[Gutenberg 47236] • Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol 2 of 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ...threaten Athens because of her lawlessnesa Whereas good laws and government set all the State in order, chain the hands of evil-doers, make rough places plain, subdue insolence, and blast the budding flowers of Ate, set straight the crooked ways of tortuous law, root out sedition, quell the rage of strife; under their good influence all things are fair and wise with men." Thus early and emphatically was the notion of just balance enunciated among the Greeks. It formed the ruling principle of their philosophy as well as of their politics; for the fxrjSev ayav (nothing over-much) of Solon corresponded to the fierpov (measure) of the Ionic speculators, and contained within itself the germ of Aristotle, s ethical system, no less than of the political philosophy of Plato, s Republic. In the fifth and sixth fragments Solon describes the amount of power he would wish to see intrusted to the Athenian Demos; in the ninth, he prophesies the advent of a despot: Th, Demos "From storm-clouds descend furious snow and hail, and despot. thunder is born of bright lightning; so great men produce the overthrow of States, and into the bondage of a despot, s power the people fall unwittingly. Easy it is to raise the storm, but hard to curb the whirlwind; yet must we now take thought of all these things." Fragment the second contains a further warning on the subject of impending tyranny. The power of Pisistratus was growing to a head, and Solon told the Athenians that if he proved despotic, they would have no one but themselves to blame for it. The remaining fragments of Solonian poetry are more Reflections on justice. purely meditative. " Bright daughters of Memory and Olympian Zeus," he begins, " Pierian Muses! hear my prayer. Grant me wealth from the blessed gods, and...