An address on American literature, delivered before the Philomathean Society of Indiana University, at its annual commencement, September 25th, 1839 / by James Conquest Cross.

  • Cross, James Conquest
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address on American literature, delivered before the Philomathean Society of Indiana University, at its annual commencement, September 25th, 1839 / by James Conquest Cross. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    [ » ] social habits and political opinions of antiquity, cannot be, perhaps, at this distance of time determined with much exactitude or precision. Enough, however, has reached us to prove that it was infinitely greater than it has ever exerted on any modern people, even in the mo- ments of their highest literary renown, and of their brightest military splendor. It elevated and refined na- tional sentiment, while it purified and ennobled the ten- derest sensibilities of the heart; it inspired an indomita- ble desire to excel in all the higher walks of life, while it taught the priceless value of firm and untainted public virtue; it led the people to seek wisdom, and to admire beauties, while it enabled them to reach the highest me- ridian of intellectual refinement. It gave wings to am- bition, energy and perseverance to enterprise, and raised to a supreme pitch of grandeur and glory the military renown of antiquity. Who does not recollect the me- morable response given by Phillip to the ferocious para- site who advised him to destroy Athens ? And by whom, said he, indignantly, shall we then be praised? Alexander fought, overrun empires,—desolated king- doms, deposed and created kings, that the historians, poets and musicians of Athens might exclaim, '' How great is Alexander! O Athenians, cried he, how dearly do I purchase your esteem ! Such reverence ' id poetry, towering in all the pride of uncontested ex- cellency, command amongst the ancients, that en one oc- casion, when a Grecian army had surrendered, those of the prisoners, and those only, who could repeat a stanza of Euripides, shook the stern purpose of a savage ty- rant and stayed the eager hand of the executioner. Since the revival of learning, almost every nation in Europe has been signalized by a golden age, in which a high and polished ' literature flourished, and over men's minds held sway. Italy, Spain, France and England can each boast of a bright constellation of superior in- tellects, whose influence was felt not only in the ages in hthey respectively Jived, but will continue to be