The Comparison of Poplicola with Solon   

but powerful remedy actually put an end to the civil violence already
existing, Solon's own private worth and reputation overbalancing all
the ordinary ill-repute and discredit of the change. The beginning
of his government was more glorious, for he was entirely original,
and followed no man's example, and, without the aid of any ally, achieved
his most important measures by his own conduct; yet the close of Poplicola's
life was more happy and desirable, for Solon saw the dissolution of
his own commonwealth, Poplicola maintained the state in good order
to the civil wars. Solon, leaving his laws, as soon as he had made
them, engraved in wood, but destitute of a defender, departed from
Athens; whilst Poplicola, remaining both in and out of office, laboured
to establish the government. Solon, though he actually knew of Pisistratus's
ambition, yet was not able to suppress it, but had to yield to usurpation
in its infancy; whereas Poplicola utterly subverted and dissolved
a potent monarchy, strongly settled by long continuance; uniting thus
to 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 Solon
the conduct of the war against the Megarians, as was before intimated;
but Poplicola was victorious in the most important conflicts, both
as a private soldier and commander. In domestic politics, also, Solon,
in play, as it were, and by counterfeiting madness induced the enterprise
against Salamis; whereas Poplicola, in the very beginning, exposed
himself to the greatest risk, took arms against Tarquin, detected
the conspiracy, and, being principally concerned both in preventing
the escape of and afterwards punishing the traitors, not only expelled
the 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 peaceable
language, persuasion, and concession were requisite, he was yet more
to be commended; and succeeded in gaining happily to reconciliation
and 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 the
Romans were at that time possessed of; but judgment is to be made
of actions according to the times in which they were performed. The
conduct of a wise politician is ever suited to the present posture
of affairs; often by foregoing a part he saves the whole, and by yielding
in a small matter secures a greater; and so Poplicola, by restoring
what the Romans had lately usurped, saved their undoubted patrimony,
and procured, moreover, the stores of the enemy for those who were
only too thankful to secure their city. Permitting the decision of
the controversy to his adversary, he not only got the victory, but
likewise what he himself would willingly have given to purchase the
victory, Porsenna putting an end to the war, and leaving them all
the provision of his camp, from the sense of the virtue and gallant
disposition of the Romans which their consul had impressed upon him.
THE END