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not too trivial to promote or diminish the happiness of man。 He will
portray in vivid colours the domestic society； the manners； the
amusements； the conversation of the Greeks。 He will not disdain to
discuss the state of agriculture； of the mechanical arts； and of the
conveniences of life。 The progress of painting； of sculpture； and of
architecture； will form an important part of his plan。 But； above all； his
attention will be given to the history of that splendid literature from which
has sprung all the strength； the wisdom； the freedom； and the glory； of the
western world。
Of the indifference which Mr Mitford shows on this subject I will not
speak； for I cannot speak with fairness。 It is a subject on which I love to
forget the accuracy of a judge； in the veneration of a worshipper and the
gratitude of a child。 If we consider merely the subtlety of disquisition；
the force of imagination； the perfect energy and elegance of expression
which characterise the great works of Athenian genius； we must
pronounce them intrinsically most valuable； but what shall we say when
we reflect that from hence have sprung directly or indirectly； all the
noblest creations of the human intellect； that from hence were the vast
accomplishments and the brilliant fancy of Cicero； the withering fire of
Juvenal； the plastic imagination of Dante； the humour of Cervantes； the
comprehension of Bacon； the wit of Butler； the supreme and universal
excellence of Shakspeare？ All the triumphs of truth and genius over
prejudice and power； in every country and in every age； have been the
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triumphs of Athens。 Wherever a few great minds have made a stand
against violence and fraud； in the cause of liberty and reason； there has
been her spirit in the midst of them； inspiring； encouraging； consoling；
by the lonely lamp of Erasmus； by the restless bed of Pascal； in the tribune
of Mirabeau； in the cell of Galileo； on the scaffold of Sidney。 But who
shall estimate her influence on private happiness？ Who shall say how
many thousands have been made wiser； happier； and better； by those
pursuits in which she has taught mankind to engage： to how many the
studies which took their rise from her have been wealth in poverty；liberty
in bondage；health in sickness；society in solitude？ Her power is
indeed manifested at the bar； in the senate； in the field of battle； in the
schools of philosophy。 But these are not her glory。 Wherever literature
consoles sorrow； or assuages pain； wherever it brings gladness to eyes
which fail with wakefulness and tears； and ache for the dark house and the
long sleep；there is exhibited； in its noblest form； the immortal influence
of Athens。
The dervise； in the Arabian tale； did not hesitate to abandon to his
comrade the camels with their load of jewels and gold； while he retained
the casket of that mysterious juice which enabled him to behold at one
glance all the hidden riches of the universe。 Surely it is no exaggeration to
say that no external advantage is to be compared with that purification of
the intellectual eye which gives us to contemplate the infinite wealth of the
mental world； all the hoarded treasures of its primeval dynasties； all the
shapeless ore of its yet unexplored mines。 This is the gift of Athens to
man。 Her freedom and her power have for more than twenty centuries
been annihilated； her people have degenerated into timid slaves； her
language into a barbarous jargon； her temples have been given up to the
successive depredations of Romans； Turks； and Scotchmen； but her
intellectual empire is imperishable。 And when those who have rivalled
her greatness shall have shared her fate； when civilisation and knowledge
shall have fixed their abode in distant continents； when the sceptre shall
have passed away from England； when； perhaps； travellers from distant
regions shall in vain labour to decipher on some mouldering pedestal the
name of our proudest chief； shall hear savage hymns chaunted to some
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
misshapen idol over the ruined dome of our proudest temple； and shall see
a single naked fisherman wash his nets in the river of the ten thousand
masts；her influence and her glory will still survive；fresh in eternal
youth； exempt from mutability and decay； immortal as the intellectual
principle from which they derived their origin； and over which they
exercise their control。
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