Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/272

144 most implacably angry. And certainly, if envy choose its object for the power to give torment, it should here, (if ever) have the glory of fully answering its intentions; for the poet was so worshipped by the whole age, that his critic had not the common alleviation of the opinion of one other man, to concur in his condemnation.

Zoilus, however, went on with indefatigable industry in a voluminous work, which he entitled, the, or Censure of Homer: until having at last finished it, he prepares to send it into the world with a pompous title at the head, invented for himself by way of excellency, and thus inserted after the manner of the ancients.

Zoilus, the scourge of Homer, writ this against that lover of fables.

Thus did he value himself upon a work, which the world has not thought worth transmitting to us, and but just left a specimen in five or six quotations, which happen to be preserved by the commentators of that poet against whom he writ it. If any one be fond to form a judgment upon him from these instances, they are as follow:

Il. I. He says, Homer is very ridiculous (a word he was noted to apply to him) when he makes such a god as Apollo employ himself in killing dogs and mules.

Il. 5. Homer is very ridiculous in describing Diomede's helmet and armour, as sparkling, and in a blaze of fire about him; for then why was he not burned by it?