A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Peisistratus 131
saying that he was wiser than some and braver than
Greece, 70 f.;
others—wiser than those who failed to see that Peisis- World, 135 f.
tratus was aiming at the tyranny, and braver than those
who knew it but kept silent. As he accomplished nothing
with words, he brought out his armor and placed it before
his door, saying he had aided his country to the best of his
ability (for he was at this time a very old man) and asking
the rest now to perform this service. But Solon accomplished
nothing by his exhortations at that crisis. Peisistratus,
however, assuming the government, managed
affairs constitutionally rather than despotically. Before
his supremacy was firmly rooted, the party of Megacles,
His first
joining in friendship with that of Lycurgus, expelled him turn,
in the sixth year after his first establishment, in the archonship
of Hegesias. But in the twelfth year afterward There is great
Megacles, harassed by sedition, again made overtures jnThtfdates^
of peace to Peisistratus on condition that the latter should ^^ '^
events. ^^f^^
take the daughter of the former in marriage. Megacles
brought him back in an exceedingly old-fashioned and
simple way. Spreading a report that Athena was restor- The demes
ing Peisistratus, he found a tall, handsome woman— of hacTno
'^^
the Paeanian deme as Herodotus whereas others
official
says,
' ence till -'
existafter
describe her as a Thracian flower-girl, named Phye, of Cieisthenes
/-> 1, 1 1
• 1 .... - , , , (ch. 21), but
Collytus—and dressmg her up m imitation 01 the goddess, some existed
he brought her in along with Peisistratus, the latter seated ^^ unorgarT-
'^ed villages.
in the chariot with the woman at his side, while the people
ot
the city on their knees received them with adoration.
Thus was brought about the first restoration. He went His second
again into exile about the seventh year after his return;
for he did not maintain himself long, but because he was
return,
unwilling to treat the daughter of Megacles as his wife, Arist. ib. 15.
and consequently feared a combination of the two factions,
he secretly withdrew from the country. First he