Nugae literariae: prose and verse

발행: 1841년

분량: 600페이지

출처: archive.org

분류: 미분류

111쪽

ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

-olympius, Olympius i is the cry. Who pretends to Such a name 8 Pericles, - the magnificent, the polished, the profuse, - Athens his monument, Greece his Wors hipper,-sor his fame in these lisis, for resemblance to this divinity, they accord to him the Daniel He takes his place on the stadium, and will havs a throw l Tho wrestior Who contests With himeastly vanquishes him noW. HOW proud he is of conquering Pericles t Ere, however, he can look around him, the de aled

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nophon, though living in the neighbouring town of Scyllos, sor

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ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

donis rise hesore his sye whicli his ambitious pupit could noverconquer, or haVing conquered could not retain, et they yiel dio the Stagirite in vassat subjection and indissolubie allegia ce lΑ neW notation os ages Ahali commence, eighteen centurieS mayWear aWay of it, but his Ratiocinative rod stili holds gway. This cloud of dust bespesis some adventurous chario-teer. As it dissipates, We mark his skili. How perfectly hekeeps his trach. But Will Anniceris never remember What the Sage of Academe said to him When he achieved his present Dat stili more signalty around tho Grovo Θ-It Was a salse report. It was not likely that the Hero osso many fghts should commit himself to the equality of theseencounters. But there Was some foundation for it. Alexander has been heard to say, Give me hings for my competitors, and I will contond at Olympia.' -This Painter bears a picture Whicli has gained the prige. It is Timanthes t You may suppose it is the Iphegenia, bound to the altis of Aulis, While Atrides averis his face. ΝΟ,-thatis not a themo for this contention l It is the rage of Ajax Whentio is doniod tho aruis of Achilles. Socrates is now old. But he has always admired theselisis, though he has not grappled in them. His love of sculpture, a hereditary passion, mahes this place of resori a riclidelicti. Warrior lio has been in more serious selds, as Some of his rescuod friends can teli. His physiognomy is stili heavy and SenSual, ut a ray os divinity is fleeping there. Virtue findsin that tongue her speech, and Intellect in that eye her throne. Ali, save a sophist here and there, do him reveretice. Ηe has attended. for the last time. But so fuit is he of the scene, that When soon after his Judges cali upon him, according to the custom, to say What Ahould be his sate, lis ories, I et me hokept at the public expense the remaining days of my life in tho Prytaneum, a honour I sar more deserve than the victors of the Olympic GameS. -Who approaches With ait this retinue 8 It is a sim- pering and obsequious trian. Timon is profuse in his gilis. He scatters them like a Lingly largess. The thousa nil smiles

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What is saltery should no more caress 8 There are certain lines and expressions, Hready formed in that countenance, Whichwould serve and indicate a man-hater l-You must not suppose that these Games afford no amus

ment and alloW no jest. AEneas laugiis at the Sorry figure and plight of Nisus. The Grecian camp cannot but be merry ut theexpense of the begrimed Oileus. Aristophanes is therefore here. Ηe is finding potnt, is not venoni, for some future Sting. Buthis Wit is alWays patriotic, and instead of being the mummer, heis the satirist for the salie of philosophy, Deedom, and laW.

The vast assembly rise spontaneousty to congratulate him, and honour the parent of the conquerors more than the conquerorSthemselves. They approVe the preference. Calching the Sympathy, they lin him in their arnis i They bear him round tho

Demigods descend upon the scene. Hercules standS fortit great, I Oble, poWerfui, With a refinement of heaven around him. The Dioscuri bend Dom their stars, and look complacently on thespot Where their triumphs were achieved. The Immortals have

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ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

mUSeS over other times. Jove visits his temple, and propitioustyregards a nation Which so rapturousty adores his patronage of hospitality and Deedom l But the apparitions are no more lone Scene Only more must Ne visit. The victors are to beseas ted in tho banquetting room of the Prytaneum i Pass by the Vestat stirine, and enter it. Contrary to the custom os moSt Grecian Dasis to whicli the guests brought their oWn provision8, this Was, according to Plutarch, a Pindaric or a common board. About the cates and viands ali We may hope is that, in neWSpaper Phrase Commemorative of such things, they reflected infnite credit on the Worthy hosts. One potnt We knoW, - a cook

om Elis, '-was a proverb for a gastronome. Literature WRSnot sorgoiten. Aulus Gellius quotes Dom Μarcus Varro, - During the entertainment, it is not every thing that shouldbe read, but such as are at the fame time useful and delightful. 'Pindar is there, the songster of the Games. Ali caress him l-Μusic reigiis in this festat holar,

Dapibus supremi Grata testudo Jovis.

They have resolved that Pindar shali sing one of his celebrated hymns, and loud are the plaudiis as he obeys. What adream os inspiration maniles on his brow l What a thrili comes Dom the chordes tho moment his hand approaches them l Howthe wings of his foui stir and dispread and mahe theniselves

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But the bard has grown too serious for his convivial audi- tors, and they require a change of lay. Courteousty he invitostheir choice. The cry is, the Graces, the Gracesi No

Thamyris, but Pindari

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ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

Carolling, blithe, Euphrosyne l

Though no aquatic exercises have taken place within thos trici rule of the present Games, yet a Regalia Will soon bocolobrated ut Sunium. Then is the time sor jests. A trierarch

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oN THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

remoVentem pectore fluctus. 'A controversy haS ariSen concerning the clatuis of the threo great Tragic bards. It is setiled that the compositions of Eschylus may be compared to Cyclopean Architecture, ponderous, Wild, and typic : that those of Sophocles resemble a Temple, perfected in solemn proportions and filled with awfulcries: while those of Euripides remitid iis of a Homo sacred asPenates can make it, yet Wanting no tenderness that wise and child caii gather round iis hearth. The floWing gobleis Once more go round, and having drunk

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civiligation, and 8ounder philosophy, and purer religion, may elevate them not only to the standard of tho lino

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ASpice, venturo laetentur ut omnia saeclo ly VIRGIL Ecloga iv. 52. One consolation, however, offers itSelf amid this generat Wreck of man, of his works and of his inventions; it is, that new political associations arise Domthe dissolution of hingdonas and empires, and cali forti, with in creased vigourand interest the energies and viriues of the human heari; that new combinations of sound 8pring nom the decay of fading languages, assording freSh eXPreSSion sto the understanding, and opening other sields to the imagination; and that thus ali the shining scen ery and the ceaseless vicissitudes of the externat worid, tendonly to develope the po ers of the mino, and finalty to promote the gradual Perfection of the intellectuat system. EUSTACE. Classical TOur. This is an ari, Which does meiad nature, change it rather; but The art itself is nature.

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