ail to obtain the
distinction are now at open war, not only with those who rejected them,
but with those who were chosen in their stead; and they keep ever a
jealous eye on one another to detect some slip of conduct contrary to
the high code of honour there held customary. And so is set on foot that
strife, in truest sense acceptable to heaven, and for the purposes of
state most politic. It is a strife in which not only is the pattern of a
brave man's conduct fully set forth, but where, too, each against other
and in separate camps, the rival parties train for victory. One day the
superiority shall be theirs; or, in the day of need, one and all to
the last man, they will be ready to aid the fatherland with all their
strength.

Necessity, moreover, is laid upon them to study a good habit of the
body, coming as they do to blows with their fists for very strife's sake
whenever they meet. Albeit, any one present has a right to separate the
combatants, and, if obedience is not shown to the peacemaker, the Pastor
of youth (4) hales the delinquent before the ephors, and the ephors
inflict heavy damages, since they will have it plainly understood that
rage must never override obedience to law.

(4) Lit. "the Paidonomos."

With regard to those who have already passed (5) the vigour of early
manhood, and on whom the highest magistracies henceforth devolve, there
is a like contrast. In Hellas generally we find that at this age the
need of further attention to physical strength is removed, although the
imposition of military service continues. But Lycurgus made it customary
for that section of his citizens to regard hunting as the highest honour
suited to their age; albeit, not to the exclusion of any public duty.
(6) And his aim was that they might be equally able to undergo the
fatigues of war with those in the prime of early manhood.

(5) Probably the {agathoergoi}, technically so called. See Herod. i.
67; Schneider, ap. Dindorf.

(6) Lit. "save only if some public duty intervened." See "Cyrop." I.
ii.

V

The above is a fairly exhaustive statement of the institutions traceable
to the legislation of Lycurgus in connection with the successive stages
(1) of a citizen's life. It remains that I should endeavour to
describe the style of living which he established for the whole body,
irrespective of age. It will be understood that, when Lycurgus first
came to deal with the question, the Spartans like the rest