ANALYSIS OF PART I.

A VIEW of Society as it may be supposed to have existed in some early age.-Influence of Superstition and Despotism on the Human Mind, as Society began to assume a more compact and social nature.-Rise of Genius, Eloquence, Liberty, and Patriotism in Greecetheir influence in developing the powers of the individual, and the energies of political bodies.-Retrospective view of the Ruins of Empires-Causes of their extinction.-Ancient contrasted with Modern Greece.-Influence of Greece upon Individual Genius, and upon the Character of succeeding Ages.

1

THE

PROGRESS OF SOCIETY.

PART I.

DARK seem'd the destiny of man, and mind,

Once scatter'd round the solitary earth-
Here-heartless clans, cold, ignorant, unrefined;
Devoid of truth, of hope, of moral worth,
Were wasting life in sensual, sordid mirth,
Or scattering death and ruin o'er their kind—
There-kindred hordes were starting into birth,
Midst wilds and forests, like themselves unkind,
In emulous career, with appetites as blind!

And when advanced;-when empires proudly rose;

As if to mock the frowning eye of God,—

As if to sport with life's unnumber'd woes—
Dark superstition, terrible! unawed!

Bade him for ever in corruption plod ;

Bade him renounce what reason might disclose,

Chain fancy's wing, that ventured oft abroad,

And humbly bow in homage to his foes,

And dread the light from heav'n that chance might interpose!

And Despotism join'd her kindred aid
To stupify the soul with sloth and fear-
A browner horror fell upon the shade,
Extending deeply o'er his blind career-
And millions died, that one a wreath might wear,

And sit a god-on human rights to tread !

As many more, unhonour'd with a tear!

That low ambition, sordid and afraid,

Might propagate its kind, untroubled, undismay'd: