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βούλεται κτλ. See cr. n. The reading βούλεται is found also in v, Flor. R, Flor. T, Stobaeus (Flor. 9. 67) and Iamblichus (Protrept. 88 p. 33 Pistelli). βουλεύεται, which Schneider and Hermann, following the best MSS, still retain, is much less suitable, and the corruption is easy and tolerably frequent: cf. (with Schneider) Phil. 35 D and 50 E, “ubi βουλεύεσθαι et βουλεύομαι pro βούλεσθαι et βούλομαι in quibusdam scriptum est.” Plato means that the purpose, intention or meaning of Law is that the better should rule the worse, and we may fairly appeal to the witness of Law on such a subject, for Law does not, as Thrasymachus argued (I 343 C), hold a brief for ὁ κρείττων, but is the ally of every class and individual in the city without exception, πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ πόλει ξύμμαχος. Law is “the ally of everybody in the community without distinction, because the ally of that which is best in him” (Nettleship Lect. and Rem. II p. 336).
The Republic of Plato. James Adam. 1902. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
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