Book II - Wilbourhall.org

xiv INTRODUCTION. \lPericles— -yvolvai rot Seovra koI Ipfirjvewrai ravra—canbe justified of himself also. And his style is notmade up, as many have supposed, of mere sleight ofhand and bizarre effect. He therefore deservesattention partly as a literary artist. But for adetailed discussion of this side of his genius, thert'ader is referred to the third chapter. For thepresent, it is enough to say that the two greateststylists of antiquity, Demosthenes and Cicero, concurredin this judgment.But it is chiefly as a scientific historian that Thucydidesdeserves attention. This aspect of his geniusis of course quite distinct from the artistic side, inasmuchas science is occupied in tracing effects back totheir causes, and causes forward to their effects, whileart seeks to set forth the results thus obtained in thebest possible manner. It is as a scientific historianthat Thucydides displays his peculiar excellences.His work is the usefuUest analysis of the motiveswhich influence action that was ever written. History,in order to be of use, ought, according toProfessor Seeley, *to end with something like amoral.''The principal and proper work of History,'Hobbes writes of Thucydides,*being toinstruct and enable men by the knowledge ofactions Past to bear themselves prudently in thePresent and providently towards the Future,there is not extant any other (merely humane)that doth more fully and naturally perform it thenthis my author.' This judgment has been affirmedby many. Macaulay esteemed Thucydides highly.Niebuhr considered him to be the supreme Head