And on the Trojan Plain. . 153 
ina stronger light the accuracy of Homer, 
adds credibility to the early history of Greece, 
which has little other foundation than the 
facts recorded in his poems. 
It may perhaps appear paradoxical to assert, 
that, previous to our enquiry, it is not neces- 
sary to prove, nor even to believe, that a 
war between Greece and Troy ever took 
place, nor even that such a city as 'T'roy ever 
existed. Supposing the Iliad to be a mere 
fiction of the poet, yet he has so interwoven 
the action with some real scenery, that our 
enquiry is the same, whether for the site of 
a genuine Troy, or for the spot selected by 
him as the site of his imaginary city. The 
interest, however, with which we should 
pursue the enquiry, and our satisfaction at a 
successful result, must necessarily be much 
more lively, when we believe, than when we 
doubt, the actual existence of Troy, and, had 
time permitted, we would have entered at 
some length on this interesting question. But 
in every investigation some things must be 
taken for granted, and were we not to ad- 
vance till the doubts of every sceptic were 
satisfied, we must begin by proving the ex- 
istence of a material world. After a few 
cursory remarks, therefore, we will proceed 
without delay to the plain of Troy. 
U 
