The Iliad of Homer - Get a Free Blog

er, I might have brought a large amount
of accumulated matter, sometimes of a
critical character, to bear upon the text.
But Pope's version was no field for such
a display; and my purpose was to touch
briefly on antiquarian or mythological allusions,
to notice occasionally some departures
from the original, and to give a
few parallel passages from our English
Homer, Milton. In the latter task I cannot
pretend to novelty, but I trust that my other
annotations, while utterly disclaiming
high scholastic views, will be found to
convey as much as is wanted; at least,
as far as the necessary limits of these
volumes could be expected to admit. To
write a commentary on Homer is not my
present aim; but if I have made Pope's
translation a little more entertaining and
instructive to a mass of miscellaneous
readers, I shall consider my wishes satisfactorily
accomplished.