by the Criticks for his Defect as to this Particular in several parts of the
Iliad
and
Odyssey
, tho' at the same time those, who have treated this great Poet with Candour, have attributed this Defect to the Times in which he lived
. It was the Fault of the Age, and not of
Homer
, if there wants that Delicacy in some of his Sentiments which now appears in the Works of Men of a much inferior Genius. Besides, if there are Blemishes in any particular Thoughts, there is an infinite Beauty in the greatest Part of them. In short, if there are many Poets who would not have fallen into the Meanness of some of his Sentiments, there are none who could have risen up to the Greatness of others.
Virgil