Let us see whether in order to be well governed a state
or country should be under the rule of a king or under some other form
of government; and whether monarchy, although good for some, may not
be bad for others. But first we must determine whether there is one
species of royalty or many. It is easy to see that there are many, and
that the manner of government is not the same in all of them.
Of royalties according to law, (1) the Lacedaemonian is thought to
answer best to the true pattern; but there the royal power is not
absolute, except when the kings go on an expedition, and then they
take the command. Matters of religion are likewise committed to
them. The kingly office is in truth a kind of generalship,
irresponsible and perpetual. The king has not the power of life and
death, except in a specified case, as for instance, in ancient
times, he had it when upon a campaign, by right of force. This
custom is described in Homer. For Agamemnon is patient when he is
attacked in the assembly, but when the army goes out to battle he
has the power even of life and death. Does he not say- 'When I find
a man skulking apart from the battle, nothing shall save him from
the dogs and vultures, for in my hands is death'?
This, then, is one form of royalty-a generalship for life: and of
such royalties some are hereditary and others elective.
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