LIBRA R.Y OF THE U N I VLRSITY or 1 LLI N O I S 18^5 / The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN APR n OCT 16 t979 EP2 4t97!l MAR 2Z\m :£B 2 3 mi f v) ^ OCTOi OCT 1992 61992 i6 L161 — O-1096 MCMV BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS FROM GREEK AUTHORS • BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS GREEK AUTHORS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS BY CRAUFURD TAIT RAMAGE, LL.D, "This field is so spacious that it were easy for a man to lose himself in it ; and if I should spend all my pilgrimage in this walk, my time would sooner end than my way." — BiSHOP HALL. LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, Limited BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL MANCHESTER AND NEW YORK 1895 TO THE EV. ANDREW BENNET, D. IN TOKEN OF ESTEEM FOR HIS CHARACTER A3 A CLERGYMAN, A GENTLEMAN, AND A FRIEND. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. 1 AM glad to find my labours continue to be appre- ciated by the public, as is proved by another edition of my Greek volume being called for. On this new edition I have endeavoured to bring all my previous knowledge to bear, in order that it might be rendered more in keeping with my other works. The poetical ^^translations have been thrown aside, and in every case . \:i I have given the passage in prose. I have illustrated it very fully by reference to my Latin volume, and have taken advantage of Duport^s : parallelisms from the Hcl}' Scriptures to show the wonderful resemblance that the language of Homer ./^ bears more particularly to the sentiments found in the Old Testament. In the other Greek Authors I have J, also attempted to show the similarity between them ^ and the Sacred Writers. I \ 68374 PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. The volume has been nearly doubled by the addi- tion of new passages, and extracts from many writers have been given, which did not appear in the former edition. PEEFACE TO FIRST EDITION. The Editor is encouraged by the unexpected favour with which his former work has been received to bring forward a companion volume from Greek Authors," which he ventures to hope will be found equally inter- esting. While maay new topics have been introduced, the reader will here have an opportunity of tracing the original source, from which the master-spirits of Rome derived many of their finest thoughts. So true is the observation of Horace — ** Grsecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes Intulit agresti Latio." To show how closely the Romans imitated their Greek masters, the Editor has introduced copious illustrations from his former work, and has also taken advantage of Mr Grocott's valuable volume of " Index of Quotations, Ancient and Modern," to point out how much the English classic authors are indebted to the ancients for PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. many of those gems that are scattered so profusely through their writings. Their bold flights of imagina- tion, and the volumes of wisdom compressed into a phrase, are often but loans derived from the classical authors of Greece and Eome. It has been, therefore, an agreeable task to award to those pure and thought- ful spirits of the olden times their due meed of praise, by trying to ascertain the exact contributions which each has made to the intellectual riches of the world. Another peculiar feature in the present work is the numerous references to the Holy Scriptures for points of resemblance. It is impossible, indeed, to examine the heathen doctrines of religion and ethics without being struck with their wonderful likeness to those which are sometimes considered to be peculiar to Christianity ; here may be found many of the moral doctrines and sublime sayings of the Gospel, but there is always something wanting to give them life, and bring them home to the heart and feelings of human beings. Noble truths have always been taught by both Eastern and Western sages ; yet they want that clear and perfect ring, which they possess when they are known to issue from Divine lips. The Editor has selected much from the writings of Plato, to show how far this resemblance extends ; and, no doubt, he has PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION, ix omitted many passages which would have borne equally strong testimony that it is not without good reason that Plato has been called the " Atticising Moses." The characteristics of the present work are very much the same as those that distinguished the former. 1. It quotes only from certain specified well-known classical authors. 2. Each passage quoted has a distinct reference to the work of the author, the book, ode, play, and, where it was practicable, the line, so that the passage may be found immediately and without difficulty. 3. To each passage there is appended an English translation by the Editor. The heading to each passage briefly indicates the subject. 4. The Editor has laboured to give a complete and elaborate English Index ; and this he hopes, as in his former volume, will be found a popular feature of the work. While it gives the subject of each passage, it indicates at the same time, with great precision, the leading idea of each quotation. He has not thought that a Greek Index would be of value, as he regrets to think X PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. that the number of Greek scholars, to whom such an Index would be of use, are very few. 5. He has added an Index of the passages from the Holy Scriptures, which are illustrated, and which will be found useful to Biblical scholars. 6. The biographical sketches of each author are slight ; but they will be found interesting to those who wish to become acquainted with the period during which the author flourished, and with the few leading facts of his life. It has been well observed, that nothing can be more useful to young minds having capacity and high aspirations than such selections as the Editor has brought together from the works of great men. Each quotation is a separate bait, a temptation to feel greatly, and to do greatly ; and a friend, whose delicate health has obliged him to retire from the busy haunts of men, very beautifully remarks that their charm for the old and infirm is scarcely less : to such "it is nothing short of delightful to have a book at hand which will suit itself either to the exigencies or the deficiencies of tbe minute with an elastic power of adaptability which no living friend can possess." It was for those of lofty a,spiratioiis among the young, and for men of cultivated PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. xi minds among the old, that the Editor has attempted to make a selection from a treasure that has continued to accumulate from the earliest times, till it now com- prehends a brief abstract of the wisdom of all ages. There is not a distinguished name that has not made some small contribution to the great mass of sentential lore \ and if the Editor find that his labours continue to be appreciated, he is prepared with another volume from the vast field of literature which the classic authors of France, Italy, Spain, and Germany present. CRAUFURD TAIT RAMAGE. AUTHUHS. AUTHORS ^schines, . ^schylus, . Alexis, Amphis, Anacreon, . Anaxandrides, Antiphanes, Antonmus, Apollodorus, Aratus, Archippus, Aristophanes, Aristophon, Aristoteles, Arrianus, . Axionicus, Baton, Bion, Callimachtis, Crates, Cratinus, . Demosthenes, Dionysius, Diphilus, . Euphron, . Euripides, . Herodotus, Hesiodus, . Hipparchus, Homerus, . PAGES 2—4 4-31 31-33 33 34—36 36- 37 37- 41 41 56 50-58 58-60 60 60-74 74 75—103 103- 104 104- 105 105 105- 108 108- 109 109- 110 110 110- 124 124-132 133-136 136 137—204 204-214 214—222 223 223-310 INDEX OF AUTHORS. AUTHORS Longinus, . Menander, Moschus, . Nicostratus, Philemon, . Philippides, Philiscus, . Pindarus, . Plato, Plutarchus, Polybius, . Posidippus, Sophocles, . Sosicrates, . Theocritus, Theognis, . Thucydides, Timocles, . Tyrtseus, . Xenophon, Addends;, • PAGES 310-316 316-340 340—342 342—343 344-350 350-351 352 352-368 368—412 412—438 438-459 459- 460 460— 487 487 487-499 499—506 506—622 623 523—525 625—632 533- 654 CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX OF AUTHORS. Homcrus, flourislied probably aborjt B.C. 1184 Hesiodus, . . flourished about B.C. 850 Tyrtaeus, B.C. 685 Anacreon, B.C. 559-525 Theognis, B.C. 548 . • bom B.C. 525 , , died . B.C. 456 Pindarus, . • • »> B.C. 522 . »» . B.C. 442 Sophocles, . B.C. 484 . >» . B.C. 406 Herodotus, , • • ?» B.C. 484 . alive . B.C. 408 Thucydides, • • »> B.C. 470 . >> . B.C. 403 Euripides, . • • >> B.C. 481 . died . B.C. 406 Crates, flourished about B.C. 450 Aristophon, born B.C. 444 . died about B.C. 380 Xenophon, . bom about B.C. 444 . alive . B.C. 357 Plato, born B.C. 428 . died . B.C. 347 Archippus, . flourished B.C. 415 Demetrius, . flourished about B.C. 412 Antiphanes, born about B.C. 404 . died about B.C. 330 Philiscus, . flourished about B.C. 400 JEschines, , • bom B.C. 389 . died . B.C. 314 Aristoteles, • • »» B.C. 384 , . B.C. 322 Demosthenes, • • »» B.C. 382 , . B.C. 322 Anaxandrides, flourished B.C. 376 Philemon, . born about B.C. 360 , . died . B.C. 262 Alexis, flourished B.C. 356 Timocles, flourished about B.C. 350 Menander, . • . bom B.C. 342 , . died . B.C. 291 Philippides, flourished B.C. 335 Amphis, flourished about B.C. 332 Nicostratus, flourished B.C. 330 xvi CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX. Diphilus, . . flourished B.C. 320 Hipparchus, . B.C. 320 Apollodorus, . B.C. 290 Posidippus, . B.C. 289 Baton, . flourished about B.C. 280 Bion, . . . flourished B.C. 280 Callimachus, . . from B.C. 280 to B.C. 245 Theocritus, . . . about B.C. 272 Aratus, . . flourished B.C. 270 Moschus, . flourished about B.C. 210 Polybius, born probably about B.C. 204 . died . B.C. 122 Dionysius, . floui^hed from B.C. 29 to B.O. 7 Plutarchus, . . born about A.D. 50 . died about a.d. 120 Antoninus, . . . born A.D. 121 . died . a.d. 180 Arrianus, . • flourished A.D. 136 lionginus, . . born about A.D. 213 . died t A.D. 273 BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS PROM GREEK AUTHORS. ^SCHINES. BORN B.C. S89 — DIED B.C. S14. JSscHlNES, one of the most celebrated of the Athenian orators, was the son of Tromes, the slave of a schoolmaster, Elpias, and Glaucia, who gained her livelihood by playing and singing at the sacred festivals. His father succeeded to the school of Elpias, and jEschines, in his youth, was employed by his father to clean his schoolroom. "When he was somewhat older he assisted his mother in her theatrical performances, being remarkable for a strong ai\d sonorous voice ; but in this he does not seem to have been successful, as on one occasion, when he was performing in the character of (Enomaus, he was hissed off the stage. We then find him entering the military service, gaining great dis- tinction at the battle of Mantineia, B.C. SG2. It was, however, as an orator that he acquu^ed the reputation which has handed down his name to posterity. At the commencement of his political career he took an active part against Philip of Macedon, though he became convinced, ere long, that nothing but peace with Philip would avert utter ruin from his country. His opponents accused him of having been bribed by the king to support his measures ; but there does not appear any reason to believe that he acted treacherously towards his country. He was the opponent of Demosthenes ; and though he failed in his attacks, it was to him that we owe the celebrated speech of Demosthenes on the crown, A 2 jESCHINES. which is considered one of the finest bursts of eloquence which the world has ever produced. The three great speeches of -^schines which still remain were called by the ancients the Graces. They are distinguished by great felicity of diction, wonderful boldness and vigour of description, so that it is generally allowed that ho was only second to Demosthenes. Duties of a Judge in a Free State. Ctesiph, c. 3. Tvpavvh Kcd oKiyapx^cL Koi drj/xoKparLa, dioLKOvPTaL 6* cll jxhv rv- pavvldes Kal dXiyapx^-cLi rots rpoiroLs rCov icpearrjKOTWP, dt de TroXets CLL drj/jLOKparovpLepaL rois pdfxoLS tols K€LfJL€POLS. Mi^dels odu ifiCov TOVT dypoeiroi}, dXXd aacpQs '^Kaaros ewLdTaadoi^ otl, Brav eiairj els ^LKa<7T7]pLov ypaip€iv ojs paara, yiyvuxTKOvd' 6tl rb TT]S cLvdyKTjs iar ddrjpiTov cOivo^, But I must endure my doom as easily as may be, knowing, as I do, that the power of necessity is irresistible. So Shakespeare ("Richard II.," act v. sc. 1) — " I am sworn brother, sweet, To grim Necessity ; and he and I Will keep a league till death.'* 6 jESCHYLUS. A Tyrant Distrusts. Prom, 224. '''Etve(jTL ydp ttws tovto rfj rvpavpldi vbdrjixa^ tols (Ta6\ Cos a it ? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good ? " And 2 Corinthiaue (i. 20)— "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, nnto the glory of God by us." The Wise. Prom. 1039. 'Zo(f)($ yap aijxP^^ i^afxapTdveiv. For it is base for the wise to err. The Lowly. SuppL 203. OpatX7} ^IJPOLKOS etrjp yvpatKeicp yhei. KpaTov5h Kapirbs dalJ/Mcpopoi, us ydp ^vpea^ds ttXolop evae^rjs dp^p pa{)TaL(TL depfxoLs Kal irapovpyias xXeyj tXuXcp dpdpQp ffi/p deoTTTiJdTq) y^pei. 14 jESCHYLUS. ^^v ToXlrais dvdpdaip dlKaios Cbv ex^po^ivois T6 Kal OeQp dixvrjfJLOcri irXTjyels Oeov fidcrrLyi ir ay Koivcp ^ddfir], ravToO Kvprjaas cKdiKois dypev/xaros' Alas ! it is a bad omen for the just to be associated with the impious. Indeed in everything nought is worse than wicked fel- lowship, the fruit of which is fraught with death. For whether a good man happens to have embarked with sailors, whose hearts are hot and full of villany, he perishes with the race abhorred of Heaven, or whether, being righteous, he has fixed his seat amidst citizens inhospitably bert and regardless of the gods, he is struck down by the scourge of the Deity, which falls on all alike, having rightly fallen into the same nets with his countrymen. See (Lat.) The Wicked. 1 Cor. xv. 33. V An Old Head on Young Shoulders. Sept c. TheK 604 Vipovra rhv vovv, cdpKa TjjBQcrav (pipei. In manhood's vigorous primo He bears the providence of age. The Stars. Agam. 1. 0eoi)s [Jikv alrQ rQvd* dTraWayrjv irSptaVf povpds ereias fj^vxos^ i)v KoipLibfJLepos areyaLS 'Ar/jetScDv dyKaOev, Kvvbs dUrju, darpwv Kdroida vvKT^picv ofJLrjyvpLV, Kal 7oi/s (p^povras xe?/xa Kal Oepos ^poroLS \a}JL7rpo(fS dvvdaras, i ixirp^irovras aidipi dar^paSf drav (pdLuuaiPf dvroXds re tQv, I pray the gods that I may be released from these toils, slave of a year-long sentry, during which lying on my elbows on the roofs of the Atridse, like a dog, I have contemplated the choir of nightly stars, radiant rulers that bring winter and summer, stars shining conspicuously in the firmament, both when they set and when they rise. What is Fated, Agam, 67. "EffTL 5* Sttti vvv tcTC TeKelraL 5' es rb ireirpwiihov. Things are as the> are and will be brought to the issue doomed. JESCHYLUS. 15 Tottering Old Age. A gam. 71. 'H/ieTs 5* drtrat aapKl TrdXaLa TTjs t6t dpcoyijs virokei^divTes flijULPO/X€V i(TX^v icroTaida v^/xoptcs M CK'^wTpois. "0 T€ yap veapbs fMveXbs (TT^pvo3v ipTos ava t6 6' virepyTjpoju a rtt deoiis PporQp d^iovaOai pifKeiVy Trarotd*' 6 5' ovk ei)(rej8^j. Xl^cfyavraL 5* CKySvovs dTo\fi'qTCt3v''Ap'r] tp\e6vT(av dwfAdrojv viripcpeV virkp TO P^\tl(ttov. "Eo-rw 5' dir-fjiiavfov, &(TT€ KdwapKeTv ed irpairidwv Xax^pra, They feel the stroke of Jove; we may say this, and trace it i>ut exactly ; they have fared as they deserved. Some one denied that the gods deigned to care for mortals, who trampled on their laws. Not holy was he who said so ; it has come upon the de- scendants of those who were breathing forth more violently than just a war which they ought not to have dared, while their dwellings were teeming beyond all measure with rich spoils. But may such calm of soul be mine, so as to meet the force of circum- stances. See (Lat.) The Wicked. The Impious seen through their Disguise. Agam. 382. Oi5 ydp ^(TTiv ^irdX^is irXoiJTOV irpbs Kbpov dvdpl XaKTiaavTL fiiyav AUas pcjfibv els dtpdvetav^ Btarat 5* d rdXaiva ircidCj, irpo^ovKdiraLS &(f>epTOS dras. 'Akos 5^ irdv ixdraioP, Ovk iKplj$jj, irp^irei 5^, 0cDs, alpoXafifh, alr^' KaKov 5^ x^^'^o^ Tpbirop rpl0(p T€ kal 7rpo \//ijyiJLa dvcddKpvrop dPTi^POpos (Tirodov yefxl^usv X^PrjTas eidirov. ^T^povac d* e5 X^yopres dpdpa rbp p.kp ws fJidxv^ tdpLS, rbp d' ip (popais KaXQs ireabPT dXXorplas dial yvpaiKos. Td5e alyd tls ^at- fet. ^dopepbp 5' dXyos epircL irpodiKOLS ^Arpeldais. And Mars, bartering for gold their bodies, and holding the balance in the tug of war, sends to their friends a small fragment of scorched dust from Troy, to be wept with many tears, filling the urns with light ashes instead of the man. And they sigh while they sing the praises of one as renowned in arms, and another as having fallen gloriously amid the carnage in defence of another's wife. Some one mutters these words in silence, and jealous vexa- tion creeps upon the chieftain sons of Atreus. Murmurs of the People. Agam. 456. Bapeea 5' da-rQp (pdrLS ^ifv Kdrtp* drjfioKpdPTOV 5' dpds tIp€1 x/'^os. Dreadful are the murmurs of the people if they be accompanied with hate ; but this is the tribute greatness pays for its exalted station. 18 ^SCHYLUS. The Oppressor. A gam, 460. TcDi' irdXvKTSvciJV yap oiK H.<7KoiroL Oeoi, KeXatmi 5* TVXVP^^ ^^t' ^^^^ StVas TrdXivTvxcT rpL^q. ^lov TideLS ajxavpbVf iu d* at- (TTOis T€\i9ovTOS oUtls dX/ctt* rh 5' virepKbrws kXi^eiv ed papTLf' jSaXXerat taaoi^ AioOev Kepavvbs. For the gods are not forgetful of those who cause great slaughter. The black Furies in one short hour hurl to perdition the man who is lucky without righteousness by a sad reverse of fortune, nor does he receive aid from his citizens. For a man to be raised aloft is dangerous, as the thunderbolt of Jove is sure to be launched against him. None but the Gods have Unmixed Happiness. Agam, 551. ykp TiirpaKTau Tavra d* iv 7roXX(p XP^^V tA fiev Tts div X4^€L€v evireTdos '^X^'-^f ra 5' adre Kdiri/bLOfJLcpa. T/s dk, ttXt^p deCov, airavT dirrjjiJLOJP rbv 5l alQpos xp^^°^* Yea, the conflict is well o*er ; in the passage of so long a time one might say that some things fall out well, while others are open to complaint ; for who save the gods can claim through life's whole course an unmixed happiness ? A Fond Wife. A gam, 601. T/ yap yvvaiKl TO^TOV (peyyos ijdLov dpaKeiv^ dirb (TTpareLas dvbpl acoaaPTOs deov ir^Xas dvoi^at ; ravT dirdyyeCKov irSffeL* i]K€LP 6ir(t}s TdxLO"T^ epdcr/uLLov ttoXcl' yvvaiKa inaTrjP 5' iv dojuLOLS evpoL fioXuv o'lavirep odv O^eLire, dufjLdrojy Kvva iadXijv iK€LVCp, irokefxlav tols dva(ppoK ^5v irpbiras bbfios wqfiovds y^ixo3v dyav, ov8' iirovTiae (TKd4>os. HoXXd rot bocTLS iK Aibs afKpLkacprjs re Kal dXoKCJP iireTeidv V7]