Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/190

 182 STRABO. CA3AUB.467. And again ; " Curetes Achaei carried the presents." 1 So much then on the subject of the etymology of the name Curetes. [The dance in armour is a military dance ; this is shown by the Pyrrhic dance and by Pyrrichus, who, it is said, invented this kind of exercise for youths, to prepare them for military service.] 2 9 9. We are now to consider how the names of these people agree together, and the theology, which is contained in their history. Now this is common both to the Greeks and the Barba- rians, to perform their religious ceremonies with the observ- ance of a festival, and a relaxation from labour ; some are performed with enthusiasm, others without any emotion; some accompanied with music, others without music ; some in mysterious privacy, others publicly ; and these are the dictates of nature. 3 For relaxation from labour withdraws the thoughts from human occupations, and directs the reflecting mind to the divinity : enthusiasm seems to be attended with a certain di- vine inspiration, and to approach the prophetic character ; the mystical concealment of the sacred rites excites veneration for the divinity, and imitates his nature, which shuns human senses and perception ; music also, accompanied with the dance, rhythm, and song, for the same reason brings us near the deity by the pleasure which it excites, and by the charms of art. For it has been justly said, that men resemble the gods chiefly in doing good, but it may be said more properly, when they are happy ; and this happiness consists in rejoic- ing, in festivals, in philosophy, and in music. 4 For let not the art be blamed, if it should sometimes be abused by the musician employing it to excite voluptuousness in convivial authentic. Heyne was inclined to consider them as an interpolation, in which he is supported by other critics. 1 II. xix. 248. The text is probably mutilated, and Strabo may have quoted the verses in Homer in which Merion is represented as dancing in armour. II. xvi. 617. 8 Kramer suspects this passage to be an interpolation. 3 The reading; in the text is rbv d' OVTWQ vovv. The translation adopts Meineke's reading, voovvra. 4 Quam preeclare philosophatus sit Strabo, me non monente, unusquis- que assequitur ; praeclarius, utique, quam illi, qui ex nostro ritu religiose omnein hilaritatem exulare voluere. Heyne, Virg. iii. 130.