The AMPHICTTONES. 159 



cha of the Arundelian marbles, marks the inftitution of this 

 council. 



The Amphictyones, before they began their deliberations, 

 were obliged, as we learn from ^Eschines, to take the follow- 

 ing moft dreadful oath. " I fwear never to overthrow any of the 

 " cities which enjoy the privilege of fending deputies to this 

 " council ; never to divert the courfe of any river, either in 

 " peace or war. If any people lhall come with any fuch de- 

 " fign, I engage to carry war into their country, to raze their 

 " cities, boroughs, and villages, and to treat them, in all re- 

 " fpedts-, as my mod implacable enemies. If any (hall be 

 " found fo impious as to dare to rob the temple of Apollo at 

 " Delphi of the rich donations laid up there, or to favour fuch 

 " an attempt, to employ all my efforts, with hands, feet, and 

 " voice, to inflict vengeance on the facrilegious wretch." This 

 oath was accompanied with a mod dreadful imprecation againft 

 thofe who mould violate or falfify it. The imprecation was 

 conceived in the following terms : " If any man fhall violate this 

 " oath, be he private man, city, or people, may he feel the ven- 

 " geance of Apollo, of Diana, of Latona, of Minerva the 

 " Provident ! May his lands yield no fruit ! May their wives, and 

 " even their cattle, bear nothing but monfters ! May the facri- 

 " legious wretches lofe their law-fuits ! May they be vanquish- 

 ed in battle, and finally perifh, themfelves, their houfes, and 



1 all their offspring ! Let their facririces never be accepted by 

 " Apollo, Diana, Minerva the Provident! May thefe dei- 

 " ties abhor their vows and their offerings !" Let us now fee 

 with what powers and privileges this auguft aflembly was in- 

 verted. 



No private caufes were determined by this court. Thefe were 

 deemed too trivial and uninterefting to engage the deliberation 

 of this auguft convention. Their functions were partly of a 

 facred, and partly of a civil complexion. The former have 

 been elucidated in the preceding pages. As civil magiftrates, 



they 



