from Aristotle's Athenian Constitution
His revenues were increased by the thorough cultivation
of the country, since he imposed a tax of one tenth on all
the produce, For the same reasons he instituted the local
justices, and often made expeditions in person into the
country to inspect it and to settle disputes between
individuals, that they might not come into the city and
neglect their farms, It was in one of these progresses that,
as the story goes, Pisistratus had his adventure with the
man of Hymettus, who was cultivating the spot afterwards
known as "Tax-free Farm." He saw a man digging and
working at a very stony piece of ground, and being
surprised he sent his attendant to ask what he got out
of this plot of land. "Aches and pains," said the man; "and
that's what Pisistratus ought to have his tenth of."
The man spoke without knowing who his questioner was;
but Pisistratus was so pleased with his frank speech and
his industry that he granted him exemption from all taxes,
And so in matters in general he burdened the people as
little as possible with government, but always cultivated
peace and kept them in all quietness,