This was his first measure; namely, to put an end to all existing debts
and obligations, and to forbid any one in future to lend money upon
security of the person of the debtor. Some writers, among whom is
Androtion, say that he benefited the poor, not by the absolute
extinction of debt, but by establishing a lower rate of interest; and
that this measure was called "Relief from burdens," and together with it
the two other measures for the enlargement of measures and of the value
of money, which were passed about the same time. For he ordered a mina,
which was before constituted of seventy three drachmas, to contain a
hundred, so that, though they paid the same amount, yet the value was
less; thus those who had much to pay were benefited, and still their
creditors were not cheated. But most writers say that the "Relief from
burdens" meant the extinction of all securities whatever, and this
agrees best with what we read in his poems. For Solon prides himself in
these upon having
"Taken off the mortgages, which on the land were laid,
And made the country free, which was formerly enslaved."
While he speaks of bringing back Athenian citizens who had been sold
into slavery abroad,
"In distant lands who roam,
Their native tongue forgot,
Or here endure at home
A slave's disgraceful lot,"
and of making them free men again.
It is said that in consequence of this measure he met with the greatest
trouble of his life.
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