The Greek language has been always in such high repute, that there never have been wanting men of abilities, who have employed their time and study in illustrating it. This advantage it has above all others, that there is not one, which has been so variously and copiously handled, having had masters, who taught it regularly, and wrote grammars on it, a considerable time before the Hebrew, which is, notwithstanding, the most ancient of all languages, and from whence the Greek itself derives its origin. Suidas has transmitted to us a very honourable character of several of those authors, the greatest part of whose writings hath perished through the injuries of time. Among those that have come down to us, we may reckon particularly Apollonius of Alexandria, surnamed the Difficult, who flourished under Marcus Aurelius, about fifteen hundred years ago, and Herodian his son*, supposed to be the very same whose history is extant. these we may add Tryphon, who is thought to be the person that lived in the reign of Augustus; as also Theodosius, Dionysius, Cheroboscus, and some others.

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But notwithstanding that those authors are valuable for their erudition, and considered as streams that flow by so much the purer, as they were nearer to the fountain-head; having written at a time, when the language subsisted in its full vigour: still, we may venture to affirm, that they are defective in several points, with regard to order and method. There is a very

wide difference between the manner of handling a living, and that of teaching a dead language: and never are grammars less perfect, than when the language is most so; because, in this case, use supplies every deficiency of art.

Thus we see, that the Romans had no better method of perfecting themselves in this language, than that of sending their children to, study at Athens, in order to learn it there, in its full purity: a practice which still obtained long after the ruin of their republic. But no sooner was the imperial seat transferred to Constantinople, than the Greek tongue began considerably to decline from its purity, because of the mixture of Romars who flocked to that capital, and not only preserved all their own particular names of offices and dignities, but even introduced several other words. At length, when through the inundation of Barbarians, ignorance had spread itself over, all Europe, without sparing even Greece, which was always considered as the seat of learning; this language came to be so disfigured, as hardly to retain the least features, by which it could be known to foreigners, or even to the Greeks themselves, among whom, though it be not quite extinct, yet the ruins are very imperfect.

* Gesner in Bibl.

II. Restoration of the Greek tongue in Europe, and particularly in France and Italy.

The fatal destruction of the Eastern empire was attended with this advantage to us, that it forced the few men of letters in that celebrated monarchy, to fly for refuge into the West, where they contributed to the restoration of learning.

History remarks, among others, Emanuel Chrysoloras, who having been sent into Europe by John Palæologus, emperor of Constantinople, to implore the assistance of Christian princes, and having discharged his embassy with great fidelity and diligence, settled afterwards in Italy, and taught at Venice, Florence, Rome, and Pavia. He left behind him. several very eminent pupils, such as Philelphus, Gregory of Tifernum, Leonard of Arezzo, Poggius, and others: at length he went to Constance, and died there, at the time of holding the council, which ended in the year 1418.

Argyropylus of Constantinople held a professorship also at Florence, some time after Chrysoloras, and was preceptor to Peter of Medicis, and to his son Laurence. Chalcondylas succeeded him; but having been obliged to withdraw himself from the persecution of his enemy Politianus, he retired to Milan, whither he had been invited by Lewis Sforza, and was appointed public professor in that city.

Gaza of Thessalonica came into Italy, after his country had been wrested from the Venetians, which happened in the year 1444. He flourished at the same time with George of Trebisond, to whom Pope Eugene the Fourth committed. the direction of one of the colleges at Rome, and Gaza had a benefice in Calabria, where he resided the greatest part of his time.

France, ever productive of men of genius, had, much about this time, the pleasure of seeing this language revived, after having lost all knowledge of it such a vast number of years; and for this she was indebted to several great men, who resorted thither to shew their literature. Gregory, native of Tifernum in Italy, one of the disciples of Chrysoloras, was the first who paved the way. He repaired to Paris so early as the commencement of the reign of Lewis XI. There be met with a favourable reception from the rector and the uni versity, and was admitted a public professor. This kind treatment was the means of drawing thither, a short time after, Jerom of Sparta, who succeeded him, and had Reuchlinus or Capnion, and Budæus for his auditors: Tranquillus of Andronica came afterwards, and was the last of those who visited France in that king's reign.

John Lascaris, possessed of all the qualities of a man illustrious for birth and abilities, lett Italy likewise to reside in

ths kingdom. But this did not happen till after the death of Laurence of Medicis, who had entertained him very honourably, and employed him in collecting the famous library of Florence: for which purpose he made a voyage to Africa and to the Levant, and enriched it with the scarcest manuscripts he could find. He was beloved by two of our kings, Charles VIII. and Lewis XII: the latter employed him as agent, to treat with the Venetians.

Under him, Budæus perfected himself in this language, to such a degree, as to be looked upon as the wonder of the age he lived in; having cleared up the obscurest passages of all Greek antiquity. He was in very great favour with Francis I. who honoured him with the office of Master of Requests, at a time when there were only four: at his desire the same prince collected the royal library, which has been always considered as one of the first in Europe; and he also founded the professorships for languages and the mathematics, so early as the year 1530, to which the rest have been added since.

Then it was that the Greek tongue began to be esteemed and cultivated all over Europe. The university of Paris, ever fertile of great men, was one of those that contributed mostly to this progress of Greek literature. It is she that gave the first encouragement to Jerom Alexander. After he had taught the Greek language for some time in her schools, she judged him worthy of the direction of one of her colleges: this made him known to Leo X. by whom he was sent nuncio into Germany; afterwards he was made Bishop of Brindisi by Clement VII. and at length, Paul III. created him cardinal. It is she that trained up the Capnions, the Eurasmus's, the Gesners, who diffused the rays of learning through Germany and the Netherlands. It is she that formed Budæus and Henry Stephens, the Chief promoters of Greek literature; the first by his Commentaries, and the second by his Thesaurus: from whence all those, who afterwards handled the same subject, have borrowed the best part of their stock. It is she, in fine, that in guise of an universal nursery, produced in former times, and still continues to produce men not less valuable for the knowledge of this tongue, than for their skill in all other arts and sciences.

III. Of those who have written on the Greek grammar in these latter ages, whether in Greek or Latin.

BUT to trace things a little higher, and to return to the natives of Greece, whom I had quitted.

Chrysoloras was the first, that attempted to publish any abridgment of the Greek grammar in Italy, from whence this language had been exiled upwards of seven hundred years, as is attested by Leonardus Aretinus, his disciple, one of the

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After him, Gaza obtained the applause of all the learned, by his grammar; which he divided into four books. But Chalchondylas finding him obscure and difficult, endeavoured to lay down easier rules for beginners.

And, finally, Constantine Lascaris having had the advantage of coming after them, strove to render himself more copious and intelligible in several things, restoring part of the ancient glory of Athens at Messina, where he was professor in the year 1470.

Since that time, Europe has never been without writers on this subject. Several, in imitation of the native Greeks, who have left us precepts on their own language, began to publish instructions also in Latin; among whom, the most esteemed, are Urbanus, preceptor of Leo. X. and Caninius, professor in the university of Paris.

Clenardus likewise acquired great reputation, by his small abridgment of grammar, which he published in Flanders, in the year 1536: but he had not time to revise it; for very soon after he went to Spain where he was preceptor to the king of Portugal's brother. From thence he crossed over into Barbary, to learn Arabic, into which tongue he was desirous of translating the Scripture, with a real Christian view of promoting the conversion of the Mahometans: at length he resurned to Spain, where he died, towards the year 1542.

But soon after him succeeded Ramus, a man in whom the university of Paris may really glory; since he is considered. in great measure as the restorer of all human science. He endeavoured, therefore, to illustrate this, as he had done all other arts; and pursuant to this design, he wrote his grammar, which was published at Paris in the year 1557, and afterwards in Germany, where it was immediately embraced by almost every school; whilst his enemies endeavoured to decry him at Paris, and at last murdered him in the year 1572. We find that several learned men have pursued his method since, as, among others, Henry Cranzius and Sylburgius; to whom we may join Alstedius and Sanctius, though they have turned a little out of the path that had been beaten by their predeces

sors.

Justly may we therefore say, that if Ramus did not make a full discovery of the right method of teaching this and other arts; he was, at least, one of the first that began the inquiry, and that excited others, by his example: insomuch, that the glory is intirely due to the university of Paris, the parent of so celebrated a genius.

It is to Her I consecrate these poor endeavours, from whence if any utility may chance to arise, it will be all b

owing to Alma mater. For having made a declaration of advancing nothing of my own head, but only of collecting such observations, whether ancient or modern, as I thought most curious, I may acknowledge myself chiefly indebted to Caninius, who was bred at this university, and to Sylbargius and Sanctius, whom we must consider as the disciples of Ramus.

Not but that I have also made a proper use of others, andparticularly of Vossius. But as the greatest part of what he has added to Clenardus, in order to form the grammar which goes by his name, is almost intirely borrowed from Sylburgius and Caninius; I should rob those two learned men of their due praise, did I not bear witness to their ability, and acknowledge the assistance they have afforded me. Some help I have likewise received from Crusius, Tschonder, Gualtper, Surcin, Enoc, Gretser, Golius, Huldric, Alstedius, and several others: not to mention the great etymologist Eustathius, Hesychius, Phavorinus, Budæus, H. Stephen, Gesner, Constantine, Scapula, and other old or new dictionaries, scholiasts, commentators, and authors, whom I have either carefully perused, or occasionally consulted.

IV. The motive of undertaking this new grammar, and drawing it up in French.

Now if any body should be surprized at seeing me propose a new method of learning the Greek tongue, after I had acknowledged that so many grammarians have already treated of this subject; it is easy to answer, that, although the language continues always the same, yet the art of teaching it may be new. Deriving the same materials from the same source, we may infinitely diversify the manner of handling them, wherein we give a further opportunity to admire the beauty of this language, and the fertility of this art, the key and entrance to all others. But I shall likewise add, that Clenardus, who has hitherto obtained pretty much in the schools, has never been judged sufficient. The Greek language, as Constantine Lascaris very justly remarks, is like unto a wide ocean; and in vain would you pretend to circumscribe the knowledge of it within the limits of a simple abridgment. I am not ignorant that several have attempted to illustrate or enlarge the above author. But my endeavours towards facilitating a thorough acquirement of this language; ought to be so much the more acceptable, as it seemeth proper, after so many books upon this subject, written in Greek and Latin, that there should be one also in our native idiom, for the honour of this great kingdom. No body, as I know of, has yet undertaken it, so as to include all the rules necessary for the knowledge of this tongue; though it is unquestionable, that this is the best