Calendar: 1880-1881 Page 612

612 GENERAL LITERATURE AND SCIENCE IV 1ttk Composition Translate into Greek Prose and Verse They tell us too that saying of his which he had let fall some time before that equality causes no war was then much repeated and pleased both the rich and the poor the latter expecting to come to balance by their numbers and by the measure of divided lands and the former to preserve an equality at least by their dignity and power Thus both parties being in great hopes the heads of them were urgent with Solon to make himself king and endeavoured to persuade him that he might with better assurance take upon him the direction of city where he had the supreme authority Nay many of the citizens that leaned to neither party seeing the intended change difficult to be effected by reason and law were not against the entrusting of the government to the hands of one wise and just man Some moreover acquaint us that he received this oracle from Apollo Seize seize the helm the reeling vessel guide With aiding patriots stem the raging tide His friends in particular told him it would appear that he wanted courage if he rejected the monarchy for fear of the name of tyrant as if the sole and supreme power would not soon become lawful sovereignty through the virtues of him that received it Thus formerly said they the Euboeans set up Tynnondas and lately the Mitylenseans Pittacus for their prince None of these things moved Solon from his purpose and the answer he is said to have given his friends is this Absolute monarchy is fair field but it has no outlet And in one of his poems he thus addresses himself to his friend Phocus If spa my country If gilded violence and tyrannic sway Could never charm me thence no shame accrues Still the mild honour of my name boast And find my empire there Whence it is evident that his reputation was very great before he appeared in the character of legislator As to