It may be these last were not strictly _Priests_. Their Function was rather _Prophetick_. They interpreted the Resolutions of the Gods, by the voice of Birds, the Inspection of Sacrifices, and their Observations of Thunder. This made their Character counted Sacred, and their Relation to the Deity particular. And therefore the _Romans_ ranged them in the _Order_ of the _Priests_.[249] Thus we see the admired _Homer_, and _Virgil_, always treat the _Priests_ fairly, and describe them in Circumstances of Credit: If 'tis said that the Instances I have given are mostly in Names of _Fiction_, and in Persons who had no Being, unless in the Poets fancy. I answer, I am not concern'd in the History of the Relation. Whether the Muster is true or false, 'tis all one to my purpose. This is certain, had the _Priests_ been People of such slender Consideration as our _Stage Poets_ endeavour to make them; they must have appear'd in a different Figure; or rather have been left out as too little for that sort of _Poem_. But _Homer_ and _Virgil_ had other Sentiments of Matters: They were governed by the Reason of Things, and the common usage of the World. They knew the _Priesthood_ a very reputable Employment, and always esteem'd as such. To have used the _Priests_ ill, They must have call'd their own Discretion in question: They must have run into impropriety, and fallen foul upon Custom, Manners, and Religion. Now 'twas not their way to play the Knave and the Fool together: They had more Sense than to do a silly Thing, only for the Satisfaction of doing an ill one. I shall now go on to enquire what the Greek _Tragedians_ will afford us upon the present Subject. There are but two _Plays_ in _Æschylus_ where the _Ministers_ of the Gods are represented. The one is in his _Eumenides_, and here _Apollo_'s _Priestess_ only opens the _Play_ and appears no more. The other is in his _Seige_ of _Thebes_. In this Tragedy the _Prophet Amphiaraus_ is one of the Seven Commanders against the _Town_. He has the Character of a Modest, Brave Officer, and of one who rather affected to be great in Action, than Noise. In _Sophocle_'s _Oedipus Tyrannus_, _Jupiter's Priest_ has a short part. He appears at the Head of an _Address_, and delivers the Harangue by the King's Order. _Oedipus_ in his Passion treats _Tiresias_ ruggedly;[250] _Tiresias_ replies with Spirit and Freedom; and plainly tell him he was none of his _Servant_ but _Apollo_'s. [Greek: Ou gar ti soi zô doulos alla loxia][251]