Reflections on the Rise and Fall of the Ancient Republicks: Adapted to the Present State of Great BritainC. P. Wayne, 1806 - 335 Plutarch takes notice of a very remarkable law of Solon's,1 "which declared every man infamous, who, in any sedition or civil dissension in the state, should continue neuter, and refuse to side with either party." Aulus Gellius,2 who gives a more circumstantial detail of this uncommon law, affirms the penalty to be "no less than confiscation of all the effects, and banishment of the delinquent." Cicero mentions the same law to his friend Atticus,3 and even makes the punishment capital, though he resolves at the same time not to conform to it under his present circumstances, unless his friend should advise him to the contrary. Which of these relators has given us the real penalty annexed to this law by Solon, is scarce worth our inquiry. But I cannot help observing, that strange as this law may appear at first sight, yet if we reflect upon the reasons of it, as they are assigned by Plutarch and A. Gellius, it will not appear unworthy of that great legislator. |
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able Æmilius affairs Agesilaus Agis Alcibiades ambition amongst the Romans ancient Appian army Athenians Athens avarice battle body Carthage Carthaginians cause chief citizens Cleombrotus Cleomenes command conduct consequently constitution consuls corruption countrymen death decree defeat dictator Dionysius effects elected enemies Epaminondas ephori Epicurus equal evils Fabius faction fatal favour force fortune friends gave glory greatest greatly Grecian Greece Hamilcar Hannibal historians honour ibid interest judged kings lands Leonidas liberty Livy luxury Lycurgus Lysander manners master measures mercenaries military militia Minucius nation nature observes occasion opinion party passions Patricians Pelopidas perpetual Phocion Plebeians Plut Plutarch Polyb Polybius prevailed principles proof publick virtue Punick raised reign remarkable republick Roman senate Rome ruin Sallust scheme sect seems senate Solon Spartans superior Thebans Thucyd Thucydides tion troops tyranny tyrant utmost Varro wealth whilst whole Xenoph γὰρ δὲ καὶ τὴν τῶν
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