a smaller history of greece-第57节
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ntering it Mummius put the few males who remained to the sword； sold the women and children as slaves and having carried away all its treasures； consigned it to the flames （B。C。 146）。 Corinth was filled with masterpieces of ancient art； but Mummius was so insensible to their surpassing excellence as to stipulate with those who contracted to convey them to Italy； that； if any were lost in the passage； they should be replaced by others of equal value！ Mummius then employed himself in chastising and regulating the whole of Greece； and ten commissioners were sent from Rome to settle its future condition。 The whole country； to the borders of Macedonia and Epirus； was formed into a Roman province； under the name of ACHAIA； derived from that confederacy which had made the last struggle for its political existence。
CHAPTER XXII。
SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF GREEK LITERATURE FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE REIGN OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT。
The Greeks possessed two large collections of epic poetry。 The one comprised poems relating to the great events and enterprises of the Heroic age； and characterised by a certain poetical unity； the other included works tamer in character and more desultory in their mode of treatment； containing the genealogies of men and gods； narratives of the exploits of separate heroes； and descriptions of the ordinary pursuits of life。 The poems of the former class passed under the name of Homer； while those of the latter were in the same general way ascribed to Hesiod。 The former were the productions of the Ionic and AEolic minstrels in Asia Minor； among whom Homer stood pre…eminent and eclipsed the brightness of the rest： the latter were the compositions of a school of bards in the neighbourhood of Mount Helicon in Boeotia； among whom in like manner Hesiod enjoyed the greatest celebrity。 The poems of both schools were composed in the hexameter metre and in a similar dialect； but they differed widely in almost every other feature。
Of the Homeric poems the Iliad and the Odyssey were the most distinguished and have alone come down to us。 The subject of the Iliad was the exploits of Achilles and of the other Grecian heroes before Ilium or Troy； that of the Odyssey was the wanderings and adventures of Odysseus or Ulysses after the capture of Troy on his return to his native island。 Throughout the flourishing period of Greek literature these unrivalled works were universally regarded as the productions of a single mind； but there was very little agreement respecting the place of the poet's birth the details of his life； or the time in which he lived。 Seven cities laid claim to Homer's birth； and most of them had legends to tell respecting his romantic parentage； his alleged blindness； and his life of an itinerant bard acquainted with poverty and sorrow。 It cannot be disputed that he was an Asiatic Greek； but this is the only fact in his life which can be regarded as certain。 Several of the best writers of antiquity supposed him to have been a native of the island of Chios； but most modern scholars believe Smyrna to have been his birthplace。 His most probable date is about B。C。 850。
The mode in which these poems were preserved has occasioned great controversy in modern times。 Even if they were committed to writing by the poet himself； and were handed down to posterity in this manner； it is certain that they were rarely read。 We must endeavour to realise the difference between ancient Greece and our own times。 During the most flourishing period of Athenian literature manuscripts were indifferently written； without division into parts； and without marks of punctuation。 They were scarce and costly； could be obtained only by the wealthy； and read only by those who had had considerable literary training。 Under these circumstances the Greeks could never become a reading people； and thus the great mass even of the Athenians became acquainted with the productions of the leading poets of Greece only by hearing them recited at their solemn festivals and on other public occasions。 This was more strikingly the case at an earlier period。 The Iliad and the Odyssey were not read by individuals in private； but were sung or recited at festivals or to assembled companies。 The bard originally sung his own lays to the accompaniment of his lyre。 He was succeeded by a body of professional reciters； called Rhapsodists； who rehearsed the poems of others。 and who appear at early times to have had exclusive possession of the Homeric poems。 But in the seventh century before the Christian era literary culture began to prevail among the Greeks； and men of education and wealth were naturally desirous of obtaining copies of the great poet of the nation。 From this cause copies came to be circulated among the Greeks； but most of them contained only separate portions of the poems； or single rhapsodes； as they were called。 Pisistratus； the tyrant or despot of Athens； is said to have been the first person who collected and arranged the poems in their present form； in order that they might be recited at the great Panathenaic festival at Athens。
Three works have come down to us bearing the name of Hesiodthe 'Works and Days；' the 'Theogony；' and a description of the 'Shield of Hercules。' Many ancient critics believed the 'Works and Days' to be the only genuine work of Hesiod； and their opinion has been adopted by most modern scholars。 We learn from this work that Hesiod was a native of Ascra； a village at the foot of Mount Helicon； to which his father had migrated from the AEolian Cyme in Asia Minor。 He further tells us that he gained the prize at Chalcis in a poetical contest； and that he was robbed of a fair share of his heritage by the unrighteous decision of judges who had been bribed by his brother Perses。 The latter became afterwards reduced in circumstances； and applied to his brother for relief； and it is to him that Hesiod addresses his didactic poem of the 'Works and Days；' in which he lays down various moral and social maxims for the regulation of his conduct and his life。 It contains an interesting representation of the feelings； habits； and superstitions of the rural population of Greece in the earlier ages。 Respecting the date of Hesiod nothing certain can be affirmed。 Modern writers usually suppose him to have flourished two or three generations later than Homer。
The commencement of Greek lyric poetry as a cultivated species of composition dates from the middle of the seventh century before the Christian era。 No important event either in the public or private life of a Greek could dispense with this accompaniment； and the lyric song was equally needed to solemnize the worship of the gods； to cheer the march to battle； or to enliven the festive board。 The lyric poetry； with the exception of that of Pindar； has almost entirely perished； and all that we possess of it； consists of a few songs and isolated fragments。
The great satirist ARCHILOCHUS was one of the earliest and most celebrated of all the lyric poets。 He was a native of the island of Paros； and flourished about the year 700 B。C。 His fame rests chiefly on his terrible satires； composed in the Iambic metre。 in which he gave vent to the bitterness of a disappointed man。
TYRTAEUS and ALCMAN were the two great lyric poets of Sparta； though neither of them was a native of Lacedaemon。 The personal history of Tyrtaeus； and his warlike songs which roused the fainting courage of the Spartans during the second Messenian war； have already been mentioned。 Alcman was originally a Lydian slave in a Spartan family； and was emancipated by his master。 He lived shortly after the second Messenian war。 His poems partake of the character of this period； which was one of repose and enjoyment after the fatigues and perils of war。 Many of his songs celebrate the pleasures of good eating and drinking； but the more important were intended to be sung by a chorus at the public festivals of Sparta。
ARION was a native of Methymna in Lesbos； and lived some time at the court of Periander； tyrant of Corinth； who began to reign B。C。 625。 Nothing is known of his life beyond the beautiful story of his escape from the sailors with whom he sailed from Sicily to Corinth。 On one occasion； thus runs the story； Arion went to Sicily to take part in a musical contest。 He won the prize； and； laden with presents； he embarked in a Corinthian ship to return to his friend Periander。 The rude sailors coveted his treasures； and meditated his murder。 After imploring them in vain to spare his life； he obtained permission to play for the last time on his beloved lyre。 In festal attire he placed himself on the prow of the vessel； invoked the gods in inspired strains； and then threw himself into the sea。 But many song… loving dolphins had assembled round the vessel； and one of them now took the bard on its back。 and carried him to Taenarum； from whence he returned to Corinth in safety； and related his adventure to Periander。 Upon the arrival of the Corinthian vessel； Periander inquired of the sailors after Arion； who replied that he had remained behind at Tarentum； but when Arion； at the bidding of Periander； came forward； the sailors owned their guilt； and were punished according
