Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/193

 KEW LEGISLATION. 167 mons with glad readiness. 1 But there were others, who Lad fled to Greece or the .^Egean islands, and were out of the hearing of any proclamations from Timoleon. To reach persons thus remote, recourse was had, by him and by the Syracusans conjointly, to Corinthian intervention. The Syracusans felt so keenly how much was required to be done for the secure reorganization ofr their city as a free community, that they eagerly concurred with Timoleon in entreating the Corinthians to undertake, a second time, the honorable task of founders of Syracuse. 2 Two esteemed citizens, Kephalus and Dionysius, were sent from Corinth to cooperate with Timoleon and the Syracusans, in constituting the community anew, on a free and popular basis; and in preparing an amended legislation. 3 These commissioners adopted, for their main text and theme, the democratical constitu tion and laws as established by Diokles about seventy years be- fore, which the usurpation of Dionysius had subverted when they were not more than seven years old. Kephalus professed to dc nothing more than revive the laws of Diokles, with such com- ments, modifications, and adaptations, as the change of times and circumstances had rendered necessary. 4 In the laws respecting inheritance and property, he is said to have made no change at all ; but unfortunately we are left without any information what were the laws of Diokles, or how they were now modified. It is certain, however, that the political constitution of Diokles was a democracy, and that the constitution as now reestablished was democratical also. 5 Beyond this general fact we can assert nothing. Though a free popular constitution, however, was absolutely in dispensable, and a good constitution a great boon it was not the -jnly pressing necessity for Syracuse. There was required, no less an importation of new citizens ; and not merely of poor men bringing with them their arms and their industry, but also of per- sons in affluent or easy circumstances, competent to purchase lands and houses. Besides much land ruined or gone out of cultivation, the general poverty of the residents was extreme ; while at the 1 Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 23 ; Diodor. xvi. 83. 8 Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 23. 3 Plutarch, Timoleon c. 24. 4 Diodor. xiii 35; xvi. 81. * Diodor. xvi 70.