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75 AD
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SOLON
638-539 B.C.
Plutarch
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ranslated by John Dryden
Plutarch (46-120) - Greek biographer, histo
and philosopher,
sometimes known as the encyclopaedis
antiquity. He is most
renowned for his series of character stu
arranged mostly in
pairs, known as “Plutarch’s Lives of the N
Grecians and
Romans” or “Parallel Lives.” Solon (75 ADstudy of the life of
he Athenian lawgiver, Solon.
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SOLON
DIDYMUS, the grammarian, in his answe
Asclepiades concerning Solon’s Tables of mentions a passage of one Philocles, who s
hat Solon’s father’s name was Euphorion, co
o the opinion of all others who have w
concerning him; for they generally agree that he
he son of Execestides, a man of moderate wand power in the city, but of a most noble s
being descended from Codrus; his mother
Heraclides Ponticus affirms, was cousin
Pisistratus’s mother, and the two at first were
riends, partly because they were akin, and because of Pisistratus’s noble qualities and be
And they say Solon loved him; and that is the rea
suppose, that when afterwards they differed a
he government, their enmity never produced an
and violent passion, they remembered theikindnesses, and retained “Still in its embers
he strong fire” of their love and dear affection
hat Solon was not proof against beauty, n
coura e to stand u to assion and meet it
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Hand to hand as in the ring,” we may conjectu
his poems, and one of his laws, in which there
practices forbidden to slaves, which he w
appear, therefore, to recommend to freePisistratus, it is stated, was similarly attached to
Charmus; he it was who dedicated the future of
n the Academy, where the runners in the sa
orch race light their torches. Solon, as Herm
writes, when his father had ruined his estate in dbenefits and kindnesses to other men, thoug
had friends enough that were willing to contribu
his relief, yet was ashamed to be beholden to ot
ince he was descended from a family who
accustomed to do kindnesses rather than rehem; and therefore applied himself to mercha
n his youth; though others assure us that he trav
ather to get learning and experience than to m
money. It is certain that he was a lover of knowle
or when he was old he would say, that he “Eacgrew older, and learnt something new;” and ye
admirer of riches, esteeming as equally wealth
man “Who hath both gold and silver in his h
Horses and mules, and acres of wheat-land,
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him whose all is decent food to eat, Clothes t
back and shoes upon his feet, And a young wife
child, since so ‘twill be, And no more years tha
with that agree;” and in another place “Wealth I w
have, but wealth by wrong procure I wouldustice, e’en if slow, is sure.” And it is pe
possible for a good man and a statesman, wi
being solicitous for superfluities, to show s
concern for competent necessaries. In his tim
Hesiod says,- “Work was a shame to none,” nodistinction made with respect to trade,
merchandise was a noble calling, which bro
home the good things which the barbarous na
enjoyed, was the occasion of friendship with
kings, and a great source of experience.
Some merchants have built great cities, as P
he founder of Massilia, to whom the Gauls, nea
Rhone, were much attached.
Some report also, that Thales and Hippocrate
mathematician traded; and that Plato defraye
charges of his travels by selling oil in Egypt. So
oftness and profuseness, his popular rather
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chiefly esteemed the political part of mora
physics, he was very plain and antiquated
appears by this: “It is the clouds that make the
and hail, And thunder comes from lightning w
ail; The sea is stormy when the winds have bBut it deals fairly when ‘tis left alone.”
And, indeed, it is probable that at that time T
alone had raised philosophy above mere pra
nto speculation; and the rest of the wise men o called from prudence in political concerns
aid, that they had an interview at Delphi,
another at Corinth, by the procurement of Peria
who made a meeting for them, and a supper
heir reputation was chiefly raised by sendingripod to them all, by their modest refusal,
complaisant yielding to one another. For, as
tory goes, some of the Coans fishing with a
ome strangers, Milesians, bought the draught
venture; the net brought up a golden tripod, whey say, Helen, at her return from Troy, upon
emembrance of an old prophecy, threw in t
Now, the strangers at first contesting with the fis
about the tripod, and the cities espousing the qu
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o far as to engage themselves in a war, A
decided the controversy by commanding to pre
t to the wisest man; and first it was sent to Milet
Thales, the Coans freely presenting him with th
which they fought against the whole body oMilesians; but Thales declaring Bias the
person, it was sent to him; from him to another
o, going round them all, it came to Thales a se
me; and, at last, being carried from Miletu
Thebes, was there dedicated to Apollo IsmeTheophrastus writes that it was first presente
Bias at Priene; and next to Thales at Miletus, an
hrough all it returned to Bias, and was afterw
ent to Delphi. This is the general report, only s
nstead of a tripod, say this present was a cupby Croesus; others, a piece of plate that
Bathycles had left.
t is stated, that Anacharsis and Solon, and S
and Thales, were familiarly acquainted and shave delivered parts of their discourse; for, they
Anacharsis, coming to Athens, knocked at So
door, and told him, that he, being a stranger,
come to be his guest, and contract a friendship
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him; and Solon replying, “It is better to make fr
at home,” Anacharsis replied,
Then you that are at home make friendship
me.” Solon, somewhat surprised at the readine
he repartee, received him kindly, and kept
ome time with him, being already engaged in p
business and the compilation of his laws; w
when Anacharsis understood, he laughed at hi
magining the dishonesty and covetousness ocountrymen could be restrained by written
which were like spiders’ webs, and would catch
rue, the weak and poor, but easily be broken b
mighty and rich. To this Solon rejoined that
keep their promises when neither side cananything by the breaking of them; and he would
his laws to the citizens, that all should understa
was more eligible to be just than to break the
But the event rather agreed with the conjectu
Anacharsis than Solon’s hope.
Anacharsis, being once at the Assembly, expre
his wonder at the fact that in Greece wise
poke and fools decided.
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Solon went, they say, to Thales, at Miletus,
wondered that Thales took no care to get him a
and children. To this, Thales made no answer fo
present; but a few days after procured a strang
pretend that he had left Athens ten days agoSolon inquiring what news there, the man, acco
o his instructions, replied, “None but a young m
uneral, which the whole city attended; for he wa
on, they said, of an honourable man, the
virtuous of the citizens, who was not then at hbut had been travelling a long time.” Solon re
What a miserable man is he! But what wa
name?” “I have heard it,” says the man,
but have now forgotten it, only there was a greaof his wisdom and his justice.” Thus Solon
drawn on by every answer, and his fears heighte
ll at last, being extremely concerned, he menti
his own name, and asked the stranger if that y
man was called Solon’s son; and the stra
assenting, he began to beat his head, and to do
ay all that is usual with men in transports of
But Thales took his hand, and, with a smile,
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These things, Solon, keep me from marriage
earing children, which are too great for even
constancy to support; however, be not concern
he report, for it is a fiction.” This Hermippus re
rom Pataecus, who boasted that he had Aesoul.
However, it is irrational and poor-spirited not to
conveniences for fear of losing them, for upo
ame account we should not allow ourselves twealth, glory, or wisdom, since we may fear t
deprived of all these; nay, even virtue itself,
which there is no greater nor more des
possession, is often suspended by sicknes
drugs. Now Thales, though unmarried, could nree from solicitude unless he likewise felt no
or his friends, his kinsman, or his country; yet w
old be adopted Cybisthus, his sister’s son. Fo
oul, having a principle of kindness in itself,
being born to love, as well as perceive, thinemember, inclines and fixes upon some stra
when a man has none of his own to embrace.
alien or illegitimate objects insinuate themselve
his affections, as into some estate that lacks l
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heirs; and with affection come anxiety and
nsomuch that you may see men that use
trongest language against the marriage-bed
he fruit of it, when some servant’s or concub
child is sick or dies, almost killed with grief,abjectly lamenting. Some have given wa
hameful and desperate sorrow at the loss of a
or horse; others have borne the death of virt
children without any extravagant or unbeco
grief, have passed the rest of their lives like and according to the principles of reason. It i
affection, it is weakness that brings men, una
against fortune by reason, into these endless
and terrors; and they indeed have not even
present enjoyment of what they dote uponpossibility of the future loss causing them con
pangs, tremors, and distresses.
We must not provide against the loss of weal
poverty, or of friends by refusing all acquaintancof children by having none, but by morality
eason.
But of this too much.
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Now, when the Athenians were tired with a ted
and difficult war that they conducted agains
Megarians for the island Salamis and made a
hat it should be death for any man, by writin
peaking, to assert that the city ought to endeao recover it, Solon, vexed at the disgrace,
perceiving thousands of the youth wished
omebody to begin, but did not dare to stir fir
ear of the law, counterfeited a distraction, and b
own family it was spread about the city that hemad. He then secretly composed some el
verses, and getting them by heart, that it might s
extempore, ran out into the market-place with a
upon his head, and, the people gathering about
got upon the herald’s stand, and sang that
which begins thus “I am a herald come from Sa
he fair, My news from thence my verses
declare.”
The poem is called Salamis; it contains an hun
verses very elegantly written; when it had been
his friends commended it, and especially Pisist
exhorted the citizens to obey his direc
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nsomuch that they recalled the law, and renewe
war under Solon’s conduct. The popular tale is
with Pisistratus he sailed to Colias, and, findin
women, according to the custom of the country t
acrificing to Ceres, he sent a trusty frienSalamis, who should pretend himself a reneg
and advise them, if they desired to seize the
Athenian women, to come with him at on
Colias; the Megarians presently sent off men i
vessel with him; and Solon, seeing it put off fromsland, commanded the women to be gone,
ome beardless youths, dressed in their clo
heir shoes and caps, and privately armed
daggers, to dance and play near the shore ti
enemies had landed and the vessel was in power.
Things being thus ordered, the Megarians
ured with the appearance, and, coming to the s
umped out, eager who should first seize a prizhat not one of them escaped; and the Athenian
ail for the island and took it.
Others say that it was not taken this way, but th
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rst received this oracle from Delphi: “Those he
hat in fair Asopia rest, All buried with their fac
he west, Go and appease with offerings of the
and that Solon, sailing by night to the is
acrificed to the heroes Periphemus and Cychand then taking five hundred Athenian voluntee
aw having passed that those that took the i
hould be highest in the government), with a nu
of fisher-boats and one thirty-oared ship, anch
n a bay of Salamis that looks towards Nisaeahe Megarians that were then in the island, he
only an uncertain report, hurried to their arms
ent a ship to reconnoiter the enemies. This
Solon took, and, securing the Megarians, mann
with Athenians, and gave them orders to sail tsland with as much privacy as possible; mean
he, with the other soldiers, marched agains
Megarians by land, and whilst they were fig
hose from the ship took the city. And this narrat
confirmed by the following solemnity, that afterwards observed: An Athenian ship used to
ilently at first to the island, then, with noise a
great shout, one leapt out armed, and with a lou
an to the promontory Sciradium to meet those
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approached upon the land. And just by there st
a temple which Solon dedicated to Mars. Fo
beat the Megarians, and as many as were not
n the battle he sent away upon conditions.
The Megarians, however, still contending, and
ides having received considerable losses,
chose the Spartans for arbitrators. Now, many a
hat Homer’s authority did Solon a conside
kindness, and that, introducing a line intoCatalogue of Ships, when the matter was t
determined, he read the passage as fol
Twelve ships from Salamis stout Ajax brought,
anked his men where the Athenians fought.”
Athenians, however, call this but an idle storyeport that Solon made it appear to the judges
Philaeus and Eurysaces, the sons of Ajax, b
made citizens of Athens, gave them the island
hat one of them dwelt at Brauron in Attica, the
at Melite; and they have a township of Philaidawhich Pisistratus belonged, deriving its name
his Philaeus. Solon took a farther argument ag
he Megarians from the dead bodies, which, he
were not buried after their fashion, but accordi
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he Athenian; for the Megarians turn the corp
he east, the Athenians to the west. But Herea
Megarian denies this, and affirms that they like
urn the body to the west, and also that the Athe
have a separate tomb for everybody, butMegarians put two or three into one. However, s
of Apollo’s oracles, where he calls Salamis Io
made much for Solon. This matter was determ
by five Spartans, Critolaidas, Amomphar
Hypsechidas, Anaxilas, and Cleomenes.
For this, Solon grew famed and powerful; bu
advice in favour of defending the oracle at Delp
give aid, and not to suffer the Cirrhaeans to pro
t, but to maintain the honour of the god, gomost repute among the Greeks; for upon
persuasion the Amphictyons undertook the wa
amongst others, Aristotle affirms, in his enumer
of the victors at the Pythian games, where he m
Solon the author of this counsel. Solon, howwas not general in that expedition, as Herm
tates, out of Evanthes the Samian; for Aesc
he orator says no such thing, and, in the Del
egister, Alcmaeon, not Solon, is named
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commander of the Athenians.
Now the Cylonian pollution had a long
disturbed the commonwealth, ever since the
when Megacles the archon persuaded
conspirators with Cylon that took sanctua
Minerva’s temple to come down and stand to
rial. And they, tying a thread to the image,
holding one end of it, went down to the tribuna
when they came to the temple of the Furieshread broke of its own accord, upon which, as
goddess had refused them protection, they
eized by Megacles and the other magistrate
many as were without the temples were sto
hese that fled for sanctuary were butchered aaltar, and only those escaped who m
upplication to the wives of the magistrates.
But they from that time were considered u
pollution, and regarded with hatred. The remaof the faction of Cylon grew strong again, and
continual quarrels with the family of Megacles
now the quarrel being at its height, and the pe
divided, Solon, being in reputation, interposed
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he chiefest of the Athenians, and by entreaty
admonition persuaded the polluted to submit
rial and the decision of three hundred noble citi
And Myron of Phlya being their accuser, they
ound guilty, and as many as were then alive banished, and the bodies of the dead were du
and scattered beyond the confines of the count
he midst of these distractions, the Megarians f
upon them, they lost Nisaea and Salamis a
besides, the city was disturbed with superstears and strange appearances, and the p
declared that the sacrifices intimated some villa
and pollutions that were to be expiated. Upon
hey sent for Epimenides the Phaestian from C
who is counted the seventh wise man by thosewill not admit Periander into the number. He se
o have been thought a favourite of he
possessed of knowledge in all the supernatura
itual parts of religion; and, therefore, the men o
age called him a new Curies, and son of a nynamed Balte. When he came to Athens, and
acquainted with Solon, he served him in
nstances, and prepared the way for his legisla
He made them moderate in their forms of wo
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and abated their mourning by ordering s
acrifices presently after the funeral, and takin
hose severe and barbarous ceremonies whic
women usually practised; but the greatest b
was his purifying and sanctifying the city, by cepropitiatory and expiatory lustrations,
oundations of sacred buildings, by that m
making them more submissive to justice, and
nclined to harmony. It is reported that, looking
Munychia, and considering a long while.
he said to those that stood by, “How blind is m
uture things!
or did the Athenians foresee what mischiefwould do their city, they would even eat it with
own teeth to be rid of it.” A similar anticipatio
ascribed to Thales; they say he commande
riends to bury him in an obscure and contem
quarter of the territory of Mileteus, saying thould some day be the marketplace of
Milesians. Epimenides, being much honoured
eceiving from the city rich offers of large gifts
privileges, requested but one branch of the sa
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olive, and, on that being granted, returned.
The Athenians, now the Cylonian sedition was
and the polluted gone into banishment fell into
old quarrels about the government, there bein
many different parties as there were diversiti
he country. The Hill quarter favoured democracy
Plain, oligarchy, and those that lived by the Sea
tood for a mixed sort of government, an
hindered either of the other parties from prevaAnd the disparity of fortune between the rich an
poor, at that time, also reached its height; so tha
city seemed to be in a truly dangerous condition
no other means for freeing it from disturbances
ettling it to be possible but a despotic power. Apeople were indebted to the rich; and either
lled their land for their creditors, paying them a
part of the increase, and were, therefore, c
Hectemorii and Thetes, or else they engaged
body for the debt, and might be seized, and eent into slavery at home, or sold to strangers; s
for no law forbade it) were forced to sell
children, or fly their country to avoid the crue
heir creditors; but the most part and the brave
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hem began to combine together and encourage
another to stand to it, to choose a leader, to lib
he condemned debtors, divide the land, and ch
he government.
Then the wisest of the Athenians, perceiving S
was of all men the only one not implicated i
roubles, that he had not joined in the exactio
he rich and was not involved in the necessiti
he poor, pressed him to succour the commonwand compose the differences. Though Phania
Lesbian affirms, that Solon, to save his country’
rick upon both parties, and privately promise
poor a division of the lands, and the rich secur
heir debts.
Solon, however, himself says, that it was reluc
at first that he engaged in state affairs, being a
of the pride of one party and the greediness o
other; he was chosen archon, however, Philombrotus, and empowered to be an arbi
and lawgiver; the rich consenting because he
wealthy, the poor because he was honest. T
was a saying of his current before the election
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when things are even there never can be war
his pleased both parties, the wealthy and the
he one conceiving him to mean, when all have
air proportion; the others, when all are abso
equal. Thus, there being great hopes on both she chief men pressed Solon to take the govern
nto his own hands, and, when he was once se
manage the business freely and according t
pleasure; and many of the commons, perceiv
would be a difficult change to be effected by laweason, were willing to have one wise and just
et over the affairs; and some say that Solon
his oracle from Apollo “Take the mid-seat, an
he vessel’s guide; Many in Athens are upon
ide.” But chiefly his familiar friends chid himdisaffecting monarchy only because of the nam
f the virtue of the ruler could not make it a l
orm; Euboea had made this experiment wh
chose Tynnondas, and Mitylene, which had m
Pittacus its prince; yet this could not shake Soesolution; but, as they say, he replied to his frie
hat it was true a tyranny was a very fair spot,
had no way down from it; and in a copy of vers
Phocus he writes”
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hat I spared my land, And withheld from usurp
and from violence my hand, And forbore to fix a
and a disgrace on my good name, I regret
believe that it will be my chiefest fame.” From w
t is manifest that he was a man of great repu
before he gave his laws. The several mocks
were put upon him for refusing the power, he rec
n these words: “Solon surely was a dreamer, a
man of simple mind; When the gods would giveortune, he of his own will declined; When th
was full of fishes, over-heavy thinking it, He dec
o haul it up, through want of heart and want of w
Had but I that chance of riches and of kingshione day, I would give my skin for flaying, an
house to die away.” Thus he makes the many
he low people speak of him. Yet, though he ref
he government, he was not too mild in the affa
did not show himself mean and submissive tpowerful, nor make his laws to pleasure those
chose him. For where it was well before, he ap
no remedy, nor altered anything, for fear
Overthrowing altogether and disordering the s
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he should be too weak to new-model
ecompose it to a tolerable condition; but wh
hought he could effect by persuasion upon
pliable, and by force upon the stubborn, this he
as he himself says “With force and justice woboth in one.” And, therefore, when he was afterw
asked if he had left the Athenians the best laws
could be given, he replied, “The best they
eceive.” The way which, the moderns say
Athenians have of softening the badness of a by ingeniously giving it some pretty and inn
appellation, calling harlots, for example, mistre
ributes customs, a garrison a guard, and the ja
chamber, seem originally to have been So
contrivance, who called cancelling dSeisacthea, a relief, or disencumbrance.
For the first thing which he settled was, that
debts remained should be forgiven, and no ma
he future, should engage the body of his debtecurity. Though some, as Androtion, affirm tha
debts were not cancelled, but the interest
essened, which sufficiently pleased the peopl
hat they named this benefit the Seisacthea, tog
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with the enlarging their measures and raising
value of their money; for he made a pound, w
before passed for seventy-three drachmas, go
hundred; so that, though the number of pieces i
payment was equal, the value was less; wproved a considerable benefit to those that we
discharge great debts, and no loss to the cred
But most agree that it was the taking off the d
hat was called Seisacthea, which is confirme
ome places in his poem, where he takes honohimself, that “The mortgage-stones that covered
by me Removed,- the land that was a slave is
hat some who had been seized for their deb
had brought back from other countries, where
ar their lot to roam, They had forgot the languaheir home; and some he had set at liberty
here in shameful servitude were held.”
While he was designing this, a most vexatious
happened; for when he had resolved to take odebts, and was considering the proper form a
beginning for it, he told some of his friends, Co
Clinias, and Hipponicus, in whom he had a
deal of confidence, that he would not meddle wit
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ands, but only free the people from their debts;
which they, using their advantage, made haste
borrowed some considerable sums of money,
purchased some large farms; and when the law
enacted, they kept the possessions, and wouleturn the money; which brought Solon into
uspicion and dislike, as if he himself had not
abused, but was concerned in the contrivance
he presently stopped this suspicion, by releasin
debtors of five talents (for he had lent so maccording to the law; others, as Polyzelus
Rhodian, say fifteen; his friends, however, were
afterward called Chreocopidae, repudiators.
n this he pleased neither party, for the rich angry for their money, and the poor that the land
not divided, and, as Lycurgus ordered in
commonwealth, all men reduced to equality. He
rue, being the eleventh from Hercules, and h
eigned many years in Lacedaemon, had got a eputation and friends and power, which he c
use in modelling his state; and applying force
han persuasion, insomuch that he lost his eye
cuffle, was able to employ the most effectual m
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or the safety and harmony of a state, by
permitting any to be poor or rich in
commonwealth. Solon could not rise to that i
polity, being but a citizen of the middle classes
he acted fully up to the height of his power, hanothing but the good-will and good opinion o
citizens to rely on; and that he offended the
part, who looked for another result, he declar
he words “Formerly they boasted of me vainly
averted eyes Now they look askance uponriends no more, but enemies.”
And yet had any other man, he says, receive
ame power “He would not have forborne, n
alone, But made the fattest of the milk his own.”
Soon, however, becoming sensible of the good
was done, they laid by their grudges, made a p
acrifice, calling it Seisacthea, and chose Sol
new-model and make laws for the commonwgiving him the entire power over everything,
magistracies, their assemblies, courts, and cou
hat he should appoint the number, times of mee
and what estate they must have that coul
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capable of these, and dissolve or continue any o
present constitutions, according to his pleasure
First, then, he repealed all Draco’s laws, ex
hose concerning homicide, because they wer
evere, and the punishment too great; for death
appointed for almost all offences, insomuch
hose that were convicted of idleness were to
and those that stole a cabbage or an apple to s
even as villains that committed sacrilege or muSo that Demades, in after time, was thought to
aid very happily, that Draco’s laws were writte
with ink but blood; and he himself, being once a
why be made death the punishment of
offences, replied, “Small ones deserve that, have no higher for the greater crimes.” Next, S
being willing to continue the magistracies in
hands of the rich men, and yet receive the pe
nto the other part of the government, too
account of the citizens’ estates, and those that worth five hundred measures of fruit, dry and l
he placed in the first rank, calling
Pentacosiomedimni; those that could keep an h
or were worth three hundred measures, were na
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Hippada Teluntes, and made the second class
Zeugitae, that had two hundred measures, we
he third; and all the others were called Thetes
were not admitted to any office, but could com
he assembly, and act as jurors; which ateemed nothing, but afterwards was foun
enormous privilege, as almost every matte
dispute came before them in this latter cap
Even in the cases which he assigned to the arc
cognisance, he allowed an appeal to the coBesides, it is said that he was obscure
ambiguous in the wording of his laws, on purpo
ncrease the honour of his courts; for since
differences could not be adjusted by the letter,
would have to bring all their causes to the judwho thus were in a manner masters of the law
his equalisation he himself makes mention in
manner: “Such power I gave the people as migh
Abridged not what they had, now lavished
Those that were great in wealth and high in placcounsel likewise kept from all disgrace.
Before them both I held my shield of might, An
not either touch the other’s right.”
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And for the greater security of the weak comm
he gave general liberty of indicting for an a
njury; if any one was beaten, maimed, or suf
any violence, any man that would and was able
prosecute the wrong-doer; intending by th
accustom the citizens, like members of the s
body, to resent and be sensible of one anot
njuries. And there is a saying of his agreeable t
aw, for, being asked what city was best mode
That,” said he, “where those that are not injure
and punish the unjust as much as those that
When he had constituted the Areopagus of t
who had been yearly archons, of which he hi
was a member therefore, observing that the penow free from their debts, were unsettled
mperious, he formed another council of
hundred, a hundred out of each of the four t
which was to inspect all matters before they
propounded to the people, and to take carenothing but what had been first examined shou
brought before the general assembly. The u
council, or Areopagus, he made inspectors
keepers of the laws, conceiving that
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commonwealth, held by these two councils
anchors, would be less liable to be tosse
umults, and the people be more quiet.
Such is the general statement, that Solon inst
he Areopagus; which seems to be confir
because Draco makes no mention of
Areopagites, but in all causes of blood refers t
Ephetae; yet Solon’s thirteenth table contains
eighth law set down in these very words: “Whobefore Solon’s archonship were disfranchise
hem be restored, except those that,
condemned by the Areopagus, Ephetae, or in
Prytaneum by the kings, for homicide, murde
designs against the government, were in banishwhen this law was made; and these words see
how that the Areopagus existed before So
aws, for who could be condemned by that co
before his time, if he was the first that institute
court? unless, which is probable, there is sellipsis, or want of precision in the language, a
hould run thus:- ”Those that are convicted of
offences as belong to the cognisance of
Areopagites, Ephetae, or the Prytanes, whe
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aw was made,” shall remain still in disgrace, w
others are restored; of this the reader must judg
Amongst his other laws, one is very peculia
urprising, which disfranchises all who stand n
n a sedition; for it seems he would not have any
emain insensible and regardless of the public g
and securing his private affairs, glory that he ha
eeling of the distempers of his country; but at
oin with the good party and those that have theupon their side, assist and venture with them, r
han keep out of harm’s way and watch who w
get the better. It seems an absurd and foolish
which permits an heiress, if her lawful husban
her, to take his nearest kinsman; yet some sayaw was well contrived against those who, cons
of their own unfitness, yet, for the sake of the po
would match with heiresses, and make use of la
put a violence upon nature; for now, since she
quit him for whom she pleases, they would eabstain from such marriages, or continue them
disgrace, and suffer for their covetousness
designed affront; it is well done, moreover, to co
her to her husband’s nearest kinsman, tha
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children may be of the same family.
Agreeable to this is the law that the bride
bridegroom shall be shut into a chamber, and
quince together; and that the husband of an he
hall consort with her thrice a month; for though
be no children, yet it is an honour and due affe
which an husband ought to pay to a virtuous, ch
wife; it takes off all petty differences, and wi
permit their little quarrels to proceed to a rupture
n all other marriages he forbade dowries t
given; the wife was to have three suits of cloth
ttle inconsiderable household stuff, and that wa
or he would not have marriages contracted for
or an estate, but for pure love, kind affection
birth of children. When the mother of Dion
desired him to marry her to one of his citi
Indeed,” said he, “by my tyranny I have broke
country’s laws, but cannot put a violence upon tof nature by an unseasonable marriage.”
disorder is never to be suffered in a commonw
nor such unseasonable and unloving
unperforming marriages, which attain no due e
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ruit; any provident governor or lawgiver might s
an old man that takes a young wife what is sa
Philoctetes in the tragedy “Truly, in a fit state th
marry!
and if he find a young man, with a rich and e
wife, growing fat in his place, like the partrid
emove him to a young woman of proper age. A
his enough.
Another commendable law of Solon’s is that
orbids men to speak evil of the dead; for it is
o think the deceased sacred, and just, n
meddle with those that are gone, and polit
prevent the perpetuity of discord. He like
orbade them to speak evil of the living in
emples, the courts of justice, the public offices,
he games, or else to pay three drachmas to
person, and two to the public. For never to be a
control passion shows a weak nature anbreeding; and always to moderate it is very
and to some impossible. And laws must loo
possibilities, if the maker designs to punish fe
order to their amendment, and not many t
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purpose.
He is likewise much commended for his
concerning wills; before him none could be m
but all the wealth and estate of the dece
belonged to his family; but he by permitting the
hey had no children to bestow it on whom
pleased, showed that he esteemed friendsh
tronger tie than kindred, affection than nece
and made every man’s estate truly his own. Yallowed not all sorts of legacies, but those only w
were not extorted by the frenzy of a disease, cha
mprisonment, force, or the persuasions of a
with good reason thinking that being seduced
wrong was as bad as being forced, and between deceit and necessity, flattery
compulsion, there was little difference, since
may equally suspend the exercise of reason.
He regulated the walks, feasts, and mourning owomen and took away everything that was e
unbecoming or immodest; when they w
abroad, no more than three articles of dress
allowed them; an obol’s worth of meat and drink
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no basket above a cubit high; and at night they
not to go about unless in a chariot with a torch b
hem. Mourners tearing themselves to raise pity
et wailings, and at one man’s funeral to lame
another, he forbade. To offer an ox at the gravenot permitted, nor to bury above three piece
dress with the body, or visit the tombs of
besides their own family, unless at the very fun
most of which are likewise forbidden by our law
his is further added in ours, that those thaconvicted of extravagance in their mournings a
be punished as soft and effeminate by the cen
of women.
Observing the city to be filled with personsocked from all parts into Attica for security of l
and that most of the country was barren
unfruitful, and that traders at sea import nothi
hose that could give them nothing in exchang
urned his citizens to trade, and made a law thon be obliged to relieve a father who had not
him up to any calling. It is true, Lycurgus, hav
city free from all strangers, and land, accordi
Euripides- “Large for large hosts, for twice
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number much,” -
and, above all, an abundance of labourers a
Sparta, who should not be left idle, but be kept
with continual toil and work, did well to take o
citizens from laborious and mechanical occupa
and keep them to their arms, and teach them
he art of war. But Solon, fitting his laws to the
of things, and not making things to suit his laws
nding the ground scarce rich enough to mahe husbandmen, and altogether incapabl
eeding an unoccupied and leisured mult
brought trades into credit, and ordered
Areopagites to examine how every man g
ving, and chastise the idle. But that law wamore rigid which, as Heraclides Ponticus del
declared the sons of unmarried mothers not ob
o relieve their fathers; for he that avoids
honourable form of union shows that he doe
ake a woman for children, but for pleasure, andgets his just reward, and has taken away
himself every title to upbraid his children, to who
has made their very birth a scandal and reproac
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Solon’s laws in general about women are
trangest; for he permitted any one to ki
adulterer that found him in the act-but if any
orced a free woman, a hundred drachmas wa
ne; if he enticed her, twenty; except those thahemselves openly, that is, harlots, who go open
hose that hire them. He made it unlawful to s
daughter or a sister, unless, being yet unma
he was found wanton. Now it is irrational to p
he same crime sometimes very severely without remorse, and sometimes very lightly, an
t were in sport, with a trivial fine; unless there b
ttle money then in Athens, scarcity made t
mulcts the more grievous punishment. In
valuation for sacrifices, a sheep and a bushel both estimated at a drachma; the victor in
sthmian games was to have for reward an hun
drachmas; the conqueror in the Olympian,
hundred; he that brought a wolf, five drachmas;
whelp, one; the former sum, as DemetriusPhalerian asserts, was the value of an ox, the l
of a sheep. The prices which Solon, in his sixte
able, sets on choice victims, were naturall
greater; yet they, too, are very low in comparis
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he present. The Athenians were, from the begin
great enemies to wolves, their fields being bett
pasture than corn. Some affirm their tribes di
ake their names from the sons of Ion, but from
different sorts of occupation that they followedoldiers were called Hoplitae, the craft
Ergades, and, of the remaining two, the far
Gedeontes, and the shepherds and gra
Aegicores.
Since the country has but few rivers, lakes, or
prings, and many used wells which they had
here was a law made, that, where there w
public well within a hippicon, that is, four furlong
hould draw at that; but when it was farther offhould try and procure a well of their own; and i
had dug ten fathoms deep and could find no w
hey had liberty to fetch a pitcherful of four ga
and a half in a day from their neighbours’; fo
hought it prudent to make provision against but not to supply laziness. He showed skill i
orders about planting, for any one that would
another tree was not to set it within five feet o
neighbour’s field; but if a fig or an olive not w
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nine; for their roots spread farther, nor can the
planted near all sorts of trees without damag
hey draw away the nourishment, and in some c
are noxious by their effluvia.
He that would dig a pit or a ditch was to dig it a
distance of its own depth from his neighb
ground; and he that would raise stocks of bees
not to place them within three hundred feet of t
which another had already raised.
He permitted only oil to be exported, and those
exported any other fruit, the archon was solem
curse, or else pay an hundred drachmas him
and this law was written in his first table,
herefore, let none think it incredible, as some a
hat the exportation of figs was once unlawful
he informer against the delinquents calle
ycophant. He made a law, also, concerning
and injuries from beasts, in which he commandmaster of any dog that bit a man to deliver hi
with a log about his neck, four and a half feet lo
happy device for men’s security. The law conce
naturalizing strangers is of doubtful characte
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permitted only those to be made free of Athens
were in perpetual exile from their own countr
came with their whole family to trade there; th
did, not to discourage strangers, but rather to
hem to a permanent participation in the privileghe government; and, besides, he thought t
would prove the more faithful citizens who had
orced from their own country, or voluntarily for
t. The law of public entertainment (parasitein
name for it) is also peculiarly Solon’s; for if anycame often, or if he that was invited refused,
were punished, for he concluded that one
greedy, the other a contemner of the state.
All his laws he established for an hundred yearswrote them on wooden tables or rollers, na
axones, which might be turned round in ob
cases; some of their relics were in my time still
een in the Prytaneum, or common hall at Ath
These, as Aristotle states, were called cyrbeshere is a passage of Cratinus the comedian
Solon, and by Draco, if you please, Whose Cy
make the fires that parch our peas.” But some
hose are properly cyrbes, which contain
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concerning sacrifices and the rites of religion, a
he others axones. The council all jointly swo
confirm the laws, and every one of the Thesmoth
vowed for himself at the stone in the market-p
hat if he broke any of the statutes, he wdedicate a golden statue, as big as himse
Delphi.
Observing the irregularity of the months, and tha
moon does not always rise and set with the sunoften in the same day overtakes and gets b
him, he ordered the day should be named the
and New, attributing that part of it which was b
he conjunction to the old moon, and the rest t
new, he being the first, it seems, that understoodverse of Homer “The end and the beginning o
month,” and the following day he called the
moon. After the twentieth he did not coun
addition, but, like the moon itself in its wan
ubtraction; thus up to the thirtieth.
Now when these laws were enacted, and s
came to Solon every day, to commend or disp
hem, and to advise, if possible, to leave out or
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omething, and many criticized and desired h
explain, and tell the meaning of such and su
passage, he, knowing that to do it was useless
not to do it would get him ill-will, and desiro
bring himself out of all straits, and to escapdispleasure and exceptions, it being a hard thin
he himself says “In great affairs to satisfy all s
as an excuse for travelling, bought a trading ve
and, having leave for ten years’
absence, departed, hoping that by that time his
would have become familiar.
His first voyage was for Egypt, and he lived, a
himself says
Near Nilus’ mouth, by fair Canopus’ shore,”
pent some time in study with Psenoph
Heliopolis, and Sonchis the Saite, the most lea
of all the priests; from whom, as Plato says, ge
knowledge of the Atlantic story, he put it into a p
and proposed to bring it to the knowledge o
Greeks. From thence he sailed to Cyprus, whe
was made much of by Philocyprus, one of the
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here, who had a small city built by Demo
Theseus’s son, near the river Clarius, in a s
ituation, but incommodious and uneasy of ac
Solon persuaded him, since there lay a fair
below, to remove, and build there a pleasantemore spacious city. And he stayed himself,
assisted in gathering inhabitants, and in fitting it
or defence and convenience of living; insomuch
many flocked to Philocyprus, and the other
mitated the design; and, therefore, to honour She called the city Soli, which was formerly na
Aepea.
And Solon himself, in his Elegies, addr
Philocyprus, mentions this foundation in twords: “Long may you live, and fill the Solian th
Succeeded still by children of your own; And
your happy island while I sail, Let Cyprus sen
me a favouring gale; May she advance, and
your new command, Prosper your town, and me safe to land.” That Solon should discourse
Croesus, some think not agreeable with chrono
but I cannot reject so famous and well-attest
narrative, and, what is more, so agreeab
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Solon’s temper, and so worthy his wisdom
greatness of mind, because, forsooth, it doe
agree with some chronological canons, w
housands have endeavoured to regulate, and y
his day, could never bring their differing opinioany agreement. They say, therefore, that S
coming to Croesus at his request, was in the s
condition as an inland man when first he goes to
he sea; for as he fancies every river he meets
o be the ocean, so Solon, as he passed througcourt, and saw a great many nobles richly dre
and proudly attended with a multitude of guards
ootboys, thought every one had been the king,
was brought to Croesus, who was decked with
possible rarity and curiosity, in ornaments of jepurple, and gold, that could make a grand
gorgeous spectacle of him. Now when Solon c
before him, and seemed not at all surprised
gave Croesus those compliments he expected
howed himself to all discerning eyes to be ahat despised the gaudiness and petty ostentat
t, he commanded them to open all his trea
houses, and carry him to see his sumptuous furn
and luxuries, though he did not wish it; Solon
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udge of him well enough by the first sight o
and, when he returned from viewing all, Cro
asked him if ever he had known a happier man
he.
And when Solon answered that he had known
Tellus, a fellow-citizen of his own, and told him
his Tellus had been an honest man, had had
children, a competent estate, and died brave
battle for his country, Croesus took him for an illellow and a fool, for not measuring happiness b
abundance of gold and silver, and preferring th
and death of a private and mean man befor
much power and empire. He asked him, how
again, if, besides Tellus, he knew any other more happy. And Solon replying, Yes, Cleobis
Biton, who were loving brothers, and extre
dutiful sons to their mother, and, when the
delayed her, harnessed themselves to the wa
and drew her to Juno’s temple, her neighboucalling her happy, and she herself rejoicing;
after sacrificing and feasting, they went to rest
never rose again, but died in the midst of
honour a painless and tranquil death. “What,”
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Croesus, angrily, “and dost not thou recko
amongst the happy men at all?” Solon, unw
either to flatter or exasperate him more, replied,
gods, O king, have given the Greeks all other g
moderate degree; and so our wisdom, too, cheerful and a homely, not a noble and k
wisdom; and this, observing the nume
misfortunes that attend all conditions, forbids
grow insolent upon our present enjoyments,
admire any man’s happiness that may yet, in coof time, suffer change. For the uncertain future
yet to come, with every possible variety of for
and him only to whom the divinity has cont
happiness unto the end we call happy; to salu
happy one that is still in the midst of life and hawe think as little safe and conclusive as to crow
proclaim as victorious the wrestler that is yet i
ing.” After this, he was dismissed, having
Croesus some pain, but no instruction.
Aesop, who wrote the fables, being then at S
upon Croesus’s invitation, and very much estee
was concerned that Solon was so ill received
gave him this advice: “Solon, let your converse
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kings be either short or seasonable.” “Nay, rat
eplied Solon, “either short or reasonable.” So a
me Croesus despised Solon; but when he
overcome by Cyrus, had lost his city, was t
alive, condemned to be burnt, and laid bound he pile before all the Persians and Cyrus himse
cried out as loud as possibly he could three t
O Solon!” and Cyrus being surprised, and sen
ome to inquire what man or god this Solon
who alone he invoked in this extremity, Croesushim the whole story, saying, “He was one of the
men of Greece, whom I sent for, not to be instru
or to learn anything that I wanted, but that he s
ee and be a witness of my happiness; the lo
which was, it seems, to be a greater evil thaenjoyment was a good; for when I had them
were goods only in opinion, but now the loss of
has brought upon me intolerable and real evils
he, conjecturing from what then was, this that no
bade look to the end of my life, and not rely and proud upon uncertainties.” When this was told C
who was a wiser man than Croesus, and saw i
present example Solon’s maxim confirmed, h
only freed Croesus from punishment, but hono
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him as long as he lived; and Solon had the glor
he same saying, to save one king and ins
another.
When Solon was gone, the citizens began to qu
Lycurgus headed the Plain; Megacles, the so
Alcmaeon, those to the Seaside; and Pisistratu
Hill-party, in which were the poorest people
Thetes, and greatest enemies to the rich; inso
hat, though the city still used the new laws, yooked for and desired a change of governm
hoping severally that the change would be bett
hem, and put them above the contrary faction.
Affairs standing thus, Solon returned, andeverenced by all, and honoured; but his old
would not permit him to be as active, and to spe
public, as formerly; yet, by privately conferring
he heads of the factions, he endeavoure
compose the differences, Pisistratus appearinmost tractable; for he was extremely smooth
engaging in his language, a great friend to the
and moderate in his resentments; and what n
had not given him, he had the skill to imitate; so
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he was trusted more than the others, b
accounted a prudent and orderly man, one that
equality, and would be an enemy to any that m
against the present settlement. Thus he deceive
majority of people; but Solon quickly discoverecharacter, and found out his design before any
else; yet did not hate him upon this, but endeavo
o humble him, and bring him off from his amb
and often told him and others, that if any one
banish the passion for pre-eminence from his and cure him of his desire of absolute power,
would make a more virtuous man or a more exc
citizen.
Thespis, at this time, beginning to act tragedieshe thing, because it was new, taking very much
he multitude, though it was not yet made a mat
competition, Solon, being by nature fond of he
and learning something new, and now, in his
age, living idly, and enjoying himself, indeed,music and with wine, went to see Thespis himse
he ancient custom was, act: and after the play
done, he addressed him, and asked him if he
not ashamed to tell so many lies before su
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number of people; and Thespis replying that it
no harm to say or do so in play, Solon vehem
truck his staff against the ground: “Ah,” said h
we honour and commend such play as this, we
nd it some day in our business.” Now Pisistratus, having wounded himself, was bro
nto the marketplace in a chariot, and stirred u
people, as if he had been thus treated by
opponents because of his political conduct, a
great many were enraged and cried out, Scoming close to him, said, “This, O
on of Hippocrates, is a bad copy of Ho
Ulysses; you do, to trick your countrymen, wh
did to deceive his enemies.” After this, the pewere eager to protect Pisistratus, and met
assembly, where one Ariston making a motion
hey should allow Pisistratus fifty clubmen for a g
o his person, Solon opposed it, and said mu
he same purport as what he has left us in his po
You dote upon his words and taking phrase;”
again “True, you are singly each a crafty soul, B
ogether make one empty fool.”
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But observing the poor men bent to g
Pisistratus, and tumultuous, and the rich fearfu
getting out of harm’s way, he departed, sayin
was wiser than some and stouter than others;
han those that did not understand the detouter than those that, though they understo
were afraid to oppose the tyranny. Now, the pe
having passed the law, were not nice with Pisist
about the number of his clubmen, but took no n
of it, though he enlisted and kept as many awould, until he seized the Acropolis. When that
done, and the city in an uproar, Megacles, with a
amily, at once fled; but Solon, though he was
very old, and had none to back him, yet came
he marketplace and made a speech to the citi
partly blaming their inadvertency and meanne
pirit, and in part urging and exhorting them not
amely to lose their liberty; and likewise then s
hat memorable saying, that, before, it was an e
ask to stop the rising tyranny, but now the grea
more glorious action to destroy it, when it was b
already, and had gathered strength. But all b
afraid to side with him, he returned home,
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aking his arms, he brought them out and laid th
he porch before his door, with these words: “I
done my part to maintain my country and my l
and then he busied himself no more. His fr
advising him to fly, he refused, but wrote poemshus reproached the Athenians in them: “If now
uffer, do not blame the Powers, For they are g
and all the fault was ours, All the strongholds yo
nto his hands, And now his slaves must do wh
commands.”
And many telling him that the tyrant would tak
fe for this, and asking what he trusted to, th
ventured to speak so boldly, he replied, “To m
age.” But Pisistratus, having got the commanextremely courted Solon, so honoured him, ob
him, and sent to see him, that Solon gave him
advice, and approved many of his actions; fo
etained most of Solon’s laws, observed
himself, and compelled his friends to obey. Anhimself, though already absolute ruler, b
accused of murder before the Areopagus, c
quietly to clear himself; but his accuser did
appear. And he added other laws, one of whi
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hat the maimed in the wars should be maintain
he public charge; this Heraclides Ponticus rec
and that Pisistratus followed Solon’s example in
who had decreed it in the case of one Thersi
hat was maimed; and Theophrastus asserts twas Pisistratus, not Solon, that made that
against laziness, which was the reason tha
country was more productive, and the city tranqu
Now Solon, having begun the great work in vhe history or fable of the Atlantic Island, whic
had learned from the wise men in Sais, and tho
convenient for the Athenians to know, abandon
not, as Plato says, by reason of want of time
because of his age, and being discouraged agreatness of the task; for that he had leisure eno
uch verses testify, as “Each day grow older,
earn something new;” and again “But now
Powers, of Beauty, Song, and Wine, Which are
men’s delights, are also mine.” Plato, willinmprove the story of the Atlantic Island, as if it w
air estate that wanted an heir and came with s
tle to him, formed, indeed, stately entrances, n
enclosures, large courts, such as never
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ntroduced any story, fable, or poetic fiction;
beginning it late, ended his life before his work
he reader’s regret for the unfinished part is
greater, as the satisfaction he takes in that wh
complete is extraordinary. For as the city of Ateft only the temple of Jupiter Olympius unfinishe
Plato, amongst all his excellent works, left this
piece about the Atlantic Island imperfect.
Solon lived after Pisistratus seized the governmas Heraclides Ponticus asserts, a long time
Phanias the Eresian says not two full years
Pisistratus began his tyranny when Comias
archon, and Phanias says Solon died u
Hegestratus, who succeeded Comias. The storyhis ashes were scattered about the island Sa
s too strange to be easily believed, or be tho
anything but a mere fable; and yet it is g
amongst other good authors, by Aristotle,
philosopher.
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THE END
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