: 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 false monies with which the world has been paid and cheated fo long; and (as I may fay) to fet 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 difcover 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 suppose 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 cha-. rity 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. PREF REFACE The fecond Olympic Ode of Pindar The firt Nemean Ode of Pindar The Praife of Pindar. In Imitation of Horace's fecond 49 51 54 DAVIDEIS, To the New Year Life The xxxivth Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah |