[ 47 6 J 
pofehim, unlefsby a timely union among themfelves, 
and with the reft of the Greek ftates in Europe, and 
the iflands adjacent to the Afiatic coaft, Such a confe- 
deracy had formerly fubfifted, and Afia had felt the 
effedts of it in the deftrudtion of one of its hates. 
This, indeed, was the work of a ten years war ; but 
that, on the other hand, was owing only to the quar- 
rels and dififentions of the princes engaged in it ; a 
leffon very proper to be inculcated at this juncture, 
when they were to fight in the caufe of liberty, when 
they might expedf the fame gods would be on their 
fide as formerly, and had ftronger motives to unani- 
mity in their councils, than when they were only re- 
venging the injuries offered to a fingle family. 
To promote fuch a confederacy as this, appears to 
me to be the plan of Homer’s Iliad. This, as a bard, 
he was employed to fing at feafts and entertainments ; 
and the introducing and encouraging fiich a poem by 
Lycurgus at Sparta, and Solon at Athens, was every 
way worthy the charadfer and wifdom of thofe law- 
givers. 
But if fuch a confederacy could once be formed, 
it was plain, the Athenians, the moft confiderable of 
their if ates at that time, would bear the greateft lhare 
in it: Whoever, therefore, was malfer of Athens, 
would, of courfe, be at the head of the whole al- 
liance. Without fuch a head, and furnifihed with 
proper authority to command obedience, former ex- 
perience had taught them what great difadvantages 
muff unavoidably arife to the common caufe. There- 
fore, 
