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PASTORAL LIFE OF THE ANCIENTS. 247
lation ; and yet we are infornied of some of the citizens of Ar-
cadia, who were reputed excellent lawgivers for the sphere in
which they acted*. It appears to be no inconsiderable evidence
of their progress in the art of government ujwn republican prm-
ciples, that in the choice of magistrates at Mantinea they
•proceeded upon the plan of a double election^. We have
the most decisive proofs of their public spirit in the splendid
cities, which they erected, and which were adorned with thea-
tres, temples, and numerous other edifices. We are informed
by Pausaniasi, that of all the temples in Peloponnesus the most
beautiful and admirable were those of Minerva at Tegea and
of Apollo at Phigalia ; and tliese were both cities of Arcadia.
Now it should be observed, that the taste and splendor of their
public edifices are the more decisive proofs of their national en-
thusiasm, when it is considered, that among them property
was exceedingly subdivided ; that they had no overpowering
aristocracy, no princes or great landed gentry, who might
seek for renown or court popularity by bestowing their wealth
upon public institutions ;
but that the noble temples, the sculp-
tures, and other works of art, which ornamented their cities
and were subservient to purposes of common interest, could
have been produced only by the united deUberations and con-
tributions of the mass of the inhabitants. They seem there-
fore to prove the universal prevalence both of a liberal patri-
otic feeling, and of a cultivated taste for the beautiful and the
sublime.
Virgil bears his testimony to their superior skill in vocal and
instrumental music.
Arcadian swains,
Ye best artificers of soothing strains.
Bucol. X. 32.— WartoTi's Translation.
This must of course be understood as referring only to music
and poetry of the pastoral kind. To the composition of the
higher sj^ecies of poetry, by which the Greeks of other coun-
tries laid a foundation for the instruction and deliffht of all suc-
» Wachsmuth, Hellen. Alterthumskunde, i. L p. 180 ; i. 2. p. 305.
t Aristot. Polit 1. vi. 2. 2. t L. viii. c. 41. 5. p. 429, ed. Siebel.