DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0027
i
of the civil government of athens. 6
But small credit is to be given to these reports ; for we are assured by
Philochorus, an author of no less credit than antiquity, as he is quoted by
ArVicanus, that Attica was so much wasted by the Ogygian deluge, and its
inhabitants reduced to so small a number, that they lived an hundred and
ninety years, from the time of Ogyges to Cecrops, without any king at
all; and Eusebius concurs with him in this opinion (i)
CHAP. II.
of the state of athens from cecrops to theseus.
It is agreed almost on all hands, that Cecrops was the first that gather -
ed together the poor peasants that lay dispersed here and there in Atti-
ca : and having united them into one body (though not into one city, for
that was not effected till many ages after,) constituted among them one
form of government, and took upon himself the title of king.
Most nations at the first were governed by kings, who were usually
persons of great worth and renown ; and for their courage, prudence,
and other virtues, promoted to that dignity by the general consent and
election of the people, who yielded them obedience out of willingness
rather than necessity, out of advice rather than by compulsion: and
kings rather chose to be obeyed out of love, and esteem of their virtues,
and fitness to govern, than by the force of their arms, and out of a slavish
fear of their power. They affected no uncontroulable dominion, or ab-
solute sway, but preferred the good of their people, for whose protection
they knew and acknowledged themselves to have been advanced, before
any covetous or ambitious designs of their own. They expected no
bended knees, no prostrate faces, but would condescend to converse fami-
liarly, even with the meaner sort of their subjects, as oft as they stood in
need of their assistance. In short, they endeavoured to observe such a
just medium in their behaviour, and all their actions, as might neither ex-
pose their authority to contempt, nor render them formidable to those,
whom they chose rather to win by kindness into a voluntary compliance,
than to awe by severity into a forced subjection. They proposed to
themselves no other advantage than the good and welfare of their peo-
ple ; and made use of their authority no farther, than as it was condu-
cive and necessary to that end. Their dignity and office consisted chief-
ly in these things :
First, in doing justice, in hearing causes, in composing the divisions,
and deciding the differences that happened among their subjects, in con-
stituting new laws, and regulating the old (2t), where they had any ; but
the people generally reposed such trust and confidence in the justice and
equity of their prince, that his sole will and pleasure passed for law
amongst them (.3).
Secondly, In leading ihem to the wars ; where they did not only assist
them by their good conduct and management of affairs, but exposed their
(1) Chronico. (2) Tull. de Offic. lib, ii. cap. 12. (3) Justin. Hist. lib. i,
of the civil government of athens. 6
But small credit is to be given to these reports ; for we are assured by
Philochorus, an author of no less credit than antiquity, as he is quoted by
ArVicanus, that Attica was so much wasted by the Ogygian deluge, and its
inhabitants reduced to so small a number, that they lived an hundred and
ninety years, from the time of Ogyges to Cecrops, without any king at
all; and Eusebius concurs with him in this opinion (i)
CHAP. II.
of the state of athens from cecrops to theseus.
It is agreed almost on all hands, that Cecrops was the first that gather -
ed together the poor peasants that lay dispersed here and there in Atti-
ca : and having united them into one body (though not into one city, for
that was not effected till many ages after,) constituted among them one
form of government, and took upon himself the title of king.
Most nations at the first were governed by kings, who were usually
persons of great worth and renown ; and for their courage, prudence,
and other virtues, promoted to that dignity by the general consent and
election of the people, who yielded them obedience out of willingness
rather than necessity, out of advice rather than by compulsion: and
kings rather chose to be obeyed out of love, and esteem of their virtues,
and fitness to govern, than by the force of their arms, and out of a slavish
fear of their power. They affected no uncontroulable dominion, or ab-
solute sway, but preferred the good of their people, for whose protection
they knew and acknowledged themselves to have been advanced, before
any covetous or ambitious designs of their own. They expected no
bended knees, no prostrate faces, but would condescend to converse fami-
liarly, even with the meaner sort of their subjects, as oft as they stood in
need of their assistance. In short, they endeavoured to observe such a
just medium in their behaviour, and all their actions, as might neither ex-
pose their authority to contempt, nor render them formidable to those,
whom they chose rather to win by kindness into a voluntary compliance,
than to awe by severity into a forced subjection. They proposed to
themselves no other advantage than the good and welfare of their peo-
ple ; and made use of their authority no farther, than as it was condu-
cive and necessary to that end. Their dignity and office consisted chief-
ly in these things :
First, in doing justice, in hearing causes, in composing the divisions,
and deciding the differences that happened among their subjects, in con-
stituting new laws, and regulating the old (2t), where they had any ; but
the people generally reposed such trust and confidence in the justice and
equity of their prince, that his sole will and pleasure passed for law
amongst them (.3).
Secondly, In leading ihem to the wars ; where they did not only assist
them by their good conduct and management of affairs, but exposed their
(1) Chronico. (2) Tull. de Offic. lib, ii. cap. 12. (3) Justin. Hist. lib. i,