Page:The City-State of the Greeks and Romans.djvu/142

118 the only true statesmen. What wonder then, once more, if these men and their families believed themselves to be the only lawful possessors of secrets of government, as well as of religion, which they might turn to their own particular advantage?

Even in military matters — the third department of government — the same tendency is seen; for the aristocracy took the greater risk in actual warfare, and were at greater expense than the commons in providing themselves with horses and superior arms. They, like the chivalry of the middle ages, were the flower of the State's army; they had a greater stake in the State and they bore the greater burden. What wonder, then, if they, like their mediæval counterparts, came to look down on the people as louts who could not or would not fight, unworthy alike of honour on the battlefield, and of power in the constitution?

Thus we may be sure that in course of time there came to be a greater distinctness of outline in