res de la Langue Latine,) was published many years ago, and in imitation of it, or rather compiled from it, appeared one or two in this country by De Burcy and others. But beside their incorrectness, and too great conciseness, their inutility will immediately appear, when it is considered that the Examples, being all in Latin, and that not of the purest, can neither exercise the labour nor excite the industry of the scholar.. This observation may be applied, with equal propriety, to Walker's Phrases, and especially to Willymott's Particles, which, though very useful and valuable, give the Latin of the English idiom, and thus preclude the necessity of research; and as they give no general rules for the use or the application of them, the advantage which the Scholar is to derive from them, must rest wholly upon his memory and mechanical retention. The perusal of Scheller's valuable work upon the elegance of Latin style, first suggested the idea that something might be attempted, which, with care and attention, might be adapted to the use of our Classical Schools. Heineccius, though so severely lashed by his countryman, contains much sterling sense, and was also instrumental both in the determination and the execution of this work. With what degree of accuracy and judgment it has been performed, it now rests with the public to determine. If I have been mistaken in some points, I shall hope to have the error candidly pointed out: "Nihil “enim mihi suavius est, quàm corrigi; omnis enim correctio, "à magnis viris profecta, est via ad discendum ; nec is ego "profectò sum qui vituperari nolim, modò vituperatio sit "justa." Perhaps some of the practical observations, those that relate to the structure of the Period, for instance, may at first appear intricate, and not so necessary as others. To a young beginner, they might perhaps appear so. It would be as difficult a task, and might retard him as much in his acquisition. PREFACE: of a pure Latin style, if he bestowed too minute a labour upon them; as if he attempted to collect the scattered limbs of the dissected Absyrtus. But as it is presumed the Scholar has already made some progress in Latin, before he is introduced to these Exercises, the study of those rules, as the knowledge of anatomy to a proficient in surgery, which makes him admire the more the wonderful structure of the body, will make the proficient Scholar see and taste the beauty and order of the style the more, from the dissection of the several parts. Some rules, especially those that relate to the use of qui, quæ, quod, may carry the appearance of repetition ; but as they come in illustration of different heads, they only tend to show in how extensive and various a manner the same may be used. It may likewise be observed, that the particular method which the rule points out, is not always more elegant than another; but it is often merely to show the variation and the manner in which one phrase or expression may be changed into another. EDWARD VALPY. 1** Advertisement TO THE THIRD EDITION. IT has been my principal care to simplify, or wholly to remove from this edition, those difficult passages, which, notwithstanding the general approbation with which this work has been received, must be acknowledged to have existed in the former editions. When therefore the Scholar is first introduced into this book of exercises, he should be allowed to omit the sentences, which are marked with an asterisk, and confine himself to the easier examples. The second time he travels over the same field, he will be equal to the more difficult passages, to which the asterisk is prefixed, and to the whole range of Latin composition. When a.boy has gone through these exercises a second time, he may be safely presumed to have made no small proficiency. in writing Latin.. I have witnessed the most pleasing proofs of this assertion. It is presumed that this edition embraces every thing within the scope of research, which was likely to contribute to the elegant formation of style, every thing by which a sentence spargatur, irrigetur, perfundatar. As the rules for the structure of a regular Period, which is so essential to good Latinity, could not be so easily reduced to practical illustration, an acquaintance with them will chiefly rest upon the scholar's own study. and observation, aided by the master's direction and superintendance; but a close examination of the rules and the few examples which accompany them, will be sufficient to imprint them on his mind.. E. V. |