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PRESERVATION OF THE NATIONAL CHARACTER, 85were of great utility." Those are justly praised/' Isocrates 1very happily observes," who instituted these famous assemblies, and thus made itcustomary for us to come togetheras allies, having set aside our hostilities ;to increase ourin our commonfriendship by recalling our relationshipvows and sacrifices; to renew our ancient family friendships,and to form new ones. They have provided, that neither the unpolished nor the well educated should leave thegames without profit; but that in this assembly of the Hellenes in one some place, may display their wealth, andothers observethe contests, and none be present without apurpose, but each have something of which to boast the;one part,while they see those engagedin the contests making exertions on their account the; other, when they consider that all this concourse of people has assembled to bespectatorsof their contests."The accounts which we read of the splendour of theseg tines, especially of the Olympic, where the nation of theellenes appeared in its glory, give a high idea of them.And yetit was public opinion,far more than the reality,which gave to the crown of victory its value. The glory ofbeing conqueror in them, was the highest with which theGrecian was acquainted;it conferred honour, not only on himwho won the palm, but on his family and on his native city.He was not honoured in Olympia alone his; victory was thevictory of his native place here he was solemnly received ; ;new festivals were instituted on his account ;he had afterwards a rightof living at the public charge in the prytanea.A victory at Olympia, says Cicero with truth, 2 renderedthe victor illustrious, no less than his consulate the Romanconsul. The tournaments of the middle age were somethingsimilar or ; might have become something similar, if the relations of society had not prevented. But as a distinct lineof division was drawn between the classes, they became interestingto but one class.Birth decided who could take apart in them, and who were excluded. There was nothingof that amongthe Hellenes. The lowest of the people couldjoin at Olympiain the contest for the branch of the sacredolive tree, as well as Alcibiades, or even the ruler of Syracuse with all the splendourof his equipage.1Isocrates. Panegyr. Op. p. 49, Steph.2 Cicero. Quaest. Tusc. ii. 17.