ts, one to his betrothed wife, and one to his
father-in-law. This was also an ancient custom of the Hebrews.
Abraham's servant gave presents to Rebekah: Gen. xxiv. 22. Shechem
promised a dowry and gift to Jacob for his daughter: Gen. xxiv. 12.
And in after times, Saul said he desired no dowry for Michal:
1 Sam. xviii. 25.

6. One of the religious ceremonies previous to any important
enterprise. Then followed the order for silence and reverent
attention; then the libation, &c.--FELTON.

7. Achilles having retired from action in displeasure to Agamemnon,
quieted himself by singing to his lyre the achievements of
demi-gods and heroes. Nothing was better suited to the martial
disposition of this hero, than these heroic songs. Celebrating the
actions of the valiant prepared him for his own great exploits.
Such was the music of the ancients, and to such purposes was it
applied. When the lyre of Paris was offered to Alexander, he
replied that he had little value for it, but much desired that of
Achilles, on which he sung the actions of heroes in former
times.--PLUTARCH.

8. The manners of the Iliad are the manners of the patriarchal and
early ages of the East. The chief differences arise from a
different religion and a more maritime situation. Very far removed
from the savage state on the one hand, and equally distant from the
artificial state of an extended commerce and a manufacturing
population on the other, the spirit and habitudes of the two modes
of society are almost identical. The hero and the Patriarch are
substantially coeval; but the first wanders in twilight, the last
stands in the eye of Heaven. When three men appeared to Abraham in
the plains of Mamre, he ran to meet them from the tent door,
brought them in, directed Sarah to make bread, fetched from the
herd himself a calf tender and good, dressed it, and set it before
them. When Ajax, Ulysses, and Phoenix stand before Achilles, he
rushes forth to greet them, brings them into the tent, directs
Patroclus to mix the wine, cuts up the meat, dresses it, and sets
it before the ambassadors. * * * *

Instances of this sort might be multiplied to any extent, but the
student will find it a pleasing and useful task to discover them
for himself; and these will amply suffice to demonstrate the
existence of that correspondence of spirit and manners between the