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THE SPIRIT


CHAP. X.
What other Politicians thought.

Book XI.
Chap. 10.
TO temper monarchy, Arybas king[1] of Epirus, found no other remedy than a republic. The Molossi nor knowing how to limit the same power made two kings[2]: by this means the state was weakened more than the prerogative of the prince; they wanted rivals, and they created enemies.

Two kings were tolerable no where but at Sparta; here they did not form, but were only a part of, the constitution.


CHAP. XI.
Of the Kings of the heroic Times cf Greece.

IN the heroic times of Greece, a kind of monarchy arose that was not of long duration[3]. Those who had been inventors of arts, who had fought in their country's cause, who had established societies, or distributed lands among the people; obtained the regal power, and transmitted it to their children. They were kings, priests, and judges. This is one of the five species of monarchy mentioned by Aristotle[4]; and the only one that can give us any idea of the monarchical constitution. But the plan of this constitution is opposite to that of our modern monarchies.

The three powers were there distributed in such a manner as the people had the legislative[5] and the king the executive together with the power of judging; whereas in modern monarchies the prince

  1. See Justin. Book 17.
  2. Arist. Polit. Book 5. Chap. 8.
  3. Aristot. Polit. Book 3. Chpa. 14.
  4. Ioid.
  5. See what Plutarch says in the Life of Theseus. See likewise Thucydides. Book 1.
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