary.  ’Most true.’  All artists would pray for certain conditions under which to exercise their art:  and would not the legislator do the same?  ‘Certainly?’ Come, legislator, let us say to him, and what are the conditions which you would have?  He will answer, Grant me a city which is ruled by a tyrant; and let the tyrant be young, mindful, teachable, courageous, magnanimous; and let