The Remarks of Zoilus.
he lost his Life, and there is an End of his Suffering where there is an End of his Feeling. To carry the Matter farther is just the same foolish Management as Homer has shewn in his Iliads, which he spins out into forty Triffles beyond the Death of Hector. But the Critick must allow me to put the Readers in Mind, that Death was not the last Distress the Ancients believ'd was to be met upon Earth. The last was the remaining unbury'd, which had this Misery annex'd, that while the Body was without its Funeral-Rites in this World, the Soul was suppos'd to be without Rest in the next, which was the Case of the Mouse before us. And accordingly the Ajax of Sophocles continues after the Death of its Heroe more than an Act, upon the Contest concerning his Burial. All this Zoilus knew very well: But Zoilus is not the only one, who disputes for Victory rather than Truth. These foolish Criticks write even Things they themselves can answer, to shew how much they can write against an Author. They act unfairly, that they may be sure to be sharp enough; and triffle with the Reader, in order to be voluminous. It is needless to wish them the Return they deserve: Their Disregard to Candour is no sooner discover'd, but they are for ever banish'd from the Eyes of Men of Sense, and condemn'd to wander from Stall to Stall, for a temporary Refuge from that Oblivion which they can't escape.
Book II. Verse 9. Our Eldest perish'd.] Zoilus has here taken the Recapitulation of those Misfortunes whichhappen'd
