very of their liberty under the conduct of Aristomenes, who thrice defeated the Spartan army, and as often merited the Hecatomphonia, a sacrifice due to those who had killed one hundred of the enemy hand to hand in battle. But the Spartans, being headed by the famous Athenian poet and school-master Tyrtæus, who inflamed their courage by his songs and orations, the Messenians were at last obliged to abandon their country which was A. M. 3340. added to the territory of Sparta, and thus rendered that kingdom one of the most power◄ ful states in all Greece.

CHAP. III.

Of the government of Athens, the laws of Solon, and the history of the republic, from the time of Solon to the commencement of the Persian war.

THE happy effect produced at Sparta, by the institutions of Lycurgus, at last inspired the Athenians with a desire of being governed by written laws; and the first person they pitched upon for a legislator, was Draco, a man of equal integrity and wisdom, but rigid and severe in the highest degree. Draco inflicted death on all crimes without exception, and being asked why he did so, replied, «Small crimes deserve death,

A. M. 3380.

and I have no higher punishment even for the grea test ». His laws, indeed, were so severe, that they were said to be written not with ink, but with blood. Their severity, however, defeated their intention. It was impossible to carry them into execution. They therefore fell into disuse; and the people, from the neglect and contempt of laws, grew more licentious than ever they had been before any written laws existed. It was in this distressful state of the Republic, that Solon was applied to for his advice and assistance in regulating the government.

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To mention all the proofs he had given of his wisdom, before he was advanced to the office of legislator, would be foreign to our purpose. Suffice it to say, that he was one of the seven wise men of Greece. The others were, Thales the Milesian, Chilo of Lacedæmon, Pittacus of Mitylene, Periander of Corinth, and Bias and Cleobulus, whose birth-places are uncertain. One day at the court of Periander, a question was proposed, which was the most perfect popular government? That, said Bias, where the laws have no superior. That, said Thales, where the people are neither too rich nor too poor. That, said Anacharsis the Scythian, where virtue is honoured and vice detested. That, said Pittacus, where dignities are always conferred upon the vir tuous, and never upon the base. That, said Cleo

bulus, where the citizens fear blame more than pu nishment. That, said Chilo, where the laws are more regarded than the orators. But Solon's opinion seems to be best founded, who said, where an injury done to the meanest subject is an insult upon the whole community.

Nor must we omit his celebrated interview with Croesus, king of Lydia. That monarch, who was reputed the richest prince of his time, having displayed before him his immense wealth and treasures, asked, whether he did not think him the happiest of mankind? No, replied Solon; I know one man more happy, a poor peasant of Greece, who, neither in affluence nor poverty, has but few wants, and has learned to supply them by his own labour. But at least, said the vain monarch, do you not think me happy? Alas, cried Solon, what man can be pronounced happy before he dies? The sagacity of Solon's replies appeared in the sequel. 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 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 Crœsus 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 refor→ ming another.

Such was the man whom the Athenians now raised to the high dignity of Archon, and invested with full power to new-model the government. Solon, however, was sensible, that there were certain disorders in the state that were altogether incurable; and with these therefore he resolved not in the least to meddle. In a word, as he himself declared, he gave his countrymen not the best of all possible laws, but the best they were capable of receiving. His first step was in favour of the poor, whose debts he abolished at once, and who had been grievously oppressed by the rich, by the exorbitant interest they exacted from them. But to do this with the least injury he could to the creditor, he raised the value of money a little, and by that means nominally increased their riches. Ilis next step was to repeal all the laws of 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 divided the rich citizens into three classes, ranging them according to their incomes. Those that had five hundred measures yearly, as well in corn as 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. 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 incapable of holding any employment whatever. But to compensate for this exclusion, he gave every private citizen a right to vote in the great assembly of the whole body of the people. And this, indeed, was a right of a most important nature. For by the laws of Athens it was permitted, after the decision of the magistrates, to appeal to the general assembly of the people; and thus, in time, all causes of weight and consequence came before them.

To counteract, however, the influence of a popular assembly, Solon gave greater weight to the court of Areopagus, and also instituted another council consisting of four hundred. Before his time the Areopagus was composed of such citizens as were most remarkable for their probity and wisdom. But Solon now ordained, that none should be admitted into it, but such as had passed through the office of Archon. By this means the dignity, and consequently the authority, of the Court were greatly increased and such was its reputation for integrity and discernment, that the Romans sometimes referred causes, which were too intricate for their own

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