Page:Life and Writings of Homer.pdf/32

Poverty was still prevalent in the Country, when Pelops came from Asia with a Flood of Wealth, 'till then unknown to Greece; and by that and his Skill in the neccesary Arts of Life, he gained such Power among the rude inhabitants, that he gave his Name to a great Part of the Country. His Descendants Atreus and Thyestes added to their hereditary Dominions; and Fortune made a Present of a new Kingdom to the elder Brother. Eurystheus his Nephew, King of Mycenæ of the Line of Perseus, going against the Heraclides, or Posterity of Hercules, entrusted him with the Government during his Absence. The Expedition proved fatal to Eurystheus; and the Inhabitants of Mycenæ being afraid of a victorious Tribe, and having proof of the Ability of their Governor Atreus, unanimously offer'd him the Kingdom. Thus the Family of Pelops got the possesion of two Kingdoms, and became superior in Wealth and Power to the Perseids their Rivals. This Atreus seems to have been the first, who after the Days of Minos, had fitted out a Fleet; for besides a large and flourishing Kingdom on the Continent, he left to Agamemnon the Sovereignty of many of the Islands, which cou'd never be held in Subjection without a naval Force. They had been, as halh been above observed, early enriched by Commerce with Syria, Phœnicia, and Egypt, the first civilized Countries.