THE SUITORS OF AGARISTE.

Srcyon, the smallest country of the Peloponnesus,
lay on the Gulf of Corinth, adjoining the isthmus
which connects the peninsula with the rest of Greece.
In this small country—as in many larger ones—the
nobles held rule, the people were subjects. The rich
and proud rulers dwelt on the hill slopes, the poor
and humble people lived on the sea-shore and along
the river Asopus. But in course of time many of
the people became well off, through success in fish-
eries and commerce, to which their country was well
adapted. Weary of the oppression of the nobles, they
finally rose in rebellion and overthrew the govern-
ment. Orthagoras, once a cook, but now leader of
the rebels, became master of the state, and he and
his descendants ruled it for a hundred years. The
last of this dynasty was Cleisthenes, a just and
moderate ruler, concerning whom we have a story
to tell.

These lords of the state were called tyrants; but
this word did not mean in Greece what it means to
us. The tyrants of Greece were popular leaders who
had overthrown the old governments and laws, and
ruled largely through force and under laws of their
own making. But they were not necessarily tyran-

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