CHAPTER IV.

The Despots; The Democracies.

Brilliant age of the great lyric poets 77

The Sparta of Alcman's time 77

Its exceptional constitution 78

E. Curtius on the age of the despots 78

Grote's view 79

Greek hatred of the despot 80 how far universal in early days 81

Literary portraits of the Greek despot 81

How far exaggerated 82

_Reductio ad absurdum_ of the popular view 82

The real uses to politics of temporary despots 82

Questionable statement of Thucydides 83

The tyrant welds together the opposing parties 84

Cases of an umpire voluntarily appointed 84

Services of the tyrants to art 85

Examples 85

Verdict of the Greek theorists 86

Peisistratus and Solon 86

Contrast of Greek and modern democracy 87

Slave-holding democracies 88

Supported by public duties 89

Athenian leisure 89

The assembly an absolute sovran 89