r 28r ) 
fome ufe, even to thofe that are Matters of the Latin Tongue j and 
that many, that might be able to underftand all that is here ex- 
p'ain'd if they applyed their minds toitashe, (the Interpreter)* 
hath done, will be very glad not to be obliged to give themfelves 
that trouble. As for thofe, that are not skilled in Latin nor Greek, 
(who are thofe for whom chiefly thisVerfion is made,)thelnterpre- 
ter.is of opinion, that they will find in it a facility not to be mec 
with in the former Verfions, in which moft of theTranflators have 
not taken the pains of explaining the phrafes nor the difficult 
words, but only turn*d them into the terminations of their lan^ 
guage ; others have put into the very Text the explication of the 
words, which makes it doubtful, whether thefe interpretations 
belong to the Text, or whether the Tranflatour have added them^ 
But thisinterpreter hath put this kind of explications in the Mar- 
gin, where are alfo found the Greek and Latin words, that could 
be rendred by French words in the Text. Mean while, he hath 
been conftrain'd fometimes to retain the Latin and Greek words 
in the Text, When they could not be made French but by long cir- 
cumlocutions; which yer are explained in the Margin periphra^ 
ftically. But the main thing obferv*d in this Tranflation , are 
the Notes, giving the explication judged neceffary for underftand- 
ing the Text, vvhich the bare and literal fignification of the words 
thatare in the niargent would not fufficiently make out. Great 
care feems to have been ufed to change nothing in the Text , nor 
even in thofe things that make the reading of it not fo pleafing , 
and that are not of any ufe for underftandmg the matter treated 
of Mean time the Interpreter haih not fcrupled to exprefs the 
gemusoi the Latin Tongue in the true genm of the French, yec 
with a careful endeavour faithfully ro deliver the Author s fenfe 5 
though not alwayes word for word ; which latter yet he is follici- 
tous to do , when the obfcurity of the matter obliges him Co ir, 
leaving it to the fagacious Reader to difcover the fenfe , or to fup- 
ply it by changing fomcwhat or other. Often he propofes his 
conjeflures upon fuch paffages that are manifeftJy corrupted ; 
which yet he doth fo, as he never puts into the Verfion the con^- 
flions, which his conjeflures caiifed him to make , without gi- 
ving advertifement thereof in his Notes, His Correftions are 
many, he not thinking that an injury to the good opinion men are 
to entertain of the ability of fo great a man as Vitrnvif^s^ fince, 
without 
