Eugenius and Arbogaftes in strong and triumphant Expreffions: But what is more to our purpose, the foremention'd Heathen Poet owns the Miracles of this Victory in that fine Addrefs to the Emperor.

O nimiùm dilecte Deo, cui fundit ab antris

Eolus armatas hyemes, cui mili-
tat Ether,

Et conjurati veniunt ad Claffica
Venti !

T

CHA P. II.

Hofe Excellencies of the Ancients, which I accounted for in the former Chapter feem to be fufficient to recommend them to the Efteem and Study of all Lovers of good and polite Learning, And that the young Scholar may ftudy them with fuitable Succefs and Improvement, a few Directions may be

proper to be obferv'd; which I fhalk lay down in this Chapter. 'Tis in my Opinion a right Method to begin with the best and most approv'd Classics;

and to read thofe Authors first which muft often be read over. Besides that. the best Authors are eafieft to be understood, their noble Senfe and animated Expreffion will make strong Impreffions upon the young Scholar's Mind, and train him up to the early Love and Imitation of their Excellencies.

Terence, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Juvenal, Tibullus, Propertius, cannot be ftudy'd too much, or gone over too often. One Reading may fuffice for Lucan, Statius, Valerius Flaccus, Silius Italicus, Claudian; tho' there will be frequent Occafions to confult fome of their particular Paffa-. ges. The fame may be faid with re-r pect to the Greek Poets: Homer, Pindar, Anacreon, Aristophanes, Euripides, Sophocles, Theocritus,

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Callimachus, muft never be entirely laid afide; and will recompenfe as many Repetitions as a Man's Time and Affairs will allow. Hefiod, Or pheus, Lycophron, Apollonius Rhodius, Nicander, Aratus, Oppian; Quintus Calaber, will amply reward the Labour of one careful Perufal Salluft, Livy, Cicero, Cafar and Tacitus, deferve to be read feveral times; and read them as oft as you please, they will always afford fresh Pleasure and Improvement. Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato, Demofthenes, are of the fame Merit among the Greeks. To which; think, I may add Lucian and Plu tarch. Lucian is an univerfal Scholar, and a prodigious Wit: He is Attic and neat in his Style, clear in his Narration, and wonderfully facetious in his Repartees. He furnishes you with almost all the Poetical Hiftory in fuch a diverting Manner, that you will not easily forget it; and supplies

the

the most dry and barren Wit with a rich plenty of Materials. Plutarch is an Author of deep Sense and vast Learning; tho' he does not reach his illuftrious Predeceffors in the Graces of his Language. His Morals are found and noble, illustrated with a perpetual Variety of beautiful Metaphors and Comparisons, and enforc'd with very remarkable Stories and pertinent Examples. In his Lives there is a compleat Account of all the Roman and Grecian Antiquities; of their Customs and Affairs of Peace and War. Thofe Writings will furnish a capable and inquifitive Reader with a curious Variety of Characters, with a very valuable Store of wife Remarks and found Politics. The Surface is a little rough, but under lie vaft Quantities of precious Oar.

Every Repetition of thefe Authors will bring the Reader freih Profit and Satisfaction. The reft of the Claffics muft by no means be neglected, but

ought

ought once to be carefully read over; and may ever after be occafionally confulted with much Advantage. We may with a little Allowance admit that Obfervation to be just, that he who wou'd compleatly understand one Claffic, muft diligently read all. When a young Gentleman is enter'd upon a Course of these Studies, I wou'd not have him to be difcourag'd at the Checks and Difficulties he will fometimes meet with: If upon clofe and due Confideration he cannot entirely master any Paffage, let him proceed by conftant and regular Reading, he will either find in that Author he is upon, or fome other on the fame Subject, a parallel Place that will clear the Doubt.

The Greek Authors wonderfully explain and illuftrate the Roman. Learning came late to Rome, and all the Latin Writers follow the Plans that were laid out before them by the great Mafters of Greece.

They