holmes: a study of the type of the greek eimtaphios. 227 



(b) Prothesis. Ch. 36. 

 Ch. j6. I shall begin with just praise of our ancestors as is but 

 fitting, seeing that they have handed down to us a country always 

 inhabited by the same race — an empire which our immediate fore- 

 fathers augmented and to whicli we ourselves have made additions, 

 until it is now in good trim for either peace or war. But our pres- 

 ent and past victories over Barbarian or Greelv are too well l<nown 

 to need rehearsal here. I shall rather point out by what institu- 

 tions we have risen to empire — and our civil policy which is the 

 cause of our greatness. Sucli topics, I take it, are not unsuitable 

 to the present occasion. 



To. rwv \\Oqvwv. Chaps. 37-41. 



C/i. jj. In our form of government we are not imitators but set 

 the pattern for others. We are a democrac}^ Equalit}^ is at the 

 l:)asis of our laws, merit at the basis of our public preferment. The 

 poor and the rich have an equal chance to contriliute to the public 

 weal, as well as to enjoy the honors in the gift of the state. Tlie 

 same spirit pervades throughout the private life of our citizens and 

 we render cheerful obedience both to the written laws of the state 

 and to the unwritten laws of society. 



Ch. j8. We are public spirited also, in that the celebration of 

 o'ames and festivals, the public and private entertainments, lighten 

 the public heart. Nor are we limited in the enjoyment of luxuries. 

 Such is our greatness that the best productions are brought to us 

 from every quarter of the globe (world). 



C/i. jg. We differ from our enemies in militan* matters. We 

 do not deny to strangers free access to our city in order to conceal 

 our resources. Courage in action and not cunning in strategem is 

 our defense. The Lacedaimonians reh' upon the severity of their 

 military discipline to develop manly courage. An easy mode of 

 life does not unfit the Athenian courage for valorous deeds. They 

 form a confederacy to attack us: we defeat them unassisted and on 

 their own ground. No enem}' has yet encountered our united 

 forces — yet the}' complain of defeat as if caused by our whole 

 strength, and boast of victory as if over our entire armament. The 

 inborn courage of our disposition and not that acquired by institu- 

 tion frees us from apprehension for the future and makes us pre- 

 pared for all exigencies. 



C/i. 40. Our city is alsp to be admired for its cultivation of 

 philosoph}' unmixed with effeminacy. We regard riches as a means 

 to an end, not as an occasion for boasting. We account shiftless- 



