A T H 



By Solon's laws, the felf-murderer was 



ted 



A T H 



was encouraged 



branded with public infamy, and expofed to what, accon 



ing to the religious notions of his countrymen, conilituK 



public punilhmcnt. Solon dcfcribes the various fpecies of firft, he thoughVhimfcif powerfuilv f. 



traud, thett, robbery, and homicide with the gitateft ac ' =? . . . r .- 



curacy. Of the laft in particular, the different fliades from 

 what our laws call chance medley, to parricide, are delineated 

 with a mofl difcrlminating precifion. It is not only the de- 

 fcription of crime, and the annexation of pnni.'hmcnt, that 

 is of importance in penal cafes, but alfo the tribunal which 

 is to take cognizance of the cafe. By Solon's laws, every 



but vague liopes. Solon, received with the mod diftin- 

 gmflRd honours, wiiTied to avail himftlf of th fe favourable 

 difpofitions to calm difTeiifious too frequently reviving. At 



, erfully fccondcdhy Pifirtratus, 

 who was at the head of the popular faction ; and who, ap. 

 parent!)- eager to maintain equality among the citizens, de- 

 clared himfcif an irreconcilable enemy to ever)- innovation 

 which might tend to its dcftruftion'; but he foon difco- 

 vcred that this profound politician concealed the moll in- 

 ordinate ambition under the mallv of an alTccted moderation. 

 Never did a man unite more qualities to captivate the 



Athenian citizen had a right to be Ined by his peers ; the mind, of the people : he was of an ill.iftrious" birth, and 



Athenian law was in this fupenor to the Roman, which, poffeffed of great wealth, acknowledTed wealth (fee Hero- 



in many cafes, adm.tted domeltic tribunals. The father dolus, in Tcrpfichorc, his 5th book), a commanding fifr„rc 



took cognizance of the crimes of his own family. Thus a perfuafivc eloquence, to which the muHcal tone of his 



at Rome, the accufed frequently was not tried by a tribu- voice lent new charms, and a mind enriched with the talents 



nal of his peers, bound to aft according to a fixed law, beftowed by nature, and the information procured bv ftudy- 



but by an arbitrary judge, whofe own will was his only No man was a greater malk-r of his pnfllons, or knew bettc 



rule. Solon, like every wife I 

 tend the influence of reh;;ion 

 trymen 



ttcr 



lawgiver, endeavoured to ex- how to turn to advantage thofe virtues he really pofreired, 



over the minds of his coun- and thofe of which he had only the appearance.' His fuc- 



He enjoined a profound veneration for divinities, cefs has proved, that in projects of tedious execution, no- 



and defcribed aftions as pleafing or difplei'fing to them, ac- thing can beftovv a more decided fupcriority than mildnefs 

 cording to the intention of the agent combined with the and flexibility of character. With fuch cminc 



nt advantages, 

 Pifiilratus, acceffible to the loweil citizens, lavifhed on 

 them thofe confolations and fuccours, which dry up the 

 fource, or palliate the bitterncfs of fuiTerirg. Solon, atten- 

 tive to his proceedings, penetrated his intentions; but 

 whilft he was employed in devifmg menns to g'jard againll - 

 their confcqiiences, Pifiilratus appeared in the forum 



known tendency of the aft : aware that the internal fcnti- 

 ments of religion are Itrengthcned and confirmed by external 

 rites, he ftrictly enjoined the regular performance of rites 

 and ceremonies. 



Such was the code of Solon, fnch the civil and pohtical 

 inftitutions which contributed fo powerfully to render tl.is 



fmall territoiy fo very great a ftate. Tlie laws of Solon covered with wounds he liad artfully procured, imploring 



were to continue in force only for a century. Conceiving proteft ion of the people wh.m he had fo frequently protefted. 



that conduft depends chiefly upon habits, he thouglit tluit (See Herodotus, Clio.) The affembly being immediately 



the praftice of a hundred years would confirm the Atheni- convoked, he accufed the fenate and the chiefs of the other 



ans in the habitual oblervance of Inch beneficial rules. But faitions of attempting his life ; and difplavino- his ftill 



the reflrlftions being contrary' to the licence of ftrong paf- bleeding wounds : " Behold I" he exclaimed, " the reward 



fions, appeared to many encroachments upon natural liberty ; of my love for the democracy, and of the zeal with which 



and they wifhed for modifications which might admit fuller I have defended your rights." At thefe words only me- 



fcope to their defires. When the firfl; novelty was worn off, nacing exclamations were h<ard on all fides ; the principal 



Solon was furroundcd by a crowd of importunate citizens, 

 who ovenvhtlmed him with queftions, advices, commenda- 

 tions, or reproaches. Some preffed him for an explanation 

 of particular laws, capable, according to them, of different 

 interpretations ; others propofed a variety of things to be 

 added, modified, or fupprefled. Solon having exhaufted 

 his patience, and tried every conciliatoi-y method in vain, 

 was fenfib'.e that time alone coidd perfect and give ftrength 

 to his work; he therefore departed, after requefting per- 

 miflion to abfent himfelf for ten years (fee Plutarch, in Solon), 

 and binding the Athenians by a folemn oath, not to make 

 any alteration in his laws during his abfence. (See Hero- 

 dotus, Clio.) The adventures of Solon during his peregri- 

 Deition, belonging to himfelf individually, and not to the 

 Athenians, will be feen under the articles Solon, Croe- 

 sus, &c. The objeft of his travels being, as Herodotus 

 informs us, to view mankind; after having, like Ulyffes, 

 traverfcd many countries, and feen many men, he returned 

 to his native country to behold the operation and effcfts of 

 his inftitutions. He found that much time is required be- 



citizens kept filence in aftoniOiment, or took to flight. So- 

 lon, filled with indignation at tlicir cowardice and the infa- 

 tuation of the people, in vain attempted to reanimate the 

 courage of the former, and to difpel the frenzy of the 

 latter; h-s voice, enfeebled by years, was eafilv overpow- 

 ered by the clamours excited by pity, rage, and apprehcn- 

 fion. The aflembly concluded by voting Pifiilratus a Itrong 

 guard for the defence of his perfon (B. C. 5'^o). From this 

 moment all his projefts were accompliHicd ; he prefently 

 employed his force to take poflcflion of the citadel, and after 

 difarming the multitude, feized without oppofition on the 

 fupreme authority. But though Pififtratus by this ufurpa- 

 tion deftroyed for a time the political liberty of Athens, his 

 power eventually gave ttability to the laws which Solon 

 had introduced. That extraordinary tyrant, for fo the 

 Greeks ftyled him, was not more dillinguilhed by the lofti- 

 nefs of his genius, than the humanity of his difpofition ; and 

 had not the violence of contending factions, and the furj- of 

 his enemies, inflamed his natural love of power, the name 

 of Pifiilratus would Hand the foremoil in the lift of Grecian 



f( 



ore men. 



who have been either the (laves of defpotifm or patriots and heroes. His valour and conduct were fignali/ed 



the (harers in licentioufnefs, can be reconciled tojuftar.d 

 equitable laws. The Athenians were ready again to fink 

 into anarchy. (See Plutarch's Life of Solon.) The tliree 

 parties, which had fo long rent the republic, feemed to have 

 fufpended their hatred during the legillation only to vent it 

 with more violence in his abfence ; in one point alone were 

 they united, in defiring a change in the conftitution, with- 

 out any other motive than a feeret reftlednefs, or any objeft 



in the conqueft of Nilsea, Salamis, Naxos, Dtlos, and Si- 

 gcEum ; and if he dilplayed boldntfs and addrefs in acquiring 

 fovereigntv, he difplayed ftiil more moderation and virtue in 

 adminillering it. He affiimed, indeed, the royal dignities 

 of prieft and general, and took care that the chief officcJ 

 of magiftracy (hould be filled by his partifans ; but he main- 

 tained the regular courfe of law and jullice, not only by 

 his authority, but bv his example ; having appeared in per- 

 iod 



