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Mr. Triplet's Opinion touching those Translations.
SIR,
'TIs true, that Translations of School Authors are excepted against by many persons of Learning and Judgment, as conducing to promote Truantry in Children, who are for∣ward enough to learn with as much ease as they can, and de∣light not in any thing that exacts any pains at their hands. But as some would not swim at all, if they were not first entred with bladders; so many would not so much as think of wading in the Latin Tongue, if they were not brought on with such facile Manuductions as these.
Since I have rolled this stone, I can upon good experience say, that I have good cause to thank you for your pains in this kind: For what between dulness on the one side, and laziness on the other, I should not have made so great a progress in many under my charge, had not your smoothing the way, thus invited us to pass on.
And if the Master please, these Translations may prove meer Helps and no truantly refuges: When he doth not content him∣self with the Childs answer, simply as it lies in the Book, but by varying Genders, Numbers, Voices, Persons, Moods, Ten∣ses, &c. doth so Grammatically Catechize and instruct his Scholar, that by every Sentence which you have translated, he is able to make such another; and perhaps the Child that is thus taught, may sooner learn to go a high lone, than he that is taught, to go without a standing-stool.
This is my Opinion, I will not call it Judgment, for fear of offending them that judge against it. The truth thereof I submit to the wise. This truth I am pretty sure of, that I am,
Hayes, June 25.—53.
Sir,
Your affectionate Friend and Lover, THO. TRIPLET.