or merely company. But all these seem to be ranged under the great Social one, inasmuch as the aim of this is, not merely the expediency of the moment but, for life and at all times; with a view to which the members of it institute sacrifices and their attendant assemblies, to render honour to the gods and procure for themselves respite from toil combined with pleasure. For it appears that sacrifices and religious assemblies in old times were made as a kind of first-fruits after the ingathering of the crops, because at such seasons they had most leisure.
So then it appears that all the instances of Communion are parts of the great Social one: and corresponding Friendships will follow upon such Communions.
Chapter X.
Of Political Constitutions there are three kinds; and equal in number are the deflections from them, being, so to say, corruptions of them.
The former are Kingship, Aristocracy, and that which recognises the principle of wealth, which it seems appropriate to call Timocracy (I give to it the name of a political constitution