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traditions of rage, revenge, and barbarity, concerning the Beings 

 whofe worfliip it inculcated, could not be the religion of a very- 

 mild or benign people ; nor would its influence tend much to 

 tranquillize the pafTions and foften the heart ; or to infufe a 

 foftnefs and mildnefs into the national character. 



There is no doubt that Hojner copied faithfully the manners 

 and fentiments that were prevalent in his time, and exhibited 

 his chiefs, ading and fpeaking as leaders and warriors ufually 

 did in his day. Judging, then, from the writings of Hojner, 

 of the charaders and difpofitions of men when Homer wrote, 

 it will appear that they were ferocious in no common degree. 

 His heroes infult, and triumph over their enemies in their 

 dying moments, and kill the unarmed fuppliant proftrate at their 

 feet ; piracy was not only univerfally pradifed, but, even among 

 the moft dignified and refpedable charaders, the appellation 

 of Pirate was confidered as by no means reproachful ; and men 

 and women were daily carried off for the purpofe of felling them 

 as flaves. The condud of Achilles towards the dead body of 

 HeBor does not excite the idea of general ferocity of manners, 

 bccaufe we are prepared for fuch a condud, and know that the 

 poet meant to pourtray him. Impiger, iracmidtts, inexorabilis 

 acer. But, when the pious and amiable Tekmachus, and the 

 good Eumieus, charaders, which Homer wiflied to exhibit in the 

 moft engaging colours, when they hang the female domeftics, 

 .and mangle and mutilate the wretched Melanthiits with their 



own 



