Page:History of Greece Vol III.djvu/153

 SCLON'S ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDl'sria' J3'/ to interfeie at all than that of our late Corn Laws, which were destined to prevent the price of grain from falling. But the law of Solon must have been altogether inoperative, in reference to the great articles of human subsistence.; for Attica imported, both largely and constantly, grain and salt provisions, probably, also, wool and flax for the spinning and weaving of the women, and certainly timber for building. Whether the law was ever enforced with reference to figs and honey, may well be doubted ; at least these productions of Attica were in after-times generally consumed and celebrated throughout Greece. Probably also, in the time of Solon, the silver-mines of Laureium had hardly begun to be worked : these afterwards became highly productive, and furnished to Athens a commodity for foreign payments not less convenient than lucrative. 1 It is interesting to notice the anxiety, both of Solon and of Drake, to enforce among their fellow-citizens industrious and self-main- taining habits ; 3 and we shall find the same sentiment proclaimed by Perikles, at the time when Athenian power was at its maxi- mum. Nor ought we to pass over this early manifestation in Attica, of an opinion equitable and tolerant towards sedentary industry, which in most other parts of Greece was regarded as comparatively dishonorable. The general tone of Grecian sen- timent recognized no occupations as perfectly worthy of a free citizen except arms, agriculture, and athletic and musical exer- cises ; and the proceedings of the Spartans, who kept aloof even from agriculture, and left it to their Helots, were admired, though they could not be copied throughout most part of the Hellenic world. Even minds like Plato, Aristotle, and Xenophon con- curred to a considerable extent in this feeling, which they justified on the ground that the sedentary life and unceasing house-work of the artisan was inconsistent with military aptitude : the town- occupations are usually described by a word which carries with it contemptuous ideas, and though recognized as indispensable to the existence of the city, are held suitable only for an inferior and atmi-privileged order of citizens. This, the received sentiment 1 Xenophon. De Vectigalibus, iii, 2. oi>x ouo/loyetv TIVI alaxpbv, u7JC oil diatyevyftv ep/w ala^iov.
 * Thucyd. ii, 40 (the funeral oration delivered by Perikles), Kai rfi