=The Tyrants.=—­At length, the poor perceived that the democratic form of government did not give them strength enough to maintain the contest.  In most of the cities they consented to receive a chief.  This chief was called Tyrant.  He governed as master without obeying any law, condemning to death, and confiscating property at will.  Mercenaries defended him against his enemies.  The following anecdote represents the policy of the tyrants:  “Periander, tyrant of Corinth, sent one day to Thrasybulus, tyrant of Miletus, to ask what conduct he ought to follow in order to govern with safety.  Thrasybulus led the envoy into the field end walked with him through the wheat, striking off with his staff all heads that were higher than the others.  He sent off the envoy without further advice.”  The messenger took him for a fool, but Periander understood:  Thrasybulus was counselling him to slay the principal citizens.

Everywhere the rich were killed by the tyrant and their goods confiscated; often the wealth was distributed among the poor.  This is why the populace always sustained the tyrant.

There were tyrants in Greece from the sixth century; some, like Pisistratus, Polycrates, and Pittacus, were respected for their wisdom.  At that time every man was called tyrant who exercised absolute power outside the limits of the constitution; it was not a title of reproach.

But when the tyrants made incessant warfare on the rich they became sanguinary and so were detested.  Their situation is depicted in the famous story of Damocles.  This Damocles said to Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, “You are the happiest of men.”  “I will show you the delight of being a tyrant,” replied Dionysius.  He had Damocles served with a sumptuous feast and ordered his servants to show the guest the same honors as to himself.  During the feast Damocles raised his eyes and perceived a sword suspended to the ceiling held only by a horse hair, and hanging directly over his head.  The comparison was a striking one—­the tyrant’s life hung only by a thread.  The rich, his enemies, watched for an opportunity to cut it, for it was regarded as praiseworthy to assassinate a tyrant.  This danger irritated him and made him suspicious and cruel.  He dared not trust anybody, believed himself secure only after the massacre of all his enemies, and condemned the citizens to death on the slightest suspicion.  Thus the name tyrant became a synonym of injustice.

=Exhaustion of Greece.=—­The civil wars between rich and poor continued for nearly three centuries (430-150 B.C.).  Many citizens were massacred, a greater number exiled.  These exiles wandered about in poverty.  Knowing no trade but that of a soldier, they entered as mercenaries into the armies of Sparta, Athens, the Great King, the Persian satraps—­in short, of anybody who would hire them.  There were 50,000 Greeks in the service of Darius against Alexander.  It was seldom that such men returned to their own country.