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H., like the speaker, conceived of the earth as a flat surface under the solid canopy of heaven (cf. iv. 36). For marvels in nature cf. Archilochus, fr. 74; Eurip. Fr. 688; Virgil, Ecl. i. 60; Ovid, Trist. i. 8. 1 f.; and H. viii. 143. 2 n. A similar formula in treaties (Dion. Hal. vi. 95) was fraudulently misused (H. iv. 201. 2, 3).

ἰσοκρατίας: concrete = ‘republics,’ a word coined to avoid the use of ‘democracies’, which might be distasteful to the Spartans, the equivalent of the abstract term ἰσηγορίη (ch. 78) and the commoner ἰσονομίη (iii. 80. 6, 142. 3; v. 37. 2).


φυλάσσοντες. The dual monarchy was itself a precaution against tyranny. Further, to provide against a dangerous personal preeminence was a constant principle of Spartan policy; hence the treatment of Cleomenes and Pausanias, and in later days of Lysander. Not till Sparta was in her last decline did king Cleomenes III win despotic power, to be followed by baser tyrants—Lycurgus, Machanidas, and Nabis (221-192 B. C.) (Plass. Tyrannis, ii. 171 f.). On the putting down of tyranny by Sparta cf. Appendix XVI, § 10.

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