But all this, being divine and furprizing, may quite ruin all probability; therefore the poet fhould take a particular care as to that point, fince his chief aim is to inftruct, and without probability any action is lefs likely to perfuade. Laftly, fince precepts ought to be concife, to be the more easily conceived, and lefs oppress the memory; and fince nothing can be more effectual to this end than propofing one fingle idea, and collecting all things fo well together, as to be prefent to our minds all at once; therefore the poets have reduced all to one fingle action, under one and the fame design, and in a body whofe members and parts fhould be homogeneous. What we have obferved of the nature of the Epick Poem, gives us a just idea of it, and we may define it thus: ❝ The Epick Poem is a discourse invented by art, "to form the manners, by fuch inftructions as are "disguised under the allegories of fome one important "action, which is related in verfe, after a probable, 66 diverting, and furprizing manner." IN SE C T. II. THE FABLE OF THE ILIAD. N every design which a man deliberately undertakes, the end he propofes is the first thing in his mind, and that by which he governs the whole work, and all its parts: thus, fince the end of the Epick B 2 Poem Poem is to regulate the manners, it is with this firft view the poet ought to begin. But there is a great difference between the philofophical and the poetical doctrine of Manners. The fchoolmen content themselves with treating of virtues and vices in general; the inftructions they give are proper for all states of people, and for all ages. But the poet has a nearer regard to his own country, and the neceffities of his own nation. With this design he makes choice of fome piece of morality, the most proper and just he can imagine; and in order to press this home, he makes less use of the force of reasoning, than of the power of infinuation; accommodating himself to the particular customs and inclinations of those who are to be the fubject, or the readers, of his work. Let us now see how Homer has acquitted himself in thefe refpects. He saw the Grecians, for whom he defigned his Poem, were divided into as many states as they had capital cities. Each was a body politick apart, and had its form of government independent from all the rest. And yet these distinct states were very often obliged to unite together in one body against their common enemies. These were two very different forts of government, fuch as could not be comprehended in one maxim of morality, and in one fingle poem. The poet, therefore, has made two diftinct fables of them. The one is for Greece in general, united into one body, but compofed of parts independent on each |