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first rise； were equal； or； if there were any odds； they lay on the
side of the Messenians and Argives； who； in the first allotment；
were thought to have been luckier than the Spartans； yet was their
happiness of but small continuance； partly the tyrannical temper of
their kings and partly the ungovernableness of the people quickly
bringing upon them such disorders； and so complete an overthrow of all
existing institutions； as clearly to show how truly divine a
blessing the Spartans had had in that wise lawgiver who gave their
government its happy balance and temper。 But of this I shall say
more in its due place。
After the creation of the thirty senators； his next task； and；
indeed； the most hazardous he ever undertook； was the making a new
division of their lands。 For there was an extreme inequality amongst
them； and their state was overloaded with a multitude of indigent
and necessitous persons； while its whole wealth had centred upon a
very few。 To the end； therefore； that he might expel from the state
arrogance and envy； luxury and crime； and those yet more inveterate
diseases of want and superfluity； he obtained of them to renounce
their properties； and to consent to a new division of the land； and
that they should live all together on an equal footing； merit to be
their only road to eminence； and the disgrace of evil； and credit of
worthy acts； their one measure of difference between man and man。
Upon their consent to these proposals； proceeding at once to put
them into execution； he divided the country of Laconia in general into
thirty thousand equal shares； and the part attached to the city of
Sparta into nine thousand； these he distributed among the Spartans； as
he did the others to the country citizens。 Some authors say that he
made but six thousand lots for the citizens of Sparta； and that King
Polydorus added three thousand more。 Others say that Polydorus doubled
the number Lycurgus had made； which； according to them； was but four
thousand five hundred。 A lot was so much as to yield； one year with
another； about seventy bushels of grain for the master of the
family； and twelve for his wife； with a suitable proportion of oil and
wine。 And this he thought sufficient to keep their bodies in good
health and strength； superfluities they were better without。 It is
reported； that； as he returned from a journey shortly after the
division of the lands； in harvest time； the ground being newly reaped；
seeing the stacks all standing equal and alike； he smiled； and said to
those about him； 〃Methinks all Laconia looks like one family estate
just divided among a number of brothers。〃
Not contented with this； he resolved to make a division of their
movables too； that there might be no odious distinction or
inequality left amongst them； but finding that it would be very
dangerous to go about it openly； he took another course； and
defeated their avarice by the following stratagem： he commanded that
all gold and silver coin should be called in； and that only a sort
of money made of iron should be current； a great weight and quantity
of which was very little worth； so that to lay up twenty or thirty
pounds there was required a pretty large closet； and； to remove it；
nothing less than a yoke of oxen。 With the diffusion of this money； at
once a number of vices were banished from Lacedaemon； for who would
rob another of such a coin？ Who would unjustly detain or take by
force； or accept as a bribe； a thing which it was not easy to hide；
nor a credit to have； nor indeed of any use to cut in pieces？ For when
it was just red hot； they quenched it in vinegar； and by that means
spoilt it； and made it almost incapable of being worked。
In the next place； he declared an outlawry of all needless and
superfluous arts； but here he might almost have spared his
proclamation； for they of themselves would have gone after the gold
and silver； the money which remained being not so proper payment for
curious work； for； being of iron； it was scarcely portable； neither；
if they should take the means to export it； would it pass amongst
the other Greeks； who ridiculed it。 So there was now no more means
of purchasing foreign goods and small wares； merchants sent no
shiploads into Laconian ports； no rhetoric…master； no itinerate
fortune…teller； no harlot…monger； or gold or silversmith； engraver； or
jeweller； set foot in a country which had no money； so that luxury；
deprived little by little of that which fed and fomented it； wasted to
nothing and died away of itself。 For the rich had no advantage here
over the poor； as their wealth and abundance had no road to come
abroad by but were shut up at home doing nothing。 And in this way they
became excellent artists in common； necessary things； bedsteads；
chairs； and tables； and such like staple utensils in a family； were
admirably well made there； their cup； particularly； was very much in
fashion； and eagerly bought up by soldiers； as Critias reports； for
its colour was such as to prevent water； drunk upon necessity and
disagreeable to look at； from being noticed； and the shape of it was
such that the mud stuck to the sides； so that only the purer part came
to the drinker's mouth。 For this also； they had to thank their
lawgiver； who； by relieving the artisans of the trouble of making
useless things； set them to show their skill in giving； beauty to
those of daily and indispensable use。
The third and most masterly stroke of this great lawgiver； by
which he struck a yet more effectual blow against luxury and the
desire of riches； was the ordinance he made； that they should all
eat in common； of the same bread and same meat； and of kinds that were
specified； and should not spend their lives at home； laid on costly
couches at splendid tables； delivering themselves up into the hands of
their tradesmen and cooks； to fatten them in corners； like greedy
brutes； and to ruin not their minds only but their very bodies
which； enfeebled by indulgence and excess； would stand in need of long
sleep； warm bathing； freedom from work； and； in a word； of as much
care and attendance as if they were continually sick。 It was certainly
an extraordinary thing to have brought about such a result as this；
but a greater yet to have taken away from wealth； as Theophrastus
observes； not merely the property of being coveted； but its very
nature of being wealth。 For the rich； being obliged to go to the
same table with the poor； could not make use of or enjoy their
abundance； nor so much as please their vanity by looking at or
displaying it。 So that the common proverb； that Plutus； the god of
riches； is blind； was nowhere in all the world literally verified
but in Sparta。 There； indeed； he was not only blind； but like a
picture； without either life or motion。 Nor were they allowed to
take food at home first； and then attend the public tables； for
every one had an eye upon those who did not eat and drink like the
rest； and reproached them with being dainty and effeminate。
This last ordinance in particular exasperated the wealthier men。
They collected in a body against Lycurgus； and from ill words came
to throwing stones； so that at length he was forced to run out of
the market…place； and make to sanctuary to save his life； by
good…hap he outran all； excepting one Alcander； a young man
otherwise not ill accomplished； but hasty and violent； who came up
so close to him； that when he turned to see who was so near him； he
struck him upon the face with his stick； and put out one of his
eyes。 Lycurgus； so far from being daunted and discouraged by this
accident； stopped short and showed his disfigured face and eye beat
out to his countrymen； they； dismayed and ashamed at the sight；
delivered Alcander into his hands to be punished； and escorted him
home； with expressions of great concern for his ill…usage。 Lycurgus；
having thanked them for their care of his person； dismissed them
all； excepting only Alcander； and； taking him with him into his house；
neither did nor said anything severely to him； but； dismissing those
whose place it was； bade Alcander to wait upon him at table。 The young
man； who was of an ingenuous temper； without murmuring did as he was
commanded； and being thus admitted to live with Lycurgus； he had an
opportunity to observe in him； besides his gentleness and calmness
of temper； an extraordinary sobriety and an indefatigable industry；
and so； from an enemy； became one of his most zealous admirers； and
told his friends and relations that Lycurgus was not that morose and
ill…natured man they had formerly taken him for； but the one mild
and gentle character of the world。 And thus did Lycurgus； for
chastisement of his fault； make of a wild and passionate young man one
of the discreetest citizens of Sparta。
In memory of this accident； Lycurgus built a temple to Minerva；
surnamed Optiletis； optilus being the Doric of these parts for
ophthalmus； the eye。 Some authors； however； of whom Dioscorides is one
（who wrote a treatise on the commonwealth of Sparta）； say that he
was wounded； indeed； but did not lose his eye with the blow； but
that he built the temple in gratitude for the cure。 Be this as it
will； certain