[1] A NEW INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASSICS. 'T The FIRST PART. СНАР. І, IS not proper here to make a Comparison betwixt the Greek and Roman Languages, or determine in what Refpects the former excels the latter. Scarce a Man who is qualified to judge in fuch Controverfies, but will own that they are much to be preferr'd to English, and all other Living Languages, in Strength and Delicacy; in the Emphasis of their Expreffion, and the Harmony of their Numbers. So that altho' we should be in fo complaifant a Humour as to allow Mr. Perrault, and the few Gentlemen of his Opinion, that the Moderns are equal to the Ancients in Genius and Abilities ; yet it cannot be deny'd, but that the Ancient Claffics were much happier in the Beauty and Durableness of their Language. Greek and Latin have an intrinfic Value, and are true Sterling all over the learned World. English is chiefly valuable in this Island and its Colonies, and current within its own Seas. It cannot fuftain the Sublime with that Strength and Grace that the Greek and Latin do. And this may be much more affirmed of most of the Languages of Europe. Suppose a Writer in any European living Language, to be of equal natural Parts, Parts, and acquir'd Abilities with any of the noblest Wits of Greece or Rome, yet the Ancient would in his Language have extremely the Advantage of the Modern: As much as an Architect or Statuary, who had the finest Marble, and most compliant Materials to work on, would go beyond one of his own Profeffion, equally skilful, who was confin'd to fuch unfit and mouldering Materials, as mocked his Art, and were uncapable to receive his curious Workmanship. Greek and Latin have for many Ages been fix'd and unalterable; and the beft Writers in thofe Languages flourish'd in those happy Times, when Learning and all the Polite Arts were come to their Perfection and Standard. We are come to no fettled and authentic Standard; our Tongue is in a daily Flux and Alteration. That which was written in English two hundred Years ago, is now scarce intelligible; and few Authors of one hundred hundred Years ftanding can by this refin'd Age be read with Patience. Our Language being in this unfettled and changeable Condition, Time will fpread a Ruft and Obfoleteness over our brightest and most admir'd Writers. But whatever Decays and Alterations English may be fubject to, whatever Confufion and Barbarifm may be brought in by long Civil Wars, or foreign Invafions; whenever the Dawn of a Reformation fhall appear, whenever Men of elevated Genius and public Spirit fhall arise to drive out the barbarous Goths and Vandals, and to restore Learning and the Liberal Sciences, they must have Recourse to the Ancients, and call in their Succours. To speak in plain Terms, there are unexhaufted Stores of noble Sense and fuitable Expreffion in the best Greek and Latin Claffics. By Supplies drawn from them, Gentlemen of happy Talents and Industry, may, in any Country, with proper Encouragement, fill up the the Defects, and smooth the Roughnefs of their Mother-Tongues. Those precious Volumes are fo univerfally, and in fuch great Numbers difpers'd over the World, that they can only perish in its laft Conflagration. And while they laft, there cannot be much danger that Ignorance and Stupidity fhould generally prevail; or gain the abfolute Empire they had in the long and difmal Night before our happy Reformation. Here 'tis obvious to observe, that true Religion and good Learning for the moft part flourish and decay together. We at the fame time triumph'd over Barbarifm and Superftition; and at once got into our Hands the Claffics and the facred Writers. Polite Literature, if duly applied, is highly fubfervient to the Explication and Ornament of that ineftimable Book, which came from Heaven to direct Mankind in the Way thither. Some vain Critics and half-witted Philologers have prefum'd to make Objections |