new theatre of action. It found one in the mildness of a 

 Grecian sky; in the balm of a Grecian atmosphere ; in the 

 variegated beauties of a Grecian landscape ; in the diversi- 

 fied qualities of a Grecian soil. The mountain, the stream, 

 the bay, the harbour, unproductive Attica, and fruitful Mes- 

 senia, all furnished motives for action. Man did act, and 

 thus became acquainted with his own powers, and the extra- 

 ordinary qualities with which his God had endowed him. 

 Here, for the first time, the important secret was discovered, 

 that in the inventory of the universe, man forms an item of 

 value. The high estimation in which he here held himself is 

 inferable from the fact, that he has invested his very gods 

 with human attributes. He has transferred his own nature 

 to his own heavens, and admired, and loved, and feared its 

 display in the wisdom of his Pallas, in the loves of his Venus, 

 in the valor of his Mars, in the thunders of his Jupiter. From 

 the volitions, powers, and energies, he discovered in himself, 

 he inferred that he was something more than a mere machine 

 in the operations he effected. In the relations existing be- 

 tween him and external nature, he discovered a mutuality ; 

 that he was as essential to the world as the world was to 

 him. The conviction of his free agency resulted from his 

 feelings and his reasoning. But if free to act or forbear, he 

 must be accountable for his choice, otherwise there could be 

 no moral right or wrong. This principle of accountability, 

 resulting from the conviction of his free agency, is distinctly 

 traceable in all the great outlines of Grecian polity. When 

 an important principle is first discovered, it is not surprising 

 that its practical operation should be tested by a great variety 

 of applications. We accordingly recognize this as the fun- 

 damental principle, entering essentially into the very being 

 of those little democracies. It was the key- stone of their 

 governmental arch. Without it, the entire fabric was a ruin. 

 With it, an exhibition of order, beauty, and harmony. Ac- 

 countability direct, immediate, and unconditional, was the 

 tenure by which every ofiice was held, the condition attached 

 'o every official act. Through the medium of the ostracism, 

 • i .\\aUc(] worth itself was compelled to account for its 



