The Complete Aristotle (eng.)

tenor of the rest of his legislation.
10
    These seem to be the democratic features of his laws; but in
addition, before the period of his legislation, he carried through
his abolition of debts, and after it his increase in the standards
of weights and measures, and of the currency. During his
administration the measures were made larger than those of Pheidon,
and the mina, which previously had a standard of seventy drachmas,
was raised to the full hundred. The standard coin in earlier times
was the two-drachma piece. He also made weights corresponding with
the coinage, sixty-three minas going to the talent; and the odd
three minas were distributed among the staters and the other
values.
11
    When he had completed his organization of the constitution in
the manner that has been described, he found himself beset by
people coming to him and harassing him concerning his laws,
criticizing here and questioning there, till, as he wished neither
to alter what he had decided on nor yet to be an object of ill will
to every one by remaining in Athens, he set off on a journey to
Egypt, with the combined objects of trade and travel, giving out
that he should not return for ten years. He considered that there
was no call for him to expound the laws personally, but that every
one should obey them just as they were written. Moreover, his
position at this time was unpleasant. Many members of the upper
class had been estranged from him on account of his abolition of
debts, and both parties were alienated through their disappointment
at the condition of things which he had created. The mass of the
people had expected him to make a complete redistribution of all
property, and the upper class hoped he would restore everything to
its former position, or, at any rate, make but a small change.
Solon, however, had resisted both classes. He might have made
himself a despot by attaching himself to whichever party he chose,
but he preferred, though at the cost of incurring the enmity of
both, to be the saviour of his country and the ideal lawgiver.
12
    The truth of this view of Solon’s policy is established alike by
common consent, and by the mention he has himself made of the
matter in his poems. Thus:
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    I gave to the mass of the people such rank as befitted their
need,
I took not away their honour, and I granted naught to their
greed;
While those who were rich in power, who in wealth were glorious and
great,
I bethought me that naught should befall them unworthy their
splendour and state;
So I stood with my shield outstretched, and both were sale in its
sight,
And I would not that either should triumph, when the triumph was
not with right.
    Again he declares how the mass of the people ought to be
treated:
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    But thus will the people best the voice of their leaders
obey,
When neither too slack is the rein, nor violence holdeth the
sway;
For indulgence breedeth a child, the presumption that spurns
control,
When riches too great are poured upon men of unbalanced soul.
    And again elsewhere he speaks about the persons who wished to
redistribute the land:
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    So they came in search of plunder, and their cravings knew no
hound,
Every one among them deeming endless wealth would here be
found.
And that I with glozing smoothness hid a cruel mind within.
Fondly then and vainly dreamt they; now they raise an angry
din,
And they glare askance in anger, and the light within their
eyes
Burns with hostile flames upon me. Yet therein no justice
lies.
All I promised, fully wrought I with the gods at hand to
cheer,
Naught beyond in folly ventured. Never to my soul was dear
With a tyrant’s force to govern, nor to see the good and base
Side by side in equal portion share the rich home of our race.
    Once more he speaks of the abolition of debts and of those who
before were in servitude, but were released owing to the
Seisachtheia:
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    Of all the aims for which I summoned forth
The people, was there one I compassed not?
Thou, when slow time brings justice in its train,
O mighty mother of the Olympian gods,
Dark Earth, thou best canst witness, from whose breast
I swept the pillars broadcast planted there,
And made thee free, who hadst been slave of yore.
And many a man whom fraud or law had sold
For from his god-built land, an outcast slave,
I brought again to Athens; yea, and some,
Exiles from home through debt’s oppressive load,
Speaking no more the dear ATHENIAN tongue,
But