Historical parallels [by A.T. Malkin].Upon the expulsion of Hippias the direction of Athenian politics passed into the hands of Cleisthenes, son of Megacles, the head of the Alemeonide. He soon found a rival in Isagoras, a man of noble extraction, whose popularity with the rich and noble preponderated over his own; and being in consequence driven to advocate the popular cause, and thus recovering the ascendant, he introduced several changes tending to make the constitution more democratical. Isagoras sought to regain his advantage by foreign aid; and at his suggestion Cleomenes, one of the kings of Sparta, required the expulsion of the Alemeonidæ, as an atonement for the sacrilegious murder of Cylon's partisans, in which they had been the chief actors. Offensive as such an interference appears, the religious feelings of Greece gave weight to the requisition, which was besides backed by the whole power of Sparta: and in obedience to it, Cleisthenes and his chief supporters withdrew. Not content with this, the Spartan king went with a small force to Athens, and proceeded to banish seven hundred families as concerned in the sacrilege, to change the forms of the constitution, and place all power in the hands of Isagoras and his friends. |
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Popular passages
Page 103 - Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar-school ; and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used ; and, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill.
Page 2 - Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers ; neither take thou vengeance of our sins : spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.
Page 222 - Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp, When Agrican, with all his northern powers, Besieged Albracca, as romances tell, The city of Gallaphrone, from thence to win The fairest of her sex, Angelica, His daughter, sought by many prowest knights, Both Paynim and the peers of Charlemane.
Page 224 - ... that those two comets passed directly over the city, and that so very near the houses that it was plain they imported something peculiar to the city alone ; that the comet before the pestilence was of a faint, dull, languid colour, and its motion very heavy, solemn, and slow ; but that the comet before the fire was bright and sparkling, or, as others said, flaming, and its motion swift and furious...
Page 31 - Pero Bermuez heard the word, but he could not refrain. He held the banner in his hand, he gave his horse the rein ; " You see yon foremost squadron there, the thickest of the foes, " Noble Cid, God be your aid, for there your banner goes ! " Let him that serves and honours it show the duty that he owes.
Page 165 - Not weighed or winnowed by the multitude, But swallowed in the mass unchewed and crude. Some truth there was, but dashed and brewed with lies, To please the fools, and puzzle all the wise: Succeeding times did equal folly call, Believing nothing, or believing all. Th' Egyptian rites the Jebusites embraced, Where gods were recommended by their taste.
Page 226 - This day, much against my will, I did - in Drury Lane see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors, and " Lord have mercy upon us!" writ there; which was a sad sight to me, being the first of the kind that, to my remembrance, I ever saw.
Page 3 - Up, and put on my coloured silk suit, very fine, and my new periwig, bought a good while since, but durst not wear, because the plague was in Westminster when I bought it; and it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the plague is done, as to periwigs, for nobody will dare to buy any hair, for fear of the infection, that it had been cut off the heads of people dead of the plague My Lord Brouncker, Sir J.
Page 259 - Thus this brook has conveyed his ashes into Avon, Avon into Severn, Severn into the narrow seas, they into the main ocean; and thus the ashes of Wickliffe are the emblem of his doctrine, which now is dispersed all the world over."* — Church History.
Page 32 - When they wheeled and turned, as many more lay slain, You might see them raise their lances and level them again. There you might see the breastplates, how they were cleft in twain, And many a Moorish shield lie shattered on the plain. The pennons that were white marked with a crimson stain, The horses running wild whose riders had been slain.