Note 51.Page 170.
Zaleucus[1], not Zelongus, was the name of the king who preformed this striking act of justice. It is thus told by Valerius Maximus. "Zaleucus, urbe Locrensium à se saluberrimis atque utilissimis legibus munita, cum filius ejus adulterii crimine damnatus, secundum jus ab ipso constitutum, utroque oculo carere deberet, ac tota civitas in honorem patris pœnæ necessitatem adolescentulo remitteret, aliquamdiu repugnavit. Ad ultimum precibus populi evictus, suo prius, deinde filii oculi eruto, usum videndi utrique reliquit. Ita debitum supplicii modum legi reddidit, æquitatis admirabili temperamento, se inter misericordem patrem et justum legislatorem partitus."—Lib. vi. c. 5. Ex. 3.[2]
Note 52.Page 172.
I have met with a similar story in a modern book of fables under the following form.
"One hot day in summer, a boar, covered with wounds, threw himself beneath the shadow of a large tree, where he was grievously tormented by
- ↑ Some copies read Seleucus.
- ↑ Rough translation of the Latin: Zaleucus had provided the city of the Locrians with highly useful and salutary laws. When his son was convicted of the crime of adultery, and condemned to the loss of both eyes, according to the law he himself had constituted, the entire city, in the father's honor, was willing to remit the penalty for the young man, but Zaleucus for some time refused this. Finally, prevailed upon by the populace, he first had one of his own eyes plucked out, and then one of his son's, leaving both with the ability to see. Thus he fulfilled the punishment required by the law with a moderation of admirable fairness, reflecting both his roles as merciful father and just legislator. (Wikisource contributor note)
