ADVERTISEMENT. THE plan of the little work begun in this volume has been considerably enlarged since it was first undertaken, and the author fears that a critical eye may be able to detect some traces of this variation from the original design in the manner of treating one or two subjects. He would be glad if he might believe that this was its chief defect. But he is most desirous that the object which he has had in view should be understood. He thought it probable that his work might fall into the hands of two different classes of readers, whose wants might not always exactly coincide, but were equally worthy of attention: one consisting of persons who wish to acquire something more than a superficial acquaintance with Greek history, but who have neither leisure nor means to study it for themselves in its original sources; the other of such as have access to the ancient authors, but often feel the need of a guide and an interpreter. The first of these classes is undoubtedly by far the largest, and it is for its satisfaction that the work is principally designed. But the author did not think that this ought to prevent him from entering into the discussion of subjects which he is aware must be chiefly, if not solely, interesting to readers of the other description, and he has therefore dwelt on the earlier part of the history at greater length than would have been proper in a merely popular narrative. Perhaps he may venture to add, that it is the part which seemed to him to have been most neglected by preceding English writers, and to deserve more attention than it had commonly received among us. It was written before the first (the last published) volume of Mr. Clinton's Fasti had appeared. Another consequence resulting from the nature of his plan is, that he has found it necessary to subjoin a greater number of notes and references than may seem to accord with the unpretending form of the work. He regrets the room which they occupy, and would have been glad to have thought himself at liberty to omit them. But he believes he may safely appeal to the experience of every one conversant with these matters, to attest that they have not been needlessly multiplied. Wherever it could be done without presuming too much on the reader's knowledge, he has contented himself with generally pointing out the sources from which he has drawn, and has only introduced a particular reference where either his conclusions might be thought questionable, or the precise passage which he had in his mind was likely to escape notice, or was peculiarly interesting and instructive. If, however, he should be thought not to have observed the right mean in this respect, or sometimes to have addressed himself to too narrow a circle, or even to have amused himself instead of his readers, he consoles himself by the prospect that in the progress of his work, as its subject becomes more generally familiar and attractive, he shall have less and less need of indulgence on this head. There is another point, on which, though of little importance, he wishes to guard against a misunderstanding to which he may have exposed himself. Some readers may remark that the system of orthography which he here follows is widely different from the one adopted in another work to which his name is annexed, and it may be inferred that he thinks that which he now uses the best. To prevent such an imputation, he desires it should be known that he looks upon the established system, if an accidental custom may be so called, as a mass of anomalies, the growth of ignorance and chance, equally repugnant to good taste and to common sense. But he is aware that the public perhaps to show foreigners that we do not live under the despotism of an academy-clings to these anomalies with a tenacity proportioned to their absurdity, and is jealous of all encroachment on ground consecrated by prescription to the free play of blind caprice. He has not thought himself at liberty, in a work like the present, to irritate these prejudices by innovations, however rational and conformable to good and ancient, though neglected usage, and has therefore complied as closely as may be with the fashion of the day. But with respect to one very numerous class of words, he has not had the benefit of this guidance, nor is he able to plead the like excuse where he has done amiss. As to the mode of writing Greek names in English, there is no established rule or usage of sufficient authority to direct him in all cases, and he has therefore here been left to follow his own discretion. Some readers, perhaps, will think that he has abused this liberty, and will complain that he has not observed a strict uniformity. His own taste would have inclined him to prefer the English to the Latin forms of Greek names and words in every instance; but as the contrary practice is the more general, and most persons seem to think that the other ought to be confined to terms which have become familiar and naturalized in our language, he has not ventured to apply his principle with rigid consistency, where the reader's eye would perhaps have been hurt by it, but has suffered anomaly to reign in this, as in the other department of orthography. He would not fear much severity of censure if those only should condemn him who have tried the experiment themselves, or can point out the example of any writer who has given universal satisfaction in this respect. The only great liberty he has taken is that of writing the real names of the Greek deities, instead of substituting those of the Italian mythology by which they have hitherto been supplanted, though even here he could now defend his boldness by some respectable precedents. Origin of the Greek Mythology-Influence of the Greek Mythology, how far derived from the East -How far formed by the Poets-Traces of Mon- otheism in the Greek Mythology Character of the supreme God-Fatalism of the Connexion between Religion and Morality-Ho- Wanderings of Menelaus Homer's View of the Northern and Western Seas Astronomy-Commerce Degree to which the useful Arts appear to have Wars of Sparta with Argos and Arcadia Were the Homeric Poems at first committed to Writing ?-Unity of the Homeric Poems . THE LEGISLATION OF LYCURGUS, B.C. 884. Time and Lineage of Lycurgus-Birth of Chari- laus-Travels of Lycurgus, his Return to Spar- ta, Actions, and Death-Antiquity of the Spar- Lycurgus a real Person-Nature of the Revolu tion effected by him-Difficulty of reconciling State of Things which called for his Interposition -Objects which he had in View-Outline of his The Messenians fortify Ithomé-Aristodemus 723 End of the first Messenian War-Consequences arising to Sparta from the Conquest of Messenia -Admission of new Citizens to Sparta-Rise of a new Distinction among the Citizens of Sparta 143 Enlargement of the Power of the Ephors-Com- parison between the Ephors and the Roman Tribunes-Mode of Election and Authority of 748 Pheidon, King of Argos-Beginning of the second Victories of Aristomenes-The Messenians fortify 116 117 118 119 121 123 124 Effects of the Olympic Festival as an Instrument Difference in the Forms of Government a Cause of Disunion among the Greeks-Causes which led to the Abolition of Royalty. Means by which Oligarchies maintained their Origin of Tyranny-Policy of the Tyrants. 131 660 Cypselus overthrows the Bacchiads-Character 132 166 |