DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0766
PART II
OF THE LITERATURE OF THE GREEKS.
It seems to be generally allowed that the Greeks received many of their religiout
rites, and the principles of morals and government from the Egyptians, Phoenicians,
Thracians, and other nations of the east. These countries were in a high state of ci-
vilization, and consequently of improvement, when Greece was yet immersed in igno-
rance and barbarism. Colonies, as was formerly mentioned, landed in Greece, and
imparted to ils original inhabitants their knowledge of the arts, their ceremonies of
religion, their mode of life, and brought them by degrees to submit to regular govern-
ment. Beyond this period all is uncertainty and fable. The genius of the poets, un-
restrained by any thing like true history, has embellished the doubtful memorials of
ancient times with all the boldness and colouring of their art. But with the little
knowledge we possess of those early ages, it is impossible to separate what is true
from what is false, as they have been so long blended together.
Among the early benefactors of the human race. Prometheus occupies a distin-
guished place. According to the dramatic poet iEschylus, he was the inventor of
many of the arts of life, and of the use of letters i
-s; Tt <r$iv xvTohtti tyco
£lVga)V iS'il^Ct, TIC TS SutTKftTXi $V7US.
X.S.I fAHV dpfi/AOV i$-0%0V (PotpKr/UlLTUIV
i^wpov ctutoi;, ypctuuctTcev Te trvvQtrili,
(*yn{A>iv Sy ct7rxvTW /uxirofjLHTop'ipyctTKV. Prometh. Vinct-
11 explained to them the rising of the stars, and the changeable periods of their set-
ling : and I discovered to them a great number of philosophical maxims, and the com-
bination of letters, and memory the effective source of all arts.'
It is altogether impossible to discover who Prometheus was, or in what country he
was born, for the fables of the poets throw no farther light upon his history, than that
of inducing us to refer his origin to Egypt, the scene of many subjects which they have
obscured by their love of the marvellous. If there ever was such a person, he must
have possessed no common inventive powers, and probably by his discoveries, excited
the jealousy of some weak and violent prince. The tragic poet attributes his disas-
ters to Jupiter, because he would not disclose to him the person by whom the fates
had decreed he should be dethroned. Perhaps, under this name we have the first in-
ventor of letters, and of consequence one of the greatest benefactors of the human
race. Leaving, however, the fond illusions of imagination which delights to give her
own colouring to the lives of extraordinary- men, whose names are almost all that
have survived the wreck of time, we proceed to a period in which there is more of
certainty. In the early ages of society, before the invention of letters or written re-
cords, mankind were naturally led to express their feelings in poetical numbers. It
•was those objects only that commanded their veneration, roused their passions, excited
their admiration, or awoke their feelings which they attempted' to celebrate and de-
scribe. Hence from their nature they acquired an elevation of thought and style be-
yond what was used in conversation, or employed on common occasions ; and as the
subjects of their poems were universally interesting, they aimed at a degree ol regu-
larity in the succession of sounds, or of uniformity in the sounds themselves, to make
them both more agreeable to the ear, and more easily committed to memory. Those
who possessed a lively imagination and warm feelings, devoted themselves to the study
of music and poetry, for the two arts were originally combined, gratified both them-
selves and their countrymen by celebrating the praises of their gods and heroes, and
acquired a reputation which soon raised them to distinguished honours. Even princes
themselves cultivated these arts with great assiduity, to elevate their minds to uigher
object!, to enliven their social hours, and not uafrequently to communicate instruction
OF THE LITERATURE OF THE GREEKS.
It seems to be generally allowed that the Greeks received many of their religiout
rites, and the principles of morals and government from the Egyptians, Phoenicians,
Thracians, and other nations of the east. These countries were in a high state of ci-
vilization, and consequently of improvement, when Greece was yet immersed in igno-
rance and barbarism. Colonies, as was formerly mentioned, landed in Greece, and
imparted to ils original inhabitants their knowledge of the arts, their ceremonies of
religion, their mode of life, and brought them by degrees to submit to regular govern-
ment. Beyond this period all is uncertainty and fable. The genius of the poets, un-
restrained by any thing like true history, has embellished the doubtful memorials of
ancient times with all the boldness and colouring of their art. But with the little
knowledge we possess of those early ages, it is impossible to separate what is true
from what is false, as they have been so long blended together.
Among the early benefactors of the human race. Prometheus occupies a distin-
guished place. According to the dramatic poet iEschylus, he was the inventor of
many of the arts of life, and of the use of letters i
-s; Tt <r$iv xvTohtti tyco
£lVga)V iS'il^Ct, TIC TS SutTKftTXi $V7US.
X.S.I fAHV dpfi/AOV i$-0%0V (PotpKr/UlLTUIV
i^wpov ctutoi;, ypctuuctTcev Te trvvQtrili,
(*yn{A>iv Sy ct7rxvTW /uxirofjLHTop'ipyctTKV. Prometh. Vinct-
11 explained to them the rising of the stars, and the changeable periods of their set-
ling : and I discovered to them a great number of philosophical maxims, and the com-
bination of letters, and memory the effective source of all arts.'
It is altogether impossible to discover who Prometheus was, or in what country he
was born, for the fables of the poets throw no farther light upon his history, than that
of inducing us to refer his origin to Egypt, the scene of many subjects which they have
obscured by their love of the marvellous. If there ever was such a person, he must
have possessed no common inventive powers, and probably by his discoveries, excited
the jealousy of some weak and violent prince. The tragic poet attributes his disas-
ters to Jupiter, because he would not disclose to him the person by whom the fates
had decreed he should be dethroned. Perhaps, under this name we have the first in-
ventor of letters, and of consequence one of the greatest benefactors of the human
race. Leaving, however, the fond illusions of imagination which delights to give her
own colouring to the lives of extraordinary- men, whose names are almost all that
have survived the wreck of time, we proceed to a period in which there is more of
certainty. In the early ages of society, before the invention of letters or written re-
cords, mankind were naturally led to express their feelings in poetical numbers. It
•was those objects only that commanded their veneration, roused their passions, excited
their admiration, or awoke their feelings which they attempted' to celebrate and de-
scribe. Hence from their nature they acquired an elevation of thought and style be-
yond what was used in conversation, or employed on common occasions ; and as the
subjects of their poems were universally interesting, they aimed at a degree ol regu-
larity in the succession of sounds, or of uniformity in the sounds themselves, to make
them both more agreeable to the ear, and more easily committed to memory. Those
who possessed a lively imagination and warm feelings, devoted themselves to the study
of music and poetry, for the two arts were originally combined, gratified both them-
selves and their countrymen by celebrating the praises of their gods and heroes, and
acquired a reputation which soon raised them to distinguished honours. Even princes
themselves cultivated these arts with great assiduity, to elevate their minds to uigher
object!, to enliven their social hours, and not uafrequently to communicate instruction