applied to him, as alluding to France nominatim; 2 II. 23, et passim; and another still stronger, is derivable from an allusion (where Agamemnon is in question) to the French language itself, in the otherwise unintelligible term TETTα (quasi, taistoi, or taisez-vous;) of which, that there may be no mistake of the poet's intention, there immediately follows (in the words own 100) a Greek translation, 4 Ι. 412-Τεττα, σιωπη ησο. But besides the countries to the northward which have been mentioned as part of the dependencies of France, the poet would seem to insinuate that Spain, or at least a large portion of it, was to be considered as under its influence likewise as represented by Agamemnon; and this is evidenced not only by the epithet φιλοκτεανωτατος being applied to him in 1 II. 122, et passim, which epithet would seem to have a reference to the precious metals, with which, by means of its colonies, Spain has in all known time abounded; but the poet often makes a special allusion to Spain as being so circumstanced in regard to Agamemnon, by the introduction of the very word Spanish as formed out of the final of Baoiλ40s and the following epithet av as in 1 Il. 340, et passim. After the opinion which I have presumed to hazard, in the Introduction, relative to the probable origin of the whole of the Greek language (and of the Latin,) the derivations of Greek proper names, in the instances above offered, which are only parcè detorta from the present names of the same places, will appear the less surprizing: and when one considers how fixed in its nature is the name of a place, their present names will be thought likely to have been their ancient names also, and such a slight alteration by poets, with a view to their professed purpose of enigmatical disguise, cannot be deemed inadmissible. If, however, the method of explanation, just now used in reference to Agamemnon, applied to him alone, it might not perhaps weigh much: but the reader will find hereafter, that every hero of the Hiad may have his representative character more or less determined by similar derivations; and from thence will arise a cogent proof that this method of interpreting those characters is right. But, before I proceed any farther, it may be well to state that the general view I have of the Iliad is this; that the Greeks represent the Europeans; and the Trojans, Taupoɛs (from Mount Taurus) the Asiatics ; that the poem, as a whole, is by no means historical of any real war, but has reference only to that predominancy for which those countries might severally be supposed to contend, and in which the victory is correctly assigned to the former, as the latter have in fact been always under their influence, and in many instances of individual countries, under their domination. In such a war therefore, we are not to be surprized at seeing powers inlisted under the same standard, which are generally in rivalry and opposition to each other, as the French and the English; the Portuguese, and the Spaniards: and in further explanation of the circumstance of our finding such powers united together in interest, it may be remarked that a real union subsisted between them in ancient times as to individual parts; for England was for many ages in possession of many valuable portions of France, as Normandy, Aquitaine, Rochelle &c. So again though Spain may in all ages have been much under the influence of France, yet a considerable part of it, Portugal, has been at the same period united in interest with England. These remarks form a clue to many different fables of the Iliad. But (to proceed with my subject) if France is portrayed by Homer under the person of Agamemnon, it may be natural to conjecture that by Menelaus, his brother, we are to understand Spain. Sufficient evidence of this appears in the catalogue of the Iliad; but it is to be understood that the catalogue, like every other part of Homer, on some occasions throws out lights as a guide, and on others intermixes shades, for the very purpose of distracting the reader from a too ready comprehension of what is intended. I shall at present, therefore, only select the following lines from thence concerning Menelaus ; 531 Οι δ' είχον κοιλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν Φαρην τε Σπαρτην τε Των οι αδελφεος ήρχε βοήν αγαθος Μενελαος in which, by the epithet zoλ, I understand the hollow gulf of the Mediterranean, extending from Gibraltar along the coasts of Spain, France, and Italy to Sicily, which may be seen to resemble a whale in shape (иTWEσσαv), the mouth of which is formed by the outline of the northern and southern coasts of Sicily. Over this extensive inlet of sea the Spaniards would seem to have a natural right to an influence, from the numerous barbours they have upon it. In Σaply there is an allusion to the well known plant much in use in the manufacture of cordage, which abounds in Spain, and is called there Sparta, but by us Spanish-broom. The expression awaterde te απάτερθε τε Owрnaσovтo, may allude to the geographical separation of the Spaniards from the French by means of the Pyrenees. In the name of Meveλaos and the Μενελαος expression above, οι τε Λααν ειχον there seems |