PARTISAN REVIEW
And it is this name of Athens which, for the races of the future-and
this I promise to the gods who show me favor-will be a name of won–
ders. I dedicate my city to Pallas. Now go, all of you, and take my
words as meant."
Then, suiting my example to my words, I stripped myself of all royal
authority, stepped back into the ranks, and was not afraid to show my–
self to the public without escort, like a simple citizen; but I gave my
attention unceasingly to public affairs, maintaining peace and watching
over the good order of the state.
Pirithous, after hearing me address the men of wealth, said to me
that he thought my speech sublime, but ridiculous. Because, he argued:
"Equality is not natural among men; I would go farther and say that it
is not desirable.
It
is a good thing that the superior men should rise
above the vulgar mass to the full height of their eminence. Without emu–
lation, rivalry and jealousy, the mob will be for ever a formless, stagnant,
wallowing mass. There must be some leaven to make it rise; take care
that it doesn't rise against yourself. Whether you like it or not, and al–
though you may succeed in your wish, and achieve an initial levelling
by which each man starts on the same plane and with an equal chance,
yet differences of talent will soon bring about differences of station:
in
other words, a downtrodden people and an aristocracy."
"Good Gods!" That set me off again. "I certainly expect that, and
I hope it won't be long in coming. But in the first place I don't see why
the people should be downtrodden if the new aristocracy, to which I
shall give all the support in my power, is, as I would have it, an aristo–
cracy not of wealth, but of intellect."
And then, in order to increase the power and importance of Athens,
I made it known that there would
be
an impartial welcome for every–
one, no matter whence he came, who might choose to come and settle
there. And criers were sent throughout the neighboring countries to carry
this message: "Peoples all, make haste to Athens!"
The news spread far and wide. And was it not through this that
Oedipus, the fallen monarch, saddest and noblest of wind-wrack, made
his way from Thebes to Attica, there to seek help and protection, there
to die? Because of which I was able later to secure for Athens the blessing
which the gods had conferred on his ashes. Of this, I shall have more
to say.
I promised to all newcomers indifferently the same rights as were
enjoyed by those who were natives of Athens, or who had settled there
earlier; any necessary discrimination could await the proofs of experi–
ence. For good tools reveal their quality only after use.
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