ner:—The ambitious man, has a ſon, who emulates his father, and follows his ſteps; afterwards he daſhes on the city, as on a rock, waſting his ſubſtance in the office of a general, or ſome other principal magiſtracy; then falling into courts of juſtice, deſtroyed by ſycophants, ſtripped of his dignities, diſgraced, and loſing all his ſubſtance. When he has thus ſuffered, and loſt his ſubſtance, in a terror he puſhes headlong from the throne of his ſoul that ambitious diſpoſition; and, being humbled by his poverty, turns to the making of money, lives ſparingly and meanly, and applying to work, ſcrapes together ſubſtance. He then ſeats in that throne the avaricious diſpoſition, and makes it a mighty king within himſelf, decked out with Perſian crowns, bracelets, and ſcepters. Having placed the virtuous and ambitious diſpoſition low on the ground, he reaſons on nothing but how leſſer ſubſtance ſhall be made greater, admires and honours nothing but riches and rich people. This is the change from an ambitious youth to a covetous one, and this is the oligarchic man.
Democracy is next to be conſidered, in what manner it ariſes, and what kind of man it produces when ariſen. The change from oligarchy to democracy is produced through the inſatiable deſire of becoming as rich as poſſible, As thoſe who are governors in it govern on account of their poſſeſſing great riches, they will be unwilling to reſtrain by law ſuch of the youth as are diſſolute, from having the liberty of ſquandering and waſting their ſubſtance; that ſo, by purchaſing the ſubſtance of ſuch perſons, and lending them on uſury, they may ſtill become richer, and be held in greater honour. While they neglect education, and ſuſſer the youth to grow licentious, they
