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[1347b]
[1]
while the State took the addition and filled its
treasury. The people of Heraclea, being about to dispatch a fleet of forty ships against
the lords of Bosporus, were at a loss
for the necessary funds. They therefore bought up all the merchants' stock of
corn and oil and wine and other marketable commodities, agreeing to pay at a
future date. The merchants were well satisfied that they had disposed of their
cargoes without breaking bulk; and the people, advancing two months' pay to
their armament, sent along with it a fleet of merchant-vessels laden with the
commodities, every ship being in charge of a public official. When the
expedition reached its goal, the men purchased from these officials all they
needed. In this way, the money was collected before the leaders again paid their
men; so that the same payment sufficed until the expedition returned
home. When the Samians entreated the Lacedaemonians for money
to enable them to return to their country, the Lacedaemonians passed a
resolution that they and their servants and their beasts of burden should go
without food for one day; and that the expense each one thus saved should be
given to the Samians.
[20]
The people
of Chalcedon had a large number
of mercenary troops in their city, to whom they could not pay the wages they
owed. Accordingly they made proclamation that anyone, either citizen or alien,
who had right of reprisal against any city or individual, and wished to exercise
it, should have his name entered on a list. A large number of names was
enrolled, and the people thus obtained a specious pretext for exercising
reprisal upon ships that were passing on their way to the Pontus. They accordingly arrested the ships
and fixed a period within which they would consider any claims that might be
made in respect of them. Having now a large fund in hand, they paid off the
mercenaries, and set up a tribunal to decide the claims; and those whose goods
had been unjustly seized were compensated out of the revenues of the
state. At Cyzicus,
civil strife broke out between the democratic and oligarchic parties. The former
proved victorious, and the rich citizens were placed under arrest. But as the
city owed money to its troops, a resolution was passed that the lives of those
under arrest should be spared, and that they should be allowed to depart into
exile on paying a sum of money to the state. At Chios there was a law that all debts should be
entered on a public register. Being in need of funds,
Aristotle. Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 18, translated by G.C. Armstrong. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1935.
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