[44] Hobbes seems to consider these _ἐταιρίαι_ as associations of traders or artizans, such as our corporate companies were in their origin; which is clearly wrong. They would seem to have been more like the clubs of the French Revolution, formed for the advocacy of certain opinions, or to promote the safety, and increase the influence of the several members, by enabling them to act in concert. [45] By oath. [46] _Φιλονεικία_, properly that spite which reigneth in two adversaries whilst they contend, or eagerness in striving. “That is to say, superadded to the definite motives which lead men to embark in political contests; they contract, when once embarked in them, a party spirit wholly distinct from the objects of their party, and which is sometimes transmitted to their descendants, even when no notions of the original cause of quarrel are preserved. Such was the case with the factions of the Circus at Constantinople, and with those deadly feuds which have prevailed from time to time among the lower classes in Ireland. In the outrages committed some years ago by the parties called Caravats and Shanavests, neither the persons who were executed for these outrages, nor any one else, could tell what was the dispute. It was notorious who were Caravats and who were Shanavests, and this was all.”—Arnold. [47] The eighty–fourth chapter of the third book (which is contained in this paragraph) has recently been pronounced spurious by several distinguished critics. See the question discussed by Dr. Arnold, vol. i. p. 608. [48] Thucyd. iii. 70, 85. [49] B.C. 425. [50] _Φορμηδὸν_, signifieth properly, after the manner that mats or hurdles are platted. [51] Istone. [52] Thucyd., iv. 46, 48. [53] See vol. i. chap. v. p. 154. [54] Arnold’s Thucydides, App. i. p. 633. [55] For what little is known or supposed, see Muller’s History of the Doric Race, book iii. ch. ix. § 5; English Translation, vol. ii.: the best book of reference for all political information relative to the Dorian states. [56] _ἐτύγχανον δὲ καὶ δυνάμει αὐτῶν οἱ πλείους πρῶτοι ὔντες τῆς πόλεως_, I. 55. [57] _οἰ ἔχοντες τὰ πράγματα_, III. 72. _οἱ ὀλίγοι_, III. 74. [58] Cade’s speech to Lord Say, Henry VI. part ii. vol. iv. p. 7. The last sentence alludes to the law which gave to persons capitally convicted the benefit of clergy, that is, their lives were spared if they could read; it being presumed that none but clergy could do so. [59] Holinshed, vol. ii. p. 746. [60] Frenzy. The adjective wood, or wode, is of common occurrence in the Scottish language. [61] Lord Berners’ Froissart, vol. i. chap. 182, 183. [62] Ibid., vol. i. chap. 381. [63] Decline and Fall, chap. xl. [64] See ‘Ueber die Parteien der Rennbahn, vornehmlich im Byzantinischen Kaiserthum, von F. Wilken, in von Raumer’s Historisches Taschenbuch.’ [65] Gibbon, chap. xl. [66] Procopius, Persic., vol. i. chap. 24. [67] _ἐς ἀφατόν τι εὔρους διεχέχυτο χρῆμα_. [68] Procopius, Anecdota, chap. vii.