This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1815. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. OF THE LITERATURE OF GREECE AND ROME. SECTION I. Of the Poets, Historians, and Rhetoricians. As all our acquaintance with the theological and moral sentiments of the pagan world is derived from the writings of the Grecian and Roman poets, historians, and philosophers, it appears proper to present a succinct account of the gradual progress of literature in these eminent nations of antiquity, especially in reference to their religious creed. The Literature of Greece, so deservedly honoured by all succeeding ages, was of foreign origin. As Greece was colonized by several nations, situated along the shores of the Mediterranean, it is probable that the various mythological tenets of these several nations would be introduced into different parts of the peninsula. The lively ingenuity and active ambition of the Greeks, did not suffer them to rest contented with the principles of science, and the rudiments of knowledge, thus entrusted to their care; they soon enlarged and improved their little stock. The earliest instructors communicated their doctrines in the guise of fables, as the most interesting vehicles of information. Hence, in some degree, arose-the complicated theology of the Greeks, which we, unacquainted with the original signification of these allegorical allusions, find it almost impracticable to decypher. The gratitude of their contemporaries has mentioned many wise men, who flourished previous to the time of Homer; but the relations given of them are so palpably absurd and ridiculous, that we must regard them as wholly symbolical. Prometheus, Linus, Orpheus, and Musseus, occupy the first rank in. the literary mythology of. Greece. The fabulous story of Prometheus, has received various interpretations, having been supposed to relate to t...