第26章

Saythen，myfriend，inwhatmannerdoestyrannyarise？——thatithasademocraticoriginisevident。 Clearly。 Anddoesnottyrannyspringfromdemocracyinthesamemannerasdemocracyfromoligarchy——Imean，afterasort？ How？ Thegoodwhicholigarchyproposedtoitselfandthemeansbywhichitwasmaintainedwasexcessofwealth——amInotright？ Yes。 Andtheinsatiabledesireofwealthandtheneglectofallotherthingsforthesakeofmoney—gettingwasalsotheruinofoligarchy？ True。 Anddemocracyhasherowngood，ofwhichtheinsatiabledesirebringshertodissolution？ Whatgood？ Freedom，Ireplied；which，astheytellyouinademocracy，isthegloryoftheState——andthatthereforeinademocracyalonewillthefreemanofnaturedeigntodwell。 Yes；thesayingisineverybody’smouth。 Iwasgoingtoobserve，thattheinsatiabledesireofthisandtheneglectofotherthingsintroducesthechangeindemocracy，whichoccasionsademandfortyranny。 Howso？ Whenademocracywhichisthirstingforfreedomhasevilcupbearerspresidingoverthefeast，andhasdrunktoodeeplyofthestrongwineoffreedom，then，unlessherrulersareveryamenableandgiveaplentifuldraught，shecallsthemtoaccountandpunishesthem，andsaysthattheyarecursedoligarchs。 Yes，hereplied，averycommonoccurrence。 Yes，Isaid；andloyalcitizensareinsultinglytermedbyherslaveswhohugtheirchainsandmenofnaught；shewouldhavesubjectswhoarelikerulers，andrulerswhoarelikesubjects：thesearemenafterherownheart，whomshepraisesandhonoursbothinprivateandpublic。Now，insuchaState，canlibertyhaveanylimit？ Certainlynot。 Bydegreestheanarchyfindsawayintoprivatehouses，andendsbygettingamongtheanimalsandinfectingthem。 Howdoyoumean？ Imeanthatthefathergrowsaccustomedtodescendtothelevelofhissonsandtofearthem，andthesonisonalevelwithhisfather，hehavingnorespectorreverenceforeitherofhisparents； andthisishisfreedom，andmeticisequalwiththecitizenandthecitizenwiththemetic，andthestrangerisquiteasgoodaseither。 Yes，hesaid，thatistheway。 Andthesearenottheonlyevils，Isaid——thereareseverallesserones：Insuchastateofsocietythemasterfearsandflattershisscholars，andthescholarsdespisetheirmastersandtutors；youngandoldareallalike；andtheyoungmanisonalevelwiththeold，andisreadytocompetewithhiminwordordeed；andoldmencondescendtotheyoungandarefullofpleasantryandgaiety； theyarelothtobethoughtmoroseandauthoritative，andthereforetheyadoptthemannersoftheyoung。 Quitetrue，hesaid。 Thelastextremeofpopularlibertyiswhentheslaveboughtwithmoney，whethermaleorfemale，isjustasfreeashisorherpurchaser；normustIforgettotellofthelibertyandequalityofthetwosexesinrelationtoeachother。 Whynot，asAeschylussays，utterthewordwhichrisestoourlips？ ThatiswhatIamdoing，Ireplied；andImustaddthatnoonewhodoesnotknowwouldbelieve，howmuchgreateristhelibertywhichtheanimalswhoareunderthedominionofmanhaveinademocracythaninanyotherState：fortruly，theshe—dogs，astheproverbsays，areasgoodastheirshe—mistresses，andthehorsesandasseshaveawayofmarchingalongwithalltherightsanddignitiesoffreemen； andtheywillrunatanybodywhocomesintheirwayifhedoesnotleavetheroadclearforthem：andallthingsarejustreadytoburstwithliberty。 WhenItakeacountrywalk，hesaid，Ioftenexperiencewhatyoudescribe。YouandIhavedreamedthesamething。 Andaboveall，Isaid，andastheresultofall，seehowsensitivethecitizensbecome；theychafeimpatientlyattheleasttouchofauthorityandatlength，asyouknow，theyceasetocareevenforthelaws，writtenorunwritten；theywillhavenooneoverthem。 Yes，hesaid，Iknowittoowell。 Such，myfriend，Isaid，isthefairandgloriousbeginningoutofwhichspringstyranny。 Gloriousindeed，hesaid。Butwhatisthenextstep？ Theruinofoligarchyistheruinofdemocracy；thesamediseasemagnifiedandintensifiedbylibertyovermastersdemocracy——thetruthbeingthattheexcessiveincreaseofanythingoftencausesareactionintheoppositedirection；andthisisthecasenotonlyintheseasonsandinvegetableandanimallife，butaboveallinformsofgovernment。 True。 Theexcessofliberty，whetherinStatesorindividuals，seemsonlytopassintoexcessofslavery。 Yes，thenaturalorder。 Andsotyrannynaturallyarisesoutofdemocracy，andthemostaggravatedformoftyrannyandslaveryoutofthemostextremeformofliberty？ Aswemightexpect。 That，however，wasnot，asIbelieve，yourquestion—youratherdesiredtoknowwhatisthatdisorderwhichisgeneratedalikeinoligarchyanddemocracy，andistheruinofboth？ Justso，hereplied。 Well，Isaid，Imeanttorefertotheclassofidlespendthrifts，ofwhomthemorecourageousarethe—leadersandthemoretimidthefollowers，thesamewhomwewerecomparingtodrones，somestingless，andothershavingstings。 Averyjustcomparison。 Thesetwoclassesaretheplaguesofeverycityinwhichtheyaregenerated，beingwhatphlegmandbilearetothebody。AndthegoodphysicianandlawgiveroftheStateought，likethewisebee—master，tokeepthematadistanceandprevent，ifpossible，theirevercomingin；andiftheyhaveanyhowfoundawayin，thenheshouldhavethemandtheircellscutoutasspeedilyaspossible。 Yes，byallmeans，hesaid。 Then，inorderthatwemayseeclearlywhatwearedoing，letusimaginedemocracytobedivided，asindeeditis，intothreeclasses；forinthefirstplacefreedomcreatesrathermoredronesinthedemocraticthantherewereintheoligarchicalState。 Thatistrue。 Andinthedemocracytheyarecertainlymoreintensified。 Howso？ BecauseintheoligarchicalStatetheyaredisqualifiedanddrivenfromoffice，andthereforetheycannottrainorgatherstrength； whereasinademocracytheyarealmosttheentirerulingpower，andwhilethekeenersortspeakandact，therestkeepbuzzingaboutthebemaanddonotsufferawordtobesaidontheotherside；henceindemocraciesalmosteverythingismanagedbythedrones。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Thenthereisanotherclasswhichisalwaysbeingseveredfromthemass。 Whatisthat？ Theyaretheorderlyclass，whichinanationoftraderssuretobetherichest。 Naturallyso。 Theyarethemostsqueezablepersonsandyieldthelargestamountofhoneytothedrones。 Why，hesaid，thereislittletobesqueezedoutofpeoplewhohavelittle。 Andthisiscalledthewealthyclass，andthedronesfeeduponthem。 Thatisprettymuchthecase，hesaid。 Thepeopleareathirdclass，consistingofthosewhoworkwiththeirownhands；theyarenotpoliticians，andhavenotmuchtoliveupon。This，whenassembled，isthelargestandmostpowerfulclassinademocracy。 True，hesaid；butthenthemultitudeisseldomwillingtocongregateunlesstheygetalittlehoney。 Anddotheynotshare？Isaid。Donottheirleadersdeprivetherichoftheirestatesanddistributethemamongthepeople；atthesametimetakingcaretoreservethelargerpartforthemselves？ Why，yes，hesaid，tothatextentthepeopledoshare。 Andthepersonswhosepropertyistakenfromthemarecompelledtodefendthemselvesbeforethepeopleastheybestcan？ Whatelsecantheydo？ Andthen，althoughtheymayhavenodesireofchange，theotherschargethemwithplottingagainstthepeopleandbeingfriendsofoligarchy？True。 Andtheendisthatwhentheyseethepeople，notoftheirownaccord，butthroughignorance，andbecausetheyaredeceivedbyinformers，seekingtodothemwrong，thenatlasttheyareforcedtobecomeoligarchsinreality；theydonotwishtobe，butthestingofthedronestormentsthemandbreedsrevolutioninthem。 Thatisexactlythetruth。 Thencomeimpeachmentsandjudgmentsandtrialsofoneanother。 True。 Thepeoplehavealwayssomechampionwhomtheysetoverthemandnurseintogreatness。 Yes，thatistheirway。 Thisandnootheristherootfromwhichatyrantsprings；whenhefirstappearsabovegroundheisaprotector。 Yes，thatisquiteclear。 Howthendoesaprotectorbegintochangeintoatyrant？ClearlywhenhedoeswhatthemanissaidtodointhetaleoftheArcadiantempleofLycaeanZeus。 Whattale？ Thetaleisthathewhohastastedtheentrailsofasinglehumanvictimmincedupwiththeentrailsofothervictimsisdestinedtobecomeawolf。Didyouneverhearit？ Oh，yes。 Andtheprotectorofthepeopleislikehim；havingamobentirelyathisdisposal，heisnotrestrainedfromsheddingthebloodofkinsmen；bythefavouritemethodoffalseaccusationhebringsthemintocourtandmurdersthem，makingthelifeofmantodisappear，andwithunholytongueandlipstastingthebloodofhisfellowcitizen；somehekillsandothershebanishes，atthesametimehintingattheabolitionofdebtsandpartitionoflands：andafterthis，whatwillbehisdestiny？Musthenoteitherperishatthehandsofhisenemies，orfrombeingamanbecomeawolf——thatis，atyrant？ Inevitably。 This，Isaid，ishewhobeginstomakeapartyagainsttherich？ Thesame。 Afterawhileheisdrivenout，butcomesback，inspiteofhisenemies，atyrantfullgrown。 Thatisclear。 Andiftheyareunabletoexpelhim，ortogethimcondemnedtodeathbyapublicaccusation，theyconspiretoassassinatehim。 Yes，hesaid，thatistheirusualway。 Thencomesthefamousrequestforabodyguard，whichisthedeviceofallthosewhohavegotthusfarintheirtyrannicalcareer——’Letnotthepeople’sfriend，’astheysay，’belosttothem。’ Exactly。 Thepeoplereadilyassent；alltheirfearsareforhim——theyhavenoneforthemselves。 Verytrue。 Andwhenamanwhoiswealthyandisalsoaccusedofbeinganenemyofthepeopleseesthis，then，myfriend，astheoraclesaidtoCroesus，BypebblyHermus’shorehefleesandrestsnotandisnotashamedtobeacoward。 Andquiterighttoo，saidhe，forifhewere，hewouldneverbeashamedagain。 Butifheiscaughthedies。 Ofcourse。 Andhe，theprotectorofwhomwespoke，istobeseen，not’lardingtheplain’withhisbulk，buthimselftheoverthrowerofmany，standingupinthechariotofStatewiththereinsinhishand，nolongerprotector，buttyrantabsolute。 Nodoubt，hesaid。 Andnowletusconsiderthehappinessoftheman，andalsooftheStateinwhichacreaturelikehimisgenerated。 Yes，hesaid，letusconsiderthat。 Atfirst，intheearlydaysofhispower，heisfullofsmiles，andhesaluteseveryonewhomhemeets；——hetobecalledatyrant，whoismakingpromisesinpublicandalsoinprivate！liberatingdebtors，anddistributinglandtothepeopleandhisfollowers，andwantingtobesokindandgoodtoeveryone！ Ofcourse，hesaid。 Butwhenhehasdisposedofforeignenemiesbyconquestortreaty，andthereisnothingtofearfromthem，thenheisalwaysstirringupsomewarorother，inorderthatthepeoplemayrequirealeader。 Tobesure。 Hashenotalsoanotherobject，whichisthattheymaybeimpoverishedbypaymentoftaxes，andthuscompelledtodevotethemselvestotheirdailywantsandthereforelesslikelytoconspireagainsthim？Clearly。 Andifanyofthemaresuspectedbyhimofhavingnotionsoffreedom，andofresistancetohisauthority，hewillhaveagoodpretextfordestroyingthembyplacingthematthemercyoftheenemy； andforallthesereasonsthetyrantmustbealwaysgettingupawar。 Hemust。 Nowhebeginstogrowunpopular。 Anecessaryresult。 Thensomeofthosewhojoinedinsettinghimup，andwhoareinpower，speaktheirmindstohimandtooneanother，andthemorecourageousofthemcastinhisteethwhatisbeingdone。 Yes，thatmaybeexpected。 Andthetyrant，ifhemeanstorule，mustgetridofthem；hecannotstopwhilehehasafriendoranenemywhoisgoodforanything。 Hecannot。 Andthereforehemustlookabouthimandseewhoisvaliant，whoishigh—minded，whoiswise，whoiswealthy；happyman，heistheenemyofthemall，andmustseekoccasionagainstthemwhetherhewillorno，untilhehasmadeapurgationoftheState。 Yes，hesaid，andararepurgation。 Yes，Isaid，notthesortofpurgationwhichthephysiciansmakeofthebody；fortheytakeawaytheworseandleavethebetterpart，buthedoesthereverse。 Ifheistorule，Isupposethathecannothelphimself。 Whatablessedalternative，Isaid：——tobecompelledtodwellonlywiththemanybad，andtobebythemhated，ornottoliveatall！ Yes，thatisthealternative。 Andthemoredetestablehisactionsaretothecitizensthemoresatellitesandthegreaterdevotioninthemwillherequire？ Certainly。 Andwhoarethedevotedband，andwherewillheprocurethem？ Theywillflocktohim，hesaid，oftheirownaccord，ifliepaysthem。 Bythedog！Isaid，herearemoredrones，ofeverysortandfromeveryland。 Yes，hesaid，thereare。 Butwillhenotdesiretogetthemonthespot？ Howdoyoumean？ Hewillrobthecitizensoftheirslaves；hewillthensetthemfreeandenroltheminhisbodyguard。 Tobesure，hesaid；andhewillbeabletotrustthembestofall。 Whatablessedcreature，Isaid，mustthistyrantbe；hehasputtodeaththeothersandhastheseforhistrustedfriends。 Yes，hesaid；theyarequiteofhissort。 Yes，Isaid，andthesearethenewcitizenswhomhehascalledintoexistence，whoadmirehimandarehiscompanions，whilethegoodhateandavoidhim。 Ofcourse。 Verily，then，tragedyisawisethingandEuripidesagreattragedian。 Whyso？ Why，becauseheistheauthorofthepregnantsaying，Tyrantsarewisebylivingwiththewise； andheclearlymeanttosaythattheyarethewisewhomthetyrantmakeshiscompanions。 Yes，hesaid，andhealsopraisestyrannyasgodlike；andmanyotherthingsofthesamekindaresaidbyhimandbytheotherpoets。 Andtherefore，Isaid，thetragicpoetsbeingwisemenwillforgiveusandanyotherswholiveafterourmannerifwedonotreceivethemintoourState，becausetheyaretheeulogistsoftyranny。 Yes，hesaid，thosewhohavethewitwilldoubtlessforgiveus。 Buttheywillcontinuetogotoothercitiesandattractmobs，andhirevoicesfairandloudandpersuasive，anddrawthecitiesovertotyranniesanddemocracies。 Verytrue。 Moreover，theyarepaidforthisandreceivehonour——thegreatesthonour，asmightbeexpected，fromtyrants，andthenextgreatestfromdemocracies；butthehighertheyascendourconstitutionhill，themoretheirreputationfails，andseemsunablefromshortnessofbreathtoproceedfurther。 True。 Butwearewanderingfromthesubject：Letusthereforereturnandenquirehowthetyrantwillmaintainthatfairandnumerousandvariousandever—changingarmyofhis。 If，hesaid，therearesacredtreasuresinthecity，hewillconfiscateandspendthem；andinsofarasthefortunesofattaintedpersonsmaysuffice，hewillbeabletodiminishthetaxeswhichhewouldotherwisehavetoimposeuponthepeople。 Andwhenthesefail？ Why，clearly，hesaid，thenheandhisbooncompanions，whethermaleorfemale，willbemaintainedoutofhisfather’sestate。 Youmeantosaythatthepeople，fromwhomhehasderivedhisbeing，willmaintainhimandhiscompanions？ Yes，hesaid；theycannothelpthemselves。 Butwhatifthepeopleflyintoapassion，andaverthatagrown—upsonoughtnottobesupportedbyhisfather，butthatthefathershouldbesupportedbytheson？Thefatherdidnotbringhimintobeing，orsettlehiminlife，inorderthatwhenhissonbecameamanheshouldhimselfbetheservantofhisownservantsandshouldsupporthimandhisrabbleofslavesandcompanions；butthathissonshouldprotecthim，andthatbyhishelphemightbeemancipatedfromthegovernmentoftherichandaristocratic，astheyaretermed。Andsohebidshimandhiscompanionsdepart，justasanyotherfathermightdriveoutofthehouseariotoussonandhisundesirableassociates。 Byheaven，hesaid，thentheparentwilldiscoverwhatamonsterhehasbeenfosteringinhisbosom；and，whenhewantstodrivehimout，hewillfindthatheisweakandhissonstrong。 Why，youdonotmeantosaythatthetyrantwilluseviolence？What！ beathisfatherifheopposeshim？ Yes，hewill，havingfirstdisarmedhim。 Thenheisaparricide，andacruelguardianofanagedparent； andthisisrealtyranny，aboutwhichtherecanbenolongeramistake：asthesayingis，thepeoplewhowouldescapethesmokewhichistheslaveryoffreemen，hasfallenintothefirewhichisthetyrannyofslaves。Thusliberty，gettingoutofallorderandreason，passesintotheharshestandbitterestformofslavery。 True，hesaid。 Verywell；andmaywenotrightlysaythatwehavesufficientlydiscussedthenatureoftyranny，andthemannerofthetransitionfromdemocracytotyranny？ Yes，quiteenough，hesaid。 BOOKIX SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS LASTofallcomesthetyrannicalman；aboutwhomwehaveoncemoretoask，howisheformedoutofthedemocratical？andhowdoeshelive，inhappinessorinmisery？ Yes，hesaid，heistheonlyoneremaining。 Thereis，however，Isaid，apreviousquestionwhichremainsunanswered。 Whatquestion？ Idonotthinkthatwehaveadequatelydeterminedthenatureandnumberoftheappetites，anduntilthisisaccomplishedtheenquirywillalwaysbeconfused。 Well，hesaid，itisnottoolatetosupplytheomission。 Verytrue，Isaid；andobservethepointwhichIwanttounderstand： CertainoftheunnecessarypleasuresandappetitesIconceivetobeunlawful；everyoneappearstohavethem，butinsomepersonstheyarecontrolledbythelawsandbyreason，andthebetterdesiresprevailoverthem—eithertheyarewhollybanishedortheybecomefewandweak； whileinthecaseofotherstheyarestronger，andtherearemoreofthem。 Whichappetitesdoyoumean？ Imeanthosewhichareawakewhenthereasoningandhumanandrulingpowerisasleep；thenthewildbeastwithinus，gorgedwithmeatordrink，startsupandhavingshakenoffsleep，goesforthtosatisfyhisdesires；andthereisnoconceivablefollyorcrime——notexceptingincestoranyotherunnaturalunion，orparricide，ortheeatingofforbiddenfood——whichatsuchatime，whenhehaspartedcompanywithallshameandsense，amanmaynotbereadytocommit。 Mosttrue，hesaid。 Butwhenaman’spulseishealthyandtemperate，andwhenbeforegoingtosleephehasawakenedhisrationalpowers，andfedthemonnoblethoughtsandenquiries，collectinghimselfinmeditation； afterhavingfirstindulgedhisappetitesneithertoomuchnortoolittle，butjustenoughtolaythemtosleep，andpreventthemandtheirenjoymentsandpainsfrominterferingwiththehigherprinciple——whichheleavesinthesolitudeofpureabstraction，freetocontemplateandaspiretotheknowledgeoftheunknown，whetherinpast，present，orfuture：whenagainhehasallayedthepassionateelement，ifhehasaquarrelagainstanyone——Isay，when，afterpacifyingthetwoirrationalprinciples，herousesupthethird，whichisreason，beforehetakeshisrest，then，asyouknow，heattainstruthmostnearly，andisleastlikelytobethesportoffantasticandlawlessvisions。 Iquiteagree。 InsayingthisIhavebeenrunningintoadigression；butthepointwhichIdesiretonoteisthatinallofus，eveningoodmen，thereisalawlesswild—beastnature，whichpeersoutinsleep。 Pray，considerwhetherIamright，andyouagreewithme。 Yes，Iagree。 Andnowrememberthecharacterwhichweattributedtothedemocraticman。Hewassupposedfromhisyouthupwardstohavebeentrainedunderamiserlyparent，whoencouragedthesavingappetitesinhim，butdiscountenancedtheunnecessary，whichaimonlyatamusementandornament？ True。 Andthenhegotintothecompanyofamorerefined，licentioussortofpeople，andtakingtoalltheirwantonwaysrushedintotheoppositeextremefromanabhorrenceofhisfather’smeanness。Atlast，beingabettermanthanhiscorruptors，hewasdrawninbothdirectionsuntilhehaltedmidwayandledalife，notofvulgarandslavishpassion，butofwhathedeemedmoderateindulgenceinvariouspleasures。Afterthismannerthedemocratwasgeneratedoutoftheoligarch？ Yes，hesaid；thatwasourviewofhim，andissostill。 Andnow，Isaid，yearswillhavepassedaway，andyoumustconceivethisman，suchasheis，tohaveason，whoisbroughtupinhisfather’sprinciples。 Icanimaginehim。