i68 Of the Advancement of Learning, L i b. VI. 



ptionofthis. And firft we do not allow that curious enquiry which 



inCratyl. r/j/,? an excellent man purfued, touching the 7W/y///^« and original E- 

 tymology of names, conceiving it, ds if words had not ken itnpofed at 

 fi'rji, ad rhciiiim--^ hut Tvere figmficantly derived and deduced from a cer- 

 tain reafon and intifidment. Certainly an elegant and pliant fpecula- 

 lion, which might be aptly fain'd and made fquare to the purpofe : and 

 by reafon it feemeth to fearch the fecrets of Antiquity, in feme kind re- 

 verend. But yet fparingly n^ixt with truth, and without fruit. But 

 irz/y^iPM^ queftion that would be a moft excellent kind oi Grammar (zs 

 we fuppofe if fome man throughly inftrufted in many Languages^ as well 

 Learned^ z^ Mother-tongues., fliould write a Treatile of the divers Pro- 

 prieties o^ Languages'^ (hewing in what points every particular Lan- 

 guage did excel ^ and in what points it was Deficient. For (b 

 Tongues mi^t be enricht and perfefted by mutual inrcrtraffick one wkh 

 another •-, and a moft fair Image of fpeech (like the J'enuf of Apelles) j 

 and a goodly pattern for the true exprcffion of the inward fence of the 

 mind, might be drawn from every part which is excellent in every 

 Language, y^nd withal no flight Conjedures, but fuch as were weH 

 worth the obfervation, might be taken (which a man perchance would 

 little think) touching the natural difpofitions and cuftoras of PeoplCjand 

 Nations, even from their Languages. For I rcillingly give ear to Cice- 

 ne Orat. ro noting that the Grecians have not a word which may expreft this La[- 

 Hb.i. tine word, Incptum'-, hecaufe (^Ca.'nhbe') this vice was fo familiar to the 

 Grecians y t halt hey did notfo /niich as acknovcledge thcmjelves guilty there* 

 of. Certainly a Cenfure worthy a B-oman gravity. And what may 

 that infer, that the Grecians ufed fuch a Liberty in compofition of 

 words; contrarywife the Romans were in this point fevere? Surelya 

 man may plainly colleft that the Grecians were more fit toftudy Arts j 

 the. Romans to manage affairs of ftate. Fordiftinftions of Arts, fot 

 moft part, require compofition of words ; but matters and bufinefs, 

 fimple words. Bui the Hebrews fofl.)un Compofition.that they mal{e choice 

 rather to jirain a Metaphor too far^ than to bring in a Compofition. Nay 

 they ufe fofew words, and fo unmingled, that a man may plainly per- 

 ceive by their Tongue, that they wer*^ a Nazarite People, and feparate 

 from other Nations. And is noFthat worthy obiervation ?(though it may 

 (erve to abate our high conceit of our own t\vnts)ihat ancient Languages 

 roere more full of Declenfions •-, Cafes:, Conjugations •-, Tenfes^ andthe lt\e^ 

 the modern commonly dcjiitute ofthefe, do loojely deliver themfelves in 

 mttny exprejjiflns by Prcpofltions^ and auxiliary verbs. Certainly a man 

 may eafily conjefture (however we may pleafe our (elves) that the wits~ 

 of former times were far more acute and fubtil than ours are. There 

 are an infinite number of obfervations ofihis kind which might make up 

 a juft Volume. Wherefore it will not be amifs to diftinguifh Gram* 

 mar Phrlofophica!^ from mere and literary Grammar., and to fct it down 

 as Deficient., Unto Grammar al(b belongs the confideration of all Acci- 

 dents of words:, fuch as are Meafure'-, Sound j Accent^ biit thofe firft 

 infancies offimple Letters (as, with what PercufTion of the Tongue,with 

 what opening of the mouth i with what drawing of the lips, with what 

 ftrair»ingof the throat ; the found of every Particular Letter isio be 

 made) belongs not unto Grammar 5 but is a Portion of the knowledge of 

 founds^ to be handled under fcnfe and fenfibil/tj. Grammatical found, 



• whereof 



