drunken revelry in Sparta, and any one found in a state of intoxication is
severely punished; he is not excused as an Athenian would be at Athens on
account of a festival. I myself have seen the Athenians drunk at the
Dionysia--and at our colony, Tarentum, on a similar occasion, I have
beheld the whole city in a state of intoxication.' I admit that these
festivals should be properly regulated. Yet I might reply, 'Yes, Spartans,
that is not your vice; but look at home and remember the licentiousness of
your women.' And to all such accusations every one of us may reply in
turn:--'Wonder not, Stranger; there are different customs in different
countries.' Now this may be a sufficient answer; but we are speaking about
the wisdom of lawgivers and not about the customs of men. To return to the
question of drinking: shall we have total abstinence, as you have, or hard
drinking, like the Scythians and Thracians, or moderate potations like the
Persians? 'Give us arms, and we send all these nations flying before us.'
My good friend, be modest; victories and defeats often arise from unknown
causes, and afford no proof of the goodness or badness of institutions.
The stronger overcomes the weaker, as the Athenians have overcome the
Ceans, or the Syracusans the Locrians, who are, perhaps, the best governed
state in that part of the world. People are apt to praise or censure
practices without enquiring into the nature of them. This is the way with
drink: one person brings many witnesses, who sing the praises of wine;
another declares that sober men defeat drunkards in battle; and he again
is refuted in turn. I should like to conduct the argument on some other
method; for if you regard numbers, there are two cities on one side, and
ten thousand on the other. 'I am ready to pursue any method which is
likely to lead us to the truth.' Let me put the matter thus: Somebody
praises the useful qualities of a goat; another has seen goats running
about wild in a garden, and blames a goat or any other animal which
happens to be without a keeper. 'How absurd!' Would a pilot who is sea-
sick be a good pilot? 'No.' Or a general who is sick and drunk with fear