Popida?^ Sports and Exercises, 171 



the high Importance of acquiring bodily force 

 and agility, adds, " a well governed common 

 wealth, instead of prohibiting the profession 

 of the athletic, should, on the contrary, pro- 

 pose prizes for all who excel in those exercises, 

 which tend to encourage the military art." — 

 And, perhaps no better plan could have been 

 contrived to foster a warlike spirit amongst a 

 people devoted to military enterprize, than the 

 training of youth in these hardy and laborious 

 exercises, and in proclaiming rewards for those 

 who excelled in their public exhibition. If 

 man were only destined to conquer and 

 triumph over the weaker and less valiant of his 

 race — if the lust of dominion were the only 

 appetite worthy of gratification, then the cul- 

 tivation of bodily prowess and ferocious courage 

 would properly form the business, as well as 

 pleasure of life. But man has a nobler part to 

 act in society ; — and enjoyments more pure, 

 lasting, and better fitted to the dignity and 

 character of his nature, become necessary to 

 his well being in an advanced stage of civiliza- 

 tion. — It may readily be conceived, that those 

 arts which sooth and embellish human ex- 

 istence, and which depend on the cultivation 

 of feeling and of taste, would be neglected by 

 the Greeks, when only bodily strength, acti- 

 vity and address could carry off the palm of 

 y2 



