Page:History of Greece Vol IV.djvu/122

 104 HISTORY OF GREECE. had obtained from the public assembly a guard which he had employed to acquire forcible possession of the acropolis. He thus became master of the administration ; but he employed his power honorably and well, not disturbing the existing form; farther than was necessary to insure to himself full mastery. Nevertheless, we may see by the verses of Solon ' (the only con- temporary evidence which we possess), that the prevalent senti- ment was by no means favorable to his recent proceeding, and that there was in many minds a strong feeling both of terror and aversion, which presently manifested itself in the armed coalition of his two rivals, Megakles at the head of the Parali. or inhabitants of the sea-board, and Lykurgus at the head of those in the neighboring plain. As the conjunction of the two formed a force too powerful for Peisistratus to withstand, lie was driven into exile, after no long possession of his despotism. But the time came, how soon we cannot tell, when the twi rivals who had expelled him quarrelled, and Megakles made propositions to Peisistratus, inviting him to resume the sover- eignty, promising his own aid, and stipulating that Peisistratus should marry his daughter. The conditions being accepted, a plan was laid between the two new allies for carrying them into effect, by a novel stratagem, since the simulated wounds and pretence of personal danger were not likely to be played off a second time with success. The two conspirators cloiu^-d a stately woman, six feet high, named Phye, in the panoply and costume of Athene, surrounded her with the processional ac- companiments belonging to the goddess, and placed her in a chariot with Peisistratus by her side. In this guise the exiled despot and his adherents approached the city and drove up to the acropolis, preceded by heralds, who cried aloud to the people : " Athenians, receive ye cordially Peisistratus, whom Athene has honored above all other men, and is now bringing back into her own acropolis." The people in the city received the reputed goddess with implicit belief and demonstrations of worship, while among the country cantons the report quickly sjread 1 Solon. Fragm. 10, cd. Bergk. "El 6e KEirbvdaTE ?.vypu 61' vftETeprjv KaKOTTjra, M/;rt tfeotf TOVTUV fio'pav eira^epere, etc-