Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Comparative Morality Of The Ancients And Moderns.
such children as were born too delicate or weak for the > military functions of a Spartan . The Spartans , in fact , were soldiers , not meni Their lawgiver seems ro have viewed the one as contradistinguished from the other ; since in the warlike character , which consisted in triumphing over the tenderness of nature , and confronting death with savage resolution , he hath sunk all the virtues and affections of humanity . From the cultivation of the gentler passions he
was so utterly averse , that he banished all the humanizing arts ; lest they should soften the bosom into benevolence , or excite the social sympathies , or kindle those charities of father , son , and brother , which he diligently laboured to extinguish . Hostile , indeed , to every species of mental improvement , he suffered no form of literature to exist among his subjects . To render the body robust and active , to the
extinction almost of the mind , was the sole object of the Spartan legislator . The boys , therefore , were taken away at a very early age from their parents , and inured , under the care of " the state , to hardships , and difficulties , and dangers . They were taught to bear the severest extremities of heat and coldhunger and thirstwith patience and
, , tranquillity ; and , merely with a view of exercising or hardtening their bodies , were often beat in so merciless a manner that they expired under the ' whip ; and ( what wonderfully proves the force of habit ) they have been known in such situations to expire without a groan . Thus , then , all natural affection between parents and children was
destroyed or precluded , -and the direst ferocity planted in its place . It seems , indeed , that * patents felt some interest in the fate of their offspring ; for Spartan mothers have been applauded for their firmness and magnanimity whilst they rejoiced over their children , slain in battle , and pointed with triumph to the mangled bodies . To teach them the cunning and artifice which they might have occasion to practise against the enemythe Spartans were countenanced by the
, legislature in thievery . The best thieves were the best subjects . The Spartan , indeed , is only to be contemplated in the camp . Estranged from all the virtues and comforts of domestic life , he could scarcely boast the fidelity or attachment of a female to soften his . military cares ! The women of Lacedasmon had neither gentlenessnor modestynor sense of shame . Suchthenwas Sparta :
, , , , cruelty and cunning were her cardinal virtues . Yet the classic scholar looks back on Sparta with admiration . The other celebrated city of Greece hath a higher claim to our notice . The virtues of Athens were not so ambiguous or so revolting . But the Athenians seem to have been as strangely addicted to superstition as the Spartans were to war . They devoted half
their time to the worship of the gods ; and the homage that so occup ied their attention was most absurd and ridiculous . This , however , is the least exceptionable part of a religion which , by holding forth the most flagrant examples of immorality in the persons of the gods , b y exacting avast variety of shocking and indecent ceremonies , and X x 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Comparative Morality Of The Ancients And Moderns.
such children as were born too delicate or weak for the > military functions of a Spartan . The Spartans , in fact , were soldiers , not meni Their lawgiver seems ro have viewed the one as contradistinguished from the other ; since in the warlike character , which consisted in triumphing over the tenderness of nature , and confronting death with savage resolution , he hath sunk all the virtues and affections of humanity . From the cultivation of the gentler passions he
was so utterly averse , that he banished all the humanizing arts ; lest they should soften the bosom into benevolence , or excite the social sympathies , or kindle those charities of father , son , and brother , which he diligently laboured to extinguish . Hostile , indeed , to every species of mental improvement , he suffered no form of literature to exist among his subjects . To render the body robust and active , to the
extinction almost of the mind , was the sole object of the Spartan legislator . The boys , therefore , were taken away at a very early age from their parents , and inured , under the care of " the state , to hardships , and difficulties , and dangers . They were taught to bear the severest extremities of heat and coldhunger and thirstwith patience and
, , tranquillity ; and , merely with a view of exercising or hardtening their bodies , were often beat in so merciless a manner that they expired under the ' whip ; and ( what wonderfully proves the force of habit ) they have been known in such situations to expire without a groan . Thus , then , all natural affection between parents and children was
destroyed or precluded , -and the direst ferocity planted in its place . It seems , indeed , that * patents felt some interest in the fate of their offspring ; for Spartan mothers have been applauded for their firmness and magnanimity whilst they rejoiced over their children , slain in battle , and pointed with triumph to the mangled bodies . To teach them the cunning and artifice which they might have occasion to practise against the enemythe Spartans were countenanced by the
, legislature in thievery . The best thieves were the best subjects . The Spartan , indeed , is only to be contemplated in the camp . Estranged from all the virtues and comforts of domestic life , he could scarcely boast the fidelity or attachment of a female to soften his . military cares ! The women of Lacedasmon had neither gentlenessnor modestynor sense of shame . Suchthenwas Sparta :
, , , , cruelty and cunning were her cardinal virtues . Yet the classic scholar looks back on Sparta with admiration . The other celebrated city of Greece hath a higher claim to our notice . The virtues of Athens were not so ambiguous or so revolting . But the Athenians seem to have been as strangely addicted to superstition as the Spartans were to war . They devoted half
their time to the worship of the gods ; and the homage that so occup ied their attention was most absurd and ridiculous . This , however , is the least exceptionable part of a religion which , by holding forth the most flagrant examples of immorality in the persons of the gods , b y exacting avast variety of shocking and indecent ceremonies , and X x 2