Thespis, at this time, beginning to
act tragedies, and the thing, because it was new, taking very much
with the multitude, though it was not yet made a matter of
competition, Solon, being by nature fond of hearing and learning
something new, and now, in his old age, living idly, and enjoying
himself, indeed, with music and with wine, went to see Thespis
himself, as the ancient custom was, act; and after the play was
done, he addressed him, and asked him if he was not ashamed to
tell so many lies before such a number of people; and Thespis
replying that it was no harm to say or do so in play, Solon
vehemently struck his staff against the ground: "Ay," said he, "if
we honor and commend such play as this, we shall find it some day
in our business."
Now when Pisistratus, having wounded himself, was brought into the
market-place in a chariot, and stirred up the people, as if he had
been thus treated by his opponents because of his political
conduct, and a great many were enraged and cried out, Solon,
coming close to him, said, "This, O son of Hippocrates, is a bad
copy of Homer's Ulysses; you do, to trick your countrymen, what he
did to deceive his enemies." After this, the people were eager to
protect Pisistratus, and met in an assembly, where one Ariston
made a motion that they should allow Pisistratus fifty clubmen for
a guard to his person.
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