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gloomy years； oratory was advancing towards its highest excellence。
And it was when the moral； the political； and the military character of the
people was most utterly degraded； it was when the viceroy of a
Macedonian sovereign gave law to Greece； that the courts of Athens
witnessed the most splendid contest of eloquence that the world has ever
known。
The causes of this phenomenon it is not； I think； difficult to assign。
The division of labour operates on the productions of the orator as it does
on those of the mechanic。 It was remarked by the ancients that the
Pentathlete； who divided his attention between several exercises； though
he could not vie with a boxer in the use of the cestus； or with one who had
confined his attention to running in the contest of the stadium； yet enjoyed
far greater general vigour and health than either。 It is the same with the
mind。 The superiority in technical skill is often more than compensated
by the inferiority in general intelligence。 And this is peculiarly the case in
politics。 States have always been best governed by men who have taken
a wide view of public affairs； and who have rather a general acquaintance
with many sciences than a perfect mastery of one。 The union of the
political and military departments in Greece contributed not a little to the
splendour of its early history。 After their separation more skilful generals
and greater speakers appeared； but the breed of statesmen dwindled and
became almost extinct。 Themistocles or Pericles would have been no
match for Demosthenes in the assembly； or for Iphicrates in the field。
But surely they were incomparably better fitted than either for the supreme
direction of affairs。
There is indeed a remarkable coincidence between the progress of the
art of war； and that of the art of oratory； among the Greeks。 They both
advanced to perfection by contemporaneous steps； and from similar causes。
The early speakers； like the early warriors of Greece； were merely a militia。
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It was found that in both employments practice and discipline gave
superiority。 （It has often occurred to me； that to the circumstances
mentioned in the text is to be referred one of the most remarkable events
in Grecian history； I mean the silent but rapid downfall of the
Lacedaemonian power。 Soon after the termination of the Peloponnesian
war； the strength of Lacedaemon began to decline。 Its military discipline；
its social institutions； were the same。 Agesilaus； during whose reign the
change took place； was the ablest of its kings。 Yet the Spartan armies
were frequently defeated in pitched battles；an occurrence considered
impossible in the earlier ages of Greece。 They are allowed to have
fought most bravely； yet they were no longer attended by the success to
which they had formerly been accustomed。 No solution of these
circumstances is offered； as far as I know； by any ancient author。 The
real cause； I conceive； was this。 The Lacedaemonians； alone among the
Greeks； formed a permanent standing army。 While the citizens of other
commonwealths were engaged in agriculture and trade； they had no
employment whatever but the study of military discipline。 Hence； during
the Persian and Peloponnesian wars； they had that advantage over their
neighbours which regular troops always possess over militia。 This
advantage they lost； when other states began； at a later period； to employ
mercenary forces； who were probably as superior to them in the art of war
as they had hitherto been to their antagonists。） Each pursuit therefore
became first an art； and then a trade。 In proportion as the professors of
each became more expert in their particular craft； they became less
respectable in their general character。 Their skill had been obtained at
too great expense to be employed only from disinterested views。 Thus；
the soldiers forgot that they were citizens； and the orators that they were
statesmen。 I know not to what Demosthenes and his famous
contemporaries can be so justly compared as to those mercenary troops
who； in their time； overran Greece； or those who； from similar causes；
were some centuries ago the scourge of the Italian republics；perfectly
acquainted with every part of their profession； irresistible in the field；
powerful to defend or to destroy； but defending without love； and
destroying without hatred。 We may despise the characters of these
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political Condottieri； but is impossible to examine the system of their
tactics without being amazed at its perfection。
I had intended to proceed to this examination； and to consider
separately the remains of Lysias； of Aeschines； of Demosthenes； and of
Isocrates； who； though strictly speaking he was rather a pamphleteer than
an orator； deserves； on many accounts； a place in such a disquisition。
The length of my prolegomena and digressions compels me to postpone
this part of the subject to another occasion。 A Magazine is certainly a
delightful invention for a very idle or a very busy man。 He is not
compelled to complete his plan or to adhere to his subject。 He may
ramble as far as he is inclined； and stop as soon as he is tired。 No one
takes the trouble to recollect his contradictory opinions or his unredeemed
pledges。 He may be as superficial； as inconsistent； and as careless as he
chooses。 Magazines resemble those little angels； who； according to the
pretty Rabbinical tradition； are generated every morning by the brook
which rolls over the flowers of Paradise；whose life is a song；who