Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/180

 174 THE CITY. BOOK III. SO fast as religion enlarged its sphere. We cannot^ indeed, say that religious progress brought social prog- ress ; but what is certain is, that they were both pro- duced at the same time, and in remarkable accord. We should not lose sight of the excessive difficulty which, in primitive times, opposed the foundation of regular societies. The social tie was not easy to es- tablish between those human beings who were so diverse, so free, so inconstant. To bring them under the rules of a community, to institute commandments and insure obedience, to cause passion to give way to reason, and individual right to public right, there cer- tainly was something necessary, stronger than material force, more respectable than interest, surer than a philosophical theory, more unchangeable than a con- vention; something that should dwell equally in all hearts, and should be all-powerful there. This power was a belief. Nothing has more power over the soul. A belief is the work of our mind, but we are not on that account free to modify it at will. It is our own creation, but we do not know it. It is human, and we believe it a god. It is the effect of our power, and is stronger than Ave are. It is in us ; it does not quit us: it speaks to us at every moment. If it tells us to obey, we obey ; if it traces duties for us, we submit. Man may, indeed, subdue nature, but he is subdued by his own thoughts. Now, an ancient belief commanded a man to honor his ancestor; the worship of the ancestor grouped a family around an altar. Thus arose the first religion, the first prayers, the first ideas of duty, and of morals. Thus, too, was the right of property established, and the order of succession fixed. Thus, in fine, arose all private law, and all the rules of domestic organization. Later the