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money to buy flesh or fish with。 Besides this； when any of them made
sacrifice to the gods； they always sent a dole to the common hall；
and； likewise； when any of them had been a hunting； he sent thither
a part of the venison he had killed； for these two occasions were
the only excuses allowed for supping at home。 The custom of eating
together was observed strictly for a great while afterwards；
insomuch that King Agis himself； after having vanquished the
Athenians； sending for his commons at his return home； because he
desired to eat privately with his queen； was refused them by the
polemarchs； which refusal when he resented so much as to omit next day
the sacrifice due for a war happily ended； they made him pay a fine。
They used to send their children to these tables as to schools of
temperance； here they were instructed in state affairs by listening to
experienced statesmen； here they learned to converse with
pleasantry； to make jests without scurrility and take them without ill
humour。 In this point of good breeding； the Lacedaemonians excelled
particularly； but if any man were uneasy under it； upon the least hint
given； there was no more to be said to him。 It was customary also
for the eldest man in the company to say to each of them； as they came
in； 〃Through this〃 （pointing to the door）； 〃no words go out。〃 When any
one had a desire to be admitted into any of these little societies； he
was to go through the following probation： each man in the company
took a little ball of soft bread； which they were to throw into a deep
basin； which a waiter carried round upon his head； those that liked
the person to be chosen dropped their ball into the basin without
altering its figure； and those who disliked him pressed it betwixt
their fingers； and made it flat； and this signified as much as a
negative voice。 And if there were but one of these flattened pieces in
the basin； the suitor was rejected； so desirous were they that all the
members of the company should be agreeable to each other。 The basin
was called caddichus； and the rejected candidate had a name thence
derived。 Their most famous dish was the black broth； which was so much
valued that the elderly men fed only upon that； leaving what flesh
there was to the younger。
They say that a certain king of Pontus； having heard much of this
black broth of theirs； sent for a Lacedaemonian cook on purpose to
make him some； but had no sooner tasted it than he found it
extremely bad； which the cook observing； told him； 〃Sir； to make
this broth relish； you should have bathed yourself first in the
river Eurotas。〃
After drinking moderately； every man went to his home without
lights； for the use of them was； on all occasions； forbid to the end
that they might accustom themselves to march boldly in the dark。
Such was the common fashion of their meals。
Lycurgus would never reduce his laws into writing； nay there is a
Rhetra expressly to forbid it。 For he thought that the most material
points； and such as most directly tended to the public welfare；
being imprinted on the hearts of their youth by a good discipline；
would be sure to remain； and would find a stronger security； than
any compulsion would be in the principles of action formed in them
by their best lawgiver； education。 And as for things of lesser
importance； as pecuniary contracts； and such like； the forms of
which have to be changed as occasion requires； he thought it the
best way to prescribe no positive rule or inviolable usage in such
cases； willing that their manner and form should be altered
according to the circumstances of time； and determinations of men of
sound judgment。 Every end and object of law and enactment it was his
design education should effect。
One； then； of the Rhetras was； that their laws should not be
written； another is particularly levelled against luxury and
expensiveness； for by it was ordained that the ceilings of their
houses should only be wrought by the axe； and their gates and doors
smoothed only by the saw。 Epaminondas's famous dictum about his own
table； that 〃Treason and a dinner like this do not keep company
together；〃 may be said to have been anticipated by Lycurgus。 Luxury
and a house of this kind could not well be companions。 For a man might
have a less than ordinary share of sense that would furnish such plain
and common rooms with silver…footed couches and purple coverlets and
gold and silver plate。 Doubtless he had good reason to think that they
would proportion their beds to their houses； and their coverlets to
their houses； and their coverlets to their beds； and the rest of their
goods and furniture to these。 It is reported that king Leotychides；
the first of that name； was so little used to the sight of any other
kind of work； that； being entertained at Corinth in a stately room； he
was much surprised to see the timber and ceiling so finely carved
and panelled； and asked his host whether the trees grew so in his
country。
A third ordinance of Rhetra was； that they should not make war
often； or long； with the same enemy； lest that they should train and
instruct them in war； by habituating them to defend themselves。 And
this is what Agesilaus was much blamed for； a long time after； it
being thought； that； by his continual incursions into Boeotia； he made
the Thebans a match for the Lacedaemonians； and therefore
Antalcidas； seeing him wounded one day； said to him； that he was
very well paid for taking such pains to make the Thebans good
soldiers； whether they would or no。 These laws were called the
Rhetras； to intimate that they were divine sanctions and revelations。
In order to the good education of their youth （which； as I said
before； he thought the most important and noblest work of a lawgiver）；
he went so far back as to take into consideration their very
conception and birth； by regulating their marriages。 For Aristotle
is wrong in saying； that； after he had tried all ways to reduce the
women to more modesty and sobriety； he was at last forced to leave
them as they were； because that in the absence of their husbands；
who spent the best part of their lives in the wars； their wives；
whom they were obliged to leave absolute mistresses at home； took
great liberties and assumed the superiority； and were treated with
overmuch respect and called by the title of lady or queen。 The truth
is； he took in their case； also； all the care that was possible； he
ordered the maidens to exercise themselves with wrestling； running；
throwing； the quoit； and casting the dart； to the end that the fruit
they conceived might； in strong and healthy bodies； take firmer root
and find better growth； and withal that they； with this greater
vigour； might be the more able to undergo the pains of
child…bearing。 And to the end he might take away their overgreat
tenderness and fear of exposure to the air； and all acquired
womanishness； he ordered that the young women should go naked in the
processions； as well as the young men； and dance； too； in that
condition； at certain solemn feasts； singing certain songs； whilst the
young men stood around； seeing and hearing them。 On these occasions
they now and then