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435 ON ANCIENT GREEK MUSIC. It is perhaps not far from correct to say, that Greece^ as in many other points, so especially in the arts, was set forth as a pattern to mankind. For in no country has the love of beauty been so extensively predominant, or the truQ principles of art so generally exemplified ; and here first in the history of the world sprung up those germs of excellence in all that ennobles and refines our nature, which the great spirits of succeeding ages have ever been employed in deve- loping. And as in the first birth of every thing else, so here also, there is a peculiar beauty to which no after imitation can attain : and a native charm that may never be renewed. We have built upon the foundations which were then laid, and have raised some goodly structures : but I think we have found that the nearer we approach the primitive and severe magnificence, the nearer we also approach true principles of art — that in proportion as we strictly and religiously adhere to the old patterns and rules, just in that proportion we attain to the stature of the ancient worthies by whom those patterns were given ; and succeed in imitating the simple beauty and fitness of the masterworks from which those rules were formed. Now in almost all the arts this has been attempted, and with various success. The success has been various because the proper course has not been always undeviatingly pursued : and because the materials, and likewise the genius of the artists, have been various. In some arts also the attempt has been carried further than in others, according as the peculiar nature of each seemed to admit it. And I think I may safely say that those arts which have been most, and most successfully followed up in this way, have been the most prolific in masterworks of beauty. The artist has taken his stand upon the ancient and excellent simplicity,