Arriving at Phocaea , He plied his old Trade of Poesy ; and made a shift by reading and showing his Verses , to keep Body and Soul together . There happen'd then to live in the City , one Thestorides a Raskally sort of a Pedant , whose Talent reach'd no farther , than to teach Children their Letters . However he had sence enough to admire the Excellency of Homer's Art ; and thought he should make a fair Prize , if he could trick him out of his Wit. With this Design , he made his Applications after a very civil manner ; and promis'd the Poet to allow him a convenient subsistence , upon condition he might have the liberty of transcribing those Pieces , which he had already by him , and whatever he should compose farther . Homer was glad of any security from Hunger and Cold ; and so , without suspecting any Knavery , agreed to live with the Fellow ; and to give him what liberty he pleas'd in relation to his Writings . Under the Care of such a Patron , he is said to have wrote the Lesser Iliad , a a Aristotle denies Homer to have been the Author of this Poem , Poet. cap. 24. which began 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I sing Troy's Plains for Generous Steeds renown'd ; Where the Brave Greeks such bloody Labours found .

Thestorides having receiv'd this Poem , and a great many other Pieces , that his Guest put into his Hands , thought it was time for him now to be gone , and to make the best Market of them he could . Accordingly , stealing away from Phocaea , he went for Chios ; and there opening a School , and publishing Homer's Verses in his own Name , they thriv'd so much better with him than they had done with their Author , that he quickly found himself possessed of a sufficient stock of Money , and a larger of Reputation . Poor Homer all this while was living hard on his Wit at Phocaea ; and seem'd more concern'd to provide himself necessary sustenance , than to venture an uncertain quest after the Thief . But , a little while after , there happen'd some Persons of Learning to arrive there from Chios ; who , wondering to hear several pieces of Poetry recited by Homer , that they had been oblig'd with from another hand in their own City ; took occasion to give an account of the new Schoolmaster , and what a Trade he drove with his Verses . Homer , understanding where his Sharper was fix'd , resolv'd to take the trouble of unkenneling him ; and went presently to the Sea-side to meet with a Vessel for his Expedition . As ill luck would have it , there were no Ships directly bound for Chios : however finding a Fleet ready to Sail to Erythraea with Wood , he thought it would not be much out of his way , if he embark'd with them for that City . Approaching the Mariners , he said a great many fine things to them , and easily prevail'd to gain admission into one of the Vessels . As soon as ever he was well seated , he began to show his Gratitude and his Art ; and made his Prayer for their good Voyage in such Strains as these . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hear me , Great Neptune , whom the Waves obey , Whose Trident makes the trembling Shores give way ; But rules Fair Helicon with gentler Sway. Grant these Good Men , that o're thy Realm are born , A Prosperous Gale , and bless their safe Return . While I securely reach the Sacred Lands Which Stately Mima's awful height commands . Direct me to some Host that will be kind ; And aid my search ; 'till the Vile Wretch we find ; Who thus with impious Theft repay's my Love , And breaks the Rites of Hospitable Jove .

Whatever his Prayers might signifie , they had a fair Gale to drive them to Erythaea . But here things did not go altogether so well as Homer could wish . For getting a Friend to enquire at the Harbour , he heard of no Ships that were ready to make a Voyage toward Chios . However to try his Fortune , a little farther , he desir'd to be led along by the Sea-side , something lower , to the Place , where the Fishermen us'd to ply with their Boats . Some of these appear'd to be Bound for Chios , but were so Churlish as to deny a poor blind Follow the small favour of a Passage . Homer netled at their rudeness , broke out into his ordinary Revenge of Verse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hard hearted Villains , whom the milder Sea Keeps ( like its Cormorants ) on Wrecks and Prey : Expect Jove's Vengeance ; for his Bolts prepare : 'T is Jove makes Strangers his peculiar Care . Thus disappointed of his Hopes he sat down very melancholy on the Shore : when presently after he heard the same Seamen bawling near the Land ; they having been driven back by a Tempest to the Place , where they set out . He did not fail to make his advantage of this Accident , but told them gravely , that the only Cause of their Misfortune was their base refusal of his Request ; and engag'd they should have a good Voyage , on condition they 'd be more civil , and honestly take him in . The Fishermen , upon second thoughts , easily imagin'd something more than ordinary in the case ; and consented to hoist him into the Boat . But as soon as they had cross'd the Sea , they went about their Affairs , and left the Poor Passenger on the Beach to shift for himself . It seems he straggled luckily enough toward Chios ; but met with an Adventure in the way , which stop'd his Journy and his Designes . For happening in his Ramble to follow the Cry of a company of Goats , that were feeding in the Country , he lighted at last on the Goat-herd himself : who enquiring into his Condition , and receiving a most lamentable story of Troubles and Afflictions ; took pitty on the Distressed Stranger , and led him into his Hut . As soon as they had refresh'd themselves with a little Food , Homer beginning a pleasanter Tune , and a Relation of his former Travels ; work'd himself into the entire love and esteem of his honest Host , and was oblig'd with a Lodging there for that Night . The next Morning , the Goat-herd though it his Duty to acquaint his Master with the good Fortune . Accordingly , leaving Homer in the Cottage , with the promise of a speedy return , he repair'd to Bolissus , ( a Town hard by ) where his Master liv'd , and inform'd him what a Miracle of a Man he had met with ; desiring his Advice in the Point how he was to be dispos'd of . The Gentleman had no great inclinations to countenance a blind Vagabond ; however he order'd the Stranger to be brought to him , to see if he answer'd his Character . The Goat-herd returning to the Field , led Homer into Town , and presented him to his Master . And he , after much talk , receiving full satisfaction of the Wisdom , Ingenuity and Integrity of his Guest ; intreated him to take up his Quarters there in the House , and to engage in the Institution of his Sons . Homer accepting the Proposal with a thousand Thanks ; immediately fell to his Charge . And here it was that he Compos'd abundance of his lighter Pieces , with universal Applause , particularly the Battle of the Froggs and Mice . The report of his residence in the Neighbouring Parts , soon reach'd Chios : Upon which Advice , Thestorides thought fit once more to give him the slip , and was glad to sneak away with the first Fleet , and seek his Fortune .

Homer , however satisfied with his new Patron 's Favours , yet could not entirely forget the main design of his Expedition . So that after a considerable stay , he beg'd leave to carry on his first Pursuit , and to proceed for Chios . Here , tho' the Thief was fled who had occasion'd his Journey , yet he found his Labour very well spent , meeting with extraordinary encouragement , and quickly raising himself a flourishing School ; where he instructed the Youth in his own Verses . And now , being arriv'd at a Happiness he never before enjoy'd , a plentiful Fortune ; he got him a Wife , and resolv'd to fix in so good Quarters . Under these easie Circumstances he compos'd his Nobler Works ; taking particular care to make a grateful mention of those Persons , from whom he had receiv'd the chief Obligations of his Life . Thus he brings in Mentor , who had treated him so kindly at Ithaca , as one of the Prime Ministers of Ulysses , and him to whom the Prince when he set forward for the Trojan War , committed the Charge of his Family , and his Concerns . And what 's more Honourable , having occasion to introduce Pallas in a Mortal shape , he gives her the form of Mentor . His Father in Law and Master Phemius's Care he has repay'd in that grateful Commemoration of him , in the first of the Odyssey , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His shining Harp the Herald straight resign'd To Phemius , Prince of all the tuneful Kind .

His Friend Mentes the Merchant stands too upon Record , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mentes my Name I boast , Stout Anchial's Son : And my just sway the Sailing Taphians own .

The Fame of Homer's Poetry was not now confin'd to Ionia , where he had pass'd his Life , but made an equal Noise in Greece . So that among the vast Number of Strangers that us'd to visit him for the sake of his Wit , some at last prevail'd with him to take a Voyage into those Parts . He was mightily pleas'd with the Invitation : and having in the first place inserted several Honourable touches on the City Athens in his Poems , he set Sail , and arriv'd at Samos , where he took up his Winter Quarters .