The Works of the English Poets: With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical

fcattered pieces, Virgil's Georgics, Grotius, Nemesianus, Manilius: And, because the truth is, we want good poets (I mean we have but few), who have purpofely treated of folid and learned, that is, natural matters (the most part indulging to the weakness of the world, and feeding it either with the follies of love, or with the fables of gods and heroes), we conceive that one book ought to be compiled of all the scattered little parcels among the ancient poets that might serve for the advancement of natural fcience, and which would make no small or unuseful or unpleasant volume. To this we would have added the morals and rhetorics of Cicero, and the institutions of Quinctilian; and for the comedians, from whom almost all that necessary part of common discourse, and all the most intimate proprieties of the language, are drawn, we conceive, the boys may be made mafters of them, as a part of their recreation, and not of their task, if once a month, or at least once in two, they act one of Terence's Comedies, and afterwards (the most advanced) fome of Plautus's; and this is for many reafons one of the best exercifes they can be enjoined, and most innocent plea" fures they can be allowed. As for the Greek authors, they may ftudy Nicander, Oppianus (whom Scaliger does not doubt to prefer above Homer himself, and place next to his adored Virgil), Ariftotle's hiftory of animals, and other parts, Theophrastus and Diofcorides of plants, and a collection made out of feveral both, poets and other Grecian writers. For the morals and rhetoric, Ariftotle may fuffice, or Hermogenes and Longinus be added for the latter. With the hiftory VOL. II.

Dd.

ani.

animals they should be fhewed anatomy as a divertife. ment, and made to know the figures and natures of thofe creatures which are not common among us, difabufing them at the same time of those errors which are univerfally admitted concerning many. The fame method fhould be used to make them acquainted with all plants; and to this must be added a little of the an cient and modern geography, the understanding of the globes, and the principles of geometry and aftronomy. They should likewise use to declaim in Latin and English, as the Romans did in Greek and Latin; and in all this travail be rather led on by familiarity, encouFagement, and emulation, than driven by severity, punishment, and terror. Upon feftivals and play-times, they should exercise themselves in the fields, by riding, leaping, fencing, mustering, and training, after the manner of foldiers, &c. And, to prevent all dangers and all diforder, there should always be two of the scholars with them, to be as witneffes and directors of their actions; in foul weather, it would not be amifs for them to learn to dance, that is, to learn just so much (for all beyond is fuperfluous, if not worse) as may give them a graceful comportment of their bodies.

Upon Sundays, and all days of devotion, they are to be a part of the chaplain's province.

That, for all these ends, the college fo order it, as that there may be some convenient and pleasant houses thereabouts, kept by religious, difcreet, and careful perfons, for the lodging and boarding of young fcholars; that they have a constant eye over them, to fee that they be bred up there piously, cleanly, and plenti

fully,

fully, according to the proportion of the parents' expences.

And that the college, when it fhall please God, either by their own industry and fuccefs, or by the benevolence of patrons, to enrich them fo far, as that it may come to their turn and duty to be charitable to others, fhall, at their own charges, erect and maintain fome houfe or houses for the entertainment of fuch poor men's fons, whofe good natural parts may promise either use or ornament to the commonwealth, during the time of their abode at school; and fhall take care that it shall be done with the fame conveniences as are enjoyed even by rich men's children (though they maintain the fewer for that cause), there being nothing of eminent and illuftrious to be expected from a low, fordid, and hospital-like education.

CONCLUSION.

IF I be not much abused by a natural fondnefs to my own conceptions (that cogy of the Greeks, which no other language has a proper word for), there was never any project thought upon, which deferves to meet with fo few adverfaries as this; for who can without impupudent folly oppose the establishment of twenty wellfelected perfons in fuch a condition of life, that their whole bufinefs and fole profeffion may be to ftudy the improvement and advantage of all other profeffions, from that of the higheft general even to the lowest artifan who fhall be obliged to employ their whole time, wit, learning, and industry, to these four, the moft useful that can be imagined, and to no other ends; D & 2

first, to weigh, examine, and prove, all things of nature delivered to us by former ages; to detect, explode, and ftrike a cenfure through, all falfe monies with which the world has been paid and cheated fo long; and (as I may fay) to set the mark of the college upon all true coins, that they may pass hereafter without any farther trial: fecondly, to recover the loft inventions, and, as it were, drowned lands of the ancients: thirdly, 'to improve all arts which we now have and laftly, to discover others which we yet have not: and who shall, befides all this (as a benefit by the bye), give the best education in the world (purely gratis) to as many men's children as fhall think fit to make use of the obligation? Neither does it at all check or interfere with any parties in a state or religion; but is indifferently to be embraced by all differences in opinion, and can hardly be conceived capable (as many good inftitutions have done) even of degeneration into any thing harmful. So that, all things confidered, I will fuppofe this propofition fhall encounter with no enemies: the only question is, whether it will find friends enough to carry it on from difcourfe and defign to reality and effect; the neceffary expences of the beginning (for it will maintain itself well enough afterwards) being fo great (though I have fet them as low as is poffible, in order to fo vaft a work), that it may seem hopeless to raise fuch a fum out of thofe few dead relics of human charity and public generofity which are yet remaining in the world.

CON

CONTENTS

O F

THE SECOND

VOLUM E.

PINDARIC ODES, WRITTEN IN IMITATION
OF THE STILE AND MANNER OF THE
ODES OF PINDAR.

PREFACE

The fecond Olympic Ode of Pindar

The first Nemean Ode of Pindar