I have set them in the two great cities of the South and the North; every land among them cometh to him without exception; I have put before them regulations in the daily register [of the palace]

and I have directed them to the way of life, I lead them to the truth, I teach them, saying: "Do not associate with others of the people; do not receive the reward of another, not hearing How, then, shall those like you judge others, while there

is one among you committing a crime against justice?" Now, as to the obligation of silver and gold [my] majesty remits it, in order that there be not collected an obligation of anything from the official staff of the South and North.

PUNISHMENT OF BRIBERY

16. Now, as for any official or any priest (concerning whom) it shall be heard, saying: "He sits, to execute judgment among the official staff appointed for judgment, and he commits a crime against justice therein; " it shall be against him a capital crime. Behold, my majesty has done this, to improve the laws of Egypt, in order to cause that another should not be

APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL COURTS

17. [Behold, my majesty appointed] the official staff of the divine fathers, the prophets of the temples, the officials of the court of this land and the priests of the gods who comprise the official staff out of desire that they shall judge the citizens of every city. My majesty is legislating for Egypt, to prosper the life of its inhabitants; when he appeared upon the throne of Re. Behold, the official staffs have been appointed in the whole land all to comprise the official staffs in the cities according to their rank.

XIII. THE KING'S AUDIENCES AND LARGESSES

18. -They went around-times a month, which he made for them like a feast; every man sat down at a portion of every good thing, of good bread, and meat of the storehouses, of royal provision their voices reached heaven, praising all benefits the heart of all the soldiers of the army. [The king appeared to the people] throwing (gifts) to them from the balcony

These must be the inspecting officials who are thus so liberally provided for, that they have no occasion to accept bribes, etc.

while every man was called by his name by the king himself. They came forth from the presence rejoicing, laden with the provision of the royal house; yea, they took grain heaps in the granary, every one of them bore barley and spelt, there was not found one who had nothing their cities. If they did not complete the circuit therein within three days, their khetkhet-officers hastened after them to the place where they were immediately. They were found there

XIV. LAUDATION OF THE KING, AND CONCLUSION

19. (Little can be made out of these nine lines. In line 9, the conclusion of the whole edict can be discerned :)

Hear ye these commands which my majesty has made for the first time governing the whole land, when my majesty remembered these cases of oppression which occur before this land.

CHAPTER XVII

1

THE LAWS OF GORTYN 1

SECTION 1

CLAIMS TO FREEDOM OR TO POSSESSION OF A SLAVE

I.

Whoever is going to contend about a freeman or slave, shall not lead him away before trial. And if he lead him away (the judge) shall adjudge (a fine of) ten staters in case of a freeman, five in case of a slave for leading him away, and shall judge that he let him go within three days. And if he shall not let him go, he shall adjudge (a fine of) a stater in case of a freeman, a drachm in case of a slave for each day until he let him go, and with respect to the time the judge shall decide on oath.

And if he should deny leading him away, the judge shall decide on oath, unless a witness should declare.

And if the one contend that he is free and the other that he is a slave, the stronger shall be they who declare him to be free. And if they contend about a slave, saying each that it is his (slave), if a witness declare it, the judge shall decide according to the witness, but if they either declare for both or for neither, the judge shall decide on oath.

And if the possessor lose his suit, he shall let a freeman go within five days, but a slave he shall give back into hands (of his opponent). And if he let him not go or give him not back, (the judge) shall adjudge him to win in case of a freeman fifty staters, and a stater for each day until he let

1 [This code, the date of which is usually given as about 450 B.C., was inscribed on blocks of gray limestone forming part of a wall, the ruins of which were discovered in Crete in the summer of 1884. The translation is by Dr. H. J. ROBY, and was published in the "Law Quarterly Review,' vol. II (1886), p. 142 seq. An account of the discovery is given (l. c.) at page 135. These laws, like the Roman Twelve Tables (see Chapter XVIII) were in the form of twelve tables or rather columns.

This translation is reprinted by permission of Sir Frederick Pollock, editor of the "Law Quarterly Review," and of the translator.

The Roman numerals at the side denote the columns; the topical analysis is by the translator.]

him go, and in case of a slave ten staters and a drachm for each day until he give him back into hands. And if the judge shall adjudge (a fine), there shall be exacted within a year threefold or less, not more, and with respect to the time the judge shall decide on oath.

And if the slave, in whosoever case he has lost his suit, take sanctuary, (the defendant) summoning him in the presence of two witnesses, runners, freemen shall point out (the fact) at the temple wherever he be in sanctuary, either (the defendant) himself or another on his behalf; and if he summon not and point not out, he shall restore what has been written.

And if he even give him not back in the year, he shall besides restore the single values, and if he die, while the suit is in contention, he shall restore the single value.

And if (one when) Ruling lead away (a slave), or another lead away (a slave) of one Ruling, if he leave office, he shall contend, and if he lose his suit he shall restore . . . what has been written.

To one that leads away (a slave) won in a suit pledged, there shall be no damage.

...

(or)

II.

SECTION 2

RAPE, ADULTERY, AND THE LIKE

*

SECTION 3

A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO PROPERTY AFTER DIVORCE OR HUSBAND'S DEATH

. .

If a man and woman separate, she shall have her own things, which she had when she went to the man, and the half of the fruit, if it be from her own goods, and the .. (part?) whatever it be (of) whatever she has woven, and five staters, if the man be the cause of the divorce; but if III. the man should say the judge shall decide on oath. But if she should bear off anything else of the man's, she shall restore five staters, and whatever she bear off, itself (shall she give back), and whatever she have taken away, itself shall she give back. And whatsoever things she shall deny (having taken), the judge shall adjudge the woman to deny on oath by Artemis, near the Amyclæum

near the Bowwoman. And whatever any one shall take away from her, after she has denied on oath, (he) shall restore five staters and the thing itself. And if a stranger join in packing up(?), he shall restore ten staters, and twofold the thing itself, whatsoever the judge shall swear he has joined in packing up(?).

If a man should die, leaving children, if the woman will, she shall be wedded, having her own things, and whatever her man have given her according to what is written, in presence of three witnesses, runners, freemen; but if she bear off anything of the children's, there shall be right to

sue.

And if he leave her childless, she shall have her own things, and of whatever she has woven the half, and of the fruit from within a . . . share with those belonging, and anything her man have given her as is written; but if she bear off anything else, there shall be right to sue.

And if a woman should die childless, there shall be given back to those belonging her own things, and the half of what she has woven, and the half of the fruit, if it be from her own things.

Guerdon if man or woman will to give (they shall give) either dress or twelve staters or a piece of goods worth twelve staters, and not more.

If a female householder be separated from a male householder in his life or by his death, she shall have her own things; but if she bear off anything else, there shall be right

to sue.

SECTION 4

DISPOSAL OF A CHILD BORN AFTER DIVORCE, OR CHILD

OF UNMARRIED SLAVE

If a woman bear a child while divorced, (she) shall send it to the man to his roof in the presence of three witnesses. And if he should not receive it, the child shall be at the mother's disposal to bring up or to put away; and the kinsmen and the witnesses shall be more sworn whether they sent the child.

And if a female householder bear a child while divorced (she) shall send it to the lord of the man, who wedded her, in the presence of two witnesses. And if he shall not