Heads of an Analysis of the History of Greece ...

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John W, 1853 - Greece - 106 pages

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Page 6 - If any man is inclined to call the unknown anteHellenic period of Greece by the name of Pelasgic, it is open to him to do so. But this is a name carrying with it no assured predicates, noway enlarging our insight into real history, nor enabling us to explain what would be the real historical problem — how, or from whom, the Hellenes acquired that stock of dispositions, aptitudes, arts, &c., with which they begin their career.
Page 20 - walked in glory and in joy, Following his plough upon the mountain-side...
Page 79 - The history of Alexander forms an important epoch in the history of mankind. Unlike other Asiatic conquerors, his progress was marked by something more than devastation and ruin ; at every step of his course the Greek language and civilization took root and flourished ; and after his death Greek kingdoms were formed in all parts of Asia, which continued to exist for centuries. By his conquests the knowledge of mankind was in.
Page 61 - ... his homely jokes. But soon the magic charm of his voice made itself felt. The peculiar sweetness of its tone had an effect which even the thunder of Pericles failed to produce. The laughter ceased — the crowd thickened — the gay youth, whom nothing else could tame, stood transfixed and awestruck in his presence — there was a solemn thrill in his words...
Page 106 - ... and economy of price, which the present age demands. The Edition now proposed will be distinguished from all preceding Editions in many important respects. It will include the Works of several Poets entirely omitted from previous Collections, especially those stores of Lyrical and Ballad Poetry in which our Literature is richer than that of any other country, and which, independently of their poetical claims, are peculiarly interesting as illustrations of Historical Events and National Customs.
Page 12 - If we are asked whether it be not a legend embodying portions of historical matter, and raised upon a basis of truth, — whether there may not really have occurred at the foot of the hill of Ilium a war purely human and political, without gods, without heroes, without Helen, without Amazons, without Ethiopians under the beautiful son of Eos, without the wooden horse, without the characteristic and expressive features of the old epical war, — like the mutilated trunk of...
Page 57 - Paralus, but also his sister, several other relatives, and his best and most useful political friends. Amidst this train of domestic calamities, and in the funeral obsequies of so many of his dearest friends, he remained master of his grief, and maintained his habitual self-command, until the last misfortune, — the death of his favorite son Paralus, which left his house without any legitimate representative to maintain the family and the hereditary sacred rites. On this final blow...
Page 69 - These words were scarcely uttered, when the whole assembly melted into tears. The forlorn condition of that young and virtuous princess, expelled the royal palace of her father, and inhabiting a miserable cottage, in want and wretchedness, recalled to...
Page 105 - Poets may be found in the fact, that no such publication exists. The only Collections we possess consist of naked and frequently imperfect Texts, put forth without sufficient literary supervision. Independently of other defects, these voluminous Collections are incomplete as a whole, from their omissions of many Poets -whose works are of the highest interest, while the total absence of critical and illustrative Notes renders them comparatively worthless to the Student of our National Literature....
Page 13 - Deiphobus in the under-world ; if we are asked whether there was not really some such historical Trojan war as this, our answer must be, that as the possibility of it cannot be denied, so neither can the reality of it be affirmed. We possess nothing but the ancient epic itself without any independent evidence : had it been an age of records indeed, the Homeric epic in its exquisite and unsuspecting simplicity would probably never have come into existence. Whoever therefore ventures to dissect Homer...

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