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LYCURGUS
Legendary； 9th Century B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
There is so much uncertainty in the accounts which historians have
left us of Lycurgus； the lawgiver of Sparta； that scarcely anything is
asserted by one of them which is not called into question or
contradicted by the rest。 Their sentiments are quite different as to
the family he came of； the voyages he undertook； the place and
manner of his death； but most of all when they speak of the laws he
made and the commonwealth which he founded。 They cannot； by any means；
be brought to an agreement as to the very age in which he lived； for
some of them say that he flourished in the time of Iphitus； and that
they two jointly contrived the ordinance for the cessation of arms
during the solemnity of the Olympic games。 Of this opinion was
Aristotle； and for confirmation of it； he alleges an inscription
upon one of the copper quoits used in those sports； upon which the
name of Lycurgus continued uneffaced to his time。 But Eratosthenes and
Apollodorus and other chronologers； computing the time by the
successions of the Spartan kings； pretend to demonstrate that he was
much more ancient than the institution of the Olympic games。 Timaeus
conjectures that there were two of this name； and in diverse times；
but that the one of them being much more famous than the other； men
gave to him the glory of the exploits of both； the elder of the two；
according to him； was not long after Homer； and some are so particular
as to say that he had seen him。 But that he was of great antiquity may
be gathered from a passage in Xenophon； where he makes him
contemporary with the Heraclidae。 By descent； indeed； the very last
kings of Sparta were Heraclidae too； but he seems in that place to
speak of the first and more immediate successors of Hercules。 But
notwithstanding this confusion and obscurity； we shall endeavour to
compose the history of his life； adhering to those statements which
are least contradicted； and depending upon those authors who are
most worthy of credit。
The poet Simonides will have it that Lycurgus was the son of
Prytanis； and not of Eunomus； but in this opinion he is singular；
for all the rest deduce the genealogy of them both as follows：…
Aristodemus。
to
Patrocles。
to
Sous。
to
Eurypon。
to
Eunomus
/
Polydectes by his first wife。 Lycurgus by Dionassa his second。
Dieuchidas says he was the sixth from Patrocles and the eleventh
from Hercules。 Be this as it will； Sous certainly was the most
renowned of all his ancestors； under whose conduct the Spartans made
slaves of the Helots； and added to their dominions； by conquest； a
good part of Arcadia。 There goes a story of this king Sous； that；
being besieged by the Clitorians in a dry and stony place so that he
could come at no water； he was at last constrained to agree with
them upon these terms； that he would restore to them all his
conquests； provided that himself and all his men should drink of the
nearest spring。 After the usual oaths and ratifications； he called his
soldiers together； and offered to him that would forbear drinking
his kingdom for a reward； and when not a man of them was able to
forbear； in short； when they had all drunk their fill； at last comes
King Sous himself to the spring； and； having sprinkled his face
only； without swallowing one drop； marches off in the face of his
enemies； refusing to yield up his conquests； because himself and all
his men had not； according to the articles； drunk of their water。
Although he was justly had in admiration on this account； yet his
family was not surnamed from him； but from his son Eurypon （of whom
they were called Eurypontids）； the reason of which was that Eurypon
relaxed the rigour of the monarchy； seeking favour and popularity with
the many。 They； after this first step； grew bolder； and the succeeding
kings partly incurred hatred with their people by trying to use force；
or； for popularity's sake and through weakness； gave way； and
anarchy and confusion long prevailed in Sparta； causing； moreover； the
death of the father of Lycurgus。 For as he was endeavouring to quell a
riot； he was stabbed with a butcher's knife； and left the title of
king to his eldest son； Polydectes。
He； too； dying soon after； the right of succession （as every one
thought） rested in Lycurgus； and reign he did； until it was found that
the queen； his sister…in…law； was with child； upon which he
immediately declared that the kingdom belonged to her issue；
provided it were male； and that he himself exercised the regal
jurisdiction only as his guardian； the Spartan name for which office
is prodicus。 Soon after； an overture was made to him by the queen；
that she would herself in some way destroy the infant； upon
condition that he would marry her when he came to the crown。 Abhorring
the woman's wickedness； he nevertheless did not reject her proposal；
but； making show of closing with her； despatched the messenger with
thanks and expressions of joy； but dissuaded her earnestly from
procuring herself to miscarry； which would impair her health； if not
endanger her life； he himself； he said； would see to it； that the
child； as soon as born； should be taken out of the way。 By such
artifices having drawn on the woman to the time of her lying…in； as
soon as he heard that she was in labour； he sent persons to be by
and observe all that passed； with orders that if it were a girl they
should deliver it to the women； but if a boy； should bring it to him
wheresoever he were； and whatsoever doing。 It fell out that when he
was at supper with the principal magistrates the queen was brought
to bed of a boy； who was soon after presented to him as he was at
the table； he； taking him into his arms； said to those about him； 〃Men
of Sparta； here is a king born unto us；〃 this said； he laid him down
in the king's place； and named him Charilaus； that is； the joy of
the people； because that all were transported with joy and with wonder
at his noble and just spirit。 His reign had lasted only eight
months； but he was honoured on other accounts by the citizens； and
there were more who obeyed him because of his eminent virtues； than
because he was regent to the king and had the royal power in his
hands。 Some； however； envied and sought to impede his growing
influence while he was still young； chiefly the kindred and friends of
the queen…mother； who pretended to have been dealt with injuriously。
Her brother Leonidas； in a warm debate which fell out betwixt him
and Lycurgus； went so far as to tell him to his face that he was
well assured that ere long he should see him king； suggesting
suspicions and preparing the way for an accusation of him； as though
he had made away with his nephew； if the child should chance to
fail； though by a natural death。 Words of the like import were
designedly cast abroad by the queen…mother and her adherents。
Troubled at this； and not knowing what it might come to； he
thought it his wisest course to avoid their envy by a voluntary exile；
and to travel from place to place until his nephew came to
marriageable years； and； by having a son； had secured the
succession； setting sail； therefore； with this resolution； he first
arrived at Crete； where； having considered their several forms of
government； and got an acquaintance with the principal men among them；
some of their laws he very much approved of； and resolved to make
use of them in his own country； a good part he rejected as useless。
Among the persons there the most renowned for their learning and their
wisdom in state matters was one Thales； whom Lycurgus； by
importunities and assurances of friendship； persuaded to go over to
Lacedaemon； where； though by his outward appearance and his own
profession he seemed to be no other than a lyric poet； in reality he
performed the part of one of the ablest lawgivers in the world。 The
very songs which he composed were exhortations to obedience and
concord； and the very measure and cadence of the verse； conveying
impressions of order and tranquillity； had so great an influence on
the minds of the listeners； that they were insensibly softened and
civilized； insomuch that they renounced their private feuds and
animosities； and were reunited in a common admiration of virtue。 So
that it may truly be said that Thales prepared the way for the
discipline introduced by Lycurgus。
From Crete he sailed to Asia； with design； as is said； to examine
the difference betwixt the manners and rules of life of the Cretans；
which were very sober and temperate； and those of the Ionians； a
people of sumptuous and delicate habits； and so to form a judgment；
just as physicians do by comparing healthy and diseased bodies。 Here
he had the f