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lycurgus-第12部分
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his own followers; as it is the last attainment in the art of riding
to make a horse gentle and tractable; so is it of the science of
government; to inspire men with a willingness to obey。 The
Lacedaemonians inspired men not with a mere willingness; but with an
absolute desire to be their subjects。 For they did not send
petitions to them for ships or money; or a supply of armed men; but
only for a Spartan commander; and; having obtained one; used him
with honour and reverence; so the Sicilians behaved to Gylippus; the
Chalcidians to Brasidas; and all the Greeks in Asia to Lysander;
Callicratidas; and Agesilaus; they styled them the composers and
chasteners of each people or prince they were sent to; and had their
eyes always fixed upon the city of Sparta itself; as the perfect model
of good manners and wise government。 The rest seemed as scholars; they
the masters of Greece; and to this Stratonicus pleasantly alluded;
when in jest he pretended to make a law that the Athenians should
conduct religious processions and the mysteries; the Eleans should
preside at the Olympic games; and; if either did amiss; the
Lacedaemonians be beaten。 Antisthenes; too; one of the scholars of
Socrates; said; in earnest; of the Thebans; when they were elated by
their victory at Leuctra; that they looked like school…boys who had
beaten their master。
However; it was not the design of Lycurgus that his city should
govern a great many others; he thought rather that the happiness of
a state; as a private man; consisted chiefly in the exercise of
virtue; and in the concord of the inhabitants; his aim; therefore;
in all his arrangements; was to make and keep them free…minded;
self…dependent; and temperate。 And therefore all those who have
written well on politics; as Plato; Diogenes and Zeno; have taken
Lycurgus for their model; leaving behind them; however mere projects
and words; whereas Lycurgus was the author; not in writing but in
reality; of a government which none else could so much as copy; and
while men in general have treated the individual philosophic character
as unattainable; he; by the example of a complete philosophic state;
raised himself high above all other lawgivers of Greece。 And so
Aristotle says they did him less honour at Lacedaemon after his
death than he deserved; although; he has a temple there; and they
offer sacrifices yearly to him as to a god。
It is reported that when his bones were brought home to Sparta his
tomb was struck with lightning; an accident which befell no eminent
person but himself and Euripides; who was buried at Arethusa in
Macedonia; and it may serve that poet's admirers as a testimony in his
favour; that he had in this the same fate with that holy man and
favourite of the gods。 Some say Lycurgus died in Cirrha。
Apollothemis says; after he had come to Elis; Timaeus and Aristoxenus;
that he ended his life in Crete; Aristoxenus adds that his tomb is
shown by the Cretans in the district of Pergamus; near the
strangers' road。 He left an only son; Antiorus; on whose death without
issue his family became extinct。 But his relations and friends kept up
an annual commemoration of him down to a long time after; and the days
of the meeting were called Lycurgides。 Aristocrates; the son of
Hipparchus; says that he died in Crete; and that his Cretan friends;
in accordance with his own request; when they had burned his body;
scattered the Ashes into the sea; for fear lest; if his relics
should be transported to Lacedaemon; the people might pretend to be
released from their oaths; and make innovations in the government。
Thus much may suffice for the life and actions of Lycurgus。
THE END
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