By Mr. ROLLIN, late Principal of the University of Paris, now Profeffor of Eloquence in the Royal College, and Member of the Royal Academy of Infcriptions and Belles Lettres. Tranflated from the FRENCH. LONDON: Printed for JAMES, JOHN and PAUL KNAPTON, at the Crown in Ludgate-Street. MDCC XXXIV. THE AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. I HAVE been fomewhat puzzled in this volume, on account of fome hiftorical pieces, published by me in another work, * which come in very well here, as in their proper and natural place. The best way perhaps would have been, to new-model them, and put them in a different form; but I own I have neither fufficient copioufness of invention, nor variety of ftyle for fuch a task; and, befides, it would have been needlefs. To refer, on the other hand, the reader to the forementioned book, would have been to curtail this work, and give an imperfect history. I have therefore chofen, but not without confulting proper judges, to borrow from * In the third volume of the manner of ftudying, under the article Hiftory, A 3 the the forefaid work, fuch passages as were necessary for the connexion of this hiftory; and I defign to follow the fame method in the fequel. The whole is but about the third part of a volume, which will be difperfed in five or fix. I imagine the publick will give me leave to copy my felf; and the rather, as they do not feem to condemn the liberty I have taken, of making use of other people's labours, and of adopting whatever fuits my purpose. This liberty which I have taken, as difhonourable as it is to felf-love, and favourable to laziness, greatly contributes to forward and adorn this prefent work, which is upon that account filled with borrowed riches and beauties. But I may fay, that the whole work is of that kind; for all my business confifts in extracting whatever is most remarkable and beautiful in ancient authors, either with regard to facts or reflexions, without adding hardly any thing of my own. I have been found fault with, in the Paris Journal of Literature, *for one thing, which does me too much honour not to take notice of it: and that is, my feeming to exclude, in my plan, the Roman history, which the authors of the Journal wish I had taken in. I must own, I have had no thought of undertaking it. It is * Journal of March 1730. not not for want of taste, or of esteem for that part of ancient hiftory, which of all others is the most fruitful in great events, the fullest of variety, and the most interesting. The numerous and infinitely valuable helps the ancient writers afford for this hiftory, would be alone capable of inducing an author to undertake that task, how laborious foever it be. But that would take up feveral years; and I do not know, whether it was altogether prudent in me to undertake, at my age, fo long a work as the Grecian bi Story, without any other previous preparation than a general study of the ancient authors, as is usual in persons of my profession, and without having a particular defign in view. I am fenfible, that to render this work throughly compleat, I fhould have spent three or four years in carefully reading over again all the ancient claffical authors, and in making remarks fuitable to my defign. For a reader fometimes meets, in obfcure places that have no manner of relation to the matter in hand, with very curious facts and important reflections. Thefe advantages I am deftitute of; and yet I have not thought proper to put off my undertaking, till I was furnifhed with them. All I can fay is, that out of respect and gratitude for the publick, who seems not to dislike this present work, I make as much hafte as I can to forward it, beftowing upA 4 оп |