Travels of Anacharsis the Younger in Greece ... Seventh edition

Front matter

TRAVELS OF ANACHARSIS THE YOUNGER IN GREECE, DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE FOURTH CENTURY BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ÆRA. BY THE ABBE BARTHELEMY^ KEEPER OF THE MEDALS IN THE CABINET OF THE KING OF FRANCE, AND MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF INSCRIPTIONS AND BELLES LETTRES, Œranglatca from tf)t tfvintf). IN TWO VOLUMES, And One in Quarto, containing Maps, Plans, Views, and Coins, illustrative of the Geography and Antiquities of Antient Greece, SEVENTH EDITION. vol. r. Hontion : Printed by W. Green, 4, Grange Court, Carey Street, TOR THE PROPRIETORS, MILITARY CLASSICS* OFFICE, 14, CHARLOTTE STREET BLOOMSBURY, AND TO BE HAD OF ALL THE BOOKSELLERS. — 1810. TRAVELS OF ANACHARSIS THE YOUNGER IN GREECE, DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE FOURTH CENTURY BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ÆRA. BY THE ABBE BART HELEMY. KEEPER OF THE MEOALS IN THE CABINET OF THE KING OF FRANCE, AND MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF INSCRIPTIONS AND BELLES LETTRES- TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

IN SEVEN VOLUMES. And an Eighth in Quarto, containing Maps, Plans, Views, and Coins, illustrative ofthe Geography aud Antiquities of Antient Greece, SEVENTH EDITION. VOL. I, LONDON: W. Green, Printer, 4, Grange-Court, Carey Street. FOR THE PROPRIETORS, MILITARY CLASSICS' OFFICE, 14, CHARLOTTE STREET BLOOMSBURY : AND MAY BE HAD OF ALL THE BOOKSELLERS,— 1816, PREFACE, TO THIS NEW EDITION, BY THE EDITOR OFTHE CORPUS HISTORICUM. IN giving a new Edition of this learned and elegant work, it become? a duty, both to the readers and ourselves, to state in what we have im proved the former. A translation, indeed, is not an original work ; and does not admit, as an original, of additions by its editor or translator. But the translation of a work of learning, like Anacharsis, requires a greater or less portion of industrious attention, and in order to do justice to the subject, a sufficient previous acquaintance with the original Greek and Latin Authorities.

It admits, moreover, of commentaries, tables, and notes, which will always have a value in proportion to the assiduous attention applied to collect, arange, and explain them; and with respect to which, in a work like Anacharsis, the public have a right to expect, that every new edition should add something to the former. We shall therefore, enumerate the advantages, which we have en deavoured to give to this edition. 1. The last English edition, that of 1 80si, was translated by a gentleman of the name of Beaumont; and it is a pleasing justice to add, that not onlv in correctness and fidelity, but in a pleasing and nervous style, it is creditable to the talents and attention of its author. But being ex ecuted by this gentleman for the Booksellers, and therefore with less ardour, and love of his subject, than a writer translating with a view to wards improvement in his own studies, it is equally just to add that it wants that spirited execution, that representation of the wit, the grace, and the politeness of the original, which M. Beaumont, in a more laboured translation, would doubtless have given.

Preface

. Authors. In a word, his garment having fallen upon us, we trust that some of his spirit has accompanied it. 2. It is unnecessary to add any thing with respect to the accurate Learning of a work, so well known, as the original. Never was learning dressed and embellished by a brighterand more agreeable immngination. Never did imagination embellish so austere and unpromising a subject with so little diminution of the necessary exactness of its features. The numerous authorities, quoted at the end of every page, are proofs, that all the ideas and circumstances, almost every sentence, and without a single exception, every fact, in the travels, are supported on the authority of antient authors, and are in no case the mere invention of the fancy of Barthelemy. In this new translation, therefore, we have given every due attention to these authorities and quotations; and have facilitated the references of the reader by imitating the industrious accuracy of the author. 3.

A third point of great value in the original work is the twelve tables, (of geograpbj', chronology, and comparative weights) with which the learned author has completed his labour. In the improvemetn of these tables, we have applied that degree of attention which their value and importance required. M. Beaumont had already done much, and we trust we have followed the example of industry which he had given. We have suffered the table of Leagues to stand as in the preceding edition, because, as observed by M. Beaumont, the French league differs from the English league of three miles only by 48 yards, 2 feet, and three inches; and the difference therefore did not merit notice. In the re duction of the tables to English yards, feet &c. it is justice to add that we have availled ourselves of the previous refference and collection of M, Beaumont. 4.

We cannot conclude these observations without recommending to our readers, not merely the cursory and ordinary perusal of the Travels of Barthelemy, but such a deliberate and studious reading, as will be sufficient to infix the facts and circumstances upon their memory and imagination. It is incredible, how much just and accurate learning is contained in the comparatively narrow limits of this fine Komance. All the most valuable part of the enormous Thesaurus of Gruter, Grævius, and Grouovius ; all the established learning of the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions, is to be found in Barthelemy ; and to be found in a form, which, appealing to the imagination, impresses itself without labour upon the memory. , [ — — j . lhis publication, in parts aud numbers, will facilitate this method of reading; for those who would not have the inclination, perhaps not the leisure, to enter upon the reading of seven large volumes ator.ee before them, may be induced, perhaps, to read it, as thus published, in parts.

And having experienced ourselves, indeed daily continuing to experience, the delight of this course of study of the Greek and Uomiin authors, in their History, their Philosophy, their Arts, and Manners,

PREFACE.

. and finding it to be a prospect which becomes richer and more beautiful as we proceed, I deem it a duty to conclude with repeating a recommen dation to this study. In the Translation of D'Anville's Geography of the Greeks and Romans iu the æras of Alexander and Augustus, we have afforded our Readers the best Book in modern times for the knowledge of antient geography in its detail. In the translation of Anacharsis, the reader has before him the most full, and spirited, and yet faithful Picture of the Government, Domestic Economy, Arts of Life, Manners, and Usages of the Greeks. Editor. MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OFM. BARTHELEMY; WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, INTHE YEARS 1792 and 1793. IN this inaction to which the unhappy condition of the times has reduced me, and in this asylum in which the image of so many virtues alleviates, the affliction of so many sufferings, I am about to give a cursory narrative of the principal incidents of my life.

In other times these materials would have fallen to the share ofthe perpetual secretary ofthe society of Belles Lettres, whose province it is to pronounce the historic eulogy ofthe deceased members. They would have been useful to such Biographers us P. Niceron, who collect, for literary purposes, the most indifferent actions of writers. My course of studies would perhaps have been useful to others engaged in the same pursuits. But all regard for these objects is now passed away amongst us, and France, hitherto the leader of the nations iu all that is lair and beautiful, has now abandoned her former pride, aud is confessedly infe rior to those whom she has hitherto led. Other Authors have performed a duty to themselves by seeking to petpetuate their remembrance with the public. For me, I have no motive for writing, but that it abstracts me from the sad scene around me.

My family has been longestablished in Aubagne, a small but hand some town, between Marseilles and Toulon. Joseph Barthelemy, my father, wiio possessed a moderate independance, married Magdeline Bastit, daughter of a merchant in the small neigh bouimg sea-.iort of Cassis. In a visit of my mother to her parents, January iOlh 17 16, she gave birth to me. I was removed to Aubagne 111 » lew days, aud passed my infancy 111 my lather's house. My mother, } el iu the flower of life and beauty, died when I was only four years old. Those who knew her have always described her to me as a woman evidently beautiful and accomplished, and of a gentle and No. 64. b affectionate temper. My father lamented her bitterly. It was his custom, every morning and evening, to take me by the hand to her tomb, and there affectionately embracing me aud looking piteously at the grave, weep bitterly for his loss.

I can never forget these early scenes. My mother had left two sous and two daughters. Never was family more united in itself, aud more attached to its duties. The death of my father, and afterwards that of my brother, were lamented by the town as a domestic loss. Have I not reason to feel some pride that such were my parents. Truly I do feel it, aud were it in my power to begiulife again, aud to choose my parents, none other would I have than J. Bar thelemy of Aubagne. At the age of twelve, my father placed me iu the college of Oratory at Marseilles. I went through my course under P. Raynaud, who after wards distinguished himself at Paris, He had previously obtained the prizes of prose and poetrv, both from the academy of Marseilles and the French academy. He had an honest zeal for his pupils, he often retained us beyond our hours of learning, and laboured to impress upon us the force and beauty ofthe best writers.

One day he required of us a description of a Tempest in French verse. Each made their essay, and delivered it to the master, and amongst them myself. When they were read on the following day, he appeared sa tisfied with mine. A month afterwards he gave a kind of literary exhi bition in the hall of his college. All the best society of the town and country were assembled. On a sudden entered M. de Visclide, the per petual secretary of our academy, and the friend of our master. He was immediately conducted to a seat of honour, and my master, in a voice which appeared to me like thunder, summoned me from a remote corner ofthe hail to his presence. He presented me to the great man, and de signated me as the extraordinary genius who had written the description of the Tempest. M. de Visclide made me the compliments of the polite man aud the scholar.

It may be imagined that this eulogy iu some de gree disconcerted me, when I add that I had t«ken this description verbatim from La Motte's Iliad. My answer to the secretary's compliment was ludicrous enough. "Monsieur, I have the honour to be your most humble and most obedient servant, Barthelemy." I wa> destined for the church, but as the bishop refused to admit those who studied only at the Oratory, I was compelled to take my theological and mat'nematic courses at the college ofthe Jesuits. In one of these lectures, the lecturer, being puzxled to explain to us what was a cube, suddenly threw down his square bonnet : " There is a cube, said be." In another, the lecturer almost foamed at the mouth to prove that the five propositions were in Jansenius. I had formed a plan of study which put me above these fooleries.

Descartes' book, the system of nature, happening to fall into my bands, lread it voraciously, and in some degree possessed myself of thesubject. I applied with equal eagerness to the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew language?, and having made a collection ofthe roots ofthe latter, 1 formed them into Latin verses nearly as bad as those of Messieurs ofthe port royal. All this was of use to me ; but not so, a tribe of polemical writers of theology, in the study of whom I lost my health, incumbered my memory, aud had nearly rendered myself an irrecoverable blockhead. I was absurd enough to propose a Thesis, in which I promised to consider and answer all the heresies of all the ages of the catholic church. Fortunately I recovered my senses and my health at the same time. Let me relate another levity. In one of our lectures the »rator com pared the church to a vessel, in which the pope was the admiral, the bishops the sub-lieutenants, &c. I whispered to my next comrade, " You aud I are the cabin boys."

This excited a laugh, in which the good lecturer himself had some difficulty to repress himself from joining. My next study was the Arabic. Here again I laboured with my usual industry, collected the roots from the vast dictionary of Golius, and made Arabic themes and verses. I became acquainted with a young Maronite priest, a pupil of the Propoganda at Rome. He proposed to me to preach an Arabic sennr>n to some Marouites, Armenians and Ara bians, at that time at Marseilles; he gave me one in manuscript, and I ascended the pulpit. My auditors, about forty in number, complimented me highly upon my performance, and concluded with a request that I would favour them again. Again I exhibited. They next asked me to confess them, but 1 had the modesty to decline this, with an assurance that I did not understand the terms of Arabian sin.

This was only one scene of my folly. My Maronite master had com posed for mesome dialogues in Arabic, containing questions and answers, compliments, &c. — for example.- Good morning Sir. How are you. Extremely well, at your service. It is a long time since I saw you. I was in the country, &c. I was one day summoned to the gate of the seminary. Upon de scending 1 found myself surrounded by ten or twelve ofthe principal merchants of Marseilles. They had brought with them a kind of men dicant, who bad applied for relief upon their exchange: he had related to them that he was a Jew by birth, but that, penetrated with the truths of the evangelists, he had become a christian; that he was acquainted with all the oriental languages, and that as a proof of it he required only to be brought into conference with some learned man.

My friends im mediately brought him to me. I was about to inform them that we never learned these languages as living tongues, when the man at once entered upon his assault. I had the good fortune to recognize that he was reciting in Hebrew the first psalm of David, which I had perfectly in my memory. 1 suffered him to repeat the first verse, and then an swered by one of my Arabic dialogues. We continued ; he by reciting the second verse, and I by continuing my dialogue. The conversaton became more animated ; we spoke both at once, and with the same rapidity. Each of us thus finished i tie dialogue aud psalm, when 1 informed the genilein n that his learning and misfortunes merited their rharity. The fellow, upon his part, took me by the hand, adding thai c ' ad tra velled in Spain, Portugal, and Germany, Italy and Turkey, aud had neYer seen so learned a man as myself.

I was then twenty years of age. It may be imagined that this adventure greatly augmented my repu tation. I owe it to myself to add, that I candidly declined the honour, and coilessed what I had done ; but all preferred the wonderi'ul, and iut imputed my denial to modesty. Though my terra was now finished at the seminary, and though I was deeply impressed with the truths aud importance of religion, I had no in clination for the church. 1 was disgusted with the manifest follies of't'ue Janseuists aud Jesuits in their contest with each other. The bishop, moreover, distiusted me, because he was informed that I sometimes read the works of the Jansenists : and his two Jesuits, father Fabre and father Mai re, were not in my interest. I gave myself no trouble to conciliate them ; but devoting myself to literature, and having sufficient to live easily, my days and nights rolled away in tranquillity and happiness. 1 passed the greater part ofthe year at Aubagne in the bosom of my beloved family.

We relieved the sameness of a domestic life by occasi onal visits and entertainments both at home and at Marseilles. At Mar seilles indeed 1 had many valuable acquaintances, members of the academy. Amongst these was M. Fournier, so well known for his learn ing in the history ofthe middle ages. He supplied several notes to the Gallia Christiana, and to the Supplement to Ducange. Amongst these likewise was M. Cary so learned in antiquities, and to whom we owe the medal lie history ofthe kings of Thrace and the Bosphorus. The man ners of these gentlemen were as distinguished as their learning. How deeply do 1 now remember and regret them. But what is human life : Alas, a pilgrimage from the cradle to the grave through a wilderness of thorns, winch, tearing our clothes as we pass, dismiss us naked and wounded to the earth whence we came.

What is that philosophy which would wrest from us the hope of another world, and the recovery, in another life, of the father, the friends, and the children we have lost. Thank God, this is my best hope, which has never failed me. Sometimes, after having passed the day in reading and Conversing with a friend, J have passed the night with the Minimes; where father Si°-a loux, the correspondent of the academy of sciences, lectured on astronomy, aud did me the honour to make me his associate. As 1 am now con fessing the lollies of my youth, let me enumerate amongst them that of having lost so much time in Astronomy and the mathematics. I have likewise to accuse myself of having read many idle books aud composed many idle verses, But the most egregious of all my levities was that of be* coming the sunday preacher in Lent to some Nuns at Aubagne.

I had Beither books nor sermons, but had to exhaust myself from monday to Saturday in writing the discourse for the following sunday. Having lost many years in this desultory course of life, and reading, I began at last to reflect upon my situation. I was now thirty years of age: the family of my brother increasing, and it was necessary to look out for myself. Every one advised me to go to Paris. And what, said I, can 1 expect there, 1 that have neither intrigue, ambition, acknowledged talent, nor solid learning. I was like a traveller, who, in visiting foreign countries, has brought back with him an infinite number of small com, but no piece of gold. 1 know not what prevailed over these suggestions. 1 took my departure, aud passed through Aix, where 1 went to visit M. de Bausset, a canon of the cathedral, but a townsman of mine at Aubagne.

He told me that he had obtained the promise of the first vacant bishopric, that he had already fixed upon me for his grand vicar, and that, as soon as he should be nominated, he would proceed to Paris and seek me. I received his offer with joy ; it secured me au independance, and I should owe it moreover to a worthy man. I now proceeded in cheerfulness on my journey, and arrived in Paris iu the month of June 1743. A letter of introduction introduced me to M. de Boze, keeper of the medals of the king, secretary ofthe academi cs inscriptions and Belles Lettres, &c. In despite of his natural reserve, he received me with a distinguished politeness, and invited me to bis public dinners on Wednesdays and fridays. The Wednesday was devoted so his comrades of the academy of Belles Lettres : the friday to M. de Reaumur and some other friends.

It was here that 1 became acquainted with M. de Reaumur, M. de Caylus, L. Abbes Saltier, Gedoyu, Bleterie, Du Resuel, Racine, son of the great Racine, &c. I cannot express the emotion which the first meeting excited in me. Nothing escaped me iu their words aud gestures; and I was astonished to find that they looked and talked like myself, and other gentlemen. It is only by experience that I became wiser, and let me add, acquired by industry some right to confidence in myself. My acquaintances soon extended. I visited the curiosities of Paris; I frequented the public libraries; I thought of M. de Bausset ; I searched the gazette for some vacant see, and perhaps in the following gazette had the mortification to find it given to some other Abbe. At the end of a year, M. de Boze, who had insensibly informed him self of my circumstances, spoke to me of his own views with that singular indifference, which it was his character to affect, if not to feel, even on subjects which most interested him.

The cabinet of medals required * laborious attention beyond his age aud strength. He had intended to have taken ihe Baron de ia Batie as his associate, but tie Ba ion had recently died. He was now hesitating for his successor, for it is a place, said he, of great trust, and of much knowledge, He concluded by a hint, that his attention was fixed upon me. 1 expressed the warm pleasure I should feel in such an appointment. As I knew his favour and power with tbe court, I concluded the business would be finished in eight days, but his extreme caution protracted it to eight months. I was extremely grateful for the confidence and friendship of this good man, and during the eight years that I lived with him, I laboured to make his declining years tranquil and smooth. Upon his decease, I supplied M. de Bou ganville with the materials for his eulogy.

His characteristic traits were indeed worthy of being noted. The most striking of these was an extraordinary neatness in every thing around him ; the method and order in which every thing was kept, aud in the air of propriety and attitude of all his concerns. His library was bound magnificently iu Morocco; every book after being used was carefully restored to its place; his papers were all ranged in classes, and his portfolios were lettered. I cannot omit some further traits of this curious neatness. If the mi nisters required of him any medal to commemorate any public occasion, such as a victory, a royal marriage, &c. he laboured at it as Descarts at the system ofthe world. He drew a plan, had it engraved, aud drew copy after copy, in improvement of his original idea, till it satisfied him.

His me dals were according the most beautiful, delicate and suitable which the imagination can conceive. His merit has been better understood since his death. In some of the medalsof those who succeeded him, the artist, beiug without controul of a superior taste and judgment, has given so little attention to the design and the inscription, that finding it difficult to insert the inscription ordered, 1 have absolutely seen some of these medals with merely the letters of the alphabet. M. de Boze required the same industry in his office of which he afforded an example himself. I rose at five in the morning and proceeded to my labour or study ; IwenttoM.de Boze at nine, and remained with him till noon ; and if I did not dine with him, returned in about two hours, and remained till seven or eight in the evening.

His laborious exact ness was the only circumstance which annoyed me. When I left the cabinet at two to return at four, I left some volumes open upon the table, because I had again to consult them ; but upon my return, I found that M. de Boze had replaced them all on their shelves. Nothing could be correct enough to satisfy his scrutinizing eye; the omission of a dot over a letter excited his impatience. Nothing could have rendered this fastidiousness tolerable but the undoubted goodness of his heart, his gen tlemanly manners, and a considerate allowance, upon my part, for a foible compensated by so many graces. Several superb collections of medals, and amongst them those of marshal d'Etrees, M. de Beauveau and others, had been added to the king's cabinet; M. de Boze had not the strength duly to arrange and classify them, and I gained much upon his affections by the attention, and us he was polite enough to deem it, the judgment, with which I executed this laborious occupation.

Whilst I was occupied in these ar rangements, I received a letter from my friend the Abbe de Bausset, informing me that, after many disappointments, he was at length nominated bishop of Beziers ; and that it was one ofthe pleasures of his nomi nation, that he had now the means of convincing me that he had never forgotten me. I wrote such an answer as a grateful heart would neces sarily dictate; but at the same time avowing my decided taste and habits for literary pursuits, left it to him to draw the inference. My friend left me to my taste, and preserved his attachment to me. An appointment now fell which bound me still closer to the object of my affection. M. Burette, secretary of the academy of Belles Lettres, died in the year 1747. aud I was immediately appointed to his vacant place. I cannot express my joy at this appointment.

I had a suitable gratitude to M. le Beau, who had the goodness to resign in my favour his greater pretensions. This act of friendship I had soon an opportunity of repaying, for when M. de Bouganville, the perpetual secretary of the academy, resigned his place from his infirmities, I declined it, upon its being offered tome, in favour of M. le Beau. This gentleman had afterwards an opportunity of a similar revenge. " I must quit an occupa tion become too laborious for me, said he, and I restore it, M. de Barthe lemy, to him from whom I received it. Take it my dear friend.'" "I yield, replied I, to your wishes, but 1 yield to no one, my dear Le Beau, the pleasure of asserting, that it is impossible to have an advantage over you in good aud worthy actions." I continued with M. de Boze till the year 1753, when he was removed by a paralysis to a better life.

Public opinion already designated me as his successor, and my labours of ten years had in some degree given me a kind of title to it. But to the surprise of every one, a rival proposed himself. My friends, and even the minister himself, were indignant ; M. de Caylus, M. de Stainville, (afterwards duke of Choiseul) and even M. de Argensou, exerted themselves in my favour; but the goodness of the king himself rendered such efforts unnecessary. Upon M. d'Argeu son's announcing to his majesty the death of M. de Boze, the king, after a becoming testimony to the worth ofthe man he had lost, nominated me to the vacant office. The following year, M de Stainville was appointed to the embassy to Rome. I recal the date with extreme pleasure, because it was that of my own fortune and my own happiness.

He added to his former kind ness that of appointing M. Boyer, my intimate friend, his secretary of embassy. 1 made him a visit to thauk him, when with a further purpose of gratifying me in my known taste, he demanded of me if I should not myself be pleased with a visit to Italy. Upon my reply in the affirmative, he informed me that it was his intention to solicit roy company ; and that the minister had given his consent : that I should lodge with him in the hotel of the ambassador, and that his coach, his table, and his household, were at my service as his friend. Is it necessary to add, that I replied to this most accomplished gentleman, this princely patron, as became me. A leurned friend, M. le president de Cotta, wished to accompany me: I mentioned it to M. de Stainville, and he included the president in the invitation.

A short time afterwards, August 1755, we departed, and arrived in Rome November thefiist. M. de Stainville had already acquired at home that brilliant reputation which afterwards extended over Europe ; and which he owed less to the" splendid magnificence which reigned in his household, than to the taste, talents, and princely dealing through all his private and public life. It was by these graces of his character, that he conciliated the favour of Be aedict the 4th, and procured a limitation to the power of the Jesuits by a restriction upon the bill of Unigenitus. His lady, the countess, at this time only eighteen, was at once the most beautiful and accomplished woman in Europe, and of that gentle and affectionate temper, which, even sepa rated from such graces and talents, would have of itself subdued all arts.

She was intimately acquainted with all the best works of France and Italy. Her husband aud herself expressed the more pleasure in my society, because a common love of letters, and ofthe elegant arts, united hs al). We were presented to the pope and received with distinction. A few days afterwards, we made a tour to Naples, and employed a month in the curiosities of that city and its environs. We visited the ruins of Greek architecture at Pœstum. In the palace of Portici, we examined the anti quities discovered in Herculaueum and Pompeia. We meditated, with increasing pleasure, over this immense number of paintings, statues, vases and utensils, some interesting from their beauty and utility, and all from the images of antient manners which they recalled. We regretted the shameful negligence iu which the four or five hundred manuscripts found at Herculmieum were suffered to continue.