thing contain'd in them is humbly Submitted to the Correction of advanc'd Scholars and Mafters in the Claffics; who will find no greater Faults than I hope may be atton'd for, by the Diligence they will fee I have used in collecting proper Materials, and the Care I have taken to dif pofe 'em in a clear and ufeful Method. As to the First Part; I might poffibly have faid more in praife of my Authors, but believe I have faid enough to shew that it is a confiderable Difadvantage to any Scholar to neglect the Study of them. As As to the fecond Part, my Defign was to reform Rhetorick from the Rubbish and Barbarifm which it lies under in the common Books; and to reduce it to a li beral and rational Science. As we have it in thofe dry and trifling Syftems of it in fome Schools, it is little better than a Heap of bard Words of ill Sound, of Definitions without Meaning, and Divifions without any Diftinction. I have thrown afide all little. Alterations and Figures purely Grammatical, and struck out of the Lift of beautiful Schemes of Speech all Puns and Quibbles, all childish Jingle of Sound, and vain vain Amusement of Words; and have only selected the nobleft Tropes and Figures, which give real Strength and Grace to Language; which heighten and improve our Notions; and are of excellent Ufe to perfuade and pleafe. With respect to the Paffages I have quoted, and the Accounts and Characters I have any where given of Authors, I have very rarely taken them upon Truft, but have inform'd my felf from the Originals, leaving it as the peculiar Happiness of vaft and very forward Wits to criticize upon Languages they don't understand, and give formal Characters of Authors they never read. The Quotation of fome Latin and Greek Paffages will easily be excus'd, because the judicious Reader will see the Neceffity of it. And when there is occafion, 'tis as much Conceit and Pedantry fuperftitiously to avoid citing Greek or Latin, as 'tis to be pompous and profufe in thofe Citations, when there is no occafion. A Man may run into one Species of Superftition and Vanity, by injudiciously fhunning another. In short, I hope I have in the Book come up pretty near to what the Title promises; and therefore shall not plead want of |