not understand the military Affairs of his Age fo well as POLYBIUS. SALLUST wrote with a peculiar Beauty and Nobleness: but he inlarges too much in defcribing the Manners and Characters of Perfons in two very short Hiftorys. TACITUS fhews abundance of Skill, and a thorow Knowledge of the most corrupted Hearts. But he too much affects a myfterious Concifenefs. He's too full of poetical Turns in his Defcriptions. He's too penetrating he is too refin'd in his Conjectures. He afcribes that to the fubtleft Policy, which really arose from Miftake, Caprice, or unaccountable Humour. The greateft Events often flow from the meaneft Caufes. It was Weaknefs, Cuftom, falfe Shame, Difgust, or the Advice of a Freed-Man, that determin'd an Affair; whilft TACITUS endeavour'd to find out the most refin'd Policy in the Emperor's Councils. Moft People are moderate and fuperficial in the purfuit of Evil, as well as of Good. Tiberius, one of the vileft Men that ever liv'd, was more influenc'd by his Fears, than by any fettled Scheme of acting. 44 We read D'AVILA with Pleasure; but he fpeaks as if he had been admitted into the moft fecret Councils. One Man cou'd never have been entrusted by all the the contending Partys. Befides every Perfon muft have fome Secret that he wou'd not communicate to the Hiftorian. One can know but a Part of the Truth: And he who pretends to inform me of what I fee he cou'd not know, inclines me to fufpect even those Facts he might know. Such a Criticifin upon antient and modern Hiftorians, wou'd be very useful, and very agreeable; without offending any living Author. S. IX. AGAINST what I have propos'd, it will probably be objected that the ACADEMY will never adopt these several Treatifes as its own; without first examining them. Now 'tis not likely that an Author who has bestow'd the utmost Pains on a Work, will fubmit it intirely to the Correction of a numerous Affembly; in which the Opinions of the feveral Members will perhaps be very different. Therefore 'tis not to be fuppos'd that the Academy will adopt Luch a Work. My Answer is fhort. I fuppofe that the Academy will not adopt it; but only employ particular Perfons in fuch an Undertaking. Each of thefe might confult the Academy at their Affemblys. For example, the Author of a Rhetorick might propofe to them his Doubts concerning cerning Eloquence. The Members will give him their Thoughts on this Subject: And their Opinions may happen to be divided. But the Author might make what Use of them he fhou'd judge proper, without conftraining himfelf. The Difputes that thou'd arife in these Affemblys upon fuch Queftions might be recorded in a fort of Journal, that the Secretary fhou'd compofe without Par tiality. This Journal wou'd contain fhort Differtations that might help to improve Criticifm, and a good Tafte. Such Employment wou'd oblige the Gentlemen of the Academy to attend its Affemblys punctually. The Reputation and Advan tage of it wou'd fpread over all Europe. J. X. 'Tis true the Academy wou'd frequently happen to be divided upon thefe Questions. The Efteem that fome have for the Antients; and others, for the Moderns, might hinder them froi agreeing in their Judgments. But I apprehend no ill Effects from a Contest fo calm, fo polite, and fo moderate as that wou'd prove. For in this Cafe, Everyone might freely follow his own Taffe, and his own Notions. Such an Emulation might improve Learning. May I prefume here to offer my Thoughts on the Subject? I. I 1. I begin with wifhing that the Moderns might furpafs the Antients. I wou'd rejoyce to fee in our Age, and our Nation, more vehement Orators than DEMOSTHENES, and fublimer Poets than HOMER. The World, inftead of lofing, wou'd certainly gain much by it. The Antients wou'd not be lefs valuable than they have always been; and the Moderns wou'd add a new Ornament to human Nature. TheAntients muft ftill retain the Glory of having begun, and fhewn the way to others; and of furnishing them with the Means to excel themselves. 2. It wou'd be very foolish to judge of any Work by its Date. &, nifi qua terris femota, fuifque HoR. Ep. Temporibus defuncta videt, faftidit, & odit, Si, quia Græcorum funt antiquiffima quæque L. II. Ep. 7. Scire velim chartis pretium quotus arroget annus.. 35. Si Veteres ita miratur, laudatque Poetas, Quod legeret, tereretque viritim publicus ufus ? If *.64-- Carm. Od. xxv. *.7. *.17-- Ibid. Od. xxx. 1.1. .14-- Liv. III. Od. xj. 141. If VIRGIL had not dar'd to tread in HOMER'S Steps; if HORACE had not hop'd to come near PINDAR; what excellent Works inuft we have loft? HOMER and PINDAR themfelves did not attain to this high Perfection at one Step. No doubt they had the Advantage of other Poets who had finooth'd the Way for them; and whom they excell❜d at length. Why may not our modern Poets have the fame Hope? How much Glory did HORACE promise himself? Dicam infigne recens, adhuc Nil parvum, aut humili modo, Exegi monumentum ære perennius. Non omnis moriar; multaque pars mei fume Superbiam Quafitam meritis, & mihi Delphica Lauro cinge volens, Melpomene, comam. Why may we not likewife allow MALHERBE to fay Apollon à portes ouvertes 3. I own the Emulation of the Mo derns wou'd be dangerous if it made them despise |