Book 3
681
Ath. That, while these larger settlements were growing out of the original small ones, each of the small settlements continued to retain, clan by clan, both the rule of the eldest and also some customs derived from its isolated condition and peculiar to itself. As those who begot and reared them were different, so these customs of theirs, relating to the gods and to themselves, differed, being more orderly where their forefathers had been orderly, and more brave where they had been brave; and as thus the fathers of each clan in due course stamped upon their children and children’s children their own cast of mind, these people came (as we say) into the larger community furnished each with their own peculiar laws.
681
Clin. Of course.
681
Ath. And no doubt each clan was well pleased with its own laws, and less well with those of its neighbors.
681
Clin. True.
681
Ath. Unwittingly, as it seems, we have now set foot, as it were, on the starting-point of legislation.
681
Clin. We have indeed.
681
Ath. The next step necessary is that these people should come together and choose out some members of each clan who, after a survey of the legal usages of all the clans, shall notify publicly to the tribal leaders and chiefs (who may be termed their kings) which of those usages please them best, and shall recommend their adoption. These men will themselves be named legislators, and when they have established the chiefs as magistrates, and have framed an aristocracy, or possibly even a monarchy, from the existing plurality of headships, they will live under the constitution thus transformed.
681
Clin. The next steps would certainly be such as you describe.
681
Ath. Let us go on to describe the rise of a third form of constitution, in which are blended all kinds and varieties of constitutions, and of States as well.For this mixed polity of the city of the plain, cp. the description of democracy in Plat. Rep. 557d ff.
681
Clin. What form is that?
