62 -yj? T not taken, fcfc. 



ly from what I have noted myfelf in the courfe of my re- 

 fearches on this queftion j but, were I to do fo, this paper 

 would fwell to a treatife : Befides, I have faid enough, I ima- 

 gine, to undeceive men as to this matter ; at leaft, enough to 

 make them think upon it with attention and impartiality j 

 which, if they do, I have no doubt that they will very foon un- 

 deceive themfelves. 



To conclude : As it is a matter of indifference to us now-a- 

 days, whether the Greeks or Trojans prevailed, there is no rea- 

 fon why the foregoing argument mould be read with diflike or 

 regret : On the contrary, it is the favourable fide of the que- 

 ftion j for, if it leflens ACHILLES, who had nothing but per- 

 fonal courage and ftrength to recommend him, it exalts HEC- 

 TOR, whom his enemies admitted to be the bed and braveft 

 man of his nation ; and, above all, it does juftice to HELEN, 

 the fineft woman of antiquity, by reftoring to her that charac- 

 ter of which poetic calumny has too long deprived her. 



Fortunati ambo ! ft quid mea carmina poffunt. JEn. ix. 446. 



III. 



