3. A desire of being governed by written laws, at last mad A. M. way for a new change in government. For more than 3380. century they had seen the good effects of laws in the regu lation of the Spartan commonwealth; and, as they wer a more enlightened people, they expected greater advantage from a new institution. In the choice, therefore, of a legisl tor, they pitched upon Draco, a man of acknowledged wisdo and unshaken integrity: but rigid even beyond human sufferan 4. It does not appear, that any state of Greece was possess. of written laws before his time. However, he was not afraid enact the most severe laws, which laid the same penalties c the most atrocious and the most trifling offences. These law which punished all crimes with death, and which were said no to be written with ink, but with blood, were too cruel to be duly and justly administered. Sentiments of humanity in the judges, compassion for the accused, when his fault was not equal to his suffering, the unwillingness of witnesses to exact too cruel an atonement, their fears also of the resentment of the people; all these conspired to render the laws obsolete, before they could well be put into execution. Thus, the new laws counteracted their own purpose; and their excessive rigour paved the way for the most dangerous impunity.

5. It was in this distressful state of the commonwealth, that Solon was applied to for his advice and assistance, as the wisest and justest man of all Athens. His great learning had acquired him the reputation of being the first of the seven wise men of Greece; and his known humanity procured him the love and veneration of every rank among his fellow-citizens.

6. Solon was a native of Salamis, an island dependent on Athens; but which had revolted, to put itself under the power of the Megareans. In attempting to recover this island, the Athenians had spent much blood and treasure; until, at last, wearied out with such ill-success, a law was made rendering it capital ever to advise the recovery of their lost possession. Solon, however, undertook to persuade them to another frial; and feigning himself mad, ran about the streets, using the most violent gestures and language; but the purport of all was, upbraiding the Athenians for their remissness and effeminacy in giving up their conquests in despair.

7. In short, he acted his part so well, by the oddity of his manner, and the strength of his reasoning, that the people resolved upon another expedition against Salamis; and by a stratagem of his contrivance, in which he introduced several young men upon the island in women's clothes, the place was surprised, and added to the dominion of Athens.

a 8. But this was not the only occasion on which he exhibited ansuperior address and wisdom. At a time when Greece had gcarried the arts of eloquence, poetry, and government, higher ethan they had yet been seen among mankind, Solon was congesidered as one of the foremost in each perfection. The sages s of Greece, whose fame is still undiminished, acknowledged his o merit, and adopted him as their associate.

1.

9. The correspondence between these wise men was at once nstructive, friendly, and sincere. They were seven in number, namely, Thales the Milesian, Solon of Athens, Chilo of Lacedæmon, Pittacus of Mittilene, Periander of Corinth, Bias and Cleobolus, whose birth places are not ascertained. Those sages often visited each other; and their conversations generally turned upon the methods of instituting the best form of government, or the arts of private happiness.

10. One day when Solon went to Miletos to see Thales, the first thing he said was to express his surprise that Thales had never desired to marry, or have children. Thales made him no answer then, but, a few days after, he contrived that a stranger, supposed to arrive from Athens, should join their company. Solon, hearing from whence the stranger came, was inquisitive after the news of his own city; but was only informed that a young man died there, for whom the whole place was in the greatest affliction, as he was reputed the most promising youth in all Athens. "Alas!" cried Solon, "how much is the poor father of the youth to be pitied! pray what was his name?" "I heard the name," replied the stranger, who was instructed for the occasion, "but I have forgot it: I only remember that all people talked much of his wisdom and justice."

66

11. Every answer afforded new matter of trouble and terror to the inquisitive father; and he had just strength enough to ask, "if the youth was not the son of Solon ?" "The very

same," replied the stranger. At which word, Solon showed all the marks of the most inconsolable distress. This was the opportunity which Thales wanted, who took him by the hand and said to him, with a smile; "Comfort yourself, my friend, all that has been told you is mere fiction, but may serve as a very proper answer to your question, why I never thought proper to marry."

12. One day, at the court of Periander of Corinth, a question was proposed; which was the most perfect popular government? " That," said Bias," where the law has no superior." "That," said Thales," where the inhabitants are neither too rich nor too poor." That," ," said Anacharsis, the Scythian, "where virtue is honoured and vice always detested." "That," said

66

B

Cleobolus," where the citizens fear blame more than punishishment." "That," said Chilo, "where the laws are more regarded than the orators." But Solon's opinion seems to have the greatest weight, who said, "where an injury done to the meanest subject, is an insult upon the whole constitution."

13. Upon a certain occasion, when Solon was conversing with Anacharsis, the Scythian philosopher, about his intended reformation in the state; " Alas!" cried the Scythian, "all your laws will be found to resemble spiders' webs; the weak and small flies will be caught and entangled, but the great and powerful will always have strength enough to break through."

14. Solon's interview with Croesus king of Lydia, is still more celebrated. This monarch, who was reputed the richest of all Asia Minor, was willing to make an ostentatious display of his wealth before the Greek philosopher; and after showing him immense heaps of treasure, and the greatest variety of other ornaments, he demanded whether he did not think the possessor the most happy of all mankind. "No," replied Solon, "I know one man more happy, a poor peasant in Greece, who is neither in affluence or poverty, has but a few wants, and has learned to supply them by his labour."

15. This answer was by no means agreeable to the vain monarch, who, by his question only hoped for a reply that would tend to flatter his pride. Willing, therefore, to extort one still more favourable, he asked, "whether at least he did not think him happy ?" "Alas!" cried Solon, "what man can be pronounced happy before he dies ?”

16. The integrity and wisdom of Solon's replies appeared in the event. The kingdom of Lydia was invaded by Cyrus, the empire destroyed, and Croesus himself taken prisoner. When he was led out to execution, according to the barbarous manners of the times, he then too late recollected the maxims of Solon, and could not help crying out, when on the scaffold, upon Solon's name: Cyrus hearing him repeat the name with great earnestness, was desirous of knowing the reason; and being informed by Croesus of that philosopher's remarkable observation, he began to fear for himself; pardoned Croesus, and took him for the future into confidence and friendship. Thus, Solon had the merit of saving one king's life, and of reforming another.

17. Such was the man to whom the Athenians applied for assistance in reforming the severity of their government; and instituting a just body of laws. Athens was, at this time, divided into as many factions as there were different sorts of inhabitants in Attica. Those that lived upon the mountains were fond of exact equality; those that lived in the low country

were for the dominion of a few; and those that dwelt on the sea coasts, and were consequently addicted to commerce, were for keeping those parties so exactly balanced, as to permit neither to prevail.

18. But, besides these, there was a fourth party, and that by much the most numerous, consisting wholly of the poor, who were grievously harassed and oppressed by the rich; and loaded with debts which they were not able to discharge. This unhappy party, which, when they know their own strength, must ever prevail, were now determined to throw off the yoke of their oppressors; and to choose themselves a chief who should make a reformation in government, by making a new division of lands. 19. As Solon had never sided with either, he was regarded as the refuge of all: the rich liking him, because he was rich: the poor, because he was honest. Though he was, at first, unwilling to undertake so dangerous an employment, he, at last, suffered himself to be chosen archon, and to be constituted supreme legislator, with the unanimous consent of all.

20. This was a situation in which nothing could be added to his power; yet many of the citizens advised him to make himself king; but he had too much wisdom to seek after a name which would render him obnoxious to many of his fellow citizens, while he was, in fact, possessed of more than regal authority. Á tyranny, he would say, resembles a fair garden; it is a beautiful spot while we are within: but it wants a way to get out at.

21. Rejecting, therefore, the wish of royalty, he resolved upon settling a form of government that should be founded on the basis of just and reasonable liberty. Not venturing to meddle with certain disorders which he looked upon as incurable, he undertook to bring about no other alterations but such as were apparently reasonable to the meanest capacity. In short, it was his aim to give the Athenians, not the best of possible constitutions; but the very best they were capable of receiving.

22. His first attempt was, therefore, in favour of the poor, whose debts he abolished at once, by an express law of insolvency. But to do this, with the least injury he could to the creditor, he raised the value of money in a moderate proportion, by which he nominally increased their riches. But his management, on this occasion, had like to have had very dangerous consequences, for some of his friends, to whom the scheme had been previously communicated, took up vast sums of money while it was low, in order to be possessed of the difference when it became of greater value.

23. Solon himself was suspected of having a hand in this fraud: but to wipe off all suspicion, he remitted his debtors

five, or as others say, fifteen talents; and thus regained the confidence of the people.

24. His next step was to repeal all the laws enacted by Draco, except those against murder. He then proceeded to the regulation of offices, employments, and magistracies, all which he left in the hands of the rich. He distributed the rich citizens into three classes, ranging them according to their incomes. Those that were found to have five hundred measures yearly, as well in corn as in liquids, were placed in the first rank; those that had three hundred were placed in the second, and those that had but two hundred made up the third.

25. All the rest of the citizens whose income fell short of two hundred measures, were comprised in a fourth and last class; and were considered as unqualified for any employment whatever. But, to compensate for this exclusion, he gave every private citizen a privilege of voting in the great assembly of the whole body of the state. This, indeed, at first, might appear a concession of small consequence: but it was soon found to contain very solid advantages: for, by the laws of Athens, it was permitted, after the determination of the magistrates, to appeal to the general assembly of the people; and thus, in time, all causes of weight and moment came before them.

26. In some measure to counteract the influence of a popular assembly, he gave greater weight to the court of Areopagus, and also instituted another council consisting of four hundred. The Areopagus, so called from the place where the court was held, had been established some centuries before, but Solon restored and augmented its authority. To this court was committed the care of causing the laws to be observed and put in execution. Before his time, the citizens of the greatest probity and justice were made judges of that tribunal.

27. Solon was the first who thought it convenient that none should be honoured with that dignity but such as had passed through the office of archon. Nothing was so august as this court; and its reputation for judgment and integrity became so very great, that the Romans, sometimes, referred causes, which were too intricate for their own decision, to the determination of this tribunal.

28. Nothing was regarded here but truth; that no external objects might prevent justice, the tribunal was held in darkness; and the advocates were denied all attempts to work upon the passions of the judges. Superior to this, Solon instituted the great council of four hundred, who were to judge upon appeals from the Areopagus; and maturely to examine every question, before it came to be debated in a general assembly of the people