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ANCIENT GEEECE.[CHAP. xvi.period, greater excesses were attempted than any whichhad elsewhere taken place.Even the significations ofwords were changed. Mad rashness was called disinterestedcourage; prudent delay, timidity. Whoever was violentwas held w'orthy of confidence ;whoever opposed violence'was suspected. The crafty was called intelligent ; the morecrafty, still more Inintelligent. short, praise was given tohim who anticipated another in injustice ;and to him whoencouraged to crime one who himself had never thoughtof it"From the words of the historian, the effect of these revolutions on morals is apparent; and yet no states restedso much on morals as the Grecian. For were they notcommunities which governed themselves ? Did not the lawsenter most deeply into private life ? and was not anarchy anecessary consequence of the moral corruption ? This wassoon felt in Athens. Throughout the whole of Aristophanes,we see the contrast between the better times that were gone6by, and the new, in all parts of public and domestic life ;inpoetry, in eloquence, in education, in the courts of justice,etc. ;and finallyin a celebrated dialogue, the ancient andthe modern customs are introduced, disputing upon thestage. 1 And who can read the orators without being astonished at the incredible corruption of morals ?This leads us to a kindred topic, the desecration of thepopular religion. The careful student of the history of theGrecian nation will observe this increase, as he approachesthe age of Philip and; though other causes may have hadsome influence, we can only thus explain the origin of a religious war like the Phocian. The causes which producedthe decay of the popular religion, may for the most part befound in a former chapter. It would be useless toto attemptdeny, that the speculations of the philosophers had agreat share in it ;although the better part of them werestrenuous to prevent such a result.Aristophanes was certainly unjust in attributing such designs to Socrates, but hewas right in attributingit to philosophy in general Thequestion now arises: On which side lies the blame? Onthat of philosophy, or of the popular religion? It is notdifficult to answer this question after what we have already1The Aoyos Mcmoe and &$IKO in the Clouds.