road, from time to time, a part of his treasures and spoils. In like manner, says he, as is told of Medea that when she was pursued by her father, in the sam country, she scattered the members of her brothe Absyrtus, whom she had cut to pieces along the way that his care in gathering up the dispersed members and his grief at the sight of so sad a spectacle, migh retard his pursuit. The resemblance is exact, excep that, as Tully remarks, Eta the father of Mede was stopped in his course by sorrow, and the, Roman by joy.

There are different species of books exposed to th view of the whole world, such as pictures, prints, ta pestry and statues. These are so many riddles t those who are ignorant of fabulous history, fro whence their explication is frequently to be take These matters are likewise frequently brought in discourse, and it is not, in my opinion, over agre able to sit mute, and seem stupid in company, f want of being instructed, whilst young, in a matt so easy to be learned.

All these reasons have ever made me wish th somebody would be at the pains to draw up an histo of the fabulous times, which might be put into t hands of all the world, and be expressly calculated i the use of youth. F. Galtruchius's work is somewh of this kind, but it is too short; as is also F. Jouve ci's treatise, intitled, Appendix de Diis, which oth wise is excellent. M. L'Abbé Banier's performan in three volumes, contains most of what is wanti upon this subject, the substance of it being taken fr history itself, which is the best system in this ki and explains the different sources of it with great lidity and erudition. But this work is too learned a too large for boys, as that also of F. Tournem would be; of which he has given us such a plan makes us wish the work was finished. There been lately published, a book, intitled Dictionnaire la Fable. It may be very useful in clearing up

difficul

understanding of authors. I should think it would be adviseable to omit what barely relates to learning, as it would render the study of Fable more difficult and less agreeable, or at least to throw all reflections of this kind into short notes; but it would be absolutely requisite to throw out every thing that might be prejudicial to purity of manners, and not only to leave out any story, but even any expression that might give the least offence to any chaste or Christian ears. I have engaged a person, who has a great deal of knowledge, judgment and piety, to undertake this small performance, which cannot but be very useful to all young persons of both sexes; and I hope in a little time it will be in a condition to be published.

CHAP. II.

OF ANTIQUITIES.

BESIDES the events contained in history, and the reflections which are the natural consequence of them, this study contains still another part, which, though less necessary and agreeable indeed, may yet be very useful, if made with judgment and discretion; I mean the knowledge of usages, customs, and whatever else is understood by the name of Antiquities. The readers of history are in some respect like travellers. There is generally some end proposed, either of going into their own country, or to some other place, whither their business or their interest leads them; and it is this end, this motive, which puts them in action, and sets them a-going. Notwithstanding, if they have leisure and curiosity, they take care by the way, to examine whatever they meet

they draw up for their own private use. Thus also we should act in studying history; besides the series of facts and events, and the wise reflections arising from them, we should carefully collect whatever relates to usages, customs, laws, arts, and a thousand other curious branches of knowledge, which serve as ornaments to the mind, and likewise contribute very much to the perfect understanding of what we read.

THE USEFULNESS OF THE STUDY OF ANTIQUI¬ TIES...

This study, to a certain degree, is absolutely necessary to all masters. There are in all authors a great many expressions, allusions, and comparisons, which cannot be understood without it; and it is scarce possible without it to make one single step in the reading of history, and not be puzzled with difficulties which a very slight knowledge of Antiquity would frequently resolve. Let any one lightly run over the first book of Livy, which, with the origin of the Ro man people, contains that of the greatest part of thei laws and customs, and he will soon be sensible of th utility and advantage of the study I am now recom mending. I know, that this study, like all others, carried too far, has its rocks and dangers. There a kind of obscure and ill-managed learning, which employed only upon questions equally vain and frivo lous, which hunts after what is most abstruse and un common in every subject, and is almost wholly con fined to the discovery of such things as are absolutel superfluous, and which it is often better to be igno rant of, than to know. [n] Seneca, in more tha one place, complains of this bad taste, which, takin rise amongst the Greeks, transferred itself to the Ro mans, and began to seize upon the nation. [o] H

[n] Ecce Romanos quoque invasit inane studium supervacua discendi. Lib. de Brev. Vit. cap. xiv, [o] Plus scire velle, quàm sit sa tis, intemperantiæ genus est. . . . An tu existimas reprehendendum, qui supervacua usu sibi comparat, & pretiosarum rerum pompam in

domo explicat? non putas eu qui occupatus est in supervacuâ lit rarum supellectile ? quid quòd is liberalium artium consectatio m lestos, verbosos, intempestivos, si placentes facit, & ideò non disce tes necessaria, quia supervacua dicerunt. Epist. 88

nake men impertinent, foolishly possessed with a notion of their own merit, and at the bottom really igorant. Speaking of Didymus, the famous grammaian, who had written four thousand volumes, wherein neexamined abundance of useless questions, not worth remembering. I should have thought a man wretched enough, says Seneca, if he had been condemned, I say, not to write, but only to read such a heap of rifles. Quatuor milia librorum Didymus grammatius scripsit; miser, si tam multa supervacua legisset. [p]Juvenal also justly derides the bad taste of some persons in his time, who were not satisfied unless a preceptor directly could give an answer to a thousand, absurd and ridiculous questions. It is in short, to be ittle acquainted with the value of time, and to spend one's pains and labour to very bad purpose, to employ hem in the study of such difficulties and obscurities, as are at the same time, according to [q] Tully's observation unnecessary, and often trifling and vain.

Turpe est difficiles habere nugas,

Et stultus labor est ineptiarum. MARTIAL.

"The deep and dull researches of the schools, Are but the busy indolence of fools.

A judicious master will carefully avoid falling into this mistake. In applying himself to history and Antiquities, he will not carry his enquiries too far, but be guided in this point by prudence and discretion He will remember what [r] Quintilian says, that it is a foolish and pitiful vanity to be over curious in knowing all that the worst authors have said upon a subject; that such an occupation very idly wastes the time and pains which ought to be. better employed and that among the virtues and perfections of a good master, it is none of the least, to be ignoran in some particulars. Ex quo mihi inter virtute grammatici habebitur, aliqua nescire.

There is an art of making these dry and ordinaril tedious matters, very agreeable, by intermixing then with short stories and reflections; by removing from them most of the thorns and difficulties, and leaving only the flower, in a manner, for the boys to gather by exalting their taste, and awakening their curiosit with such particular circumstances as are likely t make an impression; in a word, by making ther fond of this kind of exercise, and expect it with sort of impatience.

With these precautions we cannot too much re commend the study of Antiquities, either to scholar or masters. The latter especially should look upon as an essential branch of their duty. It is a part o learning not only suitable to their character, but ab solutely necessary for all such persons as are designe by their station to study and teach the belles lettre. The university has, in all ages been distinguished b this particular, as well as in every other respect. Sh has constantly sent abroad all sorts of learned me who have done honour to literature and the nation, b

[r] Quintil. lib. 1. cap. viii.

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