Page:Proofs of the Enquiry into Homer's Life and Writings.pdf/74

Rh Homer'i Life and Writings, But 'when the Goddess of the Chace forsakes Her Pleasure, and unbends her Silver Bow, To Delphi'* wealthy Shrine her Course she takes, P.i84.(p) To guide the sweetest Chorus Earth can show ; Muses and Graces mix'd. Music and Poetry were particularly under the Protection of Apollo ; and the Oracles, which he uttered, for many Ages were always in Verse. Strabo informs us " that Pythia, having received ^ u the Inspiration or Blast, utters Prophecies both 185. (q)' " in Verse and Prose ; but that the latter too " are put into Metre by certain Poets, Retainers " to the Temple." The rocky Aspect of the Mountain, on which the Temple stood, is point ed at by Homer himself. After Paris had done such Indignity to Greece by the Rape of Helen, Agamemnon the elder Brother of the injured Prince, and the greatest Sovereign in Greece, before he would un dertake to avenge it, went to Delphi in Person, according to the Custom of those Days, in or der to consult the Oracle concerning the Issue of the intended War. Homer insinuates, that a Quarrel between Ulysses and Achilles was then foretold, as the Omen he was to look for, of the Destruction of Troy: For so bright Phœbus hadforetold their Fate, 180. (n) That Day he trod the stony Temple's Gate .186. W Of Rh