The Athenian Constitution   

Such then, were Solon's reasons for his departure from the
country. After his retirement the city was still torn by divisions.
For four years, indeed, they lived in peace; but in the fifth year
after Solon's government they were unable to elect an Archon on
account of their dissensions, and again four years later they
elected no Archon for the same reason. Subsequently, after a similar
period had elapsed, Damasias was elected Archon; and he governed for
two years and two months, until he was forcibly expelled from his
office. After this, it was agreed, as a compromise, to elect ten
Archons, five from the Eupatridae, three from the Agroeci, and two
from the Demiurgi, and they ruled for the year following Damasias.
It is clear from this that the Archon was at the time the magistrate
who possessed the greatest power, since it is always in
connexion with
this office that conflicts are seen to arise. But altogether
they were
in a continual state of internal disorder. Some found the cause and
justification of their discontent in the abolition of debts, because
thereby they had been reduced to poverty; others were dissatisfied
with the political constitution, because it had undergone a
revolutionary change; while with others the motive was found in
personal rivalries among themselves. The parties at this time were
three in number. First there was the party of the Shore, led by
Megacles the son of Alcmeon, which was considered to aim at
a moderate
form of government; then there were the men of the Plain, who
desired an oligarchy and were led by Lycurgus; and thirdly there
were the men of the Highlands, at the head of whom was Pisistratus,
who was looked on as an extreme democrat. This latter party was
reinforced by those who had been deprived of the debts due to them,
from motives of poverty, and by those who were not of pure descent,
from motives of personal apprehension. A proof of this is seen in
the fact that after the tyranny was overthrown a revision was made
of the citizen-roll, on the ground that many persons were
partaking in
the franchise without having a right to it. The names given to the
respective parties were derived from the districts in which they
held their lands.

Part 14

Pisistratus had the reputation of being an extreme democrat, and
he also had distinguished himself greatly in the war with Megara.
Taking advantage of this, he wounded himself, and by
representing that
his injuries had been inflicted on him by his political rivals, he
persuaded the people, through a motion proposed by Aristion, to
grant him a bodyguard. After he had got these 'club-bearers', as
they were called, he made an attack with them on the people
and seized
the Acropolis. This happened in the archonship of Comeas, thirty-one
years after the legislation of Solon. It is related that, when
Pisistratus asked for his bodyguard, Solon opposed the request, and
declared that in so doing he proved himself wiser than half
the people
and braver than the rest,-wiser than those who did not see that
Pisistratus designed to make himself tyrant, and braver than
those who
saw it and kept silence. But when all his words availed nothing he
carried forth his armour and set it up in front of his house, saying
that he had helped his country so far as lay in his power (he was
already a very old man), and that he called on all others to do the
same. Solon's exhortations, however, proved fruitless, and
Pisistratus