The extent to which he studied the general happiness and prosperity may be understood from a single instance most beneficial and universal in its application, and still gratefully remembered. He remitted a fourth part of the yearly tribute paid for land, and bestowed it on the owners of the soil; so that if we compute this yearly reduction, we shall find that the cultivators enjoyed their produce free of tribute every fourth year.³³⁰⁹

3309 For directly contrary account of his taxations, compare Prolegomena, under Character.

E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH