Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Degenerate Manners Of The Athenians.
Of the degeneracy of the Athenians in the time of Philip , I snail transcribe Dr . Leland ' s very animated account , from his Life and Reign of Philip , King of Macedoii . Perhaps an Englishman may not be able to read it , without making some melancholy applications to a nation but too nearly resembling them . " It may not be thought unworthy of attention , " says Dr . Lelancl , to examine what was the manner of private life in Athensat the
" , eve of its downfall , when every part of its government betrayed such total corruption and depravity . ' ' " A love for public spectacles was the first thing which the youth were taught . There , every object , which could inflame their passions , was presented ' to their view ; ' they hung with an effeminate pleasure on the musical airs with which women were employed to enervate
and captivate them ; they wasted their important hours , which should have been devoted to discip line and instruction , in wanton dalliance with the performers , and lavished their fortunes and their vigour in an infamous commerce with these , and other women of abandoned
characters . " The schools of their philosophers were in vain open for their instruction ; and , possibly , these mig ht have been held in some contempt , as fitted only for ' the formal and the recluse , and beneath the notice of the man of business , destined to the exalted and active scenes of life . Thus , the younger men entered into what is now called the worldtotallignorant ' and considerablcorrupted ; already
accus-, y , y tomed to regard ^ ll selfish gratifications , as their chief happiness , and prepared to acquire the means of these gratifications , by the most sordid , or the most iniquitous practices . " Their love of money , or their incapacity for more rational entertainment , engaged them in gaming ; which , when frequently indulged , is well known to grow into an infatuating habit , which , taste and refeasts
flection cannot always subdue .. Magnificent and costly were now also become honourable distinctions at Athens . The sordid gratification of their palate became the study , and exercised the invention , of its inhabitants . Thus was their wealth lavishly aud ignobly wasted , while the public exigencies were sparingly and reluctantly lied
supp . " Athenasus has recorded one almost incredible instance of their depravity . They had lately , as we learn from this author , conferred the freedom of their city ( the hig hest compliment , usually paid to kings and potentates ) on " two men , whose only merit was , that their father had been eminent in the ait of cookery , and was famous for having introduced new sauces . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Degenerate Manners Of The Athenians.
Of the degeneracy of the Athenians in the time of Philip , I snail transcribe Dr . Leland ' s very animated account , from his Life and Reign of Philip , King of Macedoii . Perhaps an Englishman may not be able to read it , without making some melancholy applications to a nation but too nearly resembling them . " It may not be thought unworthy of attention , " says Dr . Lelancl , to examine what was the manner of private life in Athensat the
" , eve of its downfall , when every part of its government betrayed such total corruption and depravity . ' ' " A love for public spectacles was the first thing which the youth were taught . There , every object , which could inflame their passions , was presented ' to their view ; ' they hung with an effeminate pleasure on the musical airs with which women were employed to enervate
and captivate them ; they wasted their important hours , which should have been devoted to discip line and instruction , in wanton dalliance with the performers , and lavished their fortunes and their vigour in an infamous commerce with these , and other women of abandoned
characters . " The schools of their philosophers were in vain open for their instruction ; and , possibly , these mig ht have been held in some contempt , as fitted only for ' the formal and the recluse , and beneath the notice of the man of business , destined to the exalted and active scenes of life . Thus , the younger men entered into what is now called the worldtotallignorant ' and considerablcorrupted ; already
accus-, y , y tomed to regard ^ ll selfish gratifications , as their chief happiness , and prepared to acquire the means of these gratifications , by the most sordid , or the most iniquitous practices . " Their love of money , or their incapacity for more rational entertainment , engaged them in gaming ; which , when frequently indulged , is well known to grow into an infatuating habit , which , taste and refeasts
flection cannot always subdue .. Magnificent and costly were now also become honourable distinctions at Athens . The sordid gratification of their palate became the study , and exercised the invention , of its inhabitants . Thus was their wealth lavishly aud ignobly wasted , while the public exigencies were sparingly and reluctantly lied
supp . " Athenasus has recorded one almost incredible instance of their depravity . They had lately , as we learn from this author , conferred the freedom of their city ( the hig hest compliment , usually paid to kings and potentates ) on " two men , whose only merit was , that their father had been eminent in the ait of cookery , and was famous for having introduced new sauces . "