For _Style_, _Diction_, and _Verification_, _Homer_, I acknowledge, is allowed the Triumph, even by the Generality of _Virgil_'s Party: particularly by _Rapin_; as he is likewise by him in the Instances of _Fire_, and _Description_, above-mentioned. However, that I may not be thought singular in my Opinion, a Character which I by no means desire; it may be considered that I agree with _Scaliger_ in his express Assertions, and with my Lord _Roscommon_ in his Hints and Insinuations, not to mention other Authorities; when I frankly declare my Sentiments, that the _Roman_ Poet is superiour to the _Grecian_ even in this Respect. The _Greek_ Language, it is true, is superiour to the _Latin_, in This, as well as in every thing else; being the most expressive, the most harmonious, the most various, rich, and fruitful, and indeed, upon all Accounts, the best Language in the World. But if notwithstanding this great Advantage, _Virgil_'s Diction and Versification be preferable to _Homer_'s; his Glory for That very Reason will be so much the greater. _Homer's Epithets_, for the most part, are in _Themselves_ exceedingly beautiful; but are not many of them _superfluous_? Whether many, nay all, of those Particles which are commonly (and indeed, I think, falsly enough) called Expletives, be significant or no, I do not now dispute: But admitting them to be so; are not too many little Words, whether _Expletives_, nay whether _Particles_, or not, often crouded together? Ἤ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ, _&c._ and Ἦ ῥὰ νύ μοί ποτὲ καὶ σὺ, _&c._ are not, I own, very agreeable Sounds to my Ears; and many more of the same Kind are to be met with. Moreover, does not _Homer_ make an ill use of one great Privilege of his Language, (among many others) I mean That of dissolving Diphthongs, by so very frequently inserting a Word of five, or six Syllables, to drag his Sense to the End of a Verse, which concludes with the long Word aforesaid? Those Words, even at the End of a Verse, are sometimes indeed very agreeable: But are they not often otherwise? Especially at the Close of a Paragraph, or Speech; when for the most part too they are Epithets: and yet more especially, when those Epithets are of little Significancy? I shall give but one Instance, tho' it were very easy to produce many; and That shall be the last Line of the _Iliad_: Upon which, compared with the last of the _Æneis_, I cannot but think that _Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras_, is a nobler Conclusion of an Heroic Poem, than Ὣς οἲ γ' ἀμφίεπον τάφον Ἕκτορος ἱπποδάμοιο. A thousand things of the same, or of the like Nature, might be mentioned: And I am aware that such Observations will by some Criticks be called _modern Criticisms_. But be That as it will; I am for Truth and Reason, whether it be called Ancient, or Modern.