6
Yes, indeed, said Periander, it surely is right and proper that we all contribute an offering of this sort to the king, each man in his turn, as Homer Odyssey, xiii. 14. has said. For to him these extra items would be more valuable than the burden of his mission, and as profitable for ourselves as anything could be.
7
Chilon thereupon said that it was only right that Solon should take the lead in speaking on this subject, not merely because he was most advanced in years and was occupying the place of honour, but because he held the greatest and most perfect position as a ruler by getting the Athenians to accept his laws. Thereupon Neiloxenus quietly remarked to me, It is certain, Diocles, that a good many things come to be believed quite contrary to fact, and most people take delight in fabricating out of their own minds unwarranted tales about wise men, and in readily accepting such tales from others. Such, for instance, was the report, which was brought to us in Egypt, in regard to Chilon, to the effect that he had broken off his friendship and his hospitable relations with Solon because Solon asserted that laws are subject to revision. The earlier Athenian laws, which Solon changed, as Lycurgus changed the laws of Sparta. Those who would emend the passage would make it refer to Solon’s own laws, but it should be remembered that Solon only desired that the Athenians should try out his laws for a certain length of time, and it is inconceivable that Solon with his great practical wisdom should not realize that his own laws might later need revision.
7
The story is ridiculous, said I; for in such case Chilon ought first to renounce Lycurgus and all his laws, for Lycurgus revised completely the Spartan constitution.
7
Solon then, after a moment’s delay, said, In my opinion either a king, or a despot, would best gain repute if out of a monarchy he should organize a democracy for his people.
7
Next Bias said, If he should be the very first to conform to his country’s laws.
