Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/370

 364 THE EEVOLUTIONS. BOOK IV, calumny. The fear of the great attests the desire of the pleha. But we ought to remark that, if the people in Greece and Rome sought to restore monarchy, it was not from real attachment to this sort of government. They loved tyrants less than they detested aristocracy. For them the monarchy was a means of conquering and avenging themselves; but this government, which was the result of force alone, and never rested upon any sacred tradition, took no root in the hearts of the j^QO- pie. They set up a tyrant for the needs of the strug- gle ; they left him the power afterwards from gratitude or from necessity. But when a few years had elapsed,, and the recollection of the hard oligarchy had been eflfaced, they let the tyrant fall. This government never had the afiection of the Greeks ; they accepted it only as a temporary resource, while the popular party should find a better one and should feel strong enough to gov- ern itself The inferior class increased by degrees. Progres? sometimes works obscurely, yet decides the future of a class, and transforms society. About the sixth century before our era, Greece and Italy saw a new source of riches appear. The earth no longer sufiiced for all the wants of man ; tastes turned towards beauty and luxu- ry; the arts sprang up, and then industry and commerce became necessary. Personal property was created by degrees ; coins were struck, and money appeared. Now, tiie appearance of money was a great revolution. Money was not subject to the same conditions as land- ed property. It was, according to the expression of the lawyers, res nee rnancipi, and could pass from hand to hand wilhout any religious formality, and without difficulty could reach the plebeians. Religion,