PREFACE.

THE present work endeavours to supply what has long appeared to me a want in the literature of this country, viz., such an exhibition of the great national poem of the Greeks, and of the spirit of Greek life contained in it, as might place the English gentleman of culture and intelligence--in regard at least to the great distinctive points of Homeric poetry-on an equal platform with the professional scholar. That this platform is possible even for those who do not read Greek, the analogy of our Christian religion and of the English Scriptures shows clearly enough. What is wanted is a translation executed with the special purpose of bringing out what is characteristic in the original, accompanied by such aids from general discussion and special comment, as the lapse of time and the distance between old Hellenic and modern English points of view may render necessary. The work, accordingly, consists of three parts-first, as the centre-piece, a translation of the Iliad, which, whatever may be its faults, shall be found to represent the special character of Homer as an ȧodós, or old Ionian minstrel, faithfully, and to bring out every trait and touch of old Hellenic life and feeling with a discriminating preference; second, a series of discussions or dissertations, in which the many interesting

and important questions that belong to the origin, growth, and conservation of early, and specially Hellenic popular poetry, are systematically treated; and, third, a regular and continuous commentary, which shall direct the attention of the modern reader to the peculiarities of old Hellenic faith and life, successively as they occur in the poem. The dissertations may be compared to a vehicle in which I transport my reader into a foreign country; the notes to the local guide or cicerone, who directs his eye to the curiosities as they emerge, and gives such information as an intelligent traveller may naturally demand.

I appeal, therefore, directly to a popular, not to an academical audience; but the matter which I handle is, in its roots and foundations, so essentially entwined with the learned thought of Europe since the revival of letters, that in striving to instruct the general public, I felt myself obliged at every step to satisfy the scholar. Besides, it was plain to me, on the surface of our most approved translations of Homer, that they were constantly committing offences against the spirit of Homer's poetry, because they had never grappled seriously with any question of Greek language and Greek thought; because, though they were good poets, they did not profess to be philologers. I have endeavoured, therefore, in my notes, to assign such solid reasons for the peculiar versions which I give of disputed words, as shall either satisfy the demands of the scientific philology of the present day, or present a distinct issue on which some more intelligent judge may decide.

One object kept constantly in view in the Notes was to

trace the growth of sacred myths in Greece, by contrasting their simple germ in Homer with the florid expansion of their latest form. As a contribution to the history of what has been called development in other creeds, this may not be without its uses. I have also paid particular attention to the illustration of Greek religion and practical piety as they present themselves in my author; hoping that my stray observations on this interesting subject may act as a spur to some future scholar, who shall supply what appears to me a great want in our British scholarship-a history of religious life and opinion among the Greek people, from its pre-Homeric infancy (of which we have so many curious glimpses in Pausanias), to its decadence and decay under the Roman Emperors.

The materials of these Notes are the result of my own reading carried through a series of years, combined with what I could gather from the rich stores of classical excavation piled up in many systematic works by the thoughtful and indefatigable Germans, and by those English scholars who, under the effective generalship of Dr. William Smith, have of late years followed their example. From these I have borrowed freely wheresoever my own observations did not supply a sufficiently large field of induction; but I have taken nothing lightly on any man's authority, and on every occasion sifted the materials carefully, cross-questioned the witnesses, and given a cautious and well-weighed verdict on the evidence before me. The general works to which I have been principally indebted are named in a separate list at the end of the fourth volume. Special refer

and important questions that belong to the origin, growth, and conservation of early, and specially Hellenic popular poetry, are systematically treated; and, third, a regular and continuous commentary, which shall direct the attention of the modern reader to the peculiarities of old Hellenic faith and life, successively as they occur in the poem. The dissertations may be compared to a vehicle in which I transport my reader into a foreign country; the notes to the local guide or cicerone, who directs his eye to the curiosities as they emerge, and gives such information as an intelligent traveller may naturally demand.

I appeal, therefore, directly to a popular, not to an aca demical audience; but the matter which I handle is, in its roots and foundations, so essentially entwined with the learned thought of Europe since the revival of letters, that in striving to instruct the general public, I felt myself obliged at every step to satisfy the scholar. Besides, it was plain to me, on the surface of our most approved translations of Homer, that they were constantly committing offences against the spirit of Homer's poetry, because they had never grappled seriously with any question of Greek language and Greek thought; because, though they were good poets, they did not profess to be philologers. I have endeavoured, therefore, in my notes, to assign such solid reasons for the peculiar versions which I give of disputed words, as shall either satisfy the demands of the scientific philology of the present day, or present a distinct issue on which some more intelligent judge may decide.

One object kept constantly in view in the Notes was to

trace the growth of sacred myths in Greece, by contrasting their simple germ in Homer with the florid expansion of their latest form. As a contribution to the history of what has been called development in other creeds, this may not be without its uses. I have also paid particular attention to the illustration of Greek religion and practical piety as they present themselves in my author; hoping that my stray observations on this interesting subject may act as a spur to some future scholar, who shall supply what appears to me a great want in our British scholarship-a history of religious life and opinion among the Greek people, from its pre-Homeric infancy (of which we have so many curious glimpses in Pausanias), to its decadence and decay under the Roman Emperors.

The materials of these Notes are the result of my own reading carried through a series of years, combined with what I could gather from the rich stores of classical excavation piled up in many systematic works by the thoughtful and indefatigable Germans, and by those English scholars who, under the effective generalship of Dr. William Smith, have of late years followed their example. From these I have borrowed freely wheresoever my own observations did not supply a sufficiently large field of induction; but I have taken nothing lightly on any man's authority, and on every occasion sifted the materials carefully, cross-questioned the witnesses, and given a cautious and well-weighed verdict on the evidence before me. The general works to which I have been principally indebted are named in a separate list at the end of the fourth volume. Special refer