The Works Volume 4; With the Author's Life and Character, Notes [Etc.] in Eight Volumes (Paperback)

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. 1761 Excerpt: ...Homer. The Dauphin and his train, are for putting the Iliad into a nut-fliell, when Alexander and his courtiers chofe the richer) and molt curious cabinet of Darius, as the only proper repofitory fo Homer's works. Homerthe palace. I knew and could diftinguifh thofe two hei roes at firft fight, not only from the crowd, but from each other. Homer was the taller and comlier perfon of the two, walked very erect for one of his age, and his eyes-were the mof t quick and piercing I ever beheld. Ariftotle (looped mudh, and made ufe of a ftaff. His vifage was meagre, his hair lank and thin, and his voice iioliow. I foon difcovered that both of them were perfect Homer and Ariftofle were as oppofite aspoffible in their cha. rafters: but Dr. Swift has placed them together, chiefly with a view of /hewing their commentators in tha juft and ridiculous light in which thofe fcholiafls ought to appear. When an age is blcfled with the productions of an uncommon genius, fuch as refembles Homer, it muft, in fome meafure, be puniflidby bad imitations and comments; in the fame manner that you may have obferved the fun, by its heat and inftuence, rait ing vapours, and animating infcfts, that infect, and perhaps corrupt Ihe air, in which he (bines with fo much luftre. But "when an original admired author, as Ariftotle, is really erroneous, and deceives with ialfe fpecious principles, what a train of errors mult arife from commentators on fuch fubj-ftsj who, while they endeavour to purfue and extend a pleating inchanted profpeft, that has no real foundation, deviate into a dark, dif agreeable road of briers and thorns? It is on this accounrt that trie Dean has introduced Ariftotle in company with Homer. Vrrcrj. This defcription of Ariftotle is fine, and in a few words, rep...