3 8o ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



The shatter' d axle dashing, from the wheels 

 Fell headlong, hamper' d In the tangling reins. 

 The frighted mares flew divers o'er the course. 



*fc. j 



The throng'd assembly, when they saw the Chief 

 Hurl'd from his chariot, with compassion mov'd, 

 His youth deplored ; deplored him, glorious late 

 For mighty deeds, now doom'd to mighty woes, 

 Now dragg'd along the dust, his feet in air : 

 Till hasting to his aid, and scarce at length 

 The frantic mares restraining, from the reins 

 The charioteers releas'd him, and convey'd 

 With wounds and gore disfigure!, to his friends. 

 The just Amphictyons on the Athenian steeds 

 The Delphic laurel solemnly eon f err d. 



In a political view — seldom lost sight of by a Greek 

 — these games were productive of no slight advantages. 

 Being sacred to Jupiter, they protected the inhabitants of 

 Elis against all the calamities of war, and the fear of 

 displeasing the god of thunder kept all parties honest. 

 Greece was also generally short of horses, and nothing- 

 was so likely to encourage the breed of them as the 

 emulation raised amongst the different states — to say 

 nothing of the great circulation of money, for the olive 

 crown was purchased at a great expense. By these 

 games being celebrated at the beginning of every fifth 

 year, they settled their chronology and dates ; and a great 

 part of the traditional history of their country rests upon 

 their base, for they lasted one thousand years. As for 

 the reward, as I have before stated, it was nothing to 

 the pocket, but the honour was above all price, as the 

 following anecdote will show. A Spartan was offered a 



