the compulsory collection of money appertains only to monarchy, and let us not turn away from the system for that reason, but conduct our deliberations with a full knowledge of the fact that in any case it is necessary for us to obtain funds, whatsoever form of government we may adopt.  Consequently, I maintain that you should first of all sell the goods which are in the public treasury,—­and I notice that these have become numerous on account of the wars,—­except a few which are exceedingly useful and necessary to you:  and you should loan all this money at some moderate rate of interest.  In this way the land will be worked, being delivered to men who will cultivate it themselves, and the latter will obtain a starting-point and so grow more prosperous, while the treasury will have a sufficient and perpetual revenue.  This amount should be computed together with all the rest of the revenue that can be derived from the mines and with certainty from any other source; and after that we ought to reckon on not only the military service but everything else which contributes to the successful life of a city, and further how much it will be necessary to lay out in campaigns at short notice and other critical occurrences which are wont to take place.  Then, to make up the deficiency in income, we ought to levy upon absolutely all instruments which produce any profit for the men who possess them, and we should exact taxes from all whom we rule.  It is both just and proper that no one of them should be exempt from taxation,—­individual or people,—­because they are destined to enjoy the benefit of the taxes in common with the rest.  We should set over them tax-collectors in every case to manage the business, so that they may levy from all sources of revenue everything that falls due during their term of management.  The following plan will render it easier for the officers to gather the taxes and will be of no little service to those who contribute them.  I mean that they will bring in whatever they owe in an appointed order and little by little, instead of remaining idle a short time and then having the entire sum demanded of them in one payment.

[-29-] “I am not unaware that some of the incomes and taxes established will be disliked.  But I know this, too,—­that if the peoples secure immunity from any further abuse and believe in reality that they will be contributing all of this for their own safety and for reaping subsidiary benefits in abundance and that most of it will be obtained by no others than men of their own district, some by governing, others by managing, others by army service, they will be very grateful to you, giving as they do a small portion of large possessions, the profits of which they enjoy without oppression.  Especially will this be true if they see that you live temperately and spend nothing foolishly.  Who, if he saw you very economical of your own means and very lavish of the public funds, would not willingly contribute, and deem your possession of wealth to constitute his safety and prosperity?  By these means a very large amount of money would be on hand.