superstition as then reigned in Athens, he never durst openly oppose the received religion, and was therefore obliged to preserve an outward show of it. But it is very probable, from the discourses he frequently held with his friends, that, in his heart, he despised and laughed at their monstrous opinions, and ridiculous mysteries, as having no other foundation than the fables of the poets; and that he had attained to a notion of the one only true God; insomuch that, upon the account of his belief of the Deity, and his exemplary life, some have thought fit to rank him with Christian philosophers. And indeed his behavior upon his trial was more like that of a christian martyr than of an impious pagan; where he appeared with such a composed confidence, as naturally results from innocence; and rather, as Cicero observes, as if he were to determine upon his judges, than to supplicate them as a criminal. 6. But how slight soever the proofs were against him, the faction was powerful enough to find him guilty. It was a privilege, however, granted him, to demand a mitigation of punishment to change the condemnation of death, into banishment, imprisonment, or a fine. But he replied generously, that he would choose neither of those punishments, because that would be to acknowledge himself guilty. This answer so incensed his judges, that they determined he should drink the hemlock, a punishment, at that time, much in use among them. Thirty days were allowed him to prepare to die; during which time, he conversed with his friends with the same evenness and serenity of mind he had ever done before. And though they had bribed the jailer for his escape, he refused it, as an ungenerous violation of the laws. He was about seventy years old when he suffered; which made him say, he thought himself happy to quit life, at a time when it begins to be troublesome; and that his death was rather a deliverance than a punishment. 7. Cicero has described, with great elegance, the lofty sentiments and magnanimous behavior of Socrates. While he held the fatal cup in his hand, he declared, that he considered death not as a punishment inflicted on him, but as a help furnished him of arriving so much sooner at heaven. What privilege was granted Socrates on being found guilty?-How did he reply to this offer?-In what manner did he suffer death? He gave it as his opinion, that upon the departure of our souls from our bodies, there are two passages for conducting them to the places of their eternal destination; one leading to never ending punishment, which receives those souls, that, during their residence on earth, have contaminated themselves with many great crimes; the other, leading to a state of felicity and bliss, which receives the souls of those who have lived virtuously in the world. 8. When Socrates had finished his discourse, he bathed himself. His children being then brought to him, he spoke to them a little, and then desired them to be taken away. The hour appointed for drinking the hemlock being come, they brought him the cup, which he received without any emotion, and then addressed a prayer to heaven. It is highly reasonable, said he, to offer my prayers to the Supreme Being on this occasion, and to beseech him to render my departure from earth, and my last journey, happy. Then he drank of the poison with amazing tranquillity. Observing his friends, in this fatal moment, weeping, and dissolved in tears, he reproved them with great mildness, asking them, whether their virtue had deserted them; "for," added he, "I have always heard, that it is our duty calmly to resign our breath, giving thanks to God." After walking about a little while, perceiving the poison beginning to work, he lay down on his couch, and, in a few moments after, breathed his last. Cicero declares that he could never read the account of the death of Socrates without shedding tears. 9. Who firmly stood in a corrupted state, Against the rage of tyrants single stood, Invincible; calm Reason's holy law, That voice of God within the attentive mind, Great Moral Teacher! Wisest of Mankind! 10. Soon after his death, the Athenians were convinced of his innocence, and considered all the misfortunes which afterwards befel the republic, as a punishment for the injustice of his sentence. When the academy and the other places of the city where he taught, presented themselves to the view of his countrymen, they could not refrain from reflecting on the reward bestowed by them, on one who had done them such important services. They cancelled the decree which had condemned him; put Melitus to death; banished his other accusers; and erected to his memory a statue of brass, which was executed by the famous Lysippus. THE SOCIAL STATE. MAN in society is like a flower Blown in its native bed-'tis there alone BATTLE OF MARATHON. 1. THE Persian army, commanded by Datis, consisted of That of the Athenians This had ten generals, and these ten were to 100,000 foot, and 10,000 horse. amounted in all but to 10,000 men. of whom Miltiades was the chief; have the command of the whole army, each for a day, one after another. There was a great dispute among these officers, whether they should hazard a battle, or expect the enemy within their walls. The latter opinion had a great majority, and appeared very reasonable; for what appearance of success could there be in facing, with a handful of soldiers, so numerous and formidable an army as that of the Persians? Miltiades, however, declared for the contrary opinion; and showed, that the only means to exalt the courage of their own troops, and to strike a terror into those of Who commanded the Persians ?-How numerous were the Persians in the battle of Marathon ?-How many were in the Athenian army? -Who commanded the Athenians? the enemy, was to advance boldly towards them with an air of confidence and intrepidity. Aristides strenuously defended this opinion, and brought so many of the commanders into it, that it finally prevailed. 2. Aristides reflecting, that a command which changes every day, must necessarily be feeble, unequal, not of a piece, often contrary to itself and incapable either of projecting or executing any uniform design, was of opinion that their danger was both too great and too pressing for them to expose their affairs to such inconveniences. In order to prevent them, he judged it necessary to vest the whole power in one single person; and, to induce his colleagues to act conformably, he himself set the first example of resignation. When the day came on which it was his turn to take upon him the command, he resigned it to Miltiades, as the more able and experienced general. The other commanders did the same, all sentiments of jealousy giving way to the love of the public good; and by this day's behavior we may learn, that it is almost as glorious to acknowledge merit in other persons, as to have it in one's self. 3. Miltiades, however, thought fit to wait till his own day eame. Then, like an able captain, he endeavored, by the advantage of the ground, to gain what he wanted in strength and number. He drew up his army at the foot of a mountain, that the enemy should not be able either to surround him, or charge him in the rear. On the two sides of his army he caused large trees to be thrown, which were cut down on purpose, in order to cover his flanks, and render the Persian cavalry useless. Datis, their commander, was very sensible that the place was not advantageous for him; but, relying upon the number of his troops, which was infinitely superior to that of the Athenians, and, on the other hand, not being willing to stay till the reinforcement of the Spartans, he determined to engage. The Athenians did not wait for the enemy's charging them. As soon as the signal was given for battle, they ran against the enemy with all the fury imaginable. Miltiades 4. The battle was very fierce and obstinate. had made the wings of his army exceeding strong, but had left the main body more weak, and not so deep; the reason of which seems manifest enough. Having but 10,000 men to oppose to such a numerous and vast army, it was impossi ble for him either to make a large front, or to give an equal depth to his battalions. He was obliged, therefore, to take his choice; and he imagined, that he could gain the victory no otherwise than by the efforts he should make with his two wings, in order to break and disperse those of the Persians; not doubting but, when his wings were once victorious, they would be able to attack the enemy's main flank, and complete the victory without much difficulty. This was the same plan as Hannibal followed afterwards at the battle of Cannæ, which succeeded so well with him, and which indeed can scarce ever fail of succeeding. 5. The Persians then attacked the main body of the Grecian army, and made their greatest efforts particularly upon their front. This was led by Aristides and Themistocles, who supported it a long time with an intrepid courage and bravery; but were at length obliged to give ground. At that very instant came up their two victorious wings, which had defeated those of the enemy, and put them to flight. Nothing could be more seasonable for the main body of the Grecian army, which began to be broken, being quite borne down by the numbers of the Persians. The scale was quickly turned, and the barbarians were entirely routed. They all betook themselves to their heels, and fled, not towards their camp, but to their ships, that they might make their escape. The Athenians pursued them thither, took seven of their ships, and set many of them on fire. The Athenians had not above 200 men killed in this engagement; whereas of the Persians above 6,000 were slain, without reckoning those who fell into the sea as they endeavored to escape, or those that were consumed with the ships set on fire. 6. Hippias was killed in the battle. That ungrateful and perfidious citizen, in order to recover the unjust dominion usurped by his father, Pisistratus, over the Athenians, had the baseness to become a servile courtier to a barbarian prince, and to implore his aid against his native country. Urged on by hatred and revenge, he suggested all the means he could invent to load his country with chains; and even put himself at the head of its enemies, with design to reduce that city to ashes, to which he owed his birth, and against which he had How many of the Athenians were slain in this battle?How many of the Persians? |