University of Virginia Library

A TRANSLATION OF A FRAGMENT OF SOLON, PRESERVED IN THE ORATION OF DEMOSTHENES DE FALSA LEGATIONE.

Athens, to tutelary Pallas dear,
Hath nothing from the Gods to fear;
No, to her sons alone she owes her doom,
The dire distemper lurks at home;
Commons contending to be bought and sold,
Rulers who riot uncontroul'd,
Insatiate, though abounding, void of sense
To relish decent competence;
No ties or human or divine restrain,
So lawless is the lust of gain;
Each preys on each, yet with consenting zeal
All join to rob the commonweal,
And claim it, as the birth-right of the strong,
To leap the bounds of right and wrong;
Yet Justice, who the present sees and past,
Though silent, will avenge at last.
These are the maladies, which soon or late
Bring desolation on a State;
Hence civil discord springs, hence hostile rage
Awaken'd, spares nor sex nor age;
And cities, where none govern or obey,
Must fall to foreign arms a prey.
Such is the general fate, amongst the poor
Some exiled on a distant shore,
Enslav'd, imprison'd, lockt in cruel chains,
[OMITTED]
Thus publick evil spreads like a disease
From house to house through all degrees;
The rich against it bar their gates in vain,
No bars, no fences fate restrain:
Still she pursues, and haunts, where'er ye dwell,
Or in a palace, or a cell.
Learn hence, Athenians, timely learn to know,
What ills from lawless licence flow;
Good laws diffuse good order through the whole,
Th'unjust by fit restraints controul,
Polish rough manners, curb unbridled will,
Daunt pride, and crop the buds of ill,
Restore warpt justice, bid oppression cease,
Sooth party-rancour into peace,
Quell stubborn faction, heal litigious strife,
And give and guard the sweets of life.