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King Lycurgus, the philosopher, made a great plan to equalize the subjects of Sparta; with self- sacrifice and wisdom was the experiment begun. Then the king called the people of his kingdom, and made them swear a great oath to maintain the same order of government if he should leave the country, also that nothing should make them alter it until his return. Having secured this oath, he left his kingdom of Sparta and never returned. Lycurgus abandoned the situation, renouncing his high position, thinking to achieve the permanent good of his country by the equalization of the property and of the conditions of life in his kingdom. All the self- sacrifice of the king was in vain. The great experiment failed. After a time all was destroyed; his carefully thought- out constitution came to an end.
(152:3)
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