116 On the Machinery of the 



PART 11. 



The principal object, for which this essay 

 was undertaken, remains for the consideration 

 of the present evening, viz. dismissing the sup- 

 position of any one great moral and the alle- 

 gorical interpretation of a more than human 

 machinery, as subservient to the illustration of 

 this moral, let us receive the epic poem of the 

 ancients with its terrestrial and celestial agents, 

 and enquire, whether the ancient Epopcea 

 derives any advantage from the introduction of 

 this supernatural machinery ; whether, the cha- 

 racter of the gods and goddesses of the Greek 

 and Roman heaven being in every view inferior 

 to that of men, the assigning to such con- 

 temptible personages so principal a part does 

 not detract from the interest, and debase the 

 dignity of the poem, whatever the genius of 

 the poet may be. I know, that in this attempt 

 I have prejudices to encounter, prejudices, 

 which, having entwined themselves about our 

 hearts in the dearest and most enchantinsr 

 period of life, still retain a mighty power and 

 subjugate almost reason itself. But if there be 

 a truth in character, if there be a standard in 

 nature, to which taste and judgment ought to 



