Africa, and the Indies, and his conferences there with the
Gymnosophists, the whole relation, as far as I can find, rests on
the single credit of the Spartan Aristocrates, the son of
Hipparchus.

Lycurgus was much missed at Sparta, and often sent for, "For kings
indeed we have," they said, "who wear the marks and assume the
titles of royalty, but as for the qualities of their minds, they
have nothing by which they are to be distinguished from their
subjects;" adding that in him alone was the true foundation of
sovereignty to be seen, a nature made to rule, and a genius to
gain obedience. Nor were the kings themselves averse to see him
back, for they looked upon his presence as a bulwark against the
insolencies of the people.

Things being in this posture at his return, he applied himself,
without loss of time, to a thorough reformation, and resolved to
change the whole face of the commonwealth; for what could a few
particular laws and a partial alteration avail? He must act as
wise physicians do, in the case of one who labors under a
complication of diseases,--by force of medicines reduce and
exhaust him, change his whole temperament, and then set him upon a
totally new regimen of diet. Having thus projected things, away he
goes to Delphi to consult Apollo there; which having done, and
offered his sacrifice, he returned with that renowned oracle, in
which he is called beloved of God, and rather God than man: that
his prayers were heard, that his laws should be the best, and the
commonwealth which observed them the most famous in the world.
Encouraged by these things, he set himself to bring over to his
side the leading men of Sparta, exhorting them to give him a