A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Governmental Balances; Religion 401
in private and public, works for the accomplishment of
the business in hand. The peculiar constitution accordingly
makes the state irresistible, and certain of obtaining
whatever it attempts.
Nay even when these external alarms are past, and the
The correo
people are enjoying their good fortune and the fruits of abuses,
their victories,
and as usually happens, are growing corrupt
through flattery and idleness, so as to show a tendency
to violence and arrogance,—it is in these circumstances
more than ever that the constitution is seen to possess
within itself the power of correcting abuses. For when
anv one of the three estates becomes puffed up, and shows
an inchnation to be contentious and unduly encroaching,
the dependency of all three upon one another, and the possibility
of limiting and thwarting one another must certainly
check this tendency. The proper balance is maintained
therefor by holding the impulsiveness of one part
under fear of the others.
II.
Religion
Whenever one of their illustrious men dies, as a part of The funeral
oration,
the funeral the body with all its adornments is carried mto
the Forum to the rostra, as a raised platform there is called.
Sometimes the body is propped upright upon it so as to be
easily seen, or more rarely it is laid upon the rostra. The
speaker is the son, if the deceased has left one of full age
who is present at the time ; or, failing a son, one of his kinsmen
mounts the rostra, while all the people are standing
round, and delivers a speech concerning the virtues of the
deceased and the successful exploits performed by him in
his lifetime. By these measures the people are reminded
of what has been done and made to see it with their own
eyes—not only those persons who were engaged in the
53.