And, if there is need to speak also of things old in story, it is said that even the gods
 are ruled by Zeus as king. If the saying is true, it is clear that the gods also prefer
 this regime; but if, on the other hand, no one knows the truth about this matter, and we
 by our own conjecture have simply supposed it to be so, it is a proof that we all hold
 monarchy in the highest esteem; for we should never have said that the gods live under it
 if we did not believe it to be far superior to all other governments. Now as to polities, while it is not possible either to search out or declare every
 detail in which they differ from each other, yet for our present purpose, at least, enough
 has been said. But to show that I hold my office by natural right is a story much sooner
 told and less open to dispute. For who does not know how Teucer, the founder of our race, taking with him the ancestors
 of the rest of our people, came hither over seas and built for them a city and portioned
 out the land; and that, after his other descendants had lost the throne, my father,
 Evagoras, won it back again by undergoing the greatest dangers, and wrought so great a
 change that Phoenicians no longer rule over Salaminians, while they, to whom it belonged
 in the beginning, are today in possession of the kingdom? For this history, see introd. to II; Grote, History of Greece (new edition), ix. pp. 228 ff.; Isoc. 9.29-35 . 
 Now, of the matters which I proposed to discuss, it remains for me to speak to you about
 myself, in order that you may realize that I, who rule over you, am of such character
 that, not only on account of my ancestors, but of myself also, I might justly claim even
 greater honor than I now enjoy. For I I think you would all agree that the most sovereign
 of the virtues are temperance and justice, since not only do they benefit us in themselves, but, if we should be minded to look into
 the natures, powers, and uses of human relations, we would find that those which do not
 partake Almost the language of the Platonic doctrine of
 ideas. of these qualities are the causes of great evils, whereas those which are
 attended by temperance and justice are greatly beneficial to the life of man. If, then,
 any of my predecessors have gained renown for these virtues, I consider that it is also my
 right to enjoy the same renown.