ie” ai 
1807.] 
fo much of the fable of the Thad. It 
is, indeed, this aftonifhing power of in- 
vention which creates the enthufiafin 
with which Homer is always read, which 
gives life, animation, and action, to every 
thing he defcribes. His councils, his 
battles, his epifodes, and his fictions, 
fucceed each other with a rapidity which 
allows no paufe for the imagination, or 
judgment of the reader. He ts hurried 
from one event to another by the irre- 
fiftitble current of his verfe, flowing like 
the courfe of the river which he de- 
{cribes, 
Of Mac icay, wok te mug x Say mica vert To 
In his exhibition of characters, there 
is the fame variety and wonderful diicri- 
mination. ‘They are lively, {pirited, and 
almolt dramatic. . He has admirably fup- 
plied the defects of hiftory by the power 
of his own fancy. Tlie common idea of 
Achilles, who forms the principal figure, 
has been, we think, unjuftly taken ra- 
ther from the well-known line of Ho- 
race, 
{mpiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer, 
than from an attentive confideration of 
the manner in which he is pourtrayed in’ 
the poem. He is patlionate, often furi- 
ous, and untractable; but he as often 
fubmits to the dictates of reafon and 
juttice. In all his difputes with Aga- 
memnon, he has juttice on his fide. 
When wronged in his love, he peaceably 
furrenders Brifeis, though he difdains to 
continue under the command of the ty- 
rant who has forced her from him. He 
is open. and fincere ; he profeffes love for 
his country, and reverence for the gods. 
His friendihip for Patroclus is drawn in 
amiable colours. Indeed, every thing in 
the poem tends to aggrandize Achilles, 
who is undoubtedly its hero. When the 
Greeks fly before Heétor, our attention 
is immediately turned to the fon of Pe- 
leus, who, tranquil in his tent, pities 
the fate of fo many brave men facrificed 
to the pride of Agamemnon, and re- 
Joices to fee that pride humbled. Greece 
is reprefented as a fuppliant at his fect, 
yet he remains awhile inexorable. But 
he gives way to the tears of his friend, 
and permits Patroclus to fight under his 
own armour. With what tendernefs he 
recommends to him to ttop when he fhall 
have repulfed the Trojans, and to be- 
ware of Hector! How profound is his 
grief at the lofs of a friend fo dear, the 
companion of his infancy! Revenge 
made him throw afide his arms—it is re- 
yenge alone that can induce him to 
Montuty Mas. No. 154. 
The Iad. 
137 
refume them. It isnot Greece whom he 
ferves, itis Patroclus to whofe manes he 
facrifices the fons of Troy. For Patro- 
clus he mourns, even while he drags 
round the walls of the city the body of 
Heétor who has flain him. He mivgles 
tears of fympathifing forrow at the mis- 
fortunes of the aged Priam, wit impre- 
cations and threats agaimft- the furviving 
warriors of Ilium. Itis from this mix- 
ture of fenfibility and rage, of ferocity 
and tendernefs, that we are prefented 
with the moft poetical character that ever 
was invented. That of Helen is drawn 
with exquifite art. Though fhe is the 
caufe of all thefe calamities, fhe never 
excites either difguft or abhorrence ; fhe 
is even fometimes introduced with a fort 
of dignity. Her confufion and com- 
punétion when in the prefence of Priam, 
or within fight of Menelaus; the.ev.dent 
ftruggle in her mind between grief, felt’ 
condemnation, and a ftill lingering rond- 
nefs for the man who has fedueed her, 
render her more an object of pity than 
of hatred. But the poet knows how to 
difcriminate between vice and virtue: - 
and the frailty and crimes of Helen are 
beautifully contrafted by the chafier loves 
and tender forrows of Andromache. - 
Paris is, as he ought to be, a mixture of 
gallantry and effeminacy; Diomed is 
bold, but prudent; Ajax is arrogantand 
brutal; Heétor, active, vigilant, and hu- 
mane; Agamemnon is actuated by am- 
bition, and a thirft for empire; Mene- 
laus, his milder virtues ; Niftor is a fage, 
talkative, old man; Idomeneus is a plain 
blunt foldier; and Sarpedon is gallant 
and generous. In our next we thall 
point out to the reader fome of the pe- 
culiar beauties of the Hiad, with refpedct 
to its machinery, its imagery, and its 
fentiments. 
Ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, | 
N your laft Magazine, there is a no= 
tice from Dr. Callcott of his inten- 
tion to publith a work on Lord Stanhepe’s 
Temperament, which he has thought 
proper to preface with a fneer at fome . 
remarks on the fame work, inferted in 
your Magazines for October_and Novem- 
ber lait, fgned C. and XYZ. 
Leaving the author of the firft of thefe 
to take what notice he pleafes: of his 
fhare of the reflection, I muft beg leave 
to obferve that the Doctor has greatly 
mifreprefented my remarks, in the firft 
place, by ss that I have found ont 
that 
