282 Dr. Falconer on the Influence of the Scenery 
Cyclops, who lived among fmoke, thunderings, 
eruptions of fire, and earthquakes ? * 
If then, thefe limited regions fo influenced 
their natives, may not a fimilar effedt be pre¬ 
fumed from the vaft regions of the north; may 
not its cold, barren, and uncomfortable climate, 
have made its numerous tribes equally rude and 
favage ? Ovid, the Roman poet, who, unfortu¬ 
nately for himfelf, had but too many opportu¬ 
nities for obfervations of this kind, feems to 
have been of this opinion, from his fo frequently 
connedting his account of the country with the 
manners of the inhabitants. Is it not probable, 
that the dreary afpedt of the country, might be 
one caufe of the devaluations committed by 
thefe people, in their invafions of the Roman 
* Frigida me cohibent Euxini littora Ponti : 
Diftus ab antiquis Axenus ilie fuit. 
Nam neque jattantur moderatis aequora ventis, 
Nec placidos portus holpita navis adit. 
Sunt circa gentes, quae praedam languine quaerant, 
Nec minus infida terra timetur aqua. 
Illi, quos audis, hominum gaudere cruore, 
Paene fub ejufdem lideris axe jacent 
Ovid. Trill. L. IV. El. 4. 
Sive locum fpe&o, locus eft inamabilis, et qua 
Efle nihil toto triftius orbe poteft. 
Sive homines; vix funt homines, hoc nomine digni : 
Quamque lupi fsvas plus feritatis habent. 
Ovid. Trill. E- V. Ekg. 7. 
empire? 
