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the athenian constitution-第4部分
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And again he reviles both parties for their grumblings in the times that followed:
Nay; if one must lay blame where blame is due; Wer't not for me; the people ne'er had set Their eyes upon these blessings e'en in dreams:… While greater men; the men of wealthier life; Should praise me and should court me as their friend。
For had any other man; he says; received this exalted post;
He had not kept the people hack; nor ceased Til he had robbed the richness of the milk。 But I stood forth a landmark in the midst; And barred the foes from battle。
Part 13
Such then; were Solon's reasons for his departure from the country。 After his retirement the city was still torn by divisions。 For four years; indeed; they lived in peace; but in the fifth year after Solon's government they were unable to elect an Archon on account of their dissensions; and again four years later they elected no Archon for the same reason。 Subsequently; after a similar period had elapsed; Damasias was elected Archon; and he governed for two years and two months; until he was forcibly expelled from his office。 After this; it was agreed; as a compromise; to elect ten Archons; five from the Eupatridae; three from the Agroeci; and two from the Demiurgi; and they ruled for the year following Damasias。 It is clear from this that the Archon was at the time the magistrate who possessed the greatest power; since it is always in connexion with this office that conflicts are seen to arise。 But altogether they were in a continual state of internal disorder。 Some found the cause and justification of their discontent in the abolition of debts; because thereby they had been reduced to poverty; others were dissatisfied with the political constitution; because it had undergone a revolutionary change; while with others the motive was found in personal rivalries among themselves。 The parties at this time were three in number。 First there was the party of the Shore; led by Megacles the son of Alcmeon; which was considered to aim at a moderate form of government; then there were the men of the Plain; who desired an oligarchy and were led by Lycurgus; and thirdly there were the men of the Highlands; at the head of whom was Pisistratus; who was looked on as an extreme democrat。 This latter party was reinforced by those who had been deprived of the debts due to them; from motives of poverty; and by those who were not of pure descent; from motives of personal apprehension。 A proof of this is seen in the fact that after the tyranny was overthrown a revision was made of the citizen…roll; on the ground that many persons were partaking in the franchise without having a right to it。 The names given to the respective parties were derived from the districts in which they held their lands。
Part 14
Pisistratus had the reputation of being an extreme democrat; and he also had distinguished himself greatly in the war with Megara。 Taking advantage of this; he wounded himself; and by representing that his injuries had been inflicted on him by his political rivals; he persuaded the people; through a motion proposed by Aristion; to grant him a bodyguard。 After he had got these 'club…bearers'; as they were called; he made an attack with them on the people and seized the Acropolis。 This happened in the archonship of Comeas; thirty…one years after the legislation of Solon。 It is related that; when Pisistratus asked for his bodyguard; Solon opposed the request; and declared that in so doing he proved himself wiser than half the people and braver than the rest;…wiser than those who did not see that Pisistratus designed to make himself tyrant; and braver than those who saw it and kept silence。 But when all his words availed nothing he carried forth his armour and set it up in front of his house; saying that he had helped his country so far as lay in his power (he was already a very old man); and that he called on all others to do the same。 Solon's exhortations; however; proved fruitless; and Pisistratus assumed the sovereignty。 His administration was more like a constitutional government than the rule of a tyrant; but before his power was firmly established; the adherents of Megacles and Lycurgus made a coalition and drove him out。 This took place in the archonship of Hegesias; five years after the first establishment of his rule。 Eleven years later Megacles; being in difficulties in a party struggle; again opened…negotiations with Pisistratus; proposing that the latter should marry his daughter; and on these terms he brought him back to Athens; by a very primitive and simple…minded device。 He first spread abroad a rumour that Athena was bringing back Pisistratus; and then; having found a woman of great stature and beauty; named Phye (according to Herodotus; of the deme of Paeania; but as others say a Thracian flower…seller of the deme of Collytus); he dressed her in a garb resembling that of the goddess and brought her into the city with Pisistratus。 The latter drove in on a chariot with the woman beside him; and the inhabitants of the city; struck with awe; received him with adoration。
Part 15
In this manner did his first return take place。 He did not; however; hold his power long; for about six years after his return he was again expelled。 He refused to treat the daughter of Megacles as his wife; and being afraid; in consequence; of a combination of the two opposing parties; he retired from the country。 First he led a colony to a place called Rhaicelus; in the region of the Thermaic gulf; and thence he passed to the country in the neighbourhood of Mt。 Pangaeus。 Here he acquired wealth and hired mercenaries; and not till ten years had elapsed did he return to Eretria and make an attempt to recover the government by force。 In this he had the assistance of many allies; notably the Thebans and Lygdamis of Naxos; and also the Knights who held the supreme power in the constitution of Eretria。 After his victory in the battle at Pallene he captured Athens; and when he had disarmed the people he at last had his tyranny securely established; and was able to take Naxos and set up Lygdamis as ruler there。 He effected the disarmament of the people in the following manner。 He ordered a parade in full armour in the Theseum; and began to make a speech to the people。 He spoke for a short time; until the people called out that they could not hear him; whereupon he bade them come up to the entrance of the Acropolis; in order that his voice might be better heard。 Then; while he continued to speak to them at great length; men whom he had appointed for the purpose collected the arms and locked them up in the chambers of the Theseum hard by; and came and made a signal to him that it was done。 Pisistratus accordingly; when he had finished the rest of what he had to say; told the people also what had happened to their arms; adding that they were not to be surprised or alarmed; but go home and attend to their private affairs; while he would himself for the future manage all the business of the state。
Part 16
Such was the origin and such the vicissitudes of the tyranny of Pisistratus。 His administration was temperate; as has been said before; and more like const
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