ON SPORTS AND EXERCISES. 215 



esse fortior contra dolorem & mortem disciplina." — " The ^^g^^a and 

 shews of gladiators to some persons may seem barbarous inhuman argu- 

 and inhuman : and 1 don't know as the case now stands "^^^t- 

 that the censure is unjust; — But when only guilty per- 

 sons were the combatants, the ear might receive better 

 instruction — it is impossible, however, that any lesson to 

 the eye can better fortify the mind against the assaults of 

 grief and death." A ridiculous and inhuman assertion 

 (an eloquent historian exclaims) admirably confuted by 

 the bravery of anticnt Greece and modern Europe. 



Indeed so little was the practice connected with military xhe Romans 

 ardour and true courage, that before its establishment the did not im- 

 Romans were, perhaps, more distinguished for bravery, J^a^y Ipirit^^' 

 steadiness of discipline, and contempt of death, than at 

 any subsequent period of their history. 



It is, however, certain, that in proportion to the frc- — but became 

 quency and extent of these bloody exhibitions, did the degraded in 

 military valour and discipline of the Romans sink into a crudtv!'"^* ° 

 state of degradation and contempt. '' After subsisting a 

 period of 600 years" (according to the remark of Gibbon), 

 ^' Honorius gave the final blow to this inveterate abuse, 

 which degraded a civilized nation below the condition of 

 savage cannibals." 



Rome justly suifered moral and political evils from Dano-er of 

 fostering such inhuman propensities : her existence was surrection. 

 more than once at stake by the insurrection of the wretch- 

 ed and despairing victims of her barbarity. Besides, the 

 corruption of the populace, through the medium of 

 these diversions, was no difficult task to the powerful and 

 wealthy. When man has been taught to subdue the hu- 

 mane feelings of his nature^ he contracts an indifference 

 to the purer and nobler virtues which l&t him for discharg- 

 ing the duties of a good citizen. Indeed every habit that 

 wears out the sympathizing sensibility of the heart, pro- 

 portionably disqualifies man from exercising the pleasing 

 duties and tender charities, connected with public and 

 domestic life. 



It would appear from this hasty sketch that the popu- ^he Grecian 

 lar games and exercises of the Greeks when compared sportshadgood 



with those of the Romans, were better calculated to pro- ^^*=ct\^e Ro- 



^ man, the con- 

 mote the social as well as individual welfare of mankind, trary. 



Vol. XV.— Nov. 1806. Ff The 



in- 



