Pedestrianism

ANCIENT GVMNASTICS. 29 enemies; and the most signal exploits in the iieldof battlewere performed by those who hadpreviously obtainedthe Olympiccrown*. The love of glory is the greatest incentive to splendidactions; and the S ACRED G AMES fos­ tereda passionthat could easilybe transferred fromthe gymnasiato the contestsin the field. One Grecian could conquer ten Persians, for his body wasrobust, andhis mind wasbrave; and H ONOR was the sole reward which he courted. It is relatedby Herodotus, (lib. viii. c. 25.) thatwhen Xerxes invaded Greece, he found the Grecians employed in celebrating the Olympic festival, and that the prize which they contended for, was no more than— a CHAPLET OF WILD OLIVE. TLGRANES, the SOU of A RTABANUS , exclaimed, " Alas, Mardo- " nius! againstwhat kind of men have you " led us to fight! men who engage in a con- " test with eachother, not forgold and silver, * Gillies' Hist. chap. vi. but