Page:The City-State of the Greeks and Romans.djvu/285

IX the early Romans, should have carried their cities safely through successive attacks of the disease, and have proved them in all respects the fittest to survive.

But before we leave Aristotle, let us consider for a moment the remedies which he proposes for stasis, or rather, for he speaks like a wise and scientific physician, the two ways by which these outbreaks may best be anticipated or modified. The first of these has already been touched on in these pages, and referred to as a leading cause of the strength and prosperity both of Athens and Rome. Of the second I have as yet said nothing; and it is time that an opportunity should be found for some notice of it, however brief and inadequate.

Aristotle touches, indeed, to start with, on several maxims which he recommends as practically useful for securing stability in a State; but ere long he recurs to the main principle which he has enunciated before — his favourite principle of the mean. It is in the middle stratum of society, he says, that salvation is to be found. Real equality is only to be found in this stratum; and as it is inequality which causes stasis, the encouragement or increase of this middle class should be the most valuable means of averting it. "Every State would, if it could, be composed of men who are equal;" this is the natural instinct of the State, and it is best realised where the middle class is strong. And this instinct is indeed a natural one; for a total loss of proportion in the distribution of wealth is at once