;2 A RISTO TLE '3' POLITICS.
them for decision. In a word, the upper council refers matters
to the common council, and the common council, through the
general, to the assembly. In like manner there are three divisions
of the warrior or military class: the officers, the fighters in the
front ranks, and lastly the common herd of soldiers, who are
the larger number. The officers are the class which furnishes
generals and colonels and captains and the front rank of soldiers,
and generally all those who have authority. The soldiers of the
front rank are the whole class of the bravest, most spirited, and
most courageous men; the common herd of soldiers are the
remaining multitude. Again, of the class who vork for their
living, some are husbandmen and tillers of the ground; others
mcchanics, ~vho supply tools and instruments for the needs of life ;
o;hers traders and merchants, who export superfluous productions
to foreign countries, and import necessaries into their own. The
framework of the political community then is composed of such
and SO many parts; we nil1 therefore proceed to speak of the
liarmony and unison of them.
' Now every political community exactly resembles a stringed
instrument, in that it needs arrangement and harmony and
touch and frequent practice. Of the character and number
of the elements which form the arrangement of the state I
have already spoken. The state is harmonized by these three
things-reason (hdyor), moral habit, law, and by these three man
is cclucated and becomes better. Reason gives instruction and
implants impulses towards virtue. The law partly deters men
from crime by the restraint of fear, partly attracts and invites
them by rewards nnd gifts. Habits and pursuits form and
mould the soul, and produce a character by constant action.
All these three must have regard to the honourable and the
espedient and the just; and each of the three must aim at
them all if possible, or, if this is not possible, at one or two.
So will reason and habit and law all be honourable and just and
expedient ; but the honourable must always be first esteemed ;
secondly, the just ; thirdly, the expedient. And generally our
aim should be to render the city by these qualities as far as
possible harmonious, and deliver it from the love of quarrelling
wang
(Wang)
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