The speeches are to be considered as they flow from the characters; being

perfect or defective as they agree or disagree with the manners, of those

who utter them. As there is more variety of characters in the Iliad, so

there is of speeches, than in any other poem. "Everything in it has

manner" (as Aristotle expresses it), that is, everything is acted or

spoken. It is hardly credible, in a work of such length, how small a

number of lines are employed in narration. In Virgil the dramatic part is

less in proportion to the narrative, and the speeches often consist of

general reflections or thoughts, which might be equally just in any

person's mouth upon the same occasion. As many of his persons have no

apparent characters, so many of his speeches escape being applied and

judged by the rule of propriety. We oftener think of the author himself

when we read Virgil, than when we are engaged in Homer, all which are the

effects of a colder invention, that interests us less in the action

described. Homer makes us hearers, and Virgil leaves us readers.

If, in the next place, we take a view of the sentiments, the same

presiding faculty is eminent in the sublimity and spirit of his thoughts.

Longinus has given his opinion, that it was in this part Homer principally

excelled. What were alone sufficient to prove the grandeur and excellence

of his sentiments in general, is, that they have so remarkable a parity

with those of the Scripture. Duport, in his Gnomologia Homerica, has

collected innumerable instances of this sort. And it is with justice an

excellent modern writer allows, that if Virgil has not so many thoughts

that are low and vulgar, he has not so many that are sublime and noble;

and that the Roman author seldom rises into very astonishing sentiments

The Iliad of Homer