Proofs of the Enquiry into Homer's Life and Writings/Preface
P R O O F S
of the
ENQUIRY, &c.
IT has been a general Complaint among the Readers of the Enquiry, lately published, into the Life and Writings of Homer; ‘That though the chief Facts in it seem to be supported by Proof and Authority, yet they were obliged to take the Proofs themselves upon Trust; because the greatest part of them were adduced from Authors in the ancient Languages, Hebrew, Greek , and Latin, which it does not fall to every one's share to understand: And the others were taken from modern Authors in Spanish, Italian and French, which Languages were as rarely possessed by the Proficients in the Ancient.’
A Translation therefore of these Proofs may perhaps be useful; and as the Author of the Enquiry does not seem to have much consulted the Capacity of ordinary Readers, but has left every body to make out the Connection of many of his Quotations in the best manner they can, it will not perhaps be unacceptable to point out that Connection in some of the most obscure Passages, as they occur in the order of Translation: I must only desire those who read them to remember, that these Quotations from ancient Writers are to serve meerly as Proofs of Facts, or Authorities for Assertions, and are not always pitched upon because of the Beauty of the original Passages themselves; and that therefore they ought only to be read in Connexion with those Truths in the Enquiry which they confirm, or Sentiments which they illustrate: If they serve these Ends, nothing more is to be expected from them in this detached Condition; much less from a Translation as nearly literal as the Genius of the Language and Difference of Manners would allow, where they cannot miss to lose much of their original Grace, or indeed in any Translation, were it the most perfect ever was made.