But I shall say no more of the Lacedemonians. As for the Athenians,
who glory in having made their city to be common to all men, what their
behavior was Apollonius did not know, while they punished those that did
but speak one word contrary to the laws about the gods, without any mercy;
for on what other account was it that Socrates was put to death by them?
For certainly he neither betrayed their city to its enemies, nor was he
guilty of any sacrilege with regard to any of their temples; but it was
on this account, that he swore certain new oaths note
and that he affirmed either in earnest, or, as some say, only in jest,
that a certain demon used to make signs to him [what he should not do].
For these reasons he was condemned to drink poison, and kill himself. His
accuser also complained that he corrupted the young men, by inducing them
to despise the political settlement and laws of their city: and thus was
Socrates, the citizen of Athens, punished. There was also Anaxagoras, who,
although he was of Clazomente, was within a few suffrages of being condemned
to die, because he said the sun, which the Athenians thought to be a god,
was a ball of fire. They also made this public proclamation," That
they would give a talent to any one who would kill Diagoras of Melos,"
because it was reported of him that he laughed at their mysteries. Protagoras
also, who was thought to have written somewhat that was not owned for truth
by the Athenians about the gods, had been seized upon, and put to death,
if he had not fled away immediately. Nor need we at all wonder that they
thus treated such considerable men, when they did not spare even women
also; for they very lately slew a certain priestess, because she was accused
by somebody that she initiated people into the worship of strange gods,
it having been forbidden so to do by one of their laws; and a capital punishment
had been decreed to such as introduced a strange god; it being manifest,
that they who make use of such a law do not believe those of other nations
to be really gods, otherwise they had not envied themselves the advantage
of more gods than they already had. And this was the happy administration
of the affairs of the Athenians! Now as to the Scythians, they take a pleasure
in killing men, and differ but little from brute beasts; yet do they think
it reasonable to have their institutions observed. They also slew Anacharsis,
a person greatly admired for his wisdom among the Greeks, when he returned
to them, because he appeared to come fraught with Grecian customs. One
may also find many to have been punished among the Persians, on the very
same account. And to be sure Apollonius was greatly pleased with the laws
of the Persians, and was an admirer of them, because the Greeks enjoyed
the advantage of their courage, and had the very same opinion about the
gods which they had. This last was exemplified in the temples which they
burnt, and their courage in coming, and almost entirely enslaving the Grecians.
However, Apollonius has imitated all the Persian institutions, and that
by his offering violence to other men's wives, and gelding his own sons.
Now, with us, it is a capital crime, if any one does thus abuse even a
brute beast; and as for us, neither hath the fear of our governors, nor
a desire of following what other nations have in so great esteem, been
able to withdraw us from our own laws; nor have we exerted our courage
in raising up wars to increase our wealth, but only for the observation
of our laws; and when we with patience bear other losses, yet when any
persons would compel us to break our laws, then it is that we choose to
go to war, though it be beyond our ability to pursue it, and bear the greatest
calamities to the last with much fortitude. And, indeed, what reason can
there be why we should desire to imitate the laws of other nations, while
we see they are not observed by their own legislators note
And why do not the Lacedemonians think of abolishing that form of their
government which suffers them not to associate with any others, as well
as their contempt of matrimony? And why do not the Eleans and Thebans abolish
that unnatural and impudent lust, which makes them lie with males? For
they will not show a sufficient sign of their repentance of what they of
old thought to be very excellent, and very advantageous in their practices,
unless they entirely avoid all such actions for the time to come: nay,
such things are inserted into the body of their laws, and had once such
a power among the Greeks, that they ascribed these sodomitical practices
to the gods themselves, as a part of their good character; and indeed it
was according to the same manner that the gods married their own sisters.
This the Greeks contrived as an apology for their own absurd and unnatural
pleasures.
I omit to speak concerning punishments, and how many ways of escaping
them the greatest part of the legislators have afforded malefactors, by
ordaining that, for adulteries, fines in money should be allowed, and for
corrupting note
[virgins] they need only marry them as also what excuses they may have
in denying the facts, if any one attempts to inquire into them; for amongst
most other nations it is a studied art how men may transgress their laws;
but no such thing is permitted amongst us; for though we be deprived of
our wealth, of our cities, or of the other advantages we have, our law
continues immortal; nor can any Jew go so far from his own country, nor
be so aftrighted at the severest lord, as not to be more aftrighted at
the law than at him. If, therefore, this be the disposition we are under,
with regard to the excellency of our laws, let our enemies make us this
concession, that our laws are most excellent; and if still they imagine,
that though we so firmly adhere to them, yet are they bad laws notwithstanding,
what penalties then do they deserve to undergo who do not observe their
own laws, which they esteem so far superior to them? Whereas, therefore,
length of time is esteemed to be the truest touchstone in all cases, I
would make that a testimonial of the excellency of our laws, and of that
belief thereby delivered to us concerning God. For as there hath been a
very long time for this comparison, if any one will but compare its duration
with the duration of the laws made by other legislators, he will find our
legislator to have been the ancientest of them all.
