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

Rural Policy; Personal Character 133
the country, and that, being moderately well off and occupied
with their private concerns, they might have neither
the desire nor the leisure to attend to pubHc affairs. At
the same time the cultivation of the land resulted in the
increase of his revenues, for he collected a tenth of the
produce. For this reason, too, he established judges to
go throughout the denies, and he himself often journeyed
into the country to inspect it and to settle disputes.
While
Peisistratus was on one of these expeditions, it is said that
he had the adventure with the man on Hymettus who
was cultivating the so-called tax-free farm. Seeing a The "taxcertain
man digging and working among the rocks with
^^^ ^^^'
a
stake, he bade his servant ask what was produced in the
place. The other replied, "Only aches and pains, and of
these aches and pains Peisistratus must have his tenth."
The man answered without knowing him; but Peisistratus,
pleased with his candor and his love of work, made him
exempt from all taxes.
In all other respects he absolutely refrained from dis- His charactcr*
turbing the masses by his government, and he always
preserved peace and maintained quiet; so that the tyranny
of Peisistratus was often spoken of proverbially as the age
of Cronos (golden age) ; for afterward when his sons had
succeeded to the throne,
the result was that the government
became much harsher. Most praiseworthy of all
his qualities was his popular and kindly character; for
in general he chose to manage all affairs in accordance
with the laws, giving himself no advantage, and once
when cited for murder before the council of the Areopagus,
Ancient
he presented himself with a view to making his defence, iv. i.'c.
'
but the accuser failed through fear to come forward.
Hence he remained in power for a long time, and whenever
he was banished, he easily recovered his position; for many