prov'd Claffics; and to read those Authors firft, which must often be read over. Befides that the beft Authors are eafieft to be understood, their noble Senfe, and animated Expreffion, will make strong Impreffions upon the young Scholar's Mind, and train him up to the early Love and Imitation of their Excellencies.

Plautus, Catullus, Terence, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Juvenal, Tibullus, Propertius, cannot be ftudy'd too much, or gone over too often. One Reading may fuffice for Lucan, Statius, Valerius Flaccus, Silius Italicus, Claudian; tho' there will be frequent Occafions to confult fome of their particular Paffages. The fame may be faid with refpe&t to the Greek Poets: Homer, Pindar, Anacreon, Ariftophanes, Euripides, Sophocles, Theocritus, Callimachus, muft never be intirely laid afide; and will recompenfe as many Repetitions as a Man's Time and Affairs will allow. Hefiod, Orpheus, Theognis, fchylus, Lycophron,

phron, Apollonius Rhodius, Nicander, Aratus, Oppian, Quintus Calaber, Dionyfius Periegetes, and Nonnus, will amply reward the Labour of one careful Perufal. Salluft, Livy, Cicero, Cafar, and Tacitus, deferve to be read feveral times; and read them as oft as you please, they will always afford fresh Pleafure and Improvement. I cannot but place the two Plinies after these illuftrious Writers; who flourish'd indeed, when the Roman Language was a little upon the Declenfion; but by the Vigour of a great Genius, and wondrous Industry, rais'd themselves in a great measure above the Discouragements and Dif advantages of the Age they liv'd in. In Quality and Learning, in Experience of the World, and Employments of Importance in the Government, they were equal to the greatest of the Latin Writers; tho' excell'd by fome of them in Language.

The elder Pliny's Natural Hiftory is a Work learned and copious, that F 4

enter

entertains you with all the Variety of Nature itself, and is one of the greateft Monuments of universal Knowledge, and unweary'd Application, now extant in the World. His Geography, and Defcription of Herbs, Trees, and Animals, are of great Ufe to the understanding of all the Authors of Rome and Greece.

Pliny the younger is one of the fineft Wits that Italy has produc'd; he is correct and elegant, has a florid and gay Fancy, temper'd with Maturity and Soundnefs of Judgment. Every thing in him is exquifitely ftudy'd; and yet, in general speaking, every thing is natural and eafy. In his incomparable Oration in Honour of Trajan, he has frequent and furprifing Turns of true Wit, without playing and tinkling upon Sounds. He has exhausted the Subject of Panegyric, ufing every Topic and every Delicacy of Praife. Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato, Demofthenes, are of the fame Merit among the

Greeks:

Greeks: To which, I think, I may add Polybius, Lucian, and Plutarch. Polybius was nobly born, a Man of deep Thought, and perfect Mafter of his Subject: He difcovers all the Myfteries of Policy, and prefents to your View the inmoft Springs of those Actions which he describes: His Remarks and Maxims have been regarded. by the greateft Men both in Civil and Military Affairs as Oracles of Prudence: Scipio was his Friend and Admirer; Cicero, Strabo, and Plutarch, have honour'd him with high Commendations; Conftantine the Great was his diligent Reader, and Brutus abridg'd him for his own conftant Ufe. Lucian is an univerfal Scholar, and a prodi gious Wit: He is Attic and neat in his Style, clear in his Narration, and wonderfully facetious in his Repartees : He furnishes you with almoft all the Poetical Hiftory in fuch a diverting Manner, that you will not eafily for get it; and fupplies the moft dry and barren Wit with a rich Plenty of

Materials. Plutarch is an Author of deep Senfe, and vaft Learning; tho' he does not reach his illuftrious Predeceffors in the Graces of his Language: His Morals are found and noble, illuftrated with a perpetual Variety of beautiful Metaphors and Comparisons, and enforc'd with very remarkable Stories, and pertinent Examples: In his Lives there is a complete Account of all the Roman and Grecian Antiquities, of their Customs, and Affairs of Peace and War: Thofe Writings will furnish a capable and inquifitive Reader with a curious Variety of Characters, with a very valuable Store of wife Remarks, and found Politics. The Surface is a little rough, but under lie vaft Quantities of precious Ore.

Every Repetition of thefe Authors will bring the Reader fresh Profit and Satisfaction. The reft of the Claffics must by no means be neglected; but ought once to be carefully read over, and may ever after be occafionally confulted with much Advantage.

The