(i 



brated mortal; their altempls to explain celestial phenomena, 

 or describe the constitution of the universe, were delivered 

 under allegorical representations; and their morality, instead 

 of being inculcated in the plain didactic form, was insinuated 

 in the specious garb of narraiive and of fable. ]3ut, there- 

 fore, to deny tl>e original union of poetry and philosophy, 

 would be as unreasonable (says an * old writer), " as to as- 

 sert that day-light proceeded from some other cause than thp 

 diffusion of the sun's beams over the surface of the earth. 

 For if we deliver poetry from the restraints of metre and 

 versification, and remove the veil of mythological obscurity 

 in which its sentiments are enveloped, what other difference 

 will then remain between it and philosophy, than adifierence 

 as to the dates of their respective origin .''" " During the 

 earlier ages (continues -f he) the human mind required a 

 milder species of philosophy, that would calm the restless- 

 ness inseparable from primitive rudeness, sooth the affec- 

 tions by the blandishments of harmony, captivate the atten- 

 tion by interesting fable, and lead mankind, as it were by 

 the hand, into the paths of knowledge ; in short reason was 



* Maximus Tyrius, Dissert. 9. 'Oion "» ns >) tjiv i^!f«v eoWo rl ■nyyia-mro wXrni riXt^ ^Zj iriTTOf 

 h( y?') >i Toy r,Xiov kVej yn; ^sot-ra «?iXo rl n ijj,t(xy, a-ru rot ra rrs TOitjTixn; 5rpos ^»Xocro(J>iav tyti. KaJ 

 yaj woilTtxii Tt ~«XXo Er< 1 <Pi\o<ro^ta, T'-f /kev Xf f Ta^a'a; t»i Jt aj/xovia i/^jutT^o;, rn Ji yrjijjiri uv- 



•Hi^aivoTffa ; 



•}• H ■i'Vj(^ti, wfOTffoJ «• »J»jX«T))i», K*! rm xaXa^Evy Tai'Tiiy wv^uat, iJeito (piXoiro^jaf ftso-jKn; 

 riM; luu «>f«4TE;a;> ,>! Sta fitvSwy SniJ-ayuyiKTu avrrt), xat ^.iree;i(EipiEtT(ci; \a,^«,vtf d^ tit9(«» tv; itaiitif 



