V. The Grecian IVomen.

The Grecian women continued to be kept in feclufion and retirement, even in the moft refined times, from a refpect to ancient cuftoms. Their refidence was limited to a fecluded part of the houfe, which took its name from its particular deftination to their ufe: they were vifited by no perfons but their nearest relations, and when they went from home, they were obliged by law to be attended by a flave, carrying a lighted torch. Their companions were their female flaves, with whom they were upon a level in point of accomplishments, and their time which they fpared from bringing up their children was engaged by the employments of the diftaff and the fhuttle. They feldom appeared in public except at religious feftivals and in folemn proceffions. Such a mode of life was not only calculated to infpire them with modefty and diffidence, which is natural to perfons unaccustomed to promifcuous converfation, and public life, but to cherish the growth of domeftic virtues. One of the greatest orators of Athens gives a lively idea of this reclufe ftate, by afferting, that it was the highest honour to a woman not to be the object either of public praife or cenfure. Amid the diforders of democratical government, and the activity of military expeditions, no leifure was found for the fexes to improve the arts of converfation, enlarge the sphere of their knowledge, and polish their manners. The female character was degraded, the paffion of

love was coarfe and indelicate, and the women were looked upon rather as the flaves than the equals of men. Their education was totally neglected, and little value was fet upon thofe female accomplishments, which, combined with the charms of beauty, and native elegance of mind, have fo much influence in improving the manners of the moderns.

It seems probable, that this may be relied be relied upon as a juft picture of the modeft women of Athens. During the period we are confidering, courtefans, fkilled in all the arts of feduction, were numerous throughout Greece, and their profeffion was countenanced by men of the first eminence. The beautiful Afpafia, born at Miletus, the chief city of Ionia, was the firft who introduced Afiatic elegance into Europe. She had the gratification to add Pericles to the lift of her admirers, and gained fuch influence over him, that he was accused of engaging his country in wars to avenge her quarrels. Under his fanction, the formed a fociety of courte fans, whofe arts were employed to attach the young Athenians to her intereft. Such were the charms of her converfation, that Socrates himfelf, his pupil Alcibiades, and the most respectable artifts, frequented her houfe. This circumftance may furnish a proof of the low ftate of mental accomplishments in the virtuous part of the fex, even during the moft refined period of Grecian hiftory.

The

The fplendid train of fuccefs, which rewarded the valour of Athens in the fifth century before Chrift, forms the moft glorious era in her annals.

In the

early parts of this hiftory, it is neceffary to have recourfe to very uncertain accounts to fatisfy our inquiries; fometimes we must be content with the fables of poets, or of tradition, and we muft aèquiefce in conjecture, where authentic memorials are not to be obtained. But with refpect to this illuftrious period, the difficulty confifts rather in the choice, than the difcovery of materials. The treafures of information are rich and various, as these topics have been recorded by the diligence of hiftorians, adorned by the eloquence of orators, and heightened by the invention of poets. The light of genius diffuses its moft fplendid radiance over objects, which were not only endeared to all the writers of Greece by the attachment of patriotifm, but fupplied the beft foundations for their literary fame. The triumphs obtained over the Perfians are confecrated to endless renown by the works of Efchylus, Lyfias, Ifocrates, Demofthenes, Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon.

Our surprise, when we remark the small number of thofe Greeks, who on fuch diftinguifhed occafions vanquished very superior numbers of Perfians, will be diminished, when we confider the compara

Efchylus flourished B. C. 458. Herodotus 445. Thucydides 426. Lyfias 412. Xenophon 400. Ifocrates 377. Demofthenes 350.

tive ftate of military education and difcipline. The Greeks acquired by their gymnastic exercises a robuft conftitution, and agility of limbs. The fuccelsful competitor for the crown of victory, by, running the race, hurling the fpear, or driving the chariot, obtained no lefs renown for himself than he reflected on his family and his country; and he was exalted in the opinion of the applauding multitudes to the fummit of human felicity. "Die," faid his congratulating companions to Anaxagoras, who had obtained a prize in the games, die, for thou canft not be a God." The poft of honour in battle was the reward of courage, alacrity, and fkill in the Olympic contefts. Their frequent wars enured the Greeks to hardfhips and fatigues, and accustomed them to thofe rapid movements in the field, which often decided the fate of armies, Thofe who fignalifed themfelves in the battles of Marathon, Salamis, and Platea, had before obtained rewards at the public games. There the flame of emulation was kindled, which afterwards burned with inextinguishable ardour, whenever they ftimulated each other by the moft powerful confiderations, to fight for the temples of their gods, the tombs of their ancestors, and the fafety of their wives and children.

Such was the exhortation which refounded through the leading fquadron of their ficet at the battle of Salamis.

Ω παῖδες Ἑλληνων ετε,

Ελευθεράτε πατρίδ', ελευθερωσε δε

Πάιδας, γυναῖκας, θεῶν τε πατρώων εδη,

θήκας τε προγόνων, των υπερ πάντων αγών

Elchyli Perfæ, 1. 400.

Their clofe and firm phalanx, formed of the most robuft and hardy youth in the front ranks, and the moft fteady veterans in the rear, was fcarcely to be refifted by any fuperiority of undifciplined numbers. Upon their heads they wore helmets of iron, their bodies were covered with coats of mail, and protected by maffy bucklers, their legs were fenced with brazen greaves, and their offenfive weapons were two-edged fwords, and long fpears. The Per fians on the contrary, in comparison with the troops of Greece, formed only an irregular crowd, compofed of various nations. Their weapons of attack were darts, bows and arrows, their left hands fupported like targets of ofier, upon their heads they wore filken turbans, and their bodies were covered with plates of thin metal. But their inferiority, when compared with their enemies, was in no re spect fo manifeft, as in the want of emulation and public fpirit. Their minds were enervated by the enjoyment of wealth and luxury, and fettered by the bondage of tyranny. They were infenfible to that love of glory, and to that pure and difinterested fpirit of enterprife, which fired the breaft of every Grecian foldier, and prompted him to seek the field of battle, as the nobleft sphere for the exercife of his talents.

a There is a full and poetical enumeration of the troops that followed Xerxes, in the beginning of the Perfe of Eichylus. He defcribes what he faw, for he fought at Marathon, Salamis, and Platea. He reprefents the Perfian army as chiefly confifting of cavalry, and armed in the manner I have mentioned.