DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0767
A SHORT HISTORY OF GRECIAN LITERATURE.
31
:o their people, and form them to civilization and order. In the infancy of society,
•when mankind are yet struggling to emerge from barbarism to some degree of re-
finement, the native vigour of poetic genius is then most happily displayed. The ima-
gination delights to revel amidst the fresh and unadulterated beauties of nature, and
draws from every flower its unappropriated sweets. The aspect of human manners
presents a bold picture to the eye of the poet, and the first'romantic exploits of rude
nations afford themes of panegyric to his muse. But the severer works of reason and
judgment make th ir appearance, only after mankind have made various efforts for
their improvement in the arts and sciences, and a regular commerce is established
under the protection of wise and equitable institutions.
The early poets whose names are reaorded, were not natives of Greece, but of
Thrace, or of Asia Minor; the poems of Thamyris, Linus, Orpheus, Musaeus, Eumol-
pus oi Thrace, and of Olen the Lycian, were admired even by the most refined and
intelligent of the Greeks at a late period of their history. The subjects of thciv
poems turned for the most part on theology and natural history, probably from their
intercourse with Egypt, or some obscure notions which their ancestors had brought
from their original settlements. Of Thamyris and Linus little is known. Homer re-
presents the former contending in song with the muses themselves in Peloponnesus*.
The latter was said to have been the instructor of Orpheus. This poet is supposed to
have laid the foundation of the learning and religion of Greece, when she was just
beginning to emerge from barbarism, and when the minds of men were, as might be
supposed, inclined to listen to the marvellous, and to adept the most superstitious
rites and ceremonies, especially when they were recommended to their attention by
the charms of music and poetry. By these means he acquired such influence over the
minds of the rude Thracans, that Horace, indulging the figurative language of poesy ,
thus describes their effects;
Aut in umbrosis Heliconis oris,
Aut super Pindo, geiidove in Ha;mo.
Unde vocalem temere insecuta
Orphea sylva?.
Arte materna rapidos morantem
Fluminum cursus celeresque ventos;
Blandum et auritas fidibus canoris
Ducere quereus.
In the following passage from his art of poetry, he informs us of the real causes, and
true effects of Orpheus's poetry :
Silvestres homines sacer interpresque Deorum
Csdibus et victu foedo deterruit Orpheus,
Dictus ob hoc lenire tigres rabidosque ieones
Dictus et Amphion, Thebanae conditor urbis,
Saxa movere sono testudinis, et prece blanda,
Ducere quo vellet. Fuit ha-c sapientia quondam
Publica privatis secernere, saora profanis,
Concubitu prohibere vago, dare jura maritis,
Oppida moliri, leges incidere ligno :
Sic honor et nomen diviuis vatibus atque
Carmiuibus venit.-
To his other qualifications as a poet and philosopher, he is said to have added a con-
siderable knowledge of medicine ; and hence is explained his endeavour to bring
back to life his wife Eurydice. This circumstance is adorned by Virgil in the 4th
book of his Georgics with ull the charms of his inimitable pencil, and is worthy the
genius of one poet when describing the fate and misfortunes of another. The outlines
of his history are so much involved in fable, that we shall not attempt farther to un-
ravel them, but proceed to give a short account of the probable sources of informa-
tion, and some of the principles from which were derived many of the theological and
philosophical opinions entertained by the Greeks.
Of all the nations that early rose to eminence by their religious rites and civil in-
stitutions, Egypt was the most distinguished. Whether it was that the country was
early peopled, and nearer the sources of original information, or from climate, soil and
other local circumstances, certain it is, that like the Nile which overflowed and fruc-
tified their fields, their doctrines and opinions spread over Greece and other parts of
Western Europe, and became the foundation of all their future acquisitions. At a
* Iliad. L. 2. ver. 595.
31
:o their people, and form them to civilization and order. In the infancy of society,
•when mankind are yet struggling to emerge from barbarism to some degree of re-
finement, the native vigour of poetic genius is then most happily displayed. The ima-
gination delights to revel amidst the fresh and unadulterated beauties of nature, and
draws from every flower its unappropriated sweets. The aspect of human manners
presents a bold picture to the eye of the poet, and the first'romantic exploits of rude
nations afford themes of panegyric to his muse. But the severer works of reason and
judgment make th ir appearance, only after mankind have made various efforts for
their improvement in the arts and sciences, and a regular commerce is established
under the protection of wise and equitable institutions.
The early poets whose names are reaorded, were not natives of Greece, but of
Thrace, or of Asia Minor; the poems of Thamyris, Linus, Orpheus, Musaeus, Eumol-
pus oi Thrace, and of Olen the Lycian, were admired even by the most refined and
intelligent of the Greeks at a late period of their history. The subjects of thciv
poems turned for the most part on theology and natural history, probably from their
intercourse with Egypt, or some obscure notions which their ancestors had brought
from their original settlements. Of Thamyris and Linus little is known. Homer re-
presents the former contending in song with the muses themselves in Peloponnesus*.
The latter was said to have been the instructor of Orpheus. This poet is supposed to
have laid the foundation of the learning and religion of Greece, when she was just
beginning to emerge from barbarism, and when the minds of men were, as might be
supposed, inclined to listen to the marvellous, and to adept the most superstitious
rites and ceremonies, especially when they were recommended to their attention by
the charms of music and poetry. By these means he acquired such influence over the
minds of the rude Thracans, that Horace, indulging the figurative language of poesy ,
thus describes their effects;
Aut in umbrosis Heliconis oris,
Aut super Pindo, geiidove in Ha;mo.
Unde vocalem temere insecuta
Orphea sylva?.
Arte materna rapidos morantem
Fluminum cursus celeresque ventos;
Blandum et auritas fidibus canoris
Ducere quereus.
In the following passage from his art of poetry, he informs us of the real causes, and
true effects of Orpheus's poetry :
Silvestres homines sacer interpresque Deorum
Csdibus et victu foedo deterruit Orpheus,
Dictus ob hoc lenire tigres rabidosque ieones
Dictus et Amphion, Thebanae conditor urbis,
Saxa movere sono testudinis, et prece blanda,
Ducere quo vellet. Fuit ha-c sapientia quondam
Publica privatis secernere, saora profanis,
Concubitu prohibere vago, dare jura maritis,
Oppida moliri, leges incidere ligno :
Sic honor et nomen diviuis vatibus atque
Carmiuibus venit.-
To his other qualifications as a poet and philosopher, he is said to have added a con-
siderable knowledge of medicine ; and hence is explained his endeavour to bring
back to life his wife Eurydice. This circumstance is adorned by Virgil in the 4th
book of his Georgics with ull the charms of his inimitable pencil, and is worthy the
genius of one poet when describing the fate and misfortunes of another. The outlines
of his history are so much involved in fable, that we shall not attempt farther to un-
ravel them, but proceed to give a short account of the probable sources of informa-
tion, and some of the principles from which were derived many of the theological and
philosophical opinions entertained by the Greeks.
Of all the nations that early rose to eminence by their religious rites and civil in-
stitutions, Egypt was the most distinguished. Whether it was that the country was
early peopled, and nearer the sources of original information, or from climate, soil and
other local circumstances, certain it is, that like the Nile which overflowed and fruc-
tified their fields, their doctrines and opinions spread over Greece and other parts of
Western Europe, and became the foundation of all their future acquisitions. At a
* Iliad. L. 2. ver. 595.