XI. Of the choice af authors; and of the principles that are to be observed, in pursuing this design.

To what has been said, we may further add, how useful it is, to observe some order in the choice of books, proper to be read by young people, in proportion to their progress in this study. I am very sensible it is a difficult task, to give advice upon this article, so as to please every body; for there is no subject whatever, concerning which there is a greater diversity of opinions, than that of the censure and judgment of authors. However, I think, we may safely adhere to three principles, which ought to be inviolably observed in the instruction of youth: these are to begin with the most easy; to pitch upon some books of entertainment, in order to render this study more diverting; and to join as much as possible the utility of the subject to that of the language: by which means they will form their judgment, while they stock their memory; and even their memory will be helped by annexing words to things, as these make a greater impression on the mind, than bare words.

Lucian is an author, in whom those three qualities shine in high perfection, and who has this advantage, which Quintilian observed in Cicero, that he may be of service to beginners, and not unuseful even to those who are far advanced. His language is pure, his phrase elegant, his wit agreeable, his style perspicuous, his narrative surprising, and his copiousness sufficient to supply the most barren capacities.

He handles mythology in a very entertaining manner, so as to imprint the fable in the memory, which contributes not a little towards the better understanding of the poets. In several places he draws an admirable picture of the misery of human life, of the vanity of mankind, of the arrogance of the learned, and of the pride of philosophers. In fine, he ridicules the avarice of the rich, the insolence of the great, and the whole system of Pagan religion: which contributes not a little towards raising the mind to the only and sovereign good.

Yet choice and discernment are requisite, even in reading this author. For not to mention, that there are several passages very dangerous to youth, and entirely unworthy, not only of Christian purity, but even of Pagan modesty; there are, moreover several useless treatises. And perhaps, in general, his manner of writing may be hurtful to persons of a wrong turn of mind, who are of themselves inclinable. to profaneness, and buffoonry.

The collection formerly made, and which is still in the hands of children, might be of service, were it not full of errors in the late impressions; besides, I cannot conceive

why the editor has retrenched some things which are less hurtful; and, at the same time, left others, that seem far more dangerous.

But a great many useful pieces might be added to that collection, such as the dream, the trial of the vowels, the sale of the life of philosophers, the fishermen, or the men raised to life; the men of learning, that enter into the service of the great; Hermotimus, or the sects; Herodotus, or Ebion; Zeuxis and Antiochus; the tyrant slayer; the disinherited; the tragical Jupiter; Alexander, or the false prophet; the master of the rhetoricians; of those, who have been long lived; a discourse againt Herodotus: and the death of the pilgrim (whether it be his or no); and some others, provided, as I observed, that care be taken to expunge every thing that can be offensive to modesty, which, indeed, should be done in all books whatsoever, that are designed for the instruction of youth.

Next to Lucian there is nothing more pleasing, nor more useful than history. Polyænus, who lived under M. Aurelius, towards the close of the second century, has left us a large collection of stratagems, of the greatest men of antiquity, written with extraordinary ease, clearness, and purity.

The histories of Elian, who flourished under Adrian, towards the commencement of that same century, are very entertaining; his expression is copious, and his style extremely pure, particularly in his history of animals, where he has inserted a great number of precepts, most useful in the conduct of human life. His various histories are less polished; and in several places, they seem to be rather a collection of detached papers, than a finished piece; though they may be read with some utility.

Herodian is proper for beginners, because of the smallness of the volume, and the beauty of the Latin version, together with the Greek elegance of his style, which Photius, patriarch of Constantinople, affirms to be clear, pure, and agreeable; ever uniform, but neither mean, nor affected: in short, he looks upon him as inferior to few historians. His history commences at the death of the emperor M. Aurelius, near the close of the second century, and terminates in Gordianus the younger, towards the middle of the third. It is esteemed for its truth, as the author scarce wrote any thing, but what he had been an eye-witness of; excepting what regards Alexander and Maximinus, where his veracity is suspected. He is somewhat more difficult with regard to the phraseology, than the foregoing, and seems even to have been corrupted in several places. But, perhaps, we shall give a new edition of him very soon, compared with

ancient copies, and accompanied with short notes, which may be of service to those who desire to make use of this author.

After these you may proceed to some of Plutarch's writings, though he is more obscure than any hitherto mentioned. However, there is one particular advantage in him, that he alone is worth a multitude of authors, each life being a separate work; and there is so great a variety, as to admit of choice: besides they contain the best, and most remarkable part of the Greek and Roman histories. His moral pieces are likewise incomparable, though some treatises might be left out, which are either obscure or less useful, or even dangerous in regard to morals. But his discourses on the education of children (though there is some room to question whether this be his); on the reading of poems; on hearing; on the difference between a flatterer and a friend; on the benefit that may accrue from enemies; on vice and virtue; his consolation to Apollonius; his treatises of superstition; of passion; of the tranquillity of the mind; of brotherly friendship; of evil shame; that vice is sufficient to make men unhappy; which passions are most dangerous, those of the mind, or those of the body; of garrulity of the love of riches; concerning such as God is slow to punish; of usury; against ignorant princes; political precepts; whether old men should concern themselves with state affairs; his apophthegms; of the fortune of the Romans of the success of Alexander; Roman questions; which are the most crafty, water animals, or those that breed upon land: and, perhaps, some others, are all master-pieces in their kind, and of immense value, both for the utility of the subject, and the beauty of the figures, the copiousness of expression, beside the great variety of excellent reflexions, and examples of human conduct, scattered through the whole. Which made Gaza fay, that if he was to be confined only to one book, he should choose the works of Plutarch. Hence he was in so great esteem among the ancients, as to be caressed by three emperors successively; one of whom, viz. Trajan, who lived at the beginning of the second century, raised him to the confular dignity.

XII. Order to be observed by those who are willing to peruse authors, according to the series of time. Judgment on the historians.

Those, who are masters of this author, may safely venture afterwards upon all the rest, and go through them gradually, according to the order of time, as Josephus Herodotus, Dio

dorus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Polybius, Appian, Dion, and others. Josephus, who lived toward the close of the first century, wrote the history of the Old Testament, and that of the war of the Jews. He presented the latter, which he had divided into seven books, to Vespasian, and his son Titus: it not only met with the general applause, but was so greatly esteemed at Rome, that they erected a statue to the author. He wrote his antiquities some time later, for they were not finished till the thirteenth year of the reign of Domitian. They are comprised in twenty books, beginning with the creation, and ending at the twelfth year of Nero. His diction is pure, says Photius, and proper to convey a distinct and clear image, of the noblest and most elevated subjects. He is eloquent and persuasive in his harangues, as sententious as most authors, artful and insinuating, a strong reasoner, and a thorough master in exciting the passions, which made St. Jerom call him the Greek Livy.

Herodotus flourished towards the eighty-third Olympiad, viz. upwards of four hundred and forty years before the birth of Christ, under the reign of Xerxes and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. He is looked upon as the father of history, a title given him by Cicero in his second book of laws; and to him we are particularly indebted for the history of the Persians. He wrote in the Ionic dialect; yet he is very easy and pure. He is clear, agreeable, and fluent, according to Quintilian: and Cicero says, he glides with all the majesty of a great river, smooth and uniform. Athenaus calls him, ὁ θαυμασιώτατος καὶ μελίγηρυς, most admirable and sweet as honey. His books were in so great repute, as to be called the Nine Muses. They begin with Croesus and the empire of Cyrus, by whom Croesus was defeated, and are continued down to Xerxes, the fourth Persian king after Cyrus.

Diodorus is useful, by reason of his Universal History, wherein he treats of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, and others. He has borrowed a great many things from Berosus, Theopompus, Ephorus, Philistes, Callisthenes, Timæus, and other authors, who have perished through the injuries of time, which has also been the fate of some of Diodorus's books. For they where originally forty, and comprised the Universal History down to Julius Caesar, under whom this author flourished, having died very old, towards the middle of the reign of Augustus: but there are only fifteen remaining; which come down to the year of Rome four hundred and fifty-two. Photius says, his language is clear, and unaffected; his style middling, and proper enough for history.

Thucydides flourished at the same time as Herodotus, and was induced to write his history, by having heard that author repeat his works with such high applause at Athens, during the feast of Minerva, He has only given us the first twenty years of the Peloponnesian war, though he takes his subject from a higher date. But he is esteemed for his veracity, and has conformed so scrupulously to the laws of history, that several look upon him as a pattern in that kind of writing.

He is one of the most difficult authors, and so very obscure, particularly in his harangues, that Tully, in his book of illustrious orators, says, he is sometimes unintelligible; nevertheless, in his second book De Oratore, he recommends him extremely, and affirms that he surpasses all others in his art; that almost every word is a sentence; that he is so accurate and expressive, as to render it difficult to determine, whether his words set off the things, more than the things his words. Demosthenes had so great an esteem for this history, that he transcribed it eight times himself, in order to be thoroughly acquainted with it and in these latter ages, the emperor Charles the Vth is reported to have respected Thucydides as his master in the art of war, and to have made him the constant companion of all his enterprises. But it requires a good deal of application to understand him well; and the German edition, with the Scholia, and Commentaries of Portus, will contribute very much to this end.

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Xenophon, to whom we are obliged for the works of Thucydides, because it was he that published them, flourished a little after him, viz. according to Eusebius, in the ninety-fifth Olympiad. His turn of writing is quite different from that of the last author. He is clear, pure, and familiar in his style, but elegant withal, and pretty much resembling Cæsar, except that Cæsar is sometimes more grave, and Xenophon more fluent. His language is so smooth, that Quintilian says, it seems to have been formed by the Graces. Tully affirms he is sweeter than honey, and that the Muses spoke, as it were, through his mouth: hence, according to Laertius, he was called the Attic muse, or, according to others, the Attic bee. Dion Chrysostom recommends this author very much, assuring us, that he is sufficient, not only to form his reader to a pure elegant style, but moreover, to instruct him in sound policy.

The learned are divided in regard to the Cyropædia, viz. this author's book concerning the education, and great exploits of Cyrus. Tully says, he wrote, non ad historia fidem, sed ad effigiem veri imperii, an expression which

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