. By this means their Countrymen (whom they principally proposed to themselves for their Readers) were particularly attentive to all the Parts of their Story, and sympathized with their Heroes in all their Adventures. A

Roman

could not but rejoice in the Escapes, Successes and Victories of

Æneas

, and be grieved at any Defeats, Misfortunes or Disappointments that befel him; as a

Greek

must have had the same Regard for

Achilles

. And it is plain, that each of those Poems have lost this great Advantage, among those Readers to whom their Heroes are as Strangers, or indifferent Persons.

Milton's