•GRECIAN EDUCATION. 83 



tion already given. If then you desire to have the scene, above attemp- 

 ted to be described, enacted before you, take your seat by the side of 

 one of these pits and wait until some straggling ant or blundering beetle 

 in its hasty march, precipitates itself into this fatal chasm, and arouses 

 the lion in his den. You will thus have an opportunity of witnessing 

 the wonderful means to which the ant-lion resorts in order to capture 

 his prey. 



But you may object to this kind of reasoning, and say that it is unfair. 

 The wonder, excited by the narrative of the traveler in the monster's 

 den, evaporates when the actors in the tragical scene dwindle into insig- 

 nificant insects. But why is this so .? Is there any reason for regard- 

 ing so remarkable a transaction as less wonderful, because the partici- 

 pants do not possess huge size and great strength ? Should we not lath- 

 er regard these little animals with increased admiration, because, in such 

 diminutive forms, are united such bitter animosities, such singular facul- 

 ties, such remarkable instincts and such an endless variety of peculiari- 

 ties.^ Yet it is too true, that this part of nature is by most persons pas- 

 sed over with calm indifference, with entire neglect, for no other than 

 this very absurd reason, that insects are objects too trifling to engage 

 their attention. If they would see a six-legired beast, with a body as 

 large as a hogshead, forming, with a material drawn from its own body 

 an apparatus by which it could sail about in the air, they would gaze 

 with open-mouthed astonishment; and yet they scarcely think it worth 

 •whde to watch the gossamer spider going through his exploits, because 

 he is "nothing but a spider." 



The mathematical accuracy of the honey-bee ; the regular pitched 

 battles and cruel slave trade of the ants ; the architectural skill of the 

 hornet and numerous other insects ; the sly craftiness of the hunting 

 spider; these, and a thousand other entomological wonders, they never 

 consider worthy of their notice. ''Go to the ant thou sluggard, consid- 

 er her ways and be wise." Observer. 



GRECIAN p:ducation, xo. v. 

 Pythagoras prohibited bloody sacrifices, and directed that the altar 

 erected for the worship of the gods, should not be stained with blood. 

 He prohibited swearing in the name of the gods, saying that every one 

 should aim to render himself so worthy of belief, that nothing more than 

 his assertion should be necessary to secure confidence. In the inter- 

 course of life, it should be our aim not to make enemies of friends, but 

 friends of enemies. He inculcated veneration for law, and opposition to 



