זא.

E

ΤΟ

ILIA D.

MER'S

AN EPIC POEM.

Folly of Ambition and a Name, B of which was a large heap of yiew of a large champaign dotat ins, under the fhadow of ed, who at his door

The ruins at

ho, curious

mfelf to

efe

PREFACE

то

HOMER'S ILI A D.

HOMER is univerfally allowed to have had the

greatest Invention of any writer whatever. The praife of Judgment Virgil has justly contested with him, and others may have their pretenfions as to particular excellencies; but his Invention remains yet unrivalled. Nor is it a wonder if he has ever been acknowledged the greatest of poets, who most excelled in that which is the very foundation of poetry. It is the Invention that, in different degrees, diftinguifhes all great Genius's: the utmost stretch of human study, learning, and industry, which master every thing befides, can never attain to this. It furnishes Art with all her materials, and without it, Judgment itself can at best but steal wifely: for Art is only like a prudent steward that lives on managing the riches of Nature. Whatever praises may be given to works of Judgment, there is not even a fingle