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134 ANCIENT GREECE. [CHAP. x .and reputation, and even to tlie welfare of the city. Thegods would have been incensed and the; accidental evils,which might have fallen on the city,would infallibly havebeen regarded as punishments inflicted by the gods. Weneed not therefore be astonished, when we hear that a citycould be very seriously embarrassed for want of sufficient1means to celebrate its festivals with due solemnity.Thus an almost immeasurable field was opened for publicexpenses of a kind hardly known to modern states. Evenin cases where the governments believe it necessary to expend something on public festivals, little is done except inthe capital and this ; expenditure has never, to our knowledge, made an article in a budget. It would have madethe veryfirst in Grecian cities, at least in times of peace.And he who can vividly present those states to his mind,will easily perceive how many things must have combinedto increase these expenditures. They were prompted notby a mere regard for the honour of the state ;jealousy andenvy of the other cities were of influence also. And stillmore is to be attributed to the emulation and the vanity ofthose, who were appointed to the charge of the expenditures. One desired to surpass another. This was the mostreputable manner of displaying wealth. And although, asfar as we know, public shows were not, in the Greciancities, so indispensably the means of gaining the favour ofthe people as at Rome, (probably because what in Romewas originally voluntary, had ever been considered inGreece as one of the duties and burdens of a citizen, whichdid not merit even thanks,) ends political may have oftenbeen of influence with individuals.The Grecian temples had, for the most part, possessionsof their own, with which they met the expenses incurred inthe service of the god. Their possessions consisted partlyinvotive presents, which, especially where the divinities ofhealth and prophecy were adored, had been offered by thehopes or the gratitude of the suppliantsWe know from several examples, especiallyfor aid and counsel.from that ofthe Delphic temple, that treasures were there accumulated,of more value probably than those of Loretto, or any other1Consult what Aristotle relates of Antisss^us, Op. ii. p. 390.