All these cities, though seemingly different from each other, in their laws and interest, were united, by one common language, one religion, and a national pride, that taught them. to consider all other nations as barbarous and feeble. Even Egypt, itself, from whence they had derived many of their arts and institutions, was considered in a very subordinate light, and rather as a half barbarous predecessor, than an en lightened rival.

To make this union among the states of Greece still stronger, games were instituted, in different parts of the coun ry, with rewards for excellence, in every pursuit. These sports were instituted for very serious and useful purposes: they afforded an opportunity for the several states meeting together; they gave them a greater zeal for their common religion; they exercised the youth for the purposes of war; and increased that vigour and activity, which was then of the utmost importance in deciding the fate of a battle.

But their chief bond of union arose from the council of the Amphictyons; which was instituted by Amphictyon, king of Athens, as is already mentioned, and was appointed to be held, twice a year, at Thermopylae, to deliberate for the general good of those states, of whose deputies it was composed. The states, who sent deputies to the council, were twelve;the Thessalians, the Thebans, the Dorians, the Ionians, the Perhabeans, the Magnates, the Locrians, the Oetans, the Pthiotes, the Maleans, the Phocians, and the Dolopians.

Each of those cities which had a right to assist at the Amphictyonic council, was obliged to send two deputies tu every meeting. The one was entitled the hieromnemon, who took care of the interests of religion; the other was called the pylagoras, and had in charge the civil interest of his community. Each of these deputies, however differing in his functions, enjoyed an equal power of determining all. affairs relative to the general interests of Greece.

But, although the number of deputies seems to have been settled originally so as to answer the number of votes which each city was allowed, yet, in process of time, or on some extraordinary occasions, the principal cities assumed a power of sending more than one pylagoras, to assist in a critical emergency, or to serve the purposes of a faction.

When the deputies, thus appointed, appeared to execute their commission, after offering up sacrifices to Apollo, Diana, Latona, and Minerva, they took an oath, implying, that they would never subvert any city of the Amphictyons, never stop the course of waters, either in war or peace, and that they would oppose any attempts to lessen the reverence and

authority of the gods, to whom they had paid their adoration. Thus, all offences against religion, all instances of impiety and profanation, all contests between the Grecian states and cities, came under the particular cognizance of the Amphictyons; who had a right to determine, to impose fines, and even to levy forces, and to make war against those who offered to rebel against their sovereign authority.

These different motives to confederacy, united the Greeks, for a time, into a body of great power, and greater emulation. By this association, a country, not half so large as England, was able to dispute the empire of the earth, with the most powerful monarchs of the world. By this association, they not only resisted the numerous armies of Persia; but dispersed, routed, and destroyed them; reducing their pride so low, as to make them submit to conditions of peace, as shameful to the conquered, as glorious to the conquerors.

But, among all the cities of Greece, there were two, that, by their merit, their valour, and their wisdom, particularly distinguished themselves from the rest. These were Athens and Lacedæmon. As these cities served as an example of bravery or learning to the rest, and as the chief burthen of every foreign war devolved upon them, it will be proper to enter into their particular history with greater minuteness, and to give the reader some idea of the genius, character, manners, and government, of their respective inhabitants.

CHAPTER II.

Of the Government of Sparta, and the Laws of Lycurgus.

ALTHOUGH the kingdom of Lacedæmon was not so considerable as that of Athens, yet, as it was of much earlier institution, it demands our first attention. Lacedæmon, as observed before, was, in the beginning, governed by kings; of which, thirteen held the reigns of power, in succession, of the race of the Pelopida. As, during this dark interval, there were no fixed laws to limit the prerogative, and no ideas of true government among the people, it does not appear that there were any considerable encroachments made, either on the side of the king, or that of the people.

Under the race of the Heraclidæ, who succeeded, instead of one king, the people admitted two; who governed with equal authority. The cause of this change seems to have sprung from a very particular accident. Aristodemus, dying, left two sons, Eurysthenes and Procles, twins, so much alike, tha it was hardly possible to distinguish them asunder. Hence,

the hint was taken, by the mother, of fixing the crown upon both; so that when the Spartans came for a king, she was either unable or unwilling to decide which of them was first born, or which had the justest pretensions. This form of government continued for several succeeding centuries; and, although the one was almost ever at variance with his associate on the throne, yet the government remained entire.

It was during this succession, that slavery was first institut, ed in Sparta. Eurysthenes and Procles, having granted the countrymen of Sparta the same privileges with the citizens, Agis reversed what his predecessors had done in favour of the peasants, and imposed upon them a tribute. The Helotes were the only people that would not acquiesce in this im post, but rose in rebellion, to vindicate their rights: the citi zens, however, prevailed, the Helotes were subdued, and made prisoners of war. As a still greater punishment, they and their posterity were condemned to perpetual slavery; and, to increase their miseries still more, all other slaves were called by the general name of Helotes.

It would appear, from hence, that this little state was governed with turbulence and oppression, and required the curb of severe laws and rigorous discipline. These severities and rigorous discipline were at last imposed upon it by Lycur gus; one of the first and most extraordinary legislators, that ever appeared among mankind.

There is, perhaps, nothing more remarkable, in profane history, yet nothing better attested, than what relates to the laws and government of Lycurgus. What, indeed, can be more amazing, than to behold a mutinous and savage race of mankind, yielding submission to laws which controlled every sensual pleasure, and every private affection; to behold them giving up, for the good of the state, all the comforts and conveniences of private life, and making a state of domestic privacy more severe and terrible than the most painful campaigns, and the most warlike duties. Yet, all this was effected, by the perseverance and authority of a single legislator, who gave the first lesson of hard resignation, in his own generous example. •

Lycurgus was the son of Eunomus, one of the two kings who reigned together in Sparta. The two kings dying without apparent issue, the right of succession rested in Lycur gus; who accordingly assumed the administration. But an unexpected event interrupted his promotion: the queen, his sister-in-law, having declared that she was soon likely to have an heir, his right became doubtful. A man of less probity would have used every precaution to secure himself upon the

throne; and a proposal, which was made him by the queen, seemed to secure his pretensions. She offered to destroy the birth, upon condition that he would marry her, and take he into a share of power.

Lycurgus wisely smothered his resentment to so unnatural a proposal; and, fearful that she might use means to put her project in execution, assured her, that, as soon as the child, was born, he would take upon himself to remove it out of the way. The child proved to be a boy; which Lycurgus com manded should be brought to him, as he was at supper with the magistrates: to them, he presented the child as their king; and, to testify his own and the people's joy, gave him the namic of Charilaus; which signifies, "the people's joy." Thus, Lycurgus sacrificed his ambition to his duty; and still more, continued his regency, not as king, but governor. How ever, dreading the resentment of the queen, and finding the state in great disorder, he resolved, by travelling, to avoid the dangers of the one, and to produce a remedy for the defects of the other.

Thus, resolving to make himself acquainted with all the. improvements of other nations, and to consult the most experienced persons he could meet in the art of government, he began with the island of Crete; whose hard and severe laws were very much admired. In this island, the handicraft trades were brought to some degree of perfection. There, they wrought in copper and iron, and made armour, in which they danced, with a confused noise of bells, at the sacrifices of their gods. It is from them, that the art of navigation wa first known in Greece, and from them many legislators derived the principles of their respective institutions.

From Crete, Lycurgus passed over into Asia, where he still found new information, and is said to have first made the discovery of the works of Homer. Thence, he went into Egypt, and is said, by some, to have had conferences with the gymnosophists of India. But, while thus employed abroad, his presence began to be greatly wanted at home All parties conspired to wish his coming; and many messages were sent, to hasten his return. The kings themselves importuned him to that effect; and informed him, that the people had arrived at such a pitch of disorder, that nothing but his authority could control their licentiousness. In fact, every thing tended to the unavoidable destruction of the state, and nothing but his presence was wished, to check its increas ing dissolution.

Lycurgus, at length persuaded to return, found the people wearied out with their own importunities, and ready to re

ceive any new impressions that he might attempt. The cor ruption being general, he found it necessary to change the whole form of the government; sensible that a few particular laws would produce no great effect. But, considering the efficacy of religion in promoting every new institution, he went first to consult the oracle of Apollo, at Delphos; where he met a reception that might flatter his highest ambition, for he was saluted, by the priestess, as the friend of the gods, and rather as a god, than a man. As to his new institution, also, he was told, that the gods heard his prayers, and that the commonwealth he was going to establish, would be the most excellent and durable upon earth.

Thus encouraged, on his return to Sparta, Lycurgus first communicated his designs to his particular friends; and then, by degrees, gained over the leading men to his party; until things being ripe for a change, he ordered thirty of the principal men to appear armed in the market-place. Charilaus, who was at that time king, seemed, at first, willing to oppose this revolution; but, being intimidated by a superior force, he took shelter in the temple of Minerva; whence, being prevailed upon by his subjects, and being also of a flexible temper, he came forth, and joined the confederacy. The people soon acquiesced under a set of institutions, evidently calculated for their improvement; and gladly acknowledged submission to laws, which leaned, with equal weight, upon every rank of society.

To continue the kings, with a shadow of power, he confirm ed them in their right of succession, as before; but diminished their authority, by instituting a senate, which was to serve as a counterpoise between their prerogative and the people. They still, however, had all their former marks of outward dignity and respect. They had the chief seats in every public assembly; in voting, they were allowed first to give their opinion; they received ambassadors and strangers, and overlooked public buildings and highways. In the field, they were possessed of greater power; they conducted the armies of the state, and were attended by judges, field-deputies, and a general of the horse. However, they were not entirely at liberty, even in war, as they received their orders from the senate; which, though for the most part, discretionary, yet they were sometimes forced to march against the enemy, or return home, when they least desired to retreat.

The government, hitherto, had been unsteady; tending, at one time, towards despotism, at another to democracy; but the senate instituted by Lycurgus, served as a check upon both nd kept the state balanced in tranquillity. This body