Page:Life and Writings of Homer.pdf/20

8 and Poets Heiod, near Homer’s own Days, was of Cumæ; Mimnermus of Colophon, Archilochus of Paros, Tyrtæus of Miletus; Thales, the Poet and Law-giver, and Epimenides, the Charmer, were of Crete. Anacreon was a Teian, Simonides a Cean, Arion and Terpander were Lebians: And not to mention the particular Places of every one’s Birth, The admired Sappho, her Lover Alcæus, Bacyllides, Chærilus (not Alexander’s), Phocylides, Bion, Simmias, Philetas, Ion the Tragedian, Philemon Menander’s Rival, Hegemon Epaminondas’s Panegyrit, and the Atronomick Poet Aratus, were all born in this Poetical Region. It had alo the Honour of producing the Erythræan Sibyl, and another inpired Lady, Athenaïs, under Alexander. But what is far the mot remarkable upon this Article is, That the famous, who ditinguihed themelves in Epick-Poetry, were all Natives of this very Climate. Hear the Tetimony of the learned Tzetzes: Piander was of Rhodes, and of great Reputation. Antimachus wrote the Theban War; and Panyais the Labours of Hercules: He was of Halicarnaus. Suidas ays of him,. , were Natives of the Aiatick Coat, and adjacent Ilands. And after an Interval of Slavery, when the Influences of the Roman Freedom, and of their mild Government, had reached that happy Country, it repaid them, not only with the Delicacies of their Fields and Gardens, but with the more valuable Productions of Men of Virtue and Learning ; and in uch Numbers, as to fill their Schools,

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