第 4 节
作者:
青词 更新:2022-07-12 16:19 字数:9322
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 constitutional government than a tyranny。 Not only was he in every respect humane and mild and ready to forgive those who offended; but; in addition; he advanced money to the poorer people to help them in their labours; so that they might make their living by agriculture。 In this he had two objects; first that they might not spend their time in the city but might be scattered over all the face of the country; and secondly that; being moderately well off and occupied with their own business; they might have neither the wish nor the time to attend to public affairs。 At the same time his revenues were increased by the thorough cultivation of the country; since he imposed a tax of one tenth on all the produce。 For the same reasons he instituted the local justices;' and often made expeditions in person into the country to inspect it and to settle disputes between individuals; that they might not come into the city and neglect their farms。 It was in one of these progresses that; as the story goes; Pisistratus had his adventure with the man of Hymettus; who was cultivating the spot afterwards known as 'Tax…free Farm'。 He saw a man digging and working at a very stony piece of ground; and being surprised he sent his attendant to ask what he got out of this plot of land。 'Aches and pains'; said the man; 'and that's what Pisistratus ought to have his tenth of'。 The man spoke without knowing who his questioner was; but Pisistratus was so leased with his frank speech and his industry that he granted him exemption from all taxes。 And so in matters in general he burdened the people as little as possible with his government; but always cultivated peace and kept them in all quietness。 Hence the tyranny of Pisistratus was often spoken of proverbially as 'the age of gold'; for when his sons succeeded him the government became much harsher。 But most important of all in this respect was his popular and kindly disposition。 In all things he was accustomed to observe the laws; without giving himself any exceptional privileges。 Once he was summoned on a charge of homicide before the Areopagus; and he appeared in person to make his defence; but the prosecutor was afraid to present himself and abandoned the case。 For these reasons he held power long; and whenever he was expelled he regained his position easily。 The majority alike of the upper class and of the people were in his favour; the former he won by his social intercourse with them; the latter by the assistance which he gave to their private purses; and his nature fitted him to win the hearts of both。 Moreover; the laws in reference to tyrants at that time in force at Athens were very mild; especially the one which applies more particularly to the establishment of a tyranny。 The law ran as follows: 'These are the ancestral statutes of the ATHENIANs; if any persons shall make an attempt to establish a tyranny; or if any person shall join in setting up a tyranny; he shall lose his civic rights; both himself and his whole house。'
Part 17
Thus did Pisistratus grow old in the possession of power; and he died a natural death in the archonship of Philoneos; three and thirty years from the time at which he first established himself as tyrant; during nineteen of which he was in possession of power; the rest he spent in exile。 It is evident from this that the story is mere gossip which states that Pisistratus was the youthful favourite of Solon and commanded in the war against Megara for the recovery of Salamis。 It will not harmonize with their respective ages; as any one may see who will reckon up the years of the life of each of them; and the dates at which they died。 After the death of Pisistratus his sons took up the government; and conducted it on the same system。 He had two sons by his first and legitimate wife; Hippias and Hipparchus; and two by his Argive consort; Iophon and Hegesistratus; who was surnamed Thessalus。 For Pisistratus took a wife from Argos; Timonassa; the daughter of a man of Argos; named Gorgilus; she had previously been the wife of Archinus of Ambracia; one of the descendants of Cypselus。 This was the origin of his friendship with the Argives; on account of which a thousand of them were brought over by Hegesistratus and fought on his side in the battle at Pallene。 Some authorities say that this marriage took place after his first expulsion from Athens; others while he was in possession of the government。
Part 18
Hippias and Hipparchus assumed the control of affairs on grounds alike of standing and of age; but Hippias; as being also naturally of a statesmanlike and shrewd disposition; was really the head of the government。 Hipparchus was youthful in disposition; amorous; and fond of literature (it was he who invited to Athens Anacreon; Simonides; and the other poets); while Thessalus was much junior in age; and was violent and headstrong in his behaviour。 It was from his character that all the evils arose which befell the house。 He became enamoured of Harmodius; and; since he failed to win his affection; he lost all restraint upon his passion; and in addition to other exhibitions of rage he finally prevented the sister of Harmodius from taking the part of a basket…bearer in the Panathenaic procession; alleging as his reason that Harmodius was a person of loose life。 Thereupon; in a frenzy of wrath; Harmodius and Aristogeiton did their celebrated deed; in conjunction with a number of confederates。 But while they were lying in wait for Hippias in the Acropolis at the time of the Panathenaea (Hippias; at this moment; was awaiting the arrival of the procession; while Hipparchus was organizing its dispatch) they saw one of the persons privy to the plot talking familiarly with him。 Thinking that he was betraying them; and desiring to do something before they were arrested; they rushed down and made their attempt without waiting for the rest of their confederates。 They succeeded in killing Hipparchus near the Leocoreum while he was engaged in arranging the procession; but ruined the design as a whole; of the two leaders; Harmodius was killed on the spot by the guards; while Aristogeiton was arrested; and perished later after suffering long tortures。 While under the torture he accused many persons who belonged by birth to the most distinguished families and were also personal friends of the tyrants。 At first the government could find no clue to the conspiracy; for the current story; that Hippias made all who were taking part in the procession leave their arms; and then detected those who were carrying secret daggers; cannot be true; since at that time they did not bear arms in the processions; this being a custom instituted at a later period by the democracy。 According to the story of the popular party; Aristogeiton accused the friends of the tyrants with the deliberate intention that the latter might commit an impious act; and at the same time weaken themselves; by putting to death innocent men who were their own friends; others say that he told no falsehood; but was betraying the actual accomplices。 At last; when for all his efforts he could not obtain release by death; he promised to give further information against a number of other persons; and; having induced Hippias to give him his hand to confirm his word; as soon as he had hold of it he reviled him for giving his hand to the murderer of his brother; till Hippias; in a frenzy of rage; lost control of himself and snatched out his dagger and dispatched him。
Part 19
After this event the tyranny became much harsher。 In consequence of his vengeance for his brother; and of the execution and banishment of a large number of persons; Hippias became a distrusted and an embittered man。 About three years after the death of Hipparchus; finding his position in the city insecure; he set about fortifying Munichia; with the intention of establishing himself there。 While he was still engaged on this work; however; he was expelled by Cleomenes; king of Lacedaemon; in consequence of the Spartans being continually incited by oracles to overthrow the tyranny。 These oracles were obtained in the following way。 The Athenian exiles; headed by the Alcmeonidae; could not by