The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [268]
7. Took an account of the citizens’ estates, and arranged the orders according to their wealth;
8. But though those who had less than a certain income were not admitted to any office of state, they could come to the assembly, and act as jurors;
9. Which at first seemed nothing, but afterwards was found an enormous privilege, as almost every matter of dispute came before them to decide.
10. Even in the cases which he assigned to the archons’ cognisance, he allowed an appeal to the courts.
11. Besides, it is said that he was obscure and ambiguous in the wording of his laws, on purpose to increase the honour of the courts;
12. For since differences could not be adjusted by the letter, citizens would have to bring their causes to the judges, who were thus made masters of the laws.
13. He mentions this equalisation in one of his poems: ‘Such power I gave the people as might do,
14. ‘Abridged not what they had, and gave them new. Those that were great in wealth and high in place, My counsel likewise kept from all disgrace.
15. ‘Before them both I held my shield of might, And let not either touch the other’s right.’
16. When he had constituted the Areopagus of those who had been yearly archons,
17. Of which he himself was a member, observing that the people, now free from debt, were unsettled and imperious,
18. He formed another council of four hundred, a hundred out of each of the four tribes,
19. Which was to inspect all matters before they were propounded to the people,
20. And to take care that nothing but what had been first examined should be brought before the general assembly.
21. The upper council, or Areopagus, he made inspectors and keepers of the laws,
22. Conceiving that the commonwealth, held by these two councils, like anchors, would be less liable to tumults, and the people more at quiet.
23. Amongst his other laws, one is very surprising, which disfranchises all who stand neuter in political controversy;
24. For he would not have anyone remain insensible of the public good,
25. But everyone must at once join with the good party and those that have the right upon their side,
26. To assist and venture with them, rather than keep out of harm’s way and watch who would get the better.
Chapter 22
1. Regarding marriage, Solon made a law that the bride and bridegroom shall be shut in a chamber to eat a quince together;
2. And that the husband of an heiress shall consort with her thrice a month;
3. For though there be no children, yet it is an honour which a husband ought to pay to a virtuous wife;
4. For it takes off all petty differences, and will not permit their little quarrels to proceed to a rupture.
5. In all other marriages he forbade dowries to be given;
6. The wife was to have three suits of clothes, a little household stuff, and that was all;
7. For he would not have marriages contracted for gain or an estate, but only for love, kind affection, and birth of children.
Chapter 23
1. Another commendable law of Solon’s is that which forbids men to speak evil of the dead,
2. For it is unfair to asperse those that are gone, and politic to prevent perpetuations of discord.
3. He likewise forbade speaking evil of the living in the courts of justice, the public offices, or at the games.
4. Doing so incurred a fine of three drachmas to the person, and two to the public.
5. For never to be able to control passion shows a weak nature and ill-breeding;
6. Even though always to moderate it is very hard, and to some impossible.
7. He is likewise much commended for his law concerning wills; for before him none could be made, but all the wealth and estate of the deceased belonged to his family.
8. But by introducing wills, he allowed people without children to bestow their estate on whom they pleased,
9. Showed that he esteemed friendship a stronger tie than kindred,
10. And affection a stronger tie than necessity; and made every man’s estate truly his own.
11. Yet Solon allowed