Source of our Morals[1]: tho’ their Root lies deeper, and is more interwoven with our Original Frame. However, as we have at present only to do with Homer, in his Poetical Capacity, we need give ourselves no further Trouble in considering the Tenour of his Life, than as it served to raise him to be the Prince of his Profession.
In this Search, we must remember that young Minds are apt to receive such strong lmpressions from the Circumstances of the Country where they are born and bred, that they contract a mutual kind of Likeness to those Circumstances, and bear the Marks of the Course of Life thro’ which they have passed. A Man who has had great Misfortunes, is easily distinguished from one who has lived all his Days in high Prosperity; and a Person bred to Business, has a very different Appearance from another brought up in Sloth and Pleasure: Both our Understanding and Behaviour receive a Stamp from our Station and Adventures; and as a liberal Education forms a Gentleman, and the contrary a Clown, in the same manner, if we take things a little deeper, are out Thoughts and Manners influenced by the Strain of our Lives. In this view, the Circumstances that may be reasonably thought to have the greatest Effect upon us, may perhaps be reduced to these following: First, The State of the Country where a Per-
- ↑ Mons. Mothe le Vayer, &c.
