Vor. IV.) - 
thofe of the other nine cities were dif- 
pofed in a different manner, which it 
would require a long time to relate. But 
the particulars refpecting the governors 
were inftituted from the beginning, as 
follows. Each of the ten kings poffeffed 
abfolute authority both over the men, 
and the greater part of the laws in his 
own divifion, and in his own city, punith- 
ing and putting to death whomfoever he 
pleafed. Butthe government and com- 
munion of thefe kings with each other, 
were conformable to the mandates given 
by Neptune; and this was likewife the 
cafe with their laws. Thefe mandates 
were delivered to them by their an- 
ceftors, inferibed on a pillar of orichal- 
cum, which was erected about the mid- 
die of the iffand, in the temple of Nep- 
tune. Thefe kings, therefore, aflembled 
together every fifth, and alternately every 
fixth year, for the purpofe ef diftributing 
an equal part both to the even and the 
odd. But when affembled, they deli- 
berated on the public affairs, enquired 
if any one had aéted improperly, and if 
he had, called him to account for his 
conduét. But when they were about to 
fit in judgment on any one, they bound 
each other by the following compact. 
As, prior to this judicial procefs, there 
were bulls in the temple of Neptune 
free from all reftraint, they felected ten 
of thefe, and. vowed to the god they 
would offer a facrifice which thould be 
acceptable to him, viz. a viétim taken 
without iron, and hunted with clubs and 
‘{nares. Hence whatever bull was caught 
by them they led to the pillar, and cut 
its throat on the fummit of the columa, 
agreeably to the written mandates. But 
on the pillar, befides the laws, there was 
an oath, fupplicating mighty impreca- 
tions againft thofe that. were difobedient. 
When, therefore, facrificing according 
to their laws, they began to burn a!l the 
members of the bull, they poured out of 
a full bowl a quantity of clotted blood 
for each of them, and gave the reft to 
the fire ;: at the fame time luftrating the 
pillar. After this, drawing out of the 
bowl in golden cups, and making a |iba- 
tion in the fire, they took an oath that 
they would judge according to the laws 
infcribed on the pillar, and would punith 
any one who prior tothis fhould be 
found guilty; and likewife that they 
would never willingly tranfgrefs any one 
of the written mandates. 
that they would neither govern, nor be 
State of Athens gooo Years. before Solon. 
They added, . 
$31 
obedient to any one who governed, con- 
trary to the prefcribed laws of their 
country. When every one had thus 
fupplicated both for himfelf and thofe of 
his race, after he had drank, and had 
dedicated the golden cup to the temple 
of the god, he withdrew to the fupper 
and his necefflary concerns. J4ut when it 
was dark, and the fire about the facrifice 
was abated, all of them invetted witha 
moft beautiful azure garment, and fitting 
on the ground near the burnt victims, 
{pent the whole night in extinguifhing 
the fire of the facrifice, and in judging 
and being. judged, if any perfon had 
accufed fome one of them of having 
tranfgreffed the laws. When the judi- 
cial procefs was finifhed, and day appear- 
ed, they wrote the decifions in a golden 
table, which, together with their gar- 
ments, they dedicated as monuments in 
the temple of the god. There were alfo 
many other laws refpeéting facred con- 
cerns, and fuch as were peculiar to the 
feveral kings : but the greateft were the 
following : that they fhould never wage 
war againft each other, and that all of 
them thould give affiftance if any perfon 
in fome one of their. cities fhould en- 
deavour to extirpate the royal race. 
And as they confulted in common re- 
{peéting war and other aétions, in the 
fame manner as their anceftors, they 
affigned the empire to the Atlantic 
family. But they. did not permit the 
king to put to death any of his kindred, 
wnlefs it feemed fit to more than five out 
of the ten kings. Such then being the 
power, and of fuch magnitude at that 
time ia thofe places, divinity transferred 
it from thence to thefe parts, as it is re- 
ported on the following occafion. For 
many generations the Atlantics, as long 
as the nature of the god was fufficient 
for them, were obedient to the laws, and 
benignantly affected towards a divine 
nature, to which they were allied. For 
they poffeffed true, and in every refpect 
magnificent conceptions; and employed 
mildnefs in conjunétion with prudence, 
both in thofe cafual circumftances which 
are always taking place, and towards 
each other. Hence defpifing every thing 
except virtue, they confidered the con- 
cerns of the prefent life as trifling, and 
therefore eafily endured them; and were 
of opinion that abundance of riches, and 
other poffeffions, was nothing more than 
a burthen. Nor were they intoxicated 
by luxury, nor did they fall into error in 
* confe- 
