Page:History of Greece Vol III.djvu/11

 CONTESTS. vi, Contracts unbroken under the democracy. Distinction made in an early society between the principal and the interest of a loan interest disap"- proved of in toto. This opinion was retained by the philosophers after it had ceased to prevail in the community generally. Solonian seisachthcia never imitated at Athens money-standard honestly maintained after- wards. Solon is empowered to modify the political constitution. His census four scales of property. Graduated liability to income-tax, of the three richest classes, one compared with the other. Admeasurement of political rights and franchises according to this scale a Timocracy. Fourth or poorest class 'exercised powers only in assembly chose magistrates and held them to accountability. Pro-bouleutic or prc-con- sidering Senate of Four Hundred. Semite of Areopagus its powers enlarged. Confusion frequently seen between Solonian and post-Solonian institutions. Loose language of the Athenian orators on this point. Solon never contemplated the future change or revision of his own laws. Solon laid the foundation of the Athenian democracy, but his in- stitutions are not democratical. The real Athenian democracy begins with Klcisthenes. Athenian government after Solon still oligarchical, but mitigated. The archons still continue to be judges until after the time of Klcisthenes. After-changes in the Athenian constitution over- looked by the orators, but understood by Aristotle, and strongly felt at Athens during the time of Perikles. Ger.tes and Phratries under the Solonian constitution status of persons nut included in them. Laws of Solon. The Drakonian laws about homicide retained ; the rest abro- gated. Multifarious character of the laws of Solon: no appearance of classification. He prohibits the export of landed produce from Attica, except oil. The prohibition of little or no effect. Encouragement to artisans and industry. Power of testamentary bequest first sanctioned by Solon. Laws relating to women. Regulations about funerals. About evil-speaking and abusive language. Rewards to the victors at the sacred games. Theft. Censure pronounced by Solon upon citizens neutral in a sedition. Necessity, under the Grecian city-governments, of some positive sentiment on the part of the citizens. Contrast in this re- spect between the age of Solon and the subsequent democracy. The same idea followed out in the subsequent Ostracism. Sentiment of So- lon towards the Homeric poems and the drama. Difficulties of Solon after the enactment of the laws. He retires from Attica. Visits Egypt and Cyprus. Alleged interview and conversation of Solon with Croesus at Sardis. Moral lesson arising out of the narrative. State of Attica after the Solonian legislation. Return of Solon to Athens. Rise of Peisistratus. His memorable stratagem to procure a guard from the people. Peisistratus seizes the Akropolis and becomes despot courage- ous resistance of Solon. Death of Solon his character. Appendix, on the procedure of the Roman law respecting principal and interest in a loan of monev 88-1 62 CHAPTER XII. EUBCEA. CTCLADES. The islands called Cyclades. Euhoea. Its six or seven towns Chalkii Fretria. etc. How peopled. Early power ><" Chalkis, Eretria, NHXOS