[478] Il. iv. 385, 388, 391. v. 804. 7. x. 208. xxiii. 680. Od. xi. 275. [479] ix. p. 401. SECT. V. _On the Catalogue._ The Catalogue in the Second Book belongs more properly to the Geography, than to the Ethnology of the poems. But I advert to it here on account both of the historic matter it contains, and of the manner in which it illustrates the general historic designs of the Poet. It is perhaps, in its own way, nearly as characteristic and remarkable a performance, as any among the loftier parts of the poem. Considered as a portion of the Iliad, it would be more justly termed the Array than the Catalogue; for it is a review, and not a mere enumeration. Considered with respect to history, its value can scarcely be overrated: it contains the highest title-deeds of whatever ancient honour the several States might claim, and is in truth the Doomsday Book of Greece. We may consider the Greek Catalogue in three parts: First, the Invocation or Preface. Secondly, the Catalogue Proper. Thirdly, the Postscript, so to call it, 761-779. Before and after, he has graced the work with splendid similes. When all is concluded and, as it were, marked off, he proceeds to append to it the Trojan Catalogue; a work of less extent and difficulty, as also of less penetrating interest to his hearers, but yet constructed with much of care, and with various descriptive embellishments. The Preface contains the most formal invocation of the Muses among the few which are to be found in the poems. The others are, Il. i. 1. Introduction to the Iliad: addressed to Θεά. Il. ii. 761. In the Postscript to the Catalogue. Il. xi. 218. Before the recital of the persons who were slain by Agamemnon. Il. xiv. 508. Before the recital of the Greek chiefs, who, on the turn of the battle, slew various Trojans. Il. xvi. 112. Before proceeding to relate, how the Trojans hurled the firebrands at the Grecian ships. Od. i. 1. Introduction to the Odyssey: addressed to Μοῦσα. In the cases of the Eleventh and Fourteenth Books, the invocation of the Muse stands in connection with a particular effort of memory; for the recitals prefaced by it consist of names not connected by any natural tie one with the other. But it is here that the Poet’s appeal to the Muse most deserves attention. If Homer was composing a written poem, the invocation is ill-timed and unmeaning. He has already, by a series of fine similes, elevated the subject to a proper level. Considered as a mere written Catalogue, it does not deserve or account for the prayer for aid: in this point of view, it was of necessity among the _sermoni propiora_, and was one of the easiest parts of the poem to compose. But if we consider the poem as a recitation, then the Catalogue was very difficult; because of the great multitude of details which are included in it, and which are not in themselves connected together by any natural or obvious link.