334 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



the World ; I mean that of Sparta. Hear what 

 Phtarch fays on the fubjeél, in his life of Lycurgus* 

 " Lycurgus, then, having taken leave of his Coun- 

 " try," (to efcape the calumnies which were the 

 reward of his virtues) " direded his courfe, firft, 

 *' towards Candia, where he ftudied the Cretan 

 " laws and government, and made an acquaint- 

 " ance with the principal men of the Country. 

 " Some of their laws he much approved, and re- 

 *' folved to make ufe of them in his own Country; 

 '' others he rejeâied. Amongft the perfons there, 

 *' the mod renowned for ability and wifdom, in 

 *' political affairs, was Thaïes, whom Lycurgus, by 

 *' repeated importunities, and aflurances of friend- 

 " fliip, at lad perfuaded to go over to Lacedemon. 

 ** When he came thither, though he profefled only 

 " to be a lyric poet, in reality he performed the 

 " part of the ablefl legillator. The very fongs 

 *' which he compofed, were pathetic exhortations 

 *' to obedience and concord ; and the fweetnefs 

 *' of the mufic, and the cadence of the verfe, 

 " had fo powerful, and fo pleafmg an effeâ:, 

 *' upon the hearers, that they were infenfibly foft- 

 *' ened and civilized; and, at laft, renouncing 

 *' their mutual feuds and animolities, united in the 

 ** love of humanity and good order. So that it 

 *' may truly be faid, that Thaïes prepared the way 

 " for Lycurgus, by difpofing the People to receive 

 " his inftitutions.'* 



Lycurgus 



