dignity, grew old in the enjoyment of it, poſſeſſed themſelves of a territory, ſurrounded it with walls, and fortified advantageous poſts: thus conſulting the ſecurity of their ſubjects, and ſupplying them with plenty of proviſions, differing little in their clothes or tables from the people with whom they paſſed their lives, they continued blameleſs and unenvied. But their poſterity, ſucceeding to the government by right of inheritance, and finding every thing provided for ſecurity and ſupport, they were led by ſuperfluity to indulge their appetites, and to imagine that it became princes to appear in a different dreſs, to eat in a more luxurious manner, and enjoy, without contradiction, the forbidden pleaſures of love. The firſt produced envy, the other reſentment and hatred. By which means kingly government degenerated into tyranny.
At the ſame time a foundation was laid, and a conſpiracy formed, for the deſtruction of thoſe who exerciſed it; the accomplices of which were not men of inferior rank, but perſons of the moſt generous, exalted, and enterprizing ſpirit; for ſuch men can leaſt bear the inſolence of thoſe in power. The people, having theſe to lead them, and uniting againſt their rulers, kingly government and monarchy were extirpated, and ariſtocracy began to be eſtabliſhed, for the people, as an immediate acknowledgment to thoſe who had deſtroyed monarchy, choſe theſe leaders for their governors, and left all their concerns to them.
Theſe, at firſt, preferred the advantage of the public to all other conſiderations, and adminiſtered all affairs, both public and private, with care and vigilance. But their ſons having ſucceeded them in the ſame power, unacquainted with evils, ſtrangers to civil equality and liberty, educated from
