asirt “History of Literature, from the earliest Periods. 
Eonsideration,” says sir William Jones, 
“ that the profession of literature, by far, 
the most laborious of any, leads to no 
real benefit or ttue glary whatsoever, 
etry, science, letters, when they are 
not made the sole business of life, may 
become its ornaments in prosperity, and 
i most pleasing consolation in a change 
f fottune’; but if aman addicts himself 
entirely to learning, and hopes by that 
Sithe: to raise a family, or to, acquire 
What so many wish for and so, few ever, 
-obtajn—an_ honourable retirement in his 
féclining age, he will find, when it is too 
Tate, that he has mistaken his path; that 
other labours, other studies, are necese, 
sary; and tliat unless he can assert his 
Own independence in aciive Jife, it wall 
avail him little to be favoured by. the 
learned, esteemed by the eminent, .or, 
recommended even- by kings.” _A dis- 
quisition of this. kind resembles aiexten- 
sive.tefritory, in which are scattered.in 
profusion all the beauties of , nature, 
whose extent deters the dulland, indo- 
ent from entering it; whue the pleasant 
objects ‘which jt presents to view, , fully 
repay the active and persevering for theig 
urs 
Ma So) ty, goal aio gd-iiw di dalits dou 
The delights and advantages resulting 
from literary acquisitions are universally 
acknowledged. There are few su igno- 
ant as ta heunable to extol them, and 
ew so uncultivated as not.to wish for 
their enjoyment, They are the, general 
topics.of discourse, the general subjects 
of declamation,, ‘This general confession 
of the utifity “of literature, renders edu- 
cation more general ; education promotes 
the diffusion of knowledge and learning; 
which contributes to general happiness, 
by efarding a source of useful occupation 
and rational entertainment... 
. Tris delightful to observe, in the,ocaan 
of time, some few who have been able to 
elevate themselves’ above the undistin- 
guished mass with which it is covered, 
without possessing. any previous advan- 
' tages superior to those of their feilow- 
combatants; and when they sank, have 
eft a mark which not evén succeeding 
stortns could eradicate. Those were the 
then who have soared above the common 
race of ‘mortals, and to whose elevation 
we look up with awe and admiration. 
. I shall now endeavour to give an acy 
count of the progress of literature from 
the earliest periods to the annihilation of 
the Roman empire, which, together with 
the destruction of the Alexandrian li- 
brary, occasioned the suspension of lis 
terature, arts, and sciences, 
_ The task which lt now undertake is of 
Moriary Mac, No. 210, 
187 
such a nature, as to require that I should 
expatiate a little on the, aistory of the 
periods which have been most celebrated 
for. producing examples of Jiterary emi- 
nence. -Indeed, without an acquaintance 
with the historical events of the age in 
which any great. writer flovrished, and 
without..a knowledge of what peculiar 
advantages he enjoyed, or of what pes 
culiar disadvantages, he laboured under, 
we are destimnte of a great additional 
source of. pleasure... For instanee, there 
are few so totally devoid. of taste, as. to 
be unable to_relish the great and natural 
beauties of Homer, althongh they be igs 
norant of his. life,,.and of, the circume 
stances of the times, in which he lived; 
But ,how greatly, must.'their surprise, 
pleasure, and adiniration, in¢rease, when 
they, ar&, informed, that the, author: of 
poems,, which, evince a most luxuriant 
unagination combined, with the greatest 
koowledge.of nature, and, most/extensive 
acgueintance, with the manners of man- 
kind, Jiyed at,a barbarous: peried,.when 
his native country, Greece, was tern by 
inter ial, commomongs.and that hewas a 
wanderer, and, blind,during a ‘great part 
Of lip bess hie ersdaid. To xuosciait 
_ This undertaking requires neither any 
peculiar, effusions of fancy, ner, any ree 
markable felicityof diction. . Lt-hawever 
requires a_eonsidgrable decree of. dili+ 
geuce, ia order ta.collect.sufficient, Jie 
terary facts, and, biographical anecdotes; 
some. judyment will also, be necessary 
to select and. aryangé the materials, whe 
obtained,.. If, therefore, my readers will 
allow me the credit of -possessing these 
two qualificatigns, I shall consider the 
time and trouble fully repaid, |... 4 « 
In the execution of this iplan, I shall 
probably, introduce. critiques op -the 
works of different authors, and compas 
isons of the respective merits of many, 
who have excelled in the, branches of 
literature which they made the subject 
of their contemplation, and who are sup- 
. posed to resemble one another. in many 
respects. Neither shall I confine my- 
self wholly to an: account of the: state 
of literature; but I shall take frequent 
Opportunities of mentioning the prevail+ 
ing habits,and customs, together with 
the progress of laws, arts, anil sciences, 
in the countries of which I may happen 
to treat, . particularly in Greece ang 
Rome,’ many of whose Jaws, &c. we 
have adopted. Ne" 
An account of the Greek and Roman 
writers) must necessarily engage the 
greatest. part of my. attention, since to 
themalone we are indebted for our 
7 Ss knowledge 
