Page:Proofs of the Enquiry into Homer's Life and Writings.pdf/66

Rh Homer'; Life and Writings*





The famed Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, among the numberless Questions proposed to it, met with none more frequent than this : What Religion, and what religious Performances are most acceptable to the Gods ?-—And the Wis dom of the Oracle seems never to have appeared better than in the constant Answer which it re turned ; to wit That Religion established by Law in your Country. . 'Tis Jit there Jhould be Gods-*—so let there be :

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Let Prayers besaid, And Vows be paid, the Ancient Rites shall neverfailfor me. Ovid. This Compliance with the public Institution of Religion in one's Country was sometimes car ried the length of Complaisance. Thus the Au thor of an old Epigram ; If ancient H O M E R be a God indeed, Then let him Worship have, as is his due j Or if He's not a God, his Merits plead, That he Jhould pass for such, at least with you.





JUPITER upon the Occasion of I know not what domestic Strife, fastened two Anvils to
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