Dear Pounders,

----------
>From: Tim Bray <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: In Praise of Achilles, was Re: how hermetic?
>Date: Fri, Aug 3, 2001, 4:50 PM
>

> At 12:58 PM 03/08/01 -0700, Dirk Johnson wrote:
>>If Tim expects the Greek heroes to be middle class Americans, he should
>>probably just go back to reading the New York Times, if he can handle it.
>
> My, we're a bit tetchy aren't we?  While I'm neither American nor
> middle-class, many people who are just fine by me are both.  Given
> that the Times' canonical readers is hardly your basic M.C.American,
> you should pay more attention to rhetorical consistency in future
> polemics.  My problem with most of Homer's characters is that
> they're vicious, self-important, thin-skinned, and dishonest.
> I acknowledge that many have loved these books and that probably
> there's something there, just (unlike the Cantos) not for me.
>
> And let me reiterate my recommendation of T.E. Lawrence's
> letters, and not just for their remarks on Homer (and one or
> two on EP if I recall correctly) - really great stuff.
>
>>Or if he really wants to make decisions about Homer he should take the time
>>and put out the effort to read the Iliad in Greek.
>
> That may well be it.  -Tim

And then there are not so many who can do that, i.e. read Homeric Greek. And
I have seen this intimidation work many times before. I read some Classical
Greek. Could Dirk please specifically tell us how the works of Homer appear
so different when examined in their original language that it would
constitute a more just decision in one's appreciation?
    Hahem, did Pound know a little Latin and less Greek himself? Not to
unstuff any Popinjays.

Charles Moyer