other. Cyrus went the next day to see the sage, in order to put some questions to him about the laws of Minos.

The profound peace, said he to Pythagoras, which is at present in Persia, gives me leisure to travel: I am going over the most famous countries to collect useful knowledge; I have been in Egypt where I have informed myself in the laws and government of that kingdom; I have travelled over Greece to acquaint myself with the different republics which compose it, especially those of Lacedaemon and Athens. The ancient laws of Egypt seem to me to have been excellent and founded in nature, but its form of government was defective; the kings had no bridle to restrain them; the thirty judges did not share the supreme authority with thems they were but the interpreters of the law. Despotic power and conquests at last destroyed that empire. I fear that Athens will be ruined by a contrary fault; its government is too popular and tumultuous: the laws of Solon are good, but he had not sufficient authority to reform the genius of a people that have an unbounded inclination for liberty, luxury and pleasure. Lycurgus has provided a remedy for the defects which ruined Egypt and will destroy Athens; but his laws are too contrary to nature: equality of ranks and community of goods cannot subsist long; as soon as the Lacedemonians shall have extended their dominion in Greece, they will doubtless throw off the yoke of these laws; they restrain the passions on one side but indulge them too much on another, and while they proscribe sensuality they favor ambition. None of these three forms of government seem to me to be perfect. I have

formes de gouvernement ne me paraît parfaite. On m'a dit que Minos en établit autrefois dans cette île une qui était exempte des vices dont je viens de parler.

Pythagore admira la pénétration du jeune prince, et le conduisit au temple où les lois de Minos étaient conservées dans une boîte d'or; elles contenaient tout ce qui a rapport à la religion, à la morale et à la politique, et tout ce qui pouvait servir à la connaissance des Dieux, de soi-même et des autres hommes. Cyrus trou va dans ce livre sacré, tout ce qu'il y avait de parfait dans les lois d'Egypte, de Sparte et d'Athènes, et sentit par-là que, comme Minos avait emprunté des Egyptiens, de même Lycurgue et Solon devaient au Législateur de Crète ce qu'il y avait de meilleur dans leurs institutions; et ce fut aussi sur ce modèle que Cyrus forma les lois admirables qu'il établit dans son empire, après avoir conquis l'Asie.

Pythagore lui expliqua ensuite la forme du gouvernement de l'ancienne Crète, et comment il prévenait également le despotisme et l'anarchie. On croirait, ajouta le philosophe, qu'un gouvernement aussi parfait dans toutes ses parties, aurait dû subsister à jamais, mais il en reste à peine quelques vestiges. Les successeurs de Minos dégénérèrent par degrés; ils ne se crurent pas assez grands, tant qu'ils ne furent que les simples gardiens des lois; ils voulurent y substituer leur volonté arbitraire. Les Crétois s'opposèrent à l'innovation de là naquirent les discordes et les guerres civiles. Dans ces troubles, les rois furent détrônés, exilés ou mis à mort, et des usurpateurs se mirent à leur place. Ces usurpateurs affaiblirent l'autorité des nobles, pour flatter le peuple : les Comes,

:

been told that Minos heretofore established one in this island, which was free from the defects I have mentioned.

Pythagoras admired the young prince's penetration, and conducted him to the temple where the laws of Minos were kept in a gold box; they contained all that regarded religion morality and policy, and whatever might contribute to the knowledge of the Gods, ourselves and other men. Cyrus found in this sacred book all that was excellent in the laws of Egypt, Sparta and Athens, and thereby perceived, that as Minos had borrowed from the Egyptians, so Lycurgus and Solon were indebted to the Cretan lawgiver, for the most valuable parts of their institutions; and it was upon this mode also that Cyrus formed those admirable laws which he established in his empire after he had conquered Asia.

Pythagoras after this explained to him the form of government of ancient Crete, and how it provided equally against despotic power and anarchy. One would think, added the philosopher, that a government so perfect in all its parts, should have subsisted for ever, but there hardly remain any traces of it. The successors of Minos degenerated by degrees; they did not think themselves great enough while they were only guardians of the laws; they would substitute their arbitrary will in the place of them. The Cretans opposed the innovation; from thence sprang discords and civil wars; in these tumults the Kings were dethroned, exiled, or put to death, and usurpers took their place; those usurpers to flatter people weakened the authority of the nobles ; the

ou députés du peuple, s'emparèrent de la puissance souveraine : la monarchie d'abord ébranlée et ensuite méprisée, fut enfin abolie, et le gouvernement devint populaire : telle est la condition des choses humaines. Le désir de l'autorité illimitée chez les princes, et l'amour de l'indépendance dans le peuple, exposent tous les royaumes à des révolutions inévitables: il n'y a rien de fixe ni de stable parmi les hommes. Cyrus comprit par-là que le salut et le bonheur d'un royaume, ne dépendent pas tant de la sagesse des lois, que de celle des rois. Toutes les espèces de gouvernement sont bonnes, lorsque ceux qui gouvernent ne cherchent que le bien public; mais elles sont toujours défectueuses, parce que ceux qui gouvernent, n'étant que des hommes, sont imparfaits.

Après plusieurs entretiens de cette nature avec le sage Samien, le prince se disposa enfin à continuer ses voyages, et en partant il lui dit: Je suis extrêmement affligé de vous voir abandonné à la cruauté d'un sort capricieux. Que je serais heureux de passer ma vie avec vous dans la Perse! Je ne vous offrirais ni les plaisirs ni les richesses qui séduisent les autres hommes; je sais que vous en seriez peu touché : vous êtes au-dessus des faveurs des rois, parce que vous connaissez la vanité de la grandeur humaine: mais je vous offre dans mes états, la paix, la liberté, et le doux loisir que les Dieux accordent à ceux qui aiment la sagesse. J'aurais une joie sincère, répondit Pythagore, de vivre sous votre protection avec Zoroastre et les Mages, mais il faut que je suive les ordres qui m'ont été donnés par l'oracle d'Apollon: il s'élève en Italie un puissant empire qui deviendra un

Comes or deputies of the people invaded the sovereign authority; the monarchy at first shaken and then despised was at last abolished and the government became popular. Such is the condition of human things. The desire of unbounded authority in princes, and the love of independence in the people, expose all kingdoms to inevitable revolutions; nothing is fixed or stable among men. Cyrus perceived by this, that the safety and happiness of a kingdom do not depend so much upon the wisdom and laws as upon that of kings. All sorts of government are good when those who govern seek only the public welfare, but they are all defective, because the governors being but men, are imperfect.

After several such conversations with the wise Samian, the prince prepared to continue his travels, and at parting said to him. I am extremely concerned to see you abandoned to the cruelty of capricious fortune! How happy should I be to spend my life with you in Persia! I will not offer you pleasures or riches which allure other men; I know you would be little moved by them: you are above the favors of kings, because you see the vanity of human grandeur, but I offer you in my dominious, peace, liberty, and the sweet leisure which the Gods grant to those who love wis dom. I should have a sincere joy, replied Pythagoras, to live under your protection with Zoroaster and the Magi, but I must follow the orders given me by the oracle of Apollo; a mighty empire is rising in Italy, which will one day become master of the world; its form