Vlll 



PREFACE. 



* t^\ abilities, I have fought the afliftance of learning t»* ^^^ o^ 

 the fame learning to which Cicero applied, I mean the Greek 

 learning. Now, the Greek learning is not to be underftood 

 without the Greek language ; and 1 Ihould deceive my reader, 

 if I did not let him know, that, without at lead a competent know- 

 ledge of that language, he can never underftand the Greek philofo- 

 phy. This, I know, will be a very difagreeable truth to the gene- 

 rality of my readers, who may think that, by the fupcriority of their 

 genius, jomed with the ftudy of French, Englifh, or, perhaps, La- 

 tin books, they may become philofophers ; but, as I do not write to 

 flatter vanity and indolence, I muft be forgiven to tell them, that, if 

 they are neither Greek fcholars, nor will take the trouble of beco- 

 ming fuch, they ought to give over thoughts of philofophy. If they 

 are curious about the hiftory of nature, the modern difcoveries will 

 furnifh them a great deal of that kind, more than was known to the 

 antients ; and they may be very good geometers, aftronomers, and 

 learned in mechanics, without knowing a word of either Greek or 

 Latin : But, in philofophy, I have never known any man fucceed 

 izvho was not a fcholar. 



I hope, therefore, that this work will have the effed of ma- 

 king thole, who take the trouble to read it, and who are not 

 Greek fcholars, defire, at leaft, to be fuch; and will perfuade 

 thofe who have already learned the language of the Greeks, to 

 apply it to the ftudy of their philofophy ; or, if it fhould have 

 neither of thefe cfFedts, it may, at leaft, ferve to diminifh vani- 

 ty, and to hinder men from thinking themfelves philofophers, be- 

 caufe they may happen to be learned in natural hiftory, experimental 

 men, mathematicians, or aftronomers. 



Upon 



* Pro Lucio Muraena, cap. 30. 



