The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets Volume 1 (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: OF HOMER. ]F his country and time, the difference is so infinite amongst all writers, that there is no question, in my conjecture, of his antiquity beyond all. To which opinion, the nearest I will cite, Adam Cedrenus placeth him under David's and Solomonls rule; and the Destruction of Troy under Saul's. And of one age with Solomon, Michael Glycas Siculus affirmeth him. Aristotle (in tertio de Poetica) affirms he was born in the isle of lo, begot of a Genius, one of them that used to dance with the Muses, and a virgin of that isle compressed by that Genius, who being quick with child (for shame of the deed) came into a place called -Egina, and there was taken of thieves, and brought to Smyrna, to Mseon king of the Lydians, who for her beauty married her. After which, she walking near the flood Meletes, on that shore being overtaken with the throes of her delivery, she brought forth Homer, and instantly died. The infant was received by Mseon, and brought up as his own till his death, which was not long after. And, according to this, when the Lydians in Smyrna were afflicted by the .Eolians, and thought fit to leave the city, the captains by a herald willing all to go out that would, and follow them, Homer, being a little child, said he would also b/jw$tiv (that is, sequi); and of that, for Melesigenes, which was his first name, he was called Homer. These Plutarch. The varieties of other reports touching this I omit for length; and in place thereof think it not unfit to insert something of his praise and honour amongst the greatest of all ages; not that our most absolute of himself needs it, but that such autheutical testimonies of his splendour and excellence may the better convince the malice of his maliguers. First, what kind of person Homer was, saith Spondanus, ...