Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/294

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P. 47. v. 1. To fill my rising song.]As Protagoras the sophist found fault with the beginning of the Iliad, for its speaking to the Muse rather with an abrupt command, than a solemn invocation; so I, says Zoilus'', do on the other hand find fault with him for using any invocation at all before this poem, or any such trifles as he is the author of. If he must use one, Protagoras is in the right; if not, I am: this I hold for true criticism, notwithstanding the opinion of Aristotle against us. Nor let any one lay a stress on Aristotle in this point; he, alas! knows nothing of poetry but what he has read in Homer; his rules are all extracted from him, or founded in him. In short, Homer's Works are the examples of Aristotle's precepts; and Aristotle's precepts the methods Homer wrought by''. From hence it is to be concluded as the opinion of this critic, that whoever would entirely destroy the reputation of Homer, must renounce the authority of Aristotle before-hand. The rules of building may be of service to us, if we design to judge of an edifice, and discover what may be