Politics

For the legislator, wishing the Spartans to be as numerous as possible, encourages the citizens to produce as many children as possible; for they have a law that the father of three sons is exempt from military service, and the father of four is exempt from all taxes. And yet it is clear that if many children are born and the land is divided in this way, many must of necessity become poor. Furthermore, the matters concerning the ephorate are also in a bad state. For this office is itself supreme over their most important affairs, but they are chosen from the whole people, so that often very poor men get into the office, who because of their poverty were open to bribery. This they made clear many times before, and recently in the affair of the Andrians; for certain men, having been corrupted by money, ruined the whole city as far as lay in their power. And because the office was too great and equal to a tyranny, even the kings were forced to court the people, so that in this way also the constitution was damaged along with it; for a democracy arose out of an aristocracy. To be sure, this office holds the constitution together—for the people remain quiet because they share in the greatest office, so that whether this has come about through the legislator or through fortune, it is advantageous for the affairs; for a constitution that is to be preserved must wish all parts of the city to exist and to remain in the same state. Now, the kings are thus disposed because of their own honor, the gentlemen because of the senate (for this office is a prize of virtue), and the people because of the ephorate (for it is established from all). But this office, while it ought to be chosen from all, should not be chosen in this manner which is now used (for it is too childish). Furthermore, they are supreme over great judgments, although they are ordinary men, wherefore it is better for them to judge not according to their own opinion but according to written rules and the laws. Also, the lifestyle of the ephors is not in harmony with the intention of the city; for it is itself too relaxed, while in other respects it errs rather on the side of severity, so that they cannot endure it, but secretly run away from the law to enjoy bodily pleasures. The matters concerning the office of the elders are also not in a good state for them. For if they were good men and sufficiently trained in manly virtue, one might perhaps say that it is advantageous to the city, and yet their being supreme over great judgments for life is disputable; for there is an old age of the mind, just as there is of the body.