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Still further proof is furnished by the exquisite literary perfection of Greek writings。 One of the common arguments in favour of the study of Greek at the present day is based upon the opinion that in the best works extant in that language the art of literary expression has reached wellnigh absolute perfection。 I fully concur in this opinion； so far as to doubt if even the greatest modern writers； even a Pascal or a Voltaire； can fairly sustain a comparison with such Athenians as Plato or Lysias。 This excellence of the ancient books is in part immediately due to the fact that they were not written in a hurry； or amid the anxieties of an over…busy existence； but it is in greater part due to the indirect consequences of a leisurely life。 These books were written for a public which knew well how to appreciate the finer beauties of expression； and； what is still more to the point； their authors lived in a community where an elegant style was habitual。 Before a matchless style can be written； there must be a good style 〃in the air；〃 as the French say。 Probably the most finished talking and writing of modern times has been done in and about the French court in the seventeenth century； and it is accordingly there that we find men like Pascal and Bossuet writing a prose which for precision； purity； and dignity has never since been surpassed。 It is thus that the unapproachable literary excellence of ancient Greek books speaks for the genuine culture of the people who were expected to read them； or to hear them read。 For one of the surest indices of true culture； whether professedly literary or not； is the power to express one's self in precise； rhythmical； and dignified language。 We hardly need a better evidence than this of the superiority of the ancient community in the general elevation of its tastes and perceptions。 Recollecting how Herodotos read his history at the Olympic games； let us try to imagine even so picturesque a writer as Mr。 Parkman reading a few chapters of his 〃Jesuits in North America〃 before the spectators assembled at the Jerome Park races； and we shall the better realize how deep…seated was Hellenic culture。
As yet； however； I have referred to but one side of Athenian life。 Though 〃seekers after wisdom；〃 the cultivated people of Athens did not spend all their valuable leisure in dialectics or in connoisseurship。 They were not a set of dilettanti or dreamy philosophers； and they were far from subordinating the material side of life to the intellectual。 Also； though they dealt not in money…making after the eager fashion of modern men； they had still concerns of immediate practical interest with which to busy themselves。 Each one of these twenty…five thousand free Athenians was not only a free voter； but an office…holder； a legislator； a judge。 They did not control the government through a representative body； but they were themselves the government。 They were； one and all； in turn liable to be called upon to make laws； and to execute them after they were made； as well as to administer justice in civil and criminal suits。 The affairs and interests； not only of their own city； but of a score or two of scattered dependencies； were more or less closely to be looked after by them。 It lay with them to declare war； to carry it on after declaring it； and to pay the expenses of it。 Actually and not by deputy they administered the government of their own city； both in its local and in its imperial relations。 All this implies a more thorough； more constant； and more vital political training than that which is implied by the modern duties of casting a ballot and serving on a jury。 The life of the Athenian was emphatically a political life。 From early manhood onward； it was part of his duty to hear legal questions argued by powerful advocates； and to utter a decision upon law and fact； or to mix in debate upon questions of public policy； arguing； listening； and pondering。 It is customary to compare the political talent of the Greeks unfavourably with that displayed by the Romans； and I have no wish to dispute this estimate。 But on a careful study it will appear that the Athenians； at least； in a higher degree than any other community of ancient times； exhibited parliamentary tact； or the ability to sit still while both sides of a question are getting discussed；that sort of political talent for which the English races are distinguished； and to the lack of which so many of the political failures of the French are egregiously due。 One would suppose that a judicature of the whole town would be likely to execute a sorry parody of justice； yet justice was by no means ill…administered at Athens。 Even the most unfortunate and disgraceful scenes；as where the proposed massacre of the Mytilenaians was discussed； and where summary retribution was dealt out to the generals who had neglected their duty at Arginusai；even these scenes furnish； when thoroughly examined； as by Mr。 Grote； only the more convincing proof that the Athenian was usually swayed by sound reason and good sense to an extraordinary degree。 All great points in fact； were settled rather by sober appeals to reason than by intrigue or lobbying； and one cannot help thinking that an Athenian of the time of Perikles would have regarded with pitying contempt the trick of the 〃previous question。〃 And this explains the undoubted pre…eminence of Athenian oratory。 This accounts for the fact that we find in the forensic annals of a single city； and within the compass of a single century； such names as Lysias； Isokrates； Andokides； Hypereides； Aischines； and Demosthenes。 The art of oratory； like the art of sculpture； shone forth more brilliantly then than ever since； because then the conditions favouring its development were more perfectly combined than they have since been。 Now； a condition of society in which the multitude can always be made to stand quietly and listen to a logical discourse is a condition of high culture。 Readers of Xenophon's Anabasis will remember the frequency of the speeches in that charming book。 Whenever some terrible emergency arose； or some alarming quarrel or disheartening panic occurred； in the course of the retreat of the Ten Thousand； an oration from one of the commandersnot a demagogue's appeal to the lower passions； but a calm exposition of circumstances addressed to the sober judgmentusually sufficed to set all things in order。 To my mind this is one of the most impressive historical lessons conveyed in Xenophon's book。 And this peculiar kind of self…control； indicative of intellectual sobriety and high moral training； which was more or less characteristic of all Greeks； was especially characteristic of the Athenians。
These illustrations will； I hope； suffice to show that there is nothing extravagant in the high estimate which I have made of Athenian culture。 I have barely indicated the causes of this singular perfection of individual training in the social circumstances amid which the Athenians lived。 I have alleged it as an instance of what may be accomplished by a well…directed leisure and in the absence or very scanty development of such a complex industrial life as that which surrounds us to…day。 But I have not yet quite done with the Athenians。 Before leaving this part of the subject； I must mention one further circumstance which tends to make ancient life appear in our eyes more sunny and healthy and less distressed； than the life of modern times。 And in this instance； too； though we are not dealing with any immediate or remote effects of leisureliness； we still have to note the peculiar advantage gained by the absence of a great complexity of interests in the ancient community。
With respect to religion； the Athenians were peculiarly situated。 They had for the most part outgrown the primitive terrorism of fetishistic belief。 Save in cases of public distress； as in the mutilation of the Hermai； or in the refusal of Nikias to retreat from Syracuse because of an eclipse of the moon； they were no longer； like savages； afraid of the dark。 Their keen aesthetic sense had prevailed to turn the horrors of a primeval nature…worship into beauties。 Their springs and groves were peopled by their fancy with naiads and dryads； not with trolls and grotesque goblins。 Their feelings toward the unseen powers at work about them were in the main pleasant； as witness the little story about Pheidippides meeting the god Pan as he was making with hot haste toward Sparta to announce the arrival of the Persians。 Now； while this original source of mental discomfort； which afflicts the uncivilized man； had ceased materially to affect the Athenians； they on the other hand lived at a time when the vague sense of sin and self…reproof which was characteristic of the early ages of Christianity； had not yet invaded society。 The vast complication of life brought about by the extension of the Roman Empire led to a great development of human sympathies； unknown in earlier times； and called forth unquiet yearnings； desire for amelioration； a sense of short…coming； and a morbid self…consciousness。 It is accordingly under Roman sway that we first come across characters approximating to the modern type； like Cicero； Seneca； Epictetus； and Marcus Aurelius。 It is then that we find the ide