first Periods, Homer drew his Imagery and Manners, learned his Language, and took his Subject which makes it necessary for us to review them.
What is properly called Greece, is but a rough Country: It boasts indeed, as well it may in such an Extent, many a fine Vale, and delicious Field; but taking it together, the Soil is not rich or inviting. It was anciently but thinly inhabited, and these Inhabitants were exposed to the greatest Hardships: They had no constant nor fixed Possessions; but there were frequent Removes, one Nation or Tribe expelling another, and possessing themselves of their Seats: This was then look'd upon to be a Calamity, but not near so grievous as we imagine it now, or indeed as they themselves thought it afterwards: For there being no Traffick among them, or secure Intercourse, they had but the bare Necessaries of Life: They planted no Lands, acquired no Superfluities, and built only Shelters from the Weather: Experience made them sensible of the Uncertainty
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Nec robuftus erat curvi Moderator Aratri
Quifquam; Nec fcibat ferro moUirier Arva;
Nec nova defodere in terram Virgulta ; nee altis
Arboribus, veteres deeidere faleibu' ramos.
Quod Sol atque Imbres dederant, quod Terra crearat
Sponte fua, fatis id plaeabat Peftora donum :
Glandiferas inter curabant Corpora Quereus.
T.Lucret. Lib. 5to.
