WE cannot justly conclude, by arguments preceding the proof of facts, that one idolatrous people must have borrowed their deities, rites, and tenets from another; since Gods of all shapes and dimensions may be framed by the boundless powers of imagination, or by the frauds and follies of men, in countries never connected; but when features of resemblance, too strong to have been accidental, are observable in different systems of polytheism, without fancy or prejudice to colour them, and improve the likeness, we can scarce help believing, that some connexion has immemorially subsisted between the several nations who have adopted them. It is my design, in this Essay, to point out such a resemblance between the popular worship of the old Greeks and Italians and that of the Hindus...........
Written in 1784.
And Since revised by the President.
(i.e., Sir William Jones)
http://www.masseiana.org/jones2.htm
And Since revised by the President.
(i.e., Sir William Jones)
http://www.masseiana.org/jones2.htm
