...is, that however astonishing they are as monuments of human intellect, and how long soever they have been the subject of universal praise, they have unhappily...really proved one of the signal misfortunes of mankind. The moral tendfincy of the Eneid of Virgil is nearly as pernicious as that of the works of Homer. Its...

...is, that however astonishing they are as monuments of human intellect, and how long soever they have been the subject of universal praise, they have unhappily...human errors have forced upon me the opinion that his existencehas really proved one of the signal misfortunes of mankind. The moral tendency of the Eneid...

...is, that however astonishing they are as monuments of human intellect, and how long soever they have been the subject of universal praise, they have unhappily...really proved one of the signal misfortunes of mankind. The moral tendency of the Eneid of Virgil is nearly as pernicious as that of the works of Homer. Its...

...history of civilization, Homer made his fame by exalting the barbaric "plunder" of military acquisitions: "his existence has really proved one of the signal misfortunes of mankind" (2: 379). So, too, with Virgil, whose greatest failing was his lack of republican feeling, which led...

...idolatrous readers," Barlow's "reflections on the history of human errors have forced upon" this poet "the opinion that his existence has really proved one of the signal misfortunes of mankind" (379). Nor does Barlow limit his assault to Homer; he takes on Vergil as well, finding the Aeneid's...