21 



POSTSCRIPT. 



SfNCE writing the above sliglit essay, it has occuiTed 

 to me, that it might be observed that the story of Armida 

 originates from that of Circe. I grant it might, with much 

 appearance of probabihty, be traced to that source, — the 

 fountain whence the Alcina of Ariosto, and the Acrasia of 

 Spencer sprung. But circumstances may be found, in the 

 story of Armida, and in the tale of Moira-Borb, which 

 Homer certainly did not supply, and which may be dis- 

 covered in the Oriental writers. I do not, however, insist 

 on my hypothesis. I merely throw out a hint for investi- 

 gation. — I might have urged the probability of the Irish 

 bards being descendants of an Oriental colony; and inhe- 

 riting, of course, the inventive faculties peculiar to the 

 East: but I have studiously avoided every assertion, or 

 conjecture, that could lead to controversy. I have no 

 system to support. 



END OP VOL. X. 



