CUSTOMS OF LACEDEMONIA, According to Plutarque.

BEfore the producing the Apophthegmes of the Lacedemonians, Plutarque hath made a little digression concerning their Customes, to shew the near relation and Page  108 agreement there is between their sayings & their manner of life.* By his example I have drawn an Extract out of a Treatise composed by * Xenophon to satisfie the Readers curiosity,* be∣cause the thing is well done, and consisting of matters so remote from our times, and Me∣thods, I thought it well worthy our know∣ledge, were it only to discover the ground and principles upon which those great Men founded their Actions.

The Lacedemonians, did eat all together in great Inns and the oldest told the last comers, nothing is to be exposed abroad that we say here,* To preserve the Freedom of their Tables, and the Liberty of Feasting, according to the Pro∣verb, Odi memorem convivam.

They were very temperate in their eating and drinking; and the greatest dainty that was brought to their Table was a certain pot∣tage Tannè, which was the ordinary food of their aged people. Denys the Tyrant having expressly sent for a Cook from Lacedemonia to make some for him, & not finding it agreeable to to his palate; 'Tis, said the Cook, to be eaten on the brink of the River Eurotas, after a Laconick Exercise: because Labour whets the Appetite, and a sharp stomack makes any thing relish well. Witness him that drank Puddle Wa∣ter in a great Thirst, saying, he never drank any so good before.

They retired every night to their homes without any lights, to accustom themselves to be fearless, Or rather to leave every one the liberty of going whither be pleased without being observed, Page  109 as they do at Venice; for it is certain that Licur∣gus gave great allowance to the pleasures of love, which is the common Entertainment of the Idle: Now, all his Subjects did nothing, like our Nobility, •ut passed their time like them, in Wars, Love and Hunting.

After their Children could write and read, they taught them nothing else, but to obey the Magistrates, to inure themselves to hard∣ships, and resolve to be Victors in fight, or die on the spot. The Masters of other Sciences were not so much as admitted in Lacedemonia.

The Lacedemonians wore no Doublets, had but one Garment in a year, without any change according to the season: used little Bathing or Stows, Oyled themselves but rare∣ly, and were not very curious in their habits, or manners, To banish Luxury and soft Delicacy, as being contrary to war like People.

Their Youth lay in Troops upon Mats made of Reeds of the Flaggy tops which grew about the sides of their Rivers, and in Winter they mixt somewhat that was warmer. The heads of those Reeds ends like a feather, and is foft e∣nough, besides it bears a wooly Substance, with which good mats are made. It might be perhaps of this warmer stuff that they used in winter to keep out the cold.

The courtship of Boyes was not allowed as in Greece, but they loved Youth for their Vertues.

When the aged ones met a young man they asked him whither he went, and what he was doing? and if he answered not, or re∣plied Page  110 impertinently, he was chastized. The Punishment was to go round about an Altar singing reproaches of himself.

It was a shame not to endure reprehen∣sion, and those that did not admonish young men of their faults, were punished • Accomplices.

An old man was respected as ones ow• Father; which kept them in Union in the City, because they took no less care for what was anothers, then for their own: and if any one had complained that another had corrected him, the Father would have cor∣rected him afresh.

As they gave but little to their Children to eat, they were suffered to pilfer now and then: but if they were taken in the fast they were scourged and obliged to fast, Not so much for having stollen, as for not doing it dex∣terously.

They feed ill in their Inns, to accustom themselves to fare hard in time of War, which was their chief Exercise; besides they believ∣ed that a spare diet left the Spirits in more freedom, and made the Body more nimble and active in their Military imploy∣ments: But less strong and vigorus, for the A∣thletes eat much.

Though they lived thus soberly yet they lo∣ved musick to entertain their mirth; but their Musick was but mean, and their Songs contain∣ed nothing but the praises due to noble actions, and the blame belonging to ill ones, As a spur to Vertue and a curb to Vice.

Page  111 It is held that Licurgus mingled Musick ex∣•ressly with Arms to moderate the fury. The Kings themselves sacrificed to the Muses before • battle that their Actions might be celebrated, •r to act so as to become worthy of it.

They would not suffer any change of their Ancient Musick, and condemned the most cele∣brated Musician of his age, to pay a fine though •e were otherwise a great adorer of antiquity for having invented a new string which multi∣plied their notes and accords, and cut off two which another had added to the Lyre.

Their Songs were composed of divers cou∣plets, in which they answered one another by turns. In some the old ones told'em how brave they had been, the middle-ag'd in another would tell how brave they were; and the youths would promise they hoped to exceed them hereaf∣ter. The steps were military, as well as the time, and their harmony being mingled with somewhat of Enthusiasme transported them to such a degree as to despise death it self.

They buried their dead within the City near their Temples, without any ceremony or su∣perstition, or other Funeral state, but only a red cloth which wrapped them all over and some Olive leaves; this Burying was common to all, mourning and effeminate lamentation as well as Epitaphs were banished, which was never allowed to any but such as died in the Wars.

They would not permit their youth to travel, that they might not be corrupted with forreign customs, nor were strangers suffered to come Page  112 and dwell in Lacedemonia.

Those young men that had not been bred ac∣cording to the Spartan way, could not enjoy any of their priviledges, whereas a stranger that had been so, enjoyed them all. 'Tis said they had their portions likewise when they first shared their Lands, with this Proviso only, that they might not sell them.

At their huntings they were allowed to make use of their Neighbours Dogs, Horses, and all other Equipage, when they did not use it them∣selves, restoring every thing to them again and not spoiling them.

In a time of War they were cloathed in red, as being a Martial colour, and on which the blood is not so conspicuous when woun∣ded.

When they had overcome by a slight, they sa∣crificed an Ox, and when it was by force, a Cock; to prefer Prudence before Valour as a higher Vertue.

They asked nothing of their Gods but pati∣ence in their labour,* and to be happy when they did well. This explication is proved by that Article; where it is said, they contended in suffer∣ings; which does not at all relate to injuries; since it follows that a Lacedemonian was chastized for enduring an affront without resentment.

All their Gods, Venus not excepted, were painted in armour to honor Valour, and make it known they were not in a condition to receive injuries.

They ordinarily said, one must pray to the Gods with an Arm out-stretched, as much as Page  123 to say not with folded Arms but in putting the helping hand, The Greek says, at the beginning of an Enterprize, otherwise not.

They were wont to shew their Slaves drunk to their Children, to make them abhor Drunkenness.

When they were to go into any House, they did not knock at the door; but called aloud in the street, that they should come & open it.

In their Baths they used Rubbers made of •eeds, instead of Wyre ones.

They neither acted Tragedies nor Comedies, that no offence might be committed against the Laws, not even in Plays. Or that they might not be accustomed to hear their Passions and crimes de∣fended.

They expelled a Poet, for having said, that when a man had lost his Weapons, he might recover others; but life once lost, was never to be regained. As if he had thereby instructed them to cast away their Arms to fly with more •ase.

The Boys and Girles had one common Sacri∣fice.

The Ephores condemned a Lacedemonian to pay a Fine, for having endured many affronts without ressentment.

They caused a Soldier to be put to death for having painted his Shield;* and publick∣ly reproved a young man for learning the way to a place where they lived Luxurious∣ly.

They packed away an Orator, who vaunted Page  124 that he could discourse a whole day upon any Subject. For discourse ought to be proportioned • the Subject, and not inlarged ad infinitum.

Their Children were whipped once a year upon the Altar of Diana, to teach them to en∣dure pain, and they contended who should suffer most, as if it were a Vertue. However it is dangerous to make sufferings become despisable: for we have nothing to bridle the wicked withal but tha• and Children hardned by too much whipping gro• incorrigible.

It was a shame to exercise any Trade, eve• Husbandry it self, to which purpose they made use of their Slaves, as their Farmers, with∣out taxing them too much or too little, for fear of making them lazy or desperate.

The Lacedemonians were thus always at lea∣sure which is a pleasant thing, and they were forbidden to meddle with Navigation, and even to fight at Sea, but they afterwards broke that Custom and renew'd it again, finding their manners were thereby corrupted.

As the use of Riches was utterly banished, there was no fear they should labour in vain to acquire any, and the first that attempted it were condemned to death: For an Oracle had been pronounced to two Kings: That Riches would prove the ruine of Sparta. This Cu∣stom was abolished by little and little, and Ly∣sander after the taking of Athens, filled the Ci∣ty with riches, not only without danger, but with much Honor.

Whilst Sparta observed these Laws, they were the chiefest of Greece the space of five Page  125 hundred years; but coming to relax; and co∣vetousness insinuating it self, their Allies for∣sook them, finding their strength decay. Ne∣vertheless after the Battle of Cheronea, when all Greece had elected Philip of Macedon for Ge∣neral, and afterwards Alexander, after the de∣struction of Thebes, these would not acknow∣ledge their Power, nor fight with them, nor for them, nor meet in their Assemblies, and •held out firmly even against their Successors, though feeble, and without any Walls. But at last having forsaken all their Customs,* they were subjected to their own Tyrants, and put their necks under the Roman yoke with the rest of the World.

A part of these Customes being included in the Apophthegms of Licurgus, we will marshal them together, because they will serve to give light to many things; and it will not be amiss, to bring him in the Front, as the Foun∣der.

Licurgus willing to wean his Citizens from their debauchery, to make them Vertuous, and to let them see how Education and Exercise changed and out-stripped Nature, brought two dogs forth in Publick, one bred to hunting the other in the Kitchen; and having caused a Hare to be let loose, and meat to be laid down, the first coursed the Hare, the other ran to the meat, though they were both fit for the chase, but the last was utterly spoiled for want of exercise. By this means, he shewed them, it was not enough they were descended from Hercules, as the Lacedemonians were, unless, Page  126 like him, they exercised themselves in vertu∣ous ways.

After he had divided the whole coun∣try in nine thousand equal portions, finding at Harvest time that all their heaps were equal in the Fields, he said, that all Laconia seemed the partnership of so many Brothers.

He would have done the same with their Goods, after he had abolished all manner of Debts; but the rich opposing him, he made their Riches become useless by prohibiting en∣tirely the use of Gold and Silver in any thing, and suffering only Iron money to pass Cur∣rant. He likewise retrenched other superflu•∣ties, so that in Sparta was to be found, neither Merchant, nor Cook, nor Lawyer, nor Mountebank, nor Astrologer, and injustice was banished by his having cut up the root of it which is covetousness. And to take away all excess indyet, as he had done in Houshold Goods, he ordained they should eat in common, in publick places, where every one was served alike•, without having either more, or any greater• dainties then his fellows.

Those were blamed that did not come thi∣ther, as voluptuous People; insomuch that King Agis desiring to sup at home with his wise after his return from the gaining of a Victory they would not send him his proportion, and the next day condemned him to pay a Fine. Notwithstanding the wealthier sort, angry at this Method, which hindred them of the en∣joyment Page  127 of their Riches, would have stoned him to death, had he not fled into a Temple, with the loss of one eye. He that had struck out his eye, being afterwards delivered into his hands to suffer Justice, instead of punishing he pardoned him, made him eat at his Table and of his Enemy made him his greatest Friend, and his adorer.

Whilst they were at meals, some were ap∣pointed to be always in Arms as a Guard, to psevent any disorders, or unlook'd for Acci∣dents; but their number was never so great as to be able to master the rest.

To obviate all manner of cheats and little quirks, and leave the Judges the liberty of judging every thing according to it's circum∣stances without being tied to the rigor of the Law, he would have no written Laws.

He forbad they should make use of any tools about their buildings, besides the Axe, and Saw, that they might be ashamed of providing rich furniture for such ill Houses, and by see∣ing a Door without any Art of Joyners work, they should expect to find nothing within that were magnificent.

He enjoyned them likewise, not to make War upon the same People too often, for fear of making them too Warlike. The remainder is elsewhere.

He caused Maidens to addict themselves to Exercises of the body, and to wre∣stle naked, to become the more robust, and bring forth the more vigorous Children, besides that it would make them the less sensi∣ble Page  128 of the pains of Child-bearing. By this means he endeavoured to cure them of their Feminine tenderness, and be only subject to the like passions with Men, and fight in a time of danger and necessity, in defence of their Country. And indeed, the Wife of Leonidas reproached those that told her, There were none but the Macedonians that commanded over Men; That there were none but them that be∣got Men. But they were not suffered to be seen by every one at those Exercises, no more then the young Boys. That Priviledge being allowed only to such as were married; and to incite People the more to marriage, those that were not so, were deprived of the Honor that was given to old age. From thence it was that Dercillidas taking it ill, that a young man did not rise up from his Seat when he approached, the young man replied, That Dercillidas had begot no Children that might shew him the like respect another time.*

They gave no Portion with their Daughters in Marriage, to prevent making love to them for any thing but their merits, and that the meaner sort might be sought after as well as the rich. All use of Face-painting and other Orna∣ments were strictly prohibited, that they might have no other advantage but their Ver∣tue.

He prescribed a time for marriage, as well for Maidens, as Batchelors, that so coming to∣gether in the flower of their Age, they might have the healthier and lustier Chil∣dren.

Page  129 He would not suffer those who were newly married to meet together, but as it were, by stealth, lest they should be glutted and en∣feebled by a continual enjoyment.

He forbad to put Oyl into perfumes, that so precious a thing might not be idly wasted; and banished all Arts generally, which serve only for shew, and even the Dyers Trade was not admitted, which he called a Flattery of the Sences, or Deception of Sight.

Chastity was so great in those days, and Women so little acquainted with the liberty that came in since, that a stranger admiring there was no Law established against Adulte∣ry, was told there was no such thing commit∣ted in that place, whence they had expelled all luxury, and debauchery. Whatever Plutarque sayes, Licurgus his Customs were too licentious in that matter: For they lost all modesty by their wrestling naked before Men, being themselves Virgins, and the liberty he allowed in some cases that a man might kiss his Neighbours Wife, did in some manner authorize their debauches. And therefore Aristotle condemns all the Chapter con∣cerning Women: besides that he forbad them the carrying any Lights in the Night time, or to lye every one with his own: which gave the Gallants great opportunity for amorous adven∣tures.

Of all the Exercises of the body, he permit∣ted those only wherein the hand is extended: that is to say, he condemned fighting with the closed Fist, or any such like, which might hurt or enfeeble those, whom he designed on∣ly Page  130 to strengthen by continual Exercise.

He ordained they should make Offerings to the Gods of things of small Value, that they might never want wherewith to Sacri∣fice.

In time of War he would make them often remove their Camp, whether for healths sake or to put the Enemy to the greater trouble, and forbid them to make any Siege, because the bravest man might be slain by a Coward, by a Woman, or a Child.

The Thebans consulting with him concer∣ning their Funeral mourning once a year for Leucothee: If she be a Goddess 'tis ridiculous to mourn for her; and if a Woman, to adore her, said he.

To one that praised Democracy, settle it in your own Family, said he,

He said, the means to prevent any ones ma∣king of War upon them, was to be poor; there being nothing to be gained of such, and to share every one alike, there being then no cause of division, but every one would have the same interest for the presevation of the Com∣monwealth.

He told some that admired the City of Spar∣ta was not walled, and fortified, that it was so by the Valous of it's Inhabitants.

He gave order to spare the Enemy in fight, as soon as they left off defending themselves, that they might not force them to make head again through dispair; besides that it is not generous to kill those that make no defence: Neither would he suffer them Page  131 strip the dead, lest they should be over∣loaden with plunder, and give the Enemy op∣portunity to rally.

He said, that reward and punishments, were the two poles upon which all Government tur∣ned.

He ordained them to wear long Hair, because it made the handsome more comely, and the unhadsome more dreadful.