<1n' the LJfiADiT^G PASSIONb 



the first rude efforts towards a basis of government and eivilizatiou in 

 northern Eurppe. 



Let us contrast this picture with one of a different kind. 



Seated in an early period of the world in the vicinity of these ferocious 

 ^mountaineers, but at the southern foot of the Caucasus, instead of at its 

 summit, we behold anoUier set of barbarians, who progressively spread 

 themselves into the softer regions of the south and west, under the names 

 of Gomerians or Cymerians, and Celts. Their patronymic appellation 

 sufficiently proves them to have been the sons of Gomer, and gives them a 

 near connexion with the tribes we have just noticed. The country which 

 formed their cradle was the finest part of Asia Minor, a country that has 

 been regarded in all ages as the garden of tlie world. Soft tepid airs ; a 

 rich productive soil, that scarcely demanded cultivation ; plains and sloping 

 hills extending in every direction, and covered with fattening verdure ; 

 fountains interspersed and meandering rivers ; banks blossoming with the 

 choicest flowers, and suffused with the sweetest odours ; the refreshing 

 fohage of deep umbrageous woods ; and over all the blue and cloudless 

 canopy of the skies, diffusing light and laughter and benevolence, seemed 

 labouring with happy concert to subjugate the rugged feelings of the savage 

 heart, and attune it to harmony and peace. Nor was the magic force ex- 

 erted in vain. The agreeable ideas hereby excited, prompted them, in 

 their migrations, to seek, as far as they were able, for regions of a similar 

 character ; and the growing impulse of internal pleasure thus derived from 

 external beauty gave a new direction to their mental powers. Selfish lust 

 softened gradually into social love ; the activity of a sportive fancy subdued 

 the gloomy dictates of cruelty and revenge ; the Gorgon form of fear gave 

 place to the younar radiance of hope ; and superstition dropped her circlet 

 of snakes, and half listened to the soothing song of reason and of truth. 



In proof of this, it is only necessary to mention that they spread them- 

 selves from the head-spring of the Danube or Ister, as it was formerly 

 called, to the mouth of the Tagus, and peopled in their progress Phrygia, 

 30 celebrated for its dithyrambic music and vigorous dance ; the Troad, or 

 country of Troy, ages ago 



Married to immortal verse : 



Thrace, of scarcely less distinction than: Troy ; Hungary, the greater part 

 of Germany, Gaul, Italy, Spain, and the British islands ; sometimes con- 

 fining themselves to small independent tribes, and sometimes, as in the 

 warmer regions more especially, sinking conjointly into subjugation, under 

 one ambitious and powerful chieftain. Different local circumstances 

 diversified their general character ; but for the most part we find them 

 equally courteous and courageous, faithful to their engagements, hospita- 

 ble to strangers, full of patriotism, loyalty, and domestic virtue ; and let 

 me add, it is to the quarter I am now speaking of that the Greeks were 

 indebted not only for their Phrygian music, which formed their most en- 

 thusiastic and maddening movements, as I have just observed, but also for 

 their Lydian, which formed its opposite, and was equally adapted to quell 

 the cares and fury of the breast, and melt it into feehngs of tenderness and 

 affection. It is under this description Dry den speaks of it in his Ode te 

 Alexander's Feast. 



, Softly sweet in Lydian measures 



Soon he soothed his soul to pleasuxes. 



