[ 474 ] 
this was in, is uncertain. The Oxford marble (61) 
placeth it, as doth Plutarch in the archonfhip of Co- 
rneas, which is fuppofed to concur with Olymp. 
LTV. 4,. or the year before Chrift 557. But Tatian 
(62), Clemens Alexandrinus (63), and Scaliger (64.), 
among the moderns, fix the government of Pififtratus 
to Olymp. L. or 577 years before Chrift. And this, 
indeed, agrees beffc with Plutarch ; who fays, that Pi- 
fiftratus, after feizing the adminiftration, ‘ honoured 
1 and efteemed Solon, and often lent for him, and ad- 
‘ vifed with him.’ 
In what year Pififtratus digefted Homer’s poems, 
is not laid ; but it was, moil probably, fome time, or 
other, while he was in credit ; and therefore, it is 
likely, about this very year y?/. before Chrifl. 
In the years of Solon’s life, and Pififxatus’s go- 
vernment, I have hitherto followed the chronology of 
the Greeks j which, however, I am apt to think, pla- 
ceth them both fomewhat higher than they ought to 
be $ a fault not to be corrected in this inftance alone. 
It is natural to afk, what could induce Solon and 
Pififtratus, whofe fchemes of politicks were fo widely 
different, to concur in recommending and encou- 
raging the finging Homer’s works. If the beautv 
and elegance of the compofition alone be thought a 
fufficient anfwer, it muff be obferved, that fuch di- 
flinguifhing care of them, fhewn by two fuch able 
(61) A<I>OT riE2I2TPAT02 A0HNON ETTPANNET2 ENETH 
HHf^AAAAnil APXONTOS IK. or. N° 56. where 
iee the Commentators. 
(62) Contra Graces . 
(63 ) Stromat. 1 . i. 
(64) In Eufeb . 
flatefmen. 
