[57] This striking and deep-seated regard of the Athenians for all the forms of an established constitution, makes itself felt even by Mitford (History of Greece vol. iv. sect. v. ch. xix. p. 235).
[58] [An early form of heliograph.]
[59] [He, with others, was accused of treachery, not without cause.]
[60] [Manso, in his Sparta is so far from ascribing the downfall of Athens to the Sicilian fiasco, that he sees no connection between them. Thirlwall disagrees with this though he thinks the empire was doomed to disintegration. He says, “Syracuse was their Moscow; but if it had not been so they would have found one elsewhere.” He imputes the fall to internal discord. Mitford sees in the war less a civil strife than a contest between the oligarchical and democratical interests throughout the Grecian commonwealths, in every one of which was a party friendly to the public enemy. He says of the fight with Sicily, “Democracy here was opposed to democracy,” and he credits the fate of Athens to “the ruin, which such a government hath an eternal tendency to bring upon itself.” He rejoices that the slaves at least of the various governments had a little respite from cruelty. Cox, like Grote, sees in the crumbling of the Athenian empire, in spite of all its crimes, such a cosmic misfortune as set back the progress of the world beyond our power of estimation.]
Greek Cavalry
