Ath。Thatifanyonegivestoogreatapowertoanything，toolargeasailtoavessel，toomuchfoodtothebody，toomuchauthoritytothemind，anddoesnotobservethemean，everythingisoverthrown，and，inthewantonnessofexcessrunsintheonecasetodisorders，andintheothertoinjustice，whichisthechildofexcess。Imeantosay，mydearfriends，thatthereisnosoulofman，youngandirresponsible，whowillbeabletosustainthetemptationofarbitrarypower-noonewhowillnot，undersuchcircumstances，becomefilledwithfolly，thatworstofdiseases，andbehatedbyhisnearestanddearestfriends：whenthishappens，hiskingdomisundermined，andallhispowervanishesfromhim。Andgreatlegislatorswhoknowthemeanshouldtakeheedofthedanger。Asfaraswecanguessatthisdistanceoftime，whathappenedwasasfollows：-
Meg。What？
Ath。AGod，whowatchedoverSparta，seeingintothefuture，gaveyoutwofamiliesofkingsinsteadofone；andthusbroughtyoumorewithinthelimitsofmoderation。Inthenextplace，somehumanwisdommingledwithdivinepower，observingthattheconstitutionofyourgovernmentwasstillfeverishandexcited，temperedyourinbornstrengthandprideofbirthwiththemoderationwhichcomesofage，makingthepowerofyourtwenty-eighteldersequalwiththatofthekingsinthemostimportantmatters。Butyourthirdsaviour，perceivingthatyourgovernmentwasstillswellingandfoaming，anddesiroustoimposeacurbuponit，institutedtheEphors，whosepowerhemadetoresemblethatofmagistrateselectedbylot；andbythisarrangementthekinglyoffice，beingcompoundedoftherightelementsanddulymoderated，waspreserved，andwasthemeansofpreservingalltherest。Since，iftherehadbeenonlytheoriginallegislators，Temenus，Cresphontes，andtheircontemporaries，asfarastheywereconcernednoteventheportionofAristodemuswouldhavebeenpreserved；fortheyhadnoproperexperienceinlegislation，ortheywouldsurelynothaveimaginedthatoathswouldmoderateayouthfulspiritinvestedwithapowerwhichmightbeconvertedintoatyranny。NowthatGodhasinstructeduswhatsortofgovernmentwouldhavebeenorwillbelasting，thereisnowisdom，asIhavealreadysaid，injudgingaftertheevent；thereisnodifficultyinlearningfromanexamplewhichhasalreadyoccurred。Butifanyonecouldhaveforeseenallthisatthetime，andhadbeenabletomoderatethegovernmentofthethreekingdomsandunitethemintoone，hemighthavesavedalltheexcellentinstitutionswhichwerethenconceived；andnoPersianoranyotherarmamentwouldhavedaredtoattackus，orwouldhaveregardedHellasasapowertobedespised。
Cle。True。
Ath。Therewassmallcredittous，Cleinias，indefeatingthem；