advantage of a Traveller for many Miles round Damafcus; he never removes out of Paradife, but is regal'd with a conftant Succeffion of Pleafures, and enjoys in a small compafs the Bounty and Gaiety of univerfal Nature. From hence may be feen the Injustice and Folly of thofe People, who wou'd have Translations of the Claffics; and then, to fave the trouble of learning Greek and Latin, throw away the great Originals to Duft and Oblivion. I wou'd indeed have all the Claffics turn'd into our Language by the most masterly Hands (as we already have fome) among other Reasons for this, that ingenious and inquifitive People, who have the misfortune not to be well acquainted with the learned Tongues, may have fome Taste of their Excellencies. Ignorant Perfons, who know nothing of their Language, wou'd foon be perfuaded to believe; and fhallow Pretenders, who know nothing of

their Beauties, wou'd boldly pronounce, that fome Tranflations we have go beyond the Originals; while Scholars of clear and found Judgment, are well fatisfy'd that 'tis impoffible any Version should come up to them. A Tranflation of the noble Claffics out of their native Tongues, fo much in many respects inferior to them, always more or less flattens their Senfe, and tarnishes their Beauties. 'Tis fomething like tranfplanting a precious Tree out of the warm and fruitful Climes in which it was produc'd, into a cold and barren Countrey: With much care and tenderness it may live, -bloffom, and bear; but it can never fo chearfully flourish as in its native Soil; it will degenerate and lofe much of its delicious Flavour and original Richness. And befides the weakning of the Senfe (tho' that be by far the most important Confideration) Greek and Latin have fuch a noble Harmoof Sound, fuch Force and Dignity

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of Numbers, and fuch Delicacy of Turn in the Periods, that cannot entirely be preferv'd in any Language of the World. Thefe two Languages are fo peculiarly fufceptive of all the Graces of Wit and Elocution, that they are read with more Pleafure and lively Guft, and confequently with more Advantage than the most perfect Tranflation that the ableft Genius can compofe, or the strongest modern Language can bear. The Pleasure a Man takes in reading. engages a close Attention; raifes and chears the Spirits; and impreffes the Author's Sentiments and Expreffion deeper on the Memory. A Gentleman travels thro' the fineft Countries in the World, is in all refpects qualify'd to make Obfervations, and then writes a faithful and curious History of his Travels. I can read his Relations with Pleasure and Improvement, and will pay him the Praife due to his Merits; but must believe that if I

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my felf travell'd thro' thofe Countries, and attentively view'd and confider'd all thofe Curiofities of Art and Nature which he defcribes, I fhou'd have a more fatisfactory Idea and higher Pleasure, than 'tis poffible to receive from the exacteft Accounts.. Authors of fuch diftinguish'd Parts and Perfections cannot be study'd by a rational and discerning Reader without very valuable Advantages. Their ftrong Senfe and manly Thought, cloth'd in the moft fignificant and beautiful Language will improve his Reafon and Judgment; and enable him to acquire the Art of genteel and fenfible Writing. For 'tis a most abfurd Objection, that the Claffics dos not improve your Reason, nor enlarge your Knowledge of ufeful: Things; but only amufe and divert you with artificial Turns of Words, and Flourishes of Rhetoric. Let but a Man of Capacity read a few Lines in Plato, Demofthenes, Tully, Sal Luft,

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luft, Juvenal, &c. and he will immediately difcover all fuch Objections either to proceed from Ignorance, a deprav'd Tafte, or intolerable Conceit. The Claffics are intimately acquainted with thofe Things they undertake to treat of; and explain and adorn their Subject with found Reafoning, exact Difpofition, and beautiful Propriety of Language. No Man in his right Mind wou'd have People to ftudy them with Neglect and Exclufion of other Parts of ufeful Knowledge and good Learning. No, let a Man furnifh himself with all the Arts and Sciences that he has either Capacities or Opportunity to learn; and he will fill find that Readiness and Skill in thefe correct and rational Authors is not the leaft ornamental or ferviceable Part of his Attainments. The Neatnefs and Delicacy of their Compofitions will be Refreshment and Mufic after the Toyls of feverer and har her Studies. The Brightness of