66 



"■ shifting sands threaten to overwhelm .wbQle; c^m^i^s at 

 •' once. Such are the effects of clijnate; ^uwi geographical 

 position."* ■ , . i:i . •■ ' ■; 



The prevalence of religion may be considered as ano- 

 ther political icireuTOStance', which feas a powerful; shape 

 in promoting, or resisting: the progress oi'.Jinei[(&;t^i'' /ili^he 

 influence of false religion, aixi the;.s,Upej;StiMorU3 ■vt^oj'ship 

 of images, in the time of ancient paganism, manifestly 

 tended to bring the arts of sculpture .and painting to per- 

 fection. The utmost magnificencO of expense, and en- 

 couragement were employed, to render these symbols of 

 the Deity, and the edifices in which they were placed, 

 truly worthy of a divinity .-f- Thus artists Tvere stimulated 

 to display their abilities, in exhibiting the forms of the 

 ancient heathen divinities in the subliroest manner; and 

 in, adorning their temples with pictures, sculptures, and 

 other decorations. Poetry and music, in all ages, and all 

 states of society, seem to have supplied a part of reli- 

 gious worship; and the natural enthusiasm of the bard 

 received new inspirations from the feelings of religixjus fer- 

 vor. Poetry, thus animated and exaltetl, supplied the pa- 

 gan ritual with hymns, in honour of the Deity. Most of 

 these devotional poems of the ancient heathens have pe-' 

 rished, perhaps through the zeal of the first Christians: 

 but (if we may judge from poetical histpry,, or from the 



remains 



* The author begs to be excused, for having extracted so largely from 

 Montesquieu. 



t Such were the temple and statue of the Olympian Jupiter, at Athens. 



