Page - 2111 - in The Complete Aristotle

Of many a man this state had been bereft. Therefore I showed my might on every side, Turning at bay like wolf among the hounds. And again he reviles both parties for their grumblings in the times that followed: < div class=“quote”> Nay, if one must lay blame where blame is due, Wer’t not for me, the people ne’er had set Their eyes upon these blessings e’en in dreams:- While greater men, the men of wealthier life, Should praise me and should court me as their friend. For had any other man, he says, received this exalted post, < div class=“quote”> He had not kept the people back, nor ceased Til he had robbed the richness of the milk. But I stood forth a landmark in the midst, And barred the foes from battle. 13 Such then, were Solon’s reasons for his departure from the country. After his retirement the city was still torn by divisions. For four years, indeed, they lived in peace; but in the fifth year after Solon’s government they were unable to elect an Archon on account of their dissensions, and again four years later they elected no Archon for the same reason. Subsequently, after a similar period had elapsed, Damasias was elected Archon; and he governed for two years and two months, until he was forcibly expelled from his office. After this, it was agreed, as a compromise, to elect ten Archons, five from the Eupatridae, three from the Agroeci, and two from the Demiurgi, and they ruled for the year following Damasias. It is clear from this that the Archon was at the time the magistrate who possessed the greatest power, since it is always in connexion with this office that conflicts are seen to arise. But altogether they were in a continual state of internal disorder. Some found the cause and justification of their discontent in the abolition of debts, because thereby they had been reduced to poverty; others were dissatisfied with the political constitution, because it had undergone a revolutionary change; while 2111