There is something singular in the present parallel which has notoccurred in any other of the lives； that the one should be the imitatorof the other, and the other his best evidence. Upon the survey ofSolon's sentence to Croesus in favour of Tellus's happiness, it seemsmore applicable to Poplicola； for Tellus, whose virtuous life anddying well had gained him the name of the happiest man, yet was nevercelebrated in Solon's poems for a good man, nor have his childrenor any magistracy of his deserved a memorial； but Poplicola's lifewas the most eminent amongst the Romans, as well for the greatnessof his virtue as his power, and also since his death many amongstthe distinguished families, even in our days, the Poplicolae, Messalae,and Valerii, after a lapse of six hundred years, acknowledge him asthe fountain of their honour. Besides, Tellus, though keeping hispost and fighting like a valiant soldier, was yet slain by his enemies；but Poplicola, the better fortune, slew his, and saw his country victoriousunder his command. And his honours and triumphs brought him, whichwas Solon's ambition, to a happy end； the ejaculation which, in hisverses against Mimnermus about the continuance of man's life, he himselfmade-

    "Mourned let me die； and may I, when life ends, Occasion sighs and sorrows to my friends," is evidence to Poplicola'shappiness； his death did not only draw tears from his friends andacquaintance, but was the object of universal regret and sorrow throughthe whole city, the women deplored his loss as that of a son, brother,or common father. "Wealth I would have," said Solon, "but wealth bywrong procure would not," because punishment would follow. But Poplicola'sriches were not only justly his, but he spent them nobly in doinggood to the distressed. So that if Solon was reputed the wisest man,we must allow Poplicola to be the happiest； for what Solon wishedfor as the greatest and most perfect good, this Poplicola had, andused and enjoyed to his death.

    And as Solon may thus be said to have contributed to Poplicola's glory,so did also Poplicola to his, by his choice of him as his model inthe formation of republican institutions； in reducing, for example,the excessive powers and assumption of the consulship. Several ofhis laws, indeed, he actually transferred to Rome, as his empoweringthe people to elect their officers, and allowing offenders the libertyof appealing to the people, as Solon did to the jurors. He did not,indeed, create a new senate, as Solon did, but augmented the old toalmost double its number. The appointment of treasurers again, thequaestors, has a like origin； with the intent that the chief magistrateshould not, if of good character, be withdrawn from greater matters；or, if bad, have the greater temptation to injustice, by holding boththe government and treasury in his hands. The aversion to tyrannywas stronger in Poplicola； any one who attempted usurpation could,by Solon's law, only be punished upon conviction； but Poplicola madeit death before a trial. And though Solon justly gloried, that, whenarbitrary power was absolutely offered to him by circumstances, andwhen his countrymen would have willingly seen him accept it, he yetdeclined it； still Poplicola merited no less, who, receiving a despoticcommand, converted it to a popular office, and did not employ thewhole legal power which he held. We must allow, indeed, that Solonwas before Poplicola in observing that-

    "A people always minds its rulers best When it is neither humoured nor oppressed."

    The remission of debts was peculiar to Solon； it was his great meansfor confirming the citizens' liberty； for a mere law to give all menequal rights is but useless, if the poor must sacrifice those rightsto their debts, and, in the very seats and sanctuaries of equality,the courts of justice, the offices of state, and the public discussions,be more than anywhere at the beck and bidding of the rich. A yet moreextraordinary success was, that, although usually civil violence iscaused by any remission of debts, upon this one occasion this dangerousbut powerful remedy actually put an end to the civil violence alreadyexisting, Solon's own private worth and reputation overbalancing allthe ordinary ill-repute and discredit of the change. The beginningof his government was more glorious, for he was entirely original,and followed no man's example, and, without the aid of any ally, achievedhis most important measures by his own conduct； yet the close of Poplicola'slife was more happy and desirable, for Solon saw the dissolution ofhis own commonwealth, Poplicola maintained the state in good orderto the civil wars. Solon, leaving his laws, as soon as he had madethem, engraved in wood, but destitute of a defender, departed fromAthens； whilst Poplicola, remaining both in and out of office, labouredto establish the government. Solon, though he actually knew of Pisistratus'sambition, yet was not able to suppress it, but had to yield to usurpationin its infancy； whereas Poplicola utterly subverted and dissolveda potent monarchy, strongly settled by long continuance； uniting thusto virtues equal to those, and purposes identical with those of Solon,the good fortune and the power that alone could make them effective.

    In military exploits, Daimachus of Plataea will not even allow Solonthe conduct of the war against the Megarians, as was before intimated；but Poplicola was victorious in the most important conflicts, bothas a private soldier and commander. In domestic politics, also, Solon,in play, as it were, and by counterfeiting madness induced the enterpriseagainst Salamis； whereas Poplicola, in the very beginning, exposedhimself to the greatest risk, took arms against Tarquin, detectedthe conspiracy, and, being principally concerned both in preventingthe escape of and afterwards punishing the traitors, not only expelledthe tyrants from the city, but extirpated their very hopes. And as,in cases calling for contest and resistance and manful opposition,he behaved with courage and resolution, so, in instances where peaceablelanguage, persuasion, and concession were requisite, he was yet moreto be commended； and succeeded in gaining happily to reconciliationand friendship, Porsenna, a terrible and invincible enemy. Some may,perhaps, object that Solon recovered Salamis, which they had lost,for the Athenians； whereas Poplicola receded from part of what theRomans were at that time possessed of； but judgment is to be madeof actions according to the times in which they were performed. Theconduct of a wise politician is ever suited to the present postureof affairs； often by foregoing a part he saves the whole, and by yieldingin a small matter secures a greater； and so Poplicola, by restoringwhat the Romans had lately usurped, saved their undoubted patrimony,and procured, moreover, the stores of the enemy for those who wereonly too thankful to secure their city. Permitting the decision ofthe controversy to his adversary, he not only got the victory, butlikewise what he himself would willingly have given to purchase thevictory, Porsenna putting an end to the war, and leaving them allthe provision of his camp, from the sense of the virtue and gallantdisposition of the Romans which their consul had impressed upon him.

    THE END