Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/299

Rh I suppose, that speak of it, say a word of its nobility; but the one calls it barely, and the other , without a word in its commendation. Then he tells us out of Plutarch, that the Orchomenians endeavoured all they could to get Hesiod's bones, but the Locrians, that had 'em, would not be prevailed upon to part with 'em. And here again he puts a force upon his author, and makes him say more than he really does but though the case were so as he represents it, it would be, as the most of his are, a good argument against himself. For as the Orchomenians did not go to war upon't, though the very oracle advised them to fetch Hesiod's bones; so the Himeraeans would not have run that hazard for the sake of Stesichorus's.

I had blamed the epistles for raising a temple to Stesichorus; which the Examiner justifies from the several temples erected to Homer at Smyrna and in other places; "which the Doctor," says he, "knew nothing of, though it be no secret even to the first beginners of learning." 'Tis a good proof indeed, that the first beginners may know this thing because our Examiner knows it. But there's another thing,