What is iust or Lawe in euerie com∣mon wealth or gouernement. CHAP. 2.
NOw it doth appeare, that it is profitable to euerie common wealth (as it is to euery thing generally and particularly) to be kept in her most perfect estate. Then if that part which doth beare the rule, doe com∣maund that which is profitable to it, and the commaun∣dement of that part which doeth rule on that sort, is to be accepted in euery common wealth respectiuely to be iust (as we haue said before): it must néedes follow, that the definition which Thrasimachus did make, that to be iust which is the profite of the ruling and most strong part (if it be meant of the Citie or common wealth) is not so farre out of the way,* 1.1 (if it be ciuilly vnder∣stoode) as Plato would make it. But as there is profita∣ble and likelyhoode of profite, so there is right and like∣lyhoode of right. And aswell may the ruling and Soue∣raigne part commaund that which is not his profite, as the iust man may offend (notwithstanding his iust and true meaning) when he would amend that which is amisse, and helpe the common wealth, and doe good vnto it. For in asmuch as he attempteth to doe con∣trarie to the Lawe which is alreadie put, he therefore by the lawe is iustly to be condemned, because his do∣ing is contrarie to the lawe and the ordinaunce of that part which doth commaunde.