Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/58

lvi (6.) The rule which governs these changes is in both, that the divine order of the world is against the pride and haughtiness of man.

"God ever smiteth the creatures that exalt themselves, and lowly things provoke Him not. God is wont to cut down the lofty.  He suffereth none but Himself to think great things."—Herod., vii. 10.

But pride begets the mood

Of wanton, tyrant power;

Pride, filled with many thoughts, yet filled in vain,

Untimely, ill-advised,

Scaling the topmost height,

Falls to the abyss of woe."—Œd. King, 874–8.

(7.) The special form of this pride, against which Herodotos bears his witness, is the spirit of scorn and doubt, which was beginning to show itself in relation to oracles and prognostics.

"I cannot say of oracles, looking to these facts, that they are not true, not wishing to attempt to overthrow the authority of such as speak clearly. I neither despise them myself, nor tolerate one who does"—Herod., viii. 77.

No longer will I go in pilgrim's guise,

To yon all holy place,

Earth's central shrine, nor Abæ's temple old,

Nor to Olympia's fane,

Unless these things shall stand

In sight of all men tokens clear from God."

—Œd. King, 898–902.

(8.) As they take the same view of the moral order of the world, so are they of one mind as to the best