344 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



their empire, fhould be united by one c6rnm6n 

 language, they then obliged thofe they con- 

 quered to adopt their language. It is eaiy to 

 conceive what mull have been the original 

 language of a fet of freebooters, without man- 

 ners, and without arts or fc iences ; this jargon 

 mult, befide, have been necefiarily mixed with 

 the language of the Sa bines, from whom they 

 ftole their wives j and wkh thofe of feveral other 

 foreign nations whom, they bad conquered, or 

 who were incorporated with their republic. But 

 in proportion as the Romans became polifhed, 

 their language became refined. There are but 

 very few works of the firft age now remaining, 

 a-nong which are reckoned thofe of Ennius, 

 &c. 



IX. The fecond age of the Latin language 

 began about the time of Csefar, and ended with 

 Tiberius. This is what is called the Angultan 

 age, which was perhaps of all others the mod 

 brilliant. A period at which it mould feem as 

 if the greateft men, and the immortal authors, 

 had met together upon the earth, in order to 

 write the Latin language in its utmoft purity 

 and perfection. This age, and the language 

 of this age, are fo well known, and we have ?6 

 great a number of works produced at this pe- 

 riod, as makes it unneceflary for us to fay any 

 thing further of if, here. 



X. The 



