the athenian constitution-第3章

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　　These　seem　to　be　the　democratic　features　of　his　laws；　but　in　addition；　before　the　period　of　his　legislation；　he　carried　　through　his　abolition　of　debts；　and　after　it　his　increase　in　the　standards　of　weights　and　measures；　and　of　the　currency。　During　his　administration　the　measures　were　made　larger　than　those　of　Pheidon；　and　the　mina；　which　previously　had　a　standard　of　seventy　drachmas；　was　　raised　to　the　full　hundred。　The　standard　coin　in　earlier　times　was　the　two…drachma　piece。　He　also　made　weights　corresponding　with　the　coinage；　sixty…three　minas　going　to　the　talent；　and　the　odd　three　minas　were　distributed　among　the　staters　and　the　other　values。

Part　11

　　When　he　had　completed　his　organization　of　the　constitution　in　the　manner　that　has　been　described；　he　found　himself　beset　by　people　coming　to　him　and　harassing　him　concerning　his　laws；　criticizing　here　and　questioning　there；　till；　as　he　wished　neither　to　alter　what　he　had　decided　on　nor　yet　to　be　an　object　of　ill　will　to　every　one　by　remaining　in　Athens；　he　set　off　on　a　journey　to　Egypt；　with　the　combined　objects　of　trade　and　travel；　giving　out　that　he　should　not　return　for　ten　years。　He　considered　that　there　was　no　call　for　him　to　expound　the　laws　personally；　but　that　every　one　should　obey　them　just　as　they　were　written。　Moreover；　his　position　at　this　time　was　unpleasant。　Many　members　of　the　upper　class　had　been　estranged　from　him　on　account　of　his　abolition　of　debts；　and　both　parties　were　alienated　through　their　disappointment　at　the　condition　of　things　which　he　had　created。　The　mass　of　the　people　had　expected　him　to　make　a　complete　redistribution　of　all　property；　and　the　upper　class　hoped　he　would　restore　everything　to　its　former　position；　or；　at　any　rate；　make　but　a　small　change。　Solon；　however；　had　resisted　both　classes。　He　might　have　made　himself　a　despot　by　attaching　himself　to　whichever　party　he　chose；　but　he　preferred；　though　at　the　cost　of　incurring　the　enmity　of　both；　to　be　the　saviour　of　his　　country　and　the　ideal　lawgiver。

Part　12

　　The　truth　of　this　view　of　Solon's　policy　is　established　alike　by　common　consent；　and　by　the　mention　he　has　himself　made　of　the　matter　in　his　poems。　Thus：

　　I　gave　to　the　mass　of　the　people　such　rank　as　befitted　their　need；　　　I　took　not　away　their　honour；　and　I　granted　naught　to　their　greed；　　　While　those　who　were　rich　in　power；　who　in　wealth　were　glorious　and　　　　　great；　　　I　bethought　me　that　naught　should　befall　them　unworthy　their　　　　　splendour　and　state；　　　So　I　stood　with　my　shield　outstretched；　and　both　were　sale　in　its　　　　　sight；　　　And　I　would　not　that　either　should　triumph；　when　the　triumph　was　　　　　not　with　right。

　　Again　he　declares　how　the　mass　of　the　people　ought　to　be　treated：

But　thus　will　the　people　best　the　voice　of　their　leaders　obey；　When　neither　too　slack　is　the　rein；　nor　violence　holdeth　the　sway；　For　indulgence　breedeth　a　child；　the　presumption　that　spurns　control；　　　When　riches　too　great　are　poured　upon　men　of　unbalanced　soul。

　　And　again　elsewhere　he　speaks　about　the　persons　who　wished　to　redistribute　the　land：

So　they　came　in　search　of　plunder；　and　their　cravings　knew　no　hound；　Every　one　among　them　deeming　endless　wealth　would　here　be　found。　And　that　I　with　glozing　smoothness　hid　a　cruel　mind　within。　Fondly　then　and　vainly　dreamt　they；　now　they　raise　an　angry　din；　And　they　glare　askance　in　anger；　and　the　light　within　their　eyes　Burns　with　hostile　flames　upon　me。　Yet　therein　no　justice　lies。　All　I　promised；　fully　wrought　I　with　the　gods　at　hand　to　cheer；　Naught　beyond　in　folly　ventured。　Never　to　my　soul　was　dear　With　a　tyrant's　force　to　govern；　nor　to　see　the　good　and　base　Side　by　side　in　equal　portion　share　the　rich　home　of　our　race。

　　Once　more　he　speaks　of　the　abolition　of　debts　and　of　those　who　before　were　in　servitude；　but　were　released　owing　to　the　　Seisachtheia：

　　Of　all　the　aims　for　which　I　summoned　forth　　　The　people；　was　there　one　I　compassed　not？　　　Thou；　when　slow　time　brings　justice　in　its　train；　　　O　mighty　mother　of　the　Olympian　gods；　　　Dark　Earth；　thou　best　canst　witness；　from　whose　breast　　　I　swept　the　pillars　broadcast　planted　there；　　　And　made　thee　free；　who　hadst　been　slave　of　yore。　　　And　many　a　man　whom　fraud　or　law　had　sold　　　For　from　his　god…built　land；　an　outcast　slave；　　　I　brought　again　to　Athens；　yea；　and　some；　　　Exiles　from　home　through　debt's　oppressive　load；　　　Speaking　no　more　the　dear　ATHENIAN　tongue；　　　But　wandering　far　and　wide；　I　brought　again；　　　And　those　that　here　in　vilest　slavery　　　Crouched　'neath　a　master's　frown；　I　set　them　free。　　　Thus　might　and　right　were　yoked　in　harmony；　　　Since　by　the　force　of　law　I　won　my　ends　　　And　kept　my　promise。　Equal　laws　I　gave　　　To　evil　and　to　good；　with　even　hand　　　Drawing　straight　justice　for　the　lot　of　each。　　　But　had　another　held　the　goad　as　　　One　in　whose　heart　was　guile　and　greediness；　　　He　had　not　kept　the　people　back　from　strife。　　　For　had　I　granted；　now　what　pleased　the　one；　　　Then　what　their　foes　devised　in　counterpoise；　　　Of　many　a　man　this　state　had　been　bereft。　　　Therefore　I　showed　my　might　on　every　side；　　　Turning　at　bay　like　wolf　among　the　hounds。

　　And　again　he　reviles　both　parties　for　their　grumblings　in　the　times　that　followed：

　　Nay；　if　one　must　lay　blame　where　blame　is　due；　　　Wer't　not　for　me；　the　people　ne'er　had　set　　　Their　eyes　upon　these　blessings　e'en　in　dreams：…　　　While　greater　men；　the　men　of　wealthier　life；　　　Should　praise　me　and　should　court　me　as　their　friend。

For　had　any　other　man；　he　says；　received　this　exalted　post；

　　He　had　not　kept　the　people　hack；　nor　ceased　　　Til　he　had　robbed　the　richness　of　the　milk。　　　But　I　stood　forth　a　landmark　in　the　midst；　　　And　barred　the　foes　from　battle。

Part　13

　　Such　then；　were　Solon's　reasons　for　his　departure　from　the　country。　After　his　retirement　the　city　was　still　torn　by　divisions。　For　four　years；　indeed；　they　lived　in　peace；　but　in　the　fifth　year　after　Solon's　government　they　were　unable　to　elect　an　Archon　on　account　of　their　dissensions；　and　again　four　years　later　they　elected　no　Archon　for　the　same　reason。　Subsequently；　after　a　similar　period　had　elapsed；　Damasias　was　elected　Archon；　and　he　governed　for　two　years　and　two　months；　until　he　was　forcibly　expelled　from　his　office。　After　this；　it　was　agreed；　as　a　compromise；　to　elect　ten　Archons；　five　from　the　Eupatridae；　three　from　the　Agroeci；　and　two　from　the　Demiurgi；　and　they　ruled　for　the　year　following　Damasias。　It　is　clear　from　this　that　the　Archon　was　at　the　time　the　magistrate　who　possessed　the　greatest　power；　since　it　is　always　in　　connexion　with　this　office　that　conflicts　are　seen　to　arise。　But　altogether　　they　were　in　a　continual　state　of　internal　disorder。　Some　found　the　cause　and　justification　of　their　discontent　in　the　abolition　of　debts；　because　thereby　they　had　been　reduced　to　poverty；　others　were　dissatisfied　with　the　political　constitution；　because　it　had　undergone　a　revolutionary　change；　while　with　others　the　motive　was　found　in　personal　rivalries　among　themselves。　The　parties　at　this　time　were　three　in　number。　First　there　was　the　party　of　the　Shore；　led　by　Megacles　the　son　of　Alcmeon；　which　was　considered　to　aim　at　　a　moderate　form　of　government；　then　there　were　the　men　of　the　Plain；　who　desired　an　oligarchy　and　were　led　by　Lycurgus；　and　thirdly　there　were　the　men　of　the　Highlands；　at　the　head　of　whom　was　Pisistratus；　who　was　looked　on　as　an　extreme　democrat。　This　latter　party　was　reinforced　by　those　who　had　been　deprived　of　the　debts　due　to　them；　from　motives　of　poverty；　and　by　those　who　were　not　of　pure　descent；　from　motives　of　personal　apprehension。　A　proof　of　this　is　seen　in　the　fact　that　after　the　tyranny　was　overthrown　a　revision　was　made　of　the　citizen…roll；　on　the　ground　that　many　persons　were　　partaking　in　the　franchise　without　having　a　right　to　it。　The　names　given　to　the　respective　parties　were　derived　from　the　districts　in　which　they　held　their　lands。

Part　14

　　Pisistratus　had　the　reputation　of　being　an　extreme　democrat；　and　he　also　had　distinguished　himself　greatly　in　the　war　with　Megara。　Taking　advantage　of　this；　he　wounded　himself；　and　by　　representing　that　his　injuries　had　been　inflicted　on　him　by　his　political　rivals；　he　persuaded　the　people；　th