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the athenian constitution-第9部分

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lsion of the party of Isagoras。 After this Xanthippus was the leader of the people; and Miltiades of the upper class。 Then came Themistocles and Aristides; and after them Ephialtes as leader of the people; and Cimon son of Miltiades of the wealthier class。 Pericles followed as leader of the  people; and Thucydides; who was connected by marriage with Cimon; of the opposition。 After the death of Pericles; Nicias; who  subsequently fell in Sicily; appeared as leader of the aristocracy; and Cleon son of Cleaenetus of the people。 The latter seems; more than any  one else; to have been the cause of the corruption of the democracy by his wild undertakings; and he was the first to use unseemly shouting  and coarse abuse on the Bema; and to harangue the people with his cloak girt up short about him; whereas all his predecessors had spoken decently and in order。 These were succeeded by Theramenes son of Hagnon as leader of the one party; and the lyre…maker Cleophon of the  people。 It was Cleophon who first granted the twoobol donation for the  theatrical performances; and for some time it continued to be given; but then Callicrates of Paeania ousted him by promising to add a third obol to the sum。 Both of these persons were subsequently condemned to death; for the people; even if they are deceived for a time; in the end generally come to detest those who have beguiled them into any unworthy action。 After Cleophon the popular leadership was occupied successively by the men who chose to talk the biggest and pander the most to the tastes of the majority; with their eyes fixed only on the interests of the moment。 The best statesmen at Athens;  after those of early times; seem to have been Nicias; Thucydides; and Theramenes。 As to Nicias and Thucydides; nearly every one agrees that they were not merely men of birth and character; but also statesmen; and that they ruled the state with paternal care。 On the merits of Theramenes opinion is divided; because it so happened that in his time public affairs were in a very stormy state。 But those who give their opinion deliberately find him; not; as his critics falsely assert; overthrowing every kind of constitution; but supporting every kind so long as it did not transgress laws; thus showing that he was able; as every good citizen should be; to live under any form of constitution; while he refused to countenance illegality and was its constant enemy。

Part 29

  So long as the fortune of the war continued even; the Athenians preserved the democracy; but after the disaster in Sicily; when the Lacedaemonians had gained the upper hand through their alliance with the king of Persia; they were compelled to abolish the democracy and establish in its place the constitution of the Four Hundred。 The speech recommending this course before the vote was made by Melobius; and the motion was proposed by Pythodorus of Anaphlystus; but the real argument which persuaded the majority was the  belief that the king of Persia was more likely to form an alliance with them if the constitution were on an oligarchical basis。 The motion of Pythodorus was to the following effect。 The popular Assembly was to elect twenty persons; over forty years of age; who; in conjunction with the existing ten members of the Committee of Public  Safety; after taking an oath that they would frame such measures as they thought best for the state; should then prepare proposals for the public。 safety。 In addition; any other person might make proposals;  so that of all the schemes before them the people might choose the best。 Cleitophon concurred with the motion of Pythodorus; but  moved that the committee should also investigate the ancient laws enacted by Cleisthenes when he created the democracy; in order that they might have these too before them and so be in a position to decide wisely; his suggestion being that the constitution of Cleisthenes was not really democratic; but closely akin to that of Solon。 When the committee was elected; their first proposal was that the Prytanes should be compelled to put to the vote any motion that was offered on behalf of the public safety。 Next they abolished all indictments for illegal proposals; all impeachments and pubic prosecutions; in order that every Athenian should be free to give his counsel on the situation; if he chose; and they decreed that if any person imposed a fine on any other for his acts in this respect; or  prosecuted him or summoned him before the courts; he should; on an information being laid against him; be summarily arrested and brought before the generals; who should deliver him to the Eleven to be put to death。 After these preliminary measures; they drew up the  constitution in the following manner。 The revenues of the state were not to be spent on any purpose except the war。 All magistrates should serve without remuneration for the period of the war; except the nine Archons and the Prytanes for the time being; who should each receive  three obols a day。 The whole of the rest of the administration was to be committed; for the period of the war; to those Athenians who  were most capable of serving the state personally or pecuniarily; to the number of not less than five thousand。 This body was to have full powers; to the extent even of making treaties with whomsoever they willed; and ten representatives; over forty years of age; were to be elected from each tribe to draw up the list of the Five Thousand; after taking an oath on a full and perfect sacrifice。

Part 30

  These were the recommendations of the committee; and when they had been ratified the Five Thousand elected from their own number a hundred commissioners to draw up the constitution。 They; on their appointment; drew up and produced the following  recommendations。 There should be a Council; holding office for a year; consisting  of men over thirty years of age; serving without pay。 To this body should belong the Generals; the nine Archons; the Amphictyonic Registrar (Hieromnemon); the Taxiarchs; the Hipparchs; the Phylarch; the commanders of garrisons; the Treasurers of Athena and the other gods; ten in number; the Hellenic Treasurers (Hellenotamiae); the Treasurers of the other non…sacred moneys; to the number of twenty; the ten Commissioners of Sacrifices (Hieropoei); and the ten Superintendents of the mysteries。 All these were to be appointed by the Council from a larger number of selected candidates; chosen from its members for the time being。 The other offices were all to be filled by lot; and not from the members of the Council。 The Hellenic Treasurers who actually administered the funds should not  sit with the Council。 As regards the future; four Councils were to be created; of men of the age already mentioned; and one of these was to be  chosen by lot to take office at once; while the others were to receive it in turn; in the order decided by the lot。 For this purpose the hundred commissioners were to distribute themselves and all the rest as equally as possible into four parts; and cast lots for  precedence; and the selected body should hold office for a year。 They were to administer that office as seemed to them best; both with reference to the safe custody and due expenditure of the finances; and  gene
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