Here the rapid nunbers, and fhort fylJables, fuftained with ftrong vowels, admirably reprefent both the vigour and speed of a horfe at full stretch fcouring over the plain. When Horace fings of mirth, beauty, and other fubjects that require delicacy and fweetness of compofition, he fmooths his lines with foft fyllables, and flows in gay and melting numbers. Scarce any reader is fo much a ftoic, but good-humour steals upon him; and he reads with fomething of the temper which the author was in when he wrote. How inexpreflibly fweet are thofe neat lines! Urit me Glyceræ nitor, * Fairy Queen. Innumerable beauties of this nature are fcattered through his lyric poetry. But when he undertakes lofty and noble subjetts, he raifes his ftyle, and strengthens his expreffion. For example, when he propofes to do honour to Pindar, and fing the glories of Auguftus, he reaches the Grecian's nobleft flights, has all his magnificence of thought, his ftrength of fancy, and daring liberty of figures. The Roman fwan foars as high as the Theban: he equals that commanding fpirit, thofe awful and vigorous beauties, which he generously pronounces inimitable; and praifes both his immortal predeceffor in lyric poetry, and his royal benefactor, with as much grandeur, and exalted eloquence, as ever Pindar praised any of his heroes. rare It is a juft obfervation of Longinus, that though Homer and Virgil are chiefly confined to the Dactyl and Spondee, and ly ufe any equivalent feet, yet they temper them together with fuch astonishing fkill and diligence, fo carefully vary their fyllables, and adapt their founds to the nature of the thing defcribed, that in their poems there is all the harmonicus change and variety of numbers, which can be compofed by all the poffible turns, and different pofitions of all the feet in the lan guages. Blackwall. $153. Tranflations cannot be fufficient Subftitutes for fuch Originals. A reader of fuch authors can scarce ever be weary; he has the advantage of a traveller for many miles round Damafcus; he never removes out of Paradife, but is reand enjoys in a fmall compafs the bounty galed with a conftant fucceffion of pleasures, and gaiety of univerfal nature. of thofe people, who would have tranflahence may be feen the injuftice and folly tions of the claffics: and then, to fave the trouble of learning Greek and Latin, throw away the great originals to duft and oblivion. From claffics turned into our language by the moit I would indeed have all the maiterly hands (as we already have fome) nious and inquifitive people, who have the among other reafons, for this, that ingemisfortune not to be well acquainted with the learned tongues, may have fome talte of their excellencies. Ignorant perfons, who know nothing of their language, would foon be perfuaded to believe; and fhallow pretenders, who know nothing of their beauties, would boldly pronounce, that fome your reafon, 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, Salluft, Juvenal, &c. and he will immediately discover all fuch objections either to proceed from ignorance, a depraved tafte, or intolerable conceit. The claffics are intimately acquainted with thofe things they undertake to treat of; and explain and adorn their fubject with found reafoning, exact difpofition, and beautiful propriety of language. No man in his right mind would have people to ftudy them with neglect and exclufion of other parts of useful knowledge, and good learning. No, let a man furnish himself with all the arts and fciences, that he has either capacity or opportunity to learn; and he will still find, that readiness and skill in these 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 toils of feverer and harsher ftudies. The brightness of their fenfe, and the purity and elegance of their diction, will qualify moft people, who duly admire and ftudy their excellencies, to communicate their thoughts with energy and clearnefs. Some gentlemen, deeply read in old fyftems of philofophy, and the abftrufer part of learning, for want of a fufficient acquaintance with thefe great masters of ftyle and politenefs, have not been able fo to express their notions, as to make their labours fully intelligible and useful to mankind. Irregular broken periods, long and frequent parentheses, and harsh tropes, have perplexed their notions; and much of their fenfe has lain buried under the confufion and rubbish of an obscure and horrid ftyle. The brightest and most rational thoughts are obfcured, and in a great measure spoiled,if they be encumbered with obfolete and courfe words unfkilfully placed, and ungracefully turned. The matchlefs graces of fome fine odes in Anacreon or Horace, do chiefly arise from the judicious choice of the beautiful words, and the delicacy and harmonioufnefs of the structure. Blackwall. fome tranflations we have go beyond the originals; while scholars of clear and found judgment are well fatisfied, that it is impoffible any verfion fhould come up to them. A tranflation of the noble claffics out of their native tongue, fo much in many refpects inferior to them, always more or lefs flattens their fenfe, and tarnishes their beauties. It is fomething like tranfplanting a precious tree out of the warm and fruitful climes in which it was produced, into a cold and barren country: with much care and tenderness it may live, bloffom, and bear; but it can never fo chearfully flourish, as in its native foil; it will degenerate, and lofe much of its delicious flavour, and original richness. And befides the weakening of the fenfe (though that be by far the most important confideration) Greek and Latin have fuch a noble harmony of found, fuch force and dignity of numbers, and fuch delicacy of turn in the periods, that cannot entirely be preferved 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 ftrongest modern language can bear. The pleafuré a man takes in reading, engages a clofe attention; raifes and cheers the fpirits; and impreffes the author's fentiments and expreffions deeper on the memory. A gentleman travels through the finest countries in the world, is in all refpects qualified to make obfervations, and then writes a faithful and curious hiftory of his travels. I can read his relations with pleature and improvement, and will pay him the praife due to his merits; but muft believe, that if I myself travelled through thofe countries, and attentively viewed and confidered all thofe curiofities of art and nature which he defcribes, I fhould have a more fatisfactory idea, and higher pleafure, than it is poffible to receive from the exacteft accounts. Authors of fuch diftinguished parts and perfections cannot be ftudied by a rational and difcerning reader without very valuable advantages. Their strong fenfe and manly thought, cloathed 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 it is a moft abfurd objection, that the Clailics do not improve $155. The peculiar Excellence of the Speeches of the GREEKS and ROMANS. Befides the other advantages of fludying the claffical hiftorians, there is one, which gentlemen of birth and fortune, qualified to manage public bufinefs, and fit as members in the moft auguft affemblies, have a more confiderable fhare in, than people of meaner condition. The fpeeches of the great men among the Greeks and Romans deferve their peculiar ftudy and imitation, as being mafter-pieces of clear reafoning and genuine eloquence: the orators in the Claffics fairly ftate their cafe, and ftrongly argue it: their remarks are furprising and pertinent, their repartees quick, and their raillery clear and diverting. They are bold without rathnefs or infolence; and fevere with good manners and decency. They do justice to their fubject, and fpeak agreeably to the nature of things, and characters of perfons. Their fentences are fprightly, and their morals found. In fhort, no part of the compofitions of the ancients is more finished, more inftructive and pleafing, than their orations. Here they feem to exert their choiceft abilities, and collect the utmoft force of their genius. Their whole hiftories may be compared to a noble and delicious country, that lies under the favourable eye and perpetual smiles of the heavens, and is every where crowned with pleafure and plenty but their choice defcriptions and fpeeches feem like fome peculiarly fertile and happy fpots of ground in that country, on which nature has poured out her riches with a more liberal hand, and art has made the utmost improvements of her bounty. They have taken fo much pains, and ufed fuch accuracy in the fpeeches, that the greater pleafure they have given the reader, the more they have expofed themfelves to the cenfure of the critic. The orations are too fublime and elaborate; and thofe perfons to whom they are afcribed, could not at thofe times compofe or fpeak them. 'Tis allowed, that they might not deliver themselves in that exact number and collection of words, which the hiftorians have fo curiously laid together; but it can fearce be denied, but the great men in history had frequent occafions of fpeaking in public; and 'tis probable, that many times they did actually fpeak to the fame purpose. Fabius Maximus and Scipio, Cæfar and Cato, were capable of making as good fpeeches as Livy or Salleft; and Pericles was an orator no ways inferior to Thucydides. When the reafon of the thing will allow that there was time and room for premeditation, there is no queftion but many of thofe admirable men in hiftory fpoke as well as they are reprefented by thofe able and eloquent writers. But then the hiftorians putting the fpeeches into their own ftyle, and giving us thofe harangues in form, which we cannot tell how they could come at, trefpaffes against probability, and the ftrict rules of writing history. It has always been allowed to great wits fometimes to ftep out of the beaten road, and to foar out of the view of a heavy fcholiaft. To grant all that is in the objection: the greatest Claflics were liable to human infirmities and errors; and whenever their forward cenfurers shall fall into fuch irregularities, and commit fuch faults joined to fuch excellencies, the learned world will not only pardon, but admire them. We may fay of that celebrated fpeech of Marius in Sallust, and others that are moft attacked upon this foot, as the friends of Virgil do in excufe of his offending against chronology in the ftory of Aneas and Dido; that had there been no room for fuch little objections, the world had wanted fome of the most charming and confummate productions of human wit. Whoever made thofe noble fpeeches and debates, they fo naturally arife from the pofture of affairs, and circumftances of the times which the authors then defcribe, and are fo rational, fo pathetic, and becoming, that the pleasure and inftruction of the reader is the fame. A complete differtation upon the ufes and beauties of the chief fpeeches in the claffical hiftorians, would be a work of curiofity, that would require an able genius and fine pen. I shall just make some short ftrictures upon two; one out of Thucydides, and the other out of Tacitus. Blackwall. 155. On the Funeral Oration of Pɛ RICLES. The funeral oration made by Pericles upon his brave countrymen who died in battle, is full of prudence and manly eloquence; of hearty zeal for the honour of his country, and wife remarks. He does not lavish away his commendations, but renders the honours of the state truly defirable, by fhewing they are always conferred with judgment and warinefs. He praifes the dead, in order to encourage the living to follow their example; to which he propofes the ftrongest inducements in the most moving and lively manner; from the confideration of the immortal honours paid to the memory of the deceated; and the the generous provifions made by the government for the dear perfons left behind by those who fell in their country's caufe. He imputes the greatest share of the merits of those gallant men, to the excellency of the Athenian conftitution; which trained them up in fuch regular difcipline, and fecured to them and their defcendants fuch invaluable privileges, that no man of fenfe and gratitude, of public fpirit, and a lover of his children, would fcruple to venture his life to preferve them inviolable, and tranfmit them to late pofterity. The noble orator in this fpeech gives an admirable character of his countrymen the Athenians. He reprefents them as brave, with confideration and coolness; and polite and genteel, without effeminacy. They are, fays he, eafy to their fellow-citizens, and kind and communicative to ftrangers: they cultivate and improve all the arts, and enjoy all the pleasures of peace; and yet are never furprised at the alarms, nor impatient of the toils and fatigues of war. They are generous to their friends, and terrible to their enemies. They ufe all the liberty that can be defired without infolence or licentiousness; and fear nothing but tranfgreffing the laws. Blackwall. and complaifance of fpeech more happily mixed; he conveys found exhortation in praife; and at the fame time fays very bold and very obliging things. In fhort, he speaks with the bravery of a foldier, and the freedom of a friend: in his addrefs, there is the air and the gracefulness of an accomplished courtier; in his advice, the fagacity and caution of a confummate flatefman. Ibid. 157. The Claffics exhibit a beautiful Syftem of Morals. Another great advantage of ftudying the Claffics is, that from a few of the beit of them may be drawn a good system and beautiful collection of found morals. There the precepts of a virtuous and happy life are fet off in the light and gracefulness of clear and moving expreffion; and eloquence is meritorioufly employed in vindicating and adorning religion. This makes deep impreflions on the minds of young gentlemen, and charms them with the love of goodnefs fo engagingly dreffed, and fo beautifully commended. The Offices, Cato Major, Tufculan Queftions, &c. of Tully, want not much of Epictetus and Antonine in morality, and are much fuperior in language. P'indar writes in an ex § 156. On MUCIAN's Speech in TA- alted ftrain of piety as well as poetry; he CITUS. Mucian's fpeech in Tacitus + contains many important matters in a fall compafs; and in a few clean and emphatical words goes through the principal topics of perfuafion. He preffes and conjures Vefpafian to difpute the empire with Vitellius, by the duty he owes his bleeding country; by the love he has for his hopeful fons; by the faireft profpect of fuccefs that could be hoped for, if he once vigorously fet upon that glorious bufinefs; but, if he neglected the prefent opportunity, by the difglected the prefent opportunity, by the difmal appearance of the worst evils that could be feared: he encourages him by the number and goodness of his forces; by the intereft and steadiness of his friends; by the vices of his rival, and his own virtues. Yet all the while this great man compliments Vefpafian, and pays him honour, he is cautious not in the leaft to diminish his own glory if he readily allows him the first rank of merit, he brifkly claims the fecond to himself. Never were liberty : See Thucyd. Oxon. Ed. lib. 2. p. 103. Tacit. Elzevir. Ed. 1534. lift. 2. p. 591, $85. carefully wipes off the afperfions that old fables had thrown upon the deities; and never fpeaks of things or perfons facred, but with the tendereft caution and reverence. He praifes virtue and religion with a generous warmth; and fpeaks of its eternal rewards with a pious affurance. A notable critic has obferved, to the perpetual fcandal of this poet, that his chief, if not only excellency, lies in his moral fenthis excellency, for which all men of fenfe tences. Indeed Pindar is a great master of will admire him; and at the fame time be aftonished at that man's honesty who flights fuch an excellency; and that man's underexcellencies in him. I remember, in one flanding, who cannot difcover many more of his Olympic Odes, in a noble confitempt of his vile and malicious adverfaries, dence of his own genius, and a juft conhe compares himself to an eagle, and them to crows and indeed he foars far above the reach and out of the view of noily profeffor, Duport, has made an entertainfluttering cavillers. The famous Greek ing and ufeful collection of Homer's divine and moral fayings, and has with great dexterity compared them with parallel paña ges ges out of the infpired writers: By which it appears, that there is no book in the world fo like the style of the Holy Bible, as Homer. The noble hiftorians abound with moral reflections upon the conduct of human life; and powerfully inftruct both by precepts and examples. They paint vice and villainy in horrid coJours; and employ all their reafon and eloquence to pay due honours to virtue, and render undiffembled goodness amiable in the eye of mankind. They exprefs a true reverence for the established religion, and a hearty concern for the profperous ftate of their native country. Blackwall. 158. On XENOPHON's Memoirs of SOCRATES. Xenophon's memorable things of Soerates, is a very inftructive and refined fyftem of morality: it goes through all points of duty to God and man, with great clearness of fenfe and found notion, and with inexpreffible fimplicity and purity of language. The great Socrates there difcourfes in fuch a manner, as is most proper to engage and perfuade all forts of readers: he argues with the reafon of a philofopher, directs with the authority of a lawgiver, and addreffes with the familiarities and endearments of a friend. He made as many improvements in true morality, as could be made by the unaflifted ftrength of human reafon; nay, he delivers himself in fome places, as if he was enlightened by a ray from heaven. In one of Plato's divine dialogues +, Socrates utters a surprising prophecy of a divine perfon, a true friend and lover of human nature, who was to come into the world to inftruct them in the most acceptable way of addrefling their prayers to the majefty of God. Ibid. 159. On the Morality of JUVENAL. I do not wonder when I hear that fome prelates of the church have recommended the ferious ftudy of Juvenal's moral parts to their clergy. That manly and vigorous author, fo perfect a mafter in the ferious and fublime way of fatire, is not unacquainted with any of the excellencies of good writing; but is efpecially to be admired and valued for his exalted morals. He diffuades from wickedness, and exhorts * Gnomologia Homerica, Cantab. 166c. tDialog. Select. Cantab. 1683. ad Alcibiad. P.255. to goodness, with vehemence of zeal that can scarce be diffembled, and ftrength of reafon that cannot eafily be refifted. He does not praise virtue, and condemn vice, as one has a favourable, and the other a malignant afpect upon a man's fortune in this world only; but he establishes the unalterable diftinctions of good and evil; and builds his doctrine upon the immoveable foundations of God and infinite Providence. His morals are fuited to the nature and dignity of an immortal foul: and, like it, derive their original from heaven. How found and ferviceable is that wonderful notion in the thirteenth fatire *, That an inward inclination to do an ill thing is criminal: that a wicked thought ftains the mind with guilt, and expofes the offender to the punishment of heaven, though it never ripen into action! A fuitable practice would effectually crush the ferpent's head, and banish a long and black train of mischiefs and miferies out of the world. What a fcene of horror does he difclose, when in the fame satire + he opens to our view the wounds and gafhes of a wicked confcience! The guilty reader is not only terrified at dreadful cracks and flashes of the heavens, but looks pale and trembles at the thunder and lightning of the poet's awful verfe. The notion of true fortitude cannot be better sta ted than it is in the eighth fatire I, where he preffingly exhorts his reader always to prefer his confcience and principles before his life; and not be restrained from doing his duty, or be awed into a compliance with a villainous propofal, even by the prefence and command of a barbarous tyrant, or the nearest prospect of death in all the circumftances of cruelty and terror. Muft not a profeffor of Chriftianity bet afhamed of himself for harbouring uncharitable and bloody refentments in his breaft, when he reads and confiders that invaluable paffage against revenge in the above-mentioned thirteenth fatire? where he argues against that fierce and fatal paffion, from the ignorance and littlenefs of that mind which is poffeffed with it; from the honour and generolity of pafling by and forgiving injuries; from the example of those wife and mild men, of Chryfippus and Thales, and |