ANLIQU1TIES.—BOOK II. 
195 
as have been known in the old world may have taken place 
here. 
Before the invention of letters, there would be a constant 
succession of advances to civilization, and of relapses to barba¬ 
rism. The Chaldeans, through the glimmer of ancient history, 
are represented to us as the first inventors of the arts; but may 
not those people have been preceded by the same revolutions 
as have succeeded them. In long and arduous advances, they 
might attain to a great height in civilization, and wars, pesti¬ 
lence, or other calamities, precipitate them to the state of the 
barbarian or the savage. It is true, the traces of art would long 
remain undefaced; but they would not remain forever ; Time 
would obliterate them. 
“ He grasp’d a hero’s antique bust. 
The marble crumbled into dust, 
And sunk beneath the shade.”— seleeck osborne. 
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