their infancy in the ſplendor of the power and dignities of their parents, ſome giving themſelves up to avarice, others to intemperance, and others to the abuſe of women, by this behaviour changed the ariſtocracy into an oligarchy.
Their cataſtrophe became the ſame with that of the tyrants; for if any perſon, obſerving the general envy and hatred which theſe rulers have incurred, has the courage to ſay or do any thing againſt them, he finds the whole body of the people inſpired with the ſame paſſions they were before poſſeſſed with againſt the tyrant, and ready to aſſiſt him. Thereupon they put ſome of them to death, and baniſh others; but dare not, after that, appoint a king to govern them, being ſtill afraid of the injuſtice of the firſt; neither dare they entruſt the government with any number of men, having ſtill before their eyes the errors which thoſe had before committed: ſo that having no hope, but in themſelves, they convert the government from an oligarchy to a democracy, and take upon themſelves the care and charge of public affairs.
And as long as any are living, who felt the power and dominion of the few, they acquieſce under the preſent eſtabliſhment, and look upon equality and liberty as the greateſt of bleſſings. But when a new race of men grows up, theſe, no longer regarding equality and liberty, from being accuſtomed to them, aim at a greater ſhare of power than the reſt, particularly thoſe of the greateſt fortunes, who, grown now ambitious, and being unable to obtain the power they aim at by their own merit, diſſipate their wealth, by alluring and corrupting the people by every method; and when, to ſerve their wild ambition, they have once taught them to receive bribes and entertainments, from that moment the democracy is at an
