HOMER AND THE ILIAD 09 BY JOHN STUART BLACKIE, F.R.S.E. = PROFESSOR OF GREEK IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH VOL I HOMERIC DISSERTATIONS EDINBURGH FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR, CAMBRIDGE, THESE VOLUMES OF HOMERIC STUDY ARE DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. PR E F A CЕ. 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 aodós, 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 |