Page:Life and Writings of Homer.pdf/69

Rh

Y the Causes that have the greatest Influence upon a Language, we are led to a Thought that must give Pleasure to the truly Good. We find that without Virtue there can be no true Poetry: It depends upon the Manners of a Nation, which form their Characters, and animate their Language: If their Manners are sound and entire, their Speech will accompany and do them Justice: And if we rise higher, and suppose them not only sound, but Noble and Heroick (as we must do, when speaking of Manners fit for Poetry) What is