The two first books of Philostratus, concerning the life of Apollonius Tyaneus written originally in Greek, and now published in English : together with philological notes upon each chapter / by Charles Blount, Gent.

Illustrations on Chap. 13.

[1] DIthyrambick (Greek) signifies any lofty high strain, in imitation of an ancient Hymn sung in honour of God Bacchus, which was so called.

[2] Hyperattick (Greek) is no more then an Eloquence exceeding that of Athens.

[3] Attick mediocrity; for that Athens was endued with the justest measure of Eloquence.

[4] Ironically; is when by that Rhetorical Figure called Irony, a man in a jesting way speaks quite contrary to what he thinks: Contra 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sentit solet Ironia jocare.

[5] To act the Peripatetick; is meant in this place, to study words more than matter: for we read, that after the death of Theophrastus, the School of the Peripateticks remitted much of their application to Natural Philosophy, for the study of Eloquence.

[6] As out of a Tripos; that is, he spoke like any Oracle: Tripus was sometimes cal∣led 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Callimachus hath it; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This Tripod belonging to the Delphick Oracle, is by some reported to have been a great Vessel fill'd with Powder, out of which the Spirit of Prophecy ascended: but most Authors say it was a three-legg'd Stool, whereon Pythia used to sit whilst she deliver'd her Oracles; also that that part of the Tripod whereon she sat, was called Holmon: for which reason Sophocles names Apollo, Enholmos; and Prophets, Enhol••••ides. Iamblichus (in his Myster. Aegypt.) writes, that the Sybil of Delph••s had two several ways of Divining: one, by a certain Spirit, or gentle Fire which ascended up under her Coats from a hollow Vault; the other was sitting upon a brazen Stool, which had three or four Legs on it; and in both these postures ••he deliver'd her Divinations with a Divine Spirit. Lactantius the Grammarian upon that Verse of Papinius, (Salve prisca sides Tripodum, primo Thebaid.) says, that a

Tripod is a kind of Laurel with three Roots, consecrated to Apollo by reason of its Divi∣ning power. Now Apollonius is here said to speak like an Oracle, in that he used short sentences and monosyllables in his discourse, which way hath ever been affected by Ora∣cles, as well as by Kings, Princes, and men of Authority, who would be thought to weigh every word they utter, and therefore not over-liberal of them. All Law-givers and other eminent men have ever had some particular affectation in expressing them∣selves; the ancient Hebrews were much given to circumlocution, when instead of say∣ing, He spake; they would in a most tedious manner cry, And he opened his mouth and said: for fear perhaps lest we should mistake him for a Ventriloquer, or one that spake not with his Mouth, but his Belly. Iulius Caesar Vaninus (whether his design was good or bad, I shall not determine, but Charity bids me think the best of all men) gives us many instances of our Saviour Christ's most wise and prudent converse, together with the many Divine Answers and Replys, that he made to those ensnaring Questions that were asked him; in all which he seem'd far to excell the wisdom of Apollonius, or any other Law-giver that ever lived upon the Earth. As for example:

Christ (saith he) being asked by the Iews, whether the Adulteress was to be stoned? denieth it not, be∣cause the Law hindred: nor affirmeth it, because in so doing he had given an example of a cruel mind, which might probably have seduced away many from his Law; there∣fore to prevent the ill consequence of either, he wisely answer'd, Let him of you that is without sin, cast the first stone at her: whereupon none durst to condemn the Adulte∣ress. Another time, the Scribes ask'd him, whether they were liable to pay Tribute to Caesar? He fear'd to deny it, lest he should render himself guilty of Treason; neither would he affirm it, because it overthrew the Law of Moses: therefore not to incurr the penalty either way, he asked them, Whose is this Image? to which they answer'd, Caesars; whereupon he concludes, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. Another time also, when the Pharisees demanded by what power he taught? he observ'd himself to be in a streight on either side; for if he had said, by Humane Authority, they had convinced him of falshood, he not ha∣ving been initiated in the Iewish Holy Orders: neither durst he openly affirm that Au∣thority was given him from God, for fear of the Iews; therefore he subtlely demand∣ing, with what power Iohn the Baptist did baptize, put the Pharisees in a like streight; for Reason of State forbad them to attribute the preaching of Iohn to God, because therein they had presently condemned themselves, who had opposed: nor durst they say the Baptism of Iohn was an Humane invention, for then they had brought the wrath of a credulous multitude upon themselves. These are some of the most wise Acts of Christ: But that which surpassed them all, was the Prophecy which he made concerning Antichrist, whereby the Eternity of the Christian Law was best provided for; and herein he excell'd the Ancient Law-givers: For they foretold, that the Messias ••••ould be a great man, adorn'd with all the endowments of Virtue, and most worthy of Reverence and Worship; whereby they gave occasion for many to feign themselves to be the Messias, that they might acquire those high praises which tickle the minds of all men: But Christ, ••••e wisest of Prophets, foretold that a new Law∣giver should come, an adversary to his Law, hate••••l to God, the Devils Agent, the Sink of all Vices, and desolation of the World; so that none will feign himself Anti∣christ, since he can gain from thence nothing but disgrace or infamy: and while Antichrist is absent, the Law of Christ must stand. Vanini Dialog. lib. 4. Dialog. 1. de Religione Ethnic.

[7] Brachmans and Hyrcanians, a Sect of Philosophers or Divines in India, who live only upon Herbs and Fruits. But of this Philostratus discourses more at large in his third Book.

[8] Susa, a famous City of Asia, and Metropolis of the Countrey Susiana, in the Per∣sian Empire. It is situated between the River E••l••ns and Selencia Westward; Persaepolis Eastward; and Ecbatan towards the South. This City was first built by Memnon, as saith Dionysius. Strabo writes, that when Cyrus and the Persians had subdued the Medes, they establish'd their Palace Royal at Susa, as well for its vicinity with their new acquests, as for the beauty and magnificence of the Place. It is at present under the Dominion of the Sophy of Persia, being now call'd Ch••s, and the Countrey round about it Chusistan,

or as Marcus Paulus the Venetian hath it, Curdistan: It hath been subject to the Kings of Persia ever since Apollonius's time. In all ancient Writers, Susa and Ecbatan are ever men∣tion'd together, for that the Persian Kings have ever resided at Susa all the Winters, and at Ecbatan all the Summers. So Xenoph. Cyrop. lib. 8. Strabo, lib. 15. Plutarch. de Exil. Athenae, lib. 12. Eustath. in Dionys. Aristid. in Orat. de Roma. This Place hath ever been famous for Archers,—Armantur Susa sagittis. Prop. lib. 2. as also for Magicians, since it appears both in Daniel, Herodotus, and Plutarch, that the most eminent in that Science, were ever to be found in this Court, both under Nebuchodonozor, Baltazar, Cambyses, Artaxerxes, and Alexander the Great; and that with them the Kings consult∣ed in all arduous Cases.

[9] Ninus, or Niniveh, and now call'd Mosul, was an ancient City built by Ninus, the Son of Nimrod, or Belus. Of this, see lib. 1. ch. 3.

[10] Io, the Daughter of Inachus, having little Horns ready to shoot out on both sides her forehead; Io, or Isis, a Goddess of the Aegyptians, was (as the Poets inform us) the Daughter of Inachus, also a professed Whore, and yet the Priest of Iuno. She per∣swaded Iupiter to yield to her Lust; but Iuno's jealousie pursuing after her Husband found them together, Iupiter in the form of a Cloud, and Ino in the form of a white Cow, for Iupiter had transform'd as well her as himself, that he might not be suspected of his Wife, who nevertheless discover'd his subtlety. Wherefore she begg'd the Cow of Iupi∣ter, who being afraid by his refusal to discover the intrigue, granted her Iuno, which she presently committed to the custody of Argus with his hundred eyes; where she continu∣ed in much misery and persecution, until Mercury was sent from Iupiter to deliver her, who playing Argus asleep with his Musick, intended to steal away▪ the counterfeit Cow; but an unlucky Boy, named Hierax, giving notice to Argus, awaked him as the other was departing with his prize. Whereupon Mercury seeing no remedy, but that he must either neglect Iupiter's Command, or kill Argus, he took up a great Stone, and knock'd him dead upon the place, also changed Hierax into a Hawk for his ill office. Iuno was not a little displeas'd at the loss of her faithful Servant, therefore she transform'd him in∣to a Peacock, which yet retains the number of his Eyes in his Feathers. Also she sent some Creatures to vex Isis, in so much that she became mad, and ran up and down the World, swimming over the Seas into Ionia, unto which she left her Name; as also to the Sea that bounds that Countrey. At last she return'd back to Egypt, where she married Osiris; her Son by Iupiter was called Epaphus. After her death, she was adored by the Egyptians; her Hair being preserv'd as a sacred Relique in her Temple at Memphis. She was honour'd as the Goddess of Weather and Navigation. Her Statue was (as 'tis here mention'd) with Horns on a Cows head, or as others say, a Dogs head, unto which Ovid alludes, calling her Latrator Anubis▪ The Romans had a great veneration for this Goddess, notwithstanding they banish'd her, because her Priests had consented to defile her Temple with Whoredoms, (as you may read in Iosephus) but afterwards she was ad∣mitted again. Her Priests were initiated with Bloud and Water, they had their Heads and their Beards shaven, and did all wear white linen Garments. At the entry into her Temple was the Statue of a Sphynx, to signifie that she was a mysterious Goddess: for her sake the Egyptians did keep i•• a corner of her Temple a white Cow; which when it died, they did all mourn, as for a Prince, until another was substituted in its room. See Ovid's Metam. lib. 1. Nat. Com. lib. 8. This Fable hath an Historical allusion unto Argus, that old and prudent Argive King, who was slain by Mercury, in hopes to succeed him: and when banish'd for that fact by the Greeks, fled into Egypt. But Allegorically, in that skill and industry is more available in Husbandry than the influence of the Stars; the Cow wandring through many Regions, is the propagation of that knowledge; and in that Egypt exceeds all other Countreys in the richness and fertility of its soyl, Io is there feign'd to recover her own Figure. Others have wrested this Fable to Morality: That Iupiter, the mind of man falling from Heaven, and joyning with Io, the Body in a Cloud is turn'd into a Beast, as forgetful of its own original, and captivated by his vices; but when of more maturity in age and judgment▪ Mercury is sent to kill Argus, in that Rea∣son bridles and subdues the exorbitancies of the Affections: and then Iuno is said to let loose her Furies, which are the stings of Conscience. As for Inachus, the Father of Io, he was the first that ever reign'd in Argos, and being accidentally drown'd in Carmanor, that River was afterwards called by his Name.

[11] Likewise how many Languages are spoken by the Barbarians, such as the Armenian, Median, Persian, and Cadusian. Mr. Leigh (in his Religion and Learning) divides all Lan∣guages into Oriental and Occidental: 1. Oriental; which contains the Hebrew, Chaldee, Samaritan, Syriack, Arabick, Aethiopick, Persian, Armenian, and Coptick. 2. Occidental; which also comprehends the Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, Italian, German, English, and Slavonick, which is spoken very generally. And of all these, the three principal or learned Languages are the Hebrew, Greek, and Latine. The Oriental Tongues are all (ex∣cept the Aethiopick and Armenian) written and read from the right hand to the left. Also the Graecians did at first write forward and backward, from whence arose that phrase, Literas exarare, and Linea are called Versus. Now to treat of all these Languages sepa∣rately, we will begin with the Oriental; and of them, first with the Hebrew, because it is esteem'd not only the most ancient, but was also the most pure without any mixture or corruption, whereas there is no other Language which had not certain words derived and corrupted from the Hebrew, and others, as we shall shew hereafter. The Hebrew Language was the first most ancient and only Language before the building of the Tower of Babel, for which presumption, (as Iosephus and others write) God sent a confusion of Tongues among the Workmen, so as rendred them unable to proceed in their Work. Wherefore the Nation and Language of Israel borrow their Name (Hebrew) from He∣ber, whose Son was called Peleg, (Division) relating to the Division of Babel. And this I take to be a more probable account than that of Arias Montanus, who derives the Name of Hebrews from Abraham, as if they were call'd Hebraei, quasi Abrahaei. The same Author likewise telleth us, that this Name of Hebrews was not appropriate to any Family, but common to all such as having pass'd over the River Euphrates, fixed their Tents, and inhabited between that River and the great Sea. Gesner in his Book of many Languages, which he styles Mithridates, (because Mithridates was said to understand twenty two several Languages) writes, that the Hebrew Tongue is the fountain of all others, viz. of the Indian, Persian, Babylonian, Armenian, Syriack, Arabick, Egyptian, and Aethiopi••k. Also Beckman shews, that many Greek words are deriv'd from it: and that the Punick Tongue was the Canaanitish or old Hebrew Language, which was vulgar∣ly spoken among the Iews before their Captivity. For as the learned Breerwood in his Enquiries observes, the old and right Hebrew remain'd (after the Iews Captivity in Ba∣bylon) only among the learned men, being taught in Schools, as among us the learned Tongues are accustomed to be. Breerw. ch. 9. Among the Christians, for above 1000 years after Christ, the Iews were so much hated, that their very Language suffer'd for their sake: in so much that Origen was upbraided for learning the Hebrew Tongue. Thus that Language continued without any regard had to it until the year of Christ, 1440▪ when by the invention of Printing all Arts and Sciences began to flourish Now among the Restorers of the holy Tongue, Reuclin was esteem'd the first; for the Ice being bro∣ken by him, Hebrew Bibles were printed first at Pisanna, after at Venice, and in Italy▪ Nay Martinius was so industrious as to compose an admirable Grammar of that holy Tongue. Many famous men of all Countreys have excell'd herein; but one of the first that taught it here in England was Wakefield. Neither ought we here to forget the learn∣ed Dr. Pocock, who is at present the glory of this Nation for his great skill in the Oriental Tongues. Now for the Pricks wherewith the Hebrew is at present read, Martinius says, that they were invented by the Masorites to supply the want of Vowels, lest by inserting new Letters they might have alter'd the ancient original Text: whereof they were so careful, that they tell of a certain Rabbi who was slain by his Scholar Ioab, because he had read Zacár for Zécer. As for the Masoreth, it was a most faithful and ancient Tra∣dition of all the divers readings that were ever extant of the Hebrew Bibles. But to say no more of this Subject, Arias Montanus (in his Preface to his Book de Hebraicis Idiot.) giv•••• this Character of the Hebrew Tongue, that it comprehends much matter in a few words, is very significant, hath gravity, sweetness, vivacity, and marvellous efficacy in its words and Periods. However the scarcity of words hath sometimes gravell'd its In∣terpreters, when one word many times hath two contrary Expositions, as Blessing and Cursing.

Secondly, The Chaldee is as it were a Dialect of the Hebrew, differing not much more than the Dorick from the common Greek, or than the Northern and Western Speech from

plain English; nevertheless it is nearer related to the Syriack, in so much that Mercerus makes them to be both one. Now during the seventy years Captivity of the Iews in Baby∣lon, there was a mixture of the Hebrew and Chaldee Languages, as is evident by the Wri∣tings of the Prophet Daniel, composed of both, as Ierom hath well observ'd in his Preface upon that Prophet, as also by the Writings of Ezra, and more evidently by the Chaldee Paraphrases. This Language is much used by the Learned in Aegypt and Aethiopia. You may find in Iob, the Proverbs, Ieremiah, and elsewhere, a mixture of some Chaldaick words. Many Christians in Syria use this Language in Grammaticis & sacris, about the Mountain Libanus.

Thirdly, The Samaritan Language hath no other Letters or Characters proper to it, but those of the Hebrew: the Samaritans therefore used only twenty two Letters, as the He∣brews did, until Ezra (after the restauration of the Temple under Zorobabel found out other Letters, which we now use. Many of the Iews dwelling at this day in Syria, but more particularly in the Town of Sichem, are called Samaritans, and speak this Samari∣tan Language.

Fourthly, The Syriack Language, (which is call'd, Isa 36.11. Lingua Aramaea, or according to the new Translation, the Syrian Language; according to the old, the Ara∣mites Language) is certainly thought (saith Masius in Praef. Gram. Syr.) to have had its beginning in the time of the Iews Captivity in Babylon, while they were mingled among the Chaldeans; in which long revolution of seventy years, the vulgar sort of the Iews for∣got their own Language, and began to speak the Chaldee; but yet pronouncing it amiss, and framing it somewhat to their own Countrey fashion, in notation of Points, Affixes, Conjugations, and some other properties of their ancient Speech, it became a mixt Lan∣guage of Hebrew and Chaldee: a great part Chaldee for the substance of words, but more Hebrew for the fashion, and so degenerated much from both: especially after our Savi∣our's time, when it likewise receiv'd much mixture of Greek, also some of the Roman and Arabick words, as in the Ierusalem Talmud gather'd about 300 years after Christ by R. Iochanan, is apparent, being far fuller of them than those parts of the Chaldee Paraphrase on the S. S. which were made by R. Ionathan a little before Christ; and by R. Aquila, (whom they call Onkelos) not long after. Breerw. Enq. ch. 9. Fabricius clearly demon∣strates, that the vulgar Tongue of Iury (in the days of our Saviour's pilgrimage here upon Earth) was Syriack. Waserus (in his Comment upon Gesner) writes, that Christ with his own lips did consecrate this Language, as also that his Apostles did sometimes use it, as appears from these words, Abba, Aceldama, Bar, Barrabba, Bar-Iesu, Barjona, Bar-Timi, Bel, or Beel, Beelzebub, Bethabara, Bethania, Bethesda, Belial, Benerehem, Ephphata, Gabbatha, Genesara, Golgotha, Korbona, Mammona, Rabbi, Talitha-Kumi, and others, all which occur in the New Testament, and are meerly Syriack. In this Language there is likewise extant a most ancient and elegant Translation of the New Testament, which is much esteem'd of among the Learned. Crinesius much commends the Syriack Grammar of M••sius, Mercer, and Tremellius, but especially Wafer's. De Dieu's is likewise highly extoll'd.

Fifthly, Arabick, is now the common Language of the East, especially among such as embrace the Mahumetan Religion: This Language in the first division of Tongues ac∣cording to Epiphanius, was begun by Armot, the first speaker and Author thereof. Epiph. contra Sethian. It is now the most universal in the World, as Bibliander, Postellus, Scaliger, and Claude Duret, (in his Histor. del Origine des Langues) do prove at large, from the Herculean Pillars to the Molluccas, and fro•• the Tartars, and many Turks in Europe▪ un∣to the Aethiopians in Africk, extending it self. Bree••wood (Enquir. ob. 8.) says, that in the East part of Cilicia beyond the River Pyramus, as also throughout Syria, Mesopotamia, Palestina, Arabia, Aegypt, and so Westward, in all the long Tract of Africk, that ••••ten∣deth from Aegypt to the Strait of Gibraltar, I say, in all that lyeth betwixt the Mo••••tain Atlas and the Mediterranean Sea, (now term'd Barbary) excepting Morocco, and ••here and there some scatter'd remnants of the old Africans in the Inland parts, the Arabick Tongue is become the vulgar Language, although somewhat corrupted, and varied in Dialect, as among so many several Nations it is unpossible but it should be. And although I be far from their opinion, who (like Postellus) write, that the Arabian Tongue is in use in two third parts of the inhabited World, or more, yet I find that it extendeth very

far, and especially where the Religion of Mahumed is prosessed; for which cause (over and besides the parts above mention'd, wherein (as I said) it is the native Language) moreover in all the Northern part of the Turkish Empire, lying Northward from the Me∣diterranean Sea, as also among the Mahumetan Tartars, (though not the vulgar Tongue) yet is it familiar with very many, both because the Alcoran and all their Religion is writ∣ten only in that Language, and for that every Boy which goeth to School is taught it, as amongst us Latin and Greek: in so much that all the Turks write their own Language in Arabick Characters. Ioseph Scaliger (Annotat▪ in Euseb. Chron.) writes, that neither this Language, the Hebrew, or Syrian, are capable of Geometrical Measures by quanti∣ties of Syllables. Now this Arabick Tongue is to be esteem'd not only for its Extent, but also for its Antiquity, Elegancy, and Profitableness. 1. For its Antiquity, whereof St. Ie∣rom testifies in his Comment upon Isa. as likewise Erpenius in his first Orat. Ling. Arab. 2. For its Elegancy, whether we consider the plenty of words, and force of signification, or the sweetness of the Phraseology, or the facility and gravity of the whole Language. Mr▪ Greaves saith, it exceeds both the Greek and Latin in number of words: also he com∣mends it for its facility, as having no Dialects, turnings of Elections, nor Anomalies. 3. and lastly, It is a profitable Language, since he that hath the knowledge thereof, may without an Interpreter travel almost all over Africa and Asia. There are many words in the Hebrew Bible and in the Chaldee Translation of it, with sundry manners of speaking, whose signification and sence cannot be had but out of this Language. Neither are the Opinions of Mahomet to be faithfully learnt without it. Moreover this Arabick Tongue gives great light to the Syriack, Aethiopick, Persian, and other Languages; as also to the Mathematicks, they having invented Algebra, and having amongst them Mathemati∣cians more accurate than Ptolomy; also to Physick, Avicenna, Mesua, Serapio, and Rasis, were famous Arabian Physicians. Neither will that Platonist, Avicenna, or that Ari∣stotelian, Averroes, appear less eminent in Philosophy to them who shall consult their two Tracts de Anima, which I have with much satisfaction perused; not to mention their larger Volumes. Likewise many famous Poets and Historians have they had amongst them; as Mr. Greaves in his Oration informs us. Finally, Mercer, Ioseph Scaliger, Rophe∣lengius, Isaac Causabon, Iunius, Tremelius, Clenard, Golius, and our Pocock, and Greaves, did highly prize this Arabick Language, and promote the study thereof.

Sixthly, The Aethiopick or Indian Language is so near (saith Bibliander de Rat. Ling. ch. 2.) to the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabick, that there is scarce any Diction which is not found in some of them. The Aethiopians write from the left hand to the right. This Language (which differs only in Characters from the fore-mention'd Tongues) is used very much through all the Kingdom of Aethiopia and Africk, which is of great extent. Some think the Prophets were written in the Aethiopick Tongue, from the times of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles; also that the Eunuch (who was Treasurer under the Queen of Candace) read it, by which Eunuch all Aethiopia was afterwards converted to the Faith of the Gospel.

Seventhly, The Persian Language (saith Bibliander) is of all others the most easie. There are many footsteps of this Language in the Scripture, especially in Esther, as Ahasuerus, Esther, Hammedatha, Phur, or Phurim, Gaza, Susa, Zeres, Mordochai, and others. Mr. Greaves saith, that at this day the Persian Language is much used through∣out all Asia: but more especially in Eastern Princes Courts by the Grandees and better sort, as amongst us the French is.

Eighthly, The Armenian Language is the most difficult of all others, as Bibliander writes. Agrippa saith, 'tis a corruption of the Chaldee. Sixtus Senensis informs us, that St. Chrysostome being by the Emperor's Decree banish'd into Armenia; he did there tran∣slate the holy Scriptures into the Armenian Tongue; which Translation is at this present in solemn use amongst them: they likewise exercise their common Divine Service in the Armenian Tongue. But of this see more in a late Treatise publish'd upon this Subject by Mr. Paul Ricaut.

Ninthly and lastly, The Copticks, or Christians of Aegypt, in their Liturgy use the Chaldaean Language, but read the Gospel in the Arabian. And thus much for the Orien∣tal Tongues.

In the next place being to speak of the Occidental, I shall begin with the Grecian.

First then, The Greek Tongue came in esteem by its Elegance, Sweetness, and Richness, as also by the Philosophy, Arts and Sciences, which hath therein been handled; it hath likewise been propagated by the Navigations, Commerce, and Colonies of the Athenians▪ as well as by Macedonian Arms, which ruling in Asia, Syria, and Aegypt, made their Lan∣guage known in many Countreys. Likewise the New Testament being first written in Greek did not a little promote it. It would be too prolix and tedious here to insert the many Provinces and Countreys that were acquainted with this Language, therefore in that matter I refer you to Breerwood's Enquiries, chap. 1. only in general I must acquaint you, that Cicero declares in his time the Greek Tongue was read almost in all Nations. Now in this great glory and splendor continued the Greek Tongue in the Eastern parts, till by the inundation of the Saracens of Arabia, it came to ruine in those Provinces, about 640 years after the Birth of Christ, in the time of the Emperor Heraclius, when the Ara∣bians introduced their Language together with their Victories into all the Regions they subdued: even as the Latin Tongue is supposed to have perish'd by the inundation and mixture of the Goths, and other barbarous Nations in the West. So that at this day, the Greek Tongue is very much decay'd; and that not only as touching the largeness and vul∣garness of it, but also in the purity and elegancy of it. Now the greatest part of the corruption of that Language ha••h been bred at home, and proceeded from no other cause than their own negligence or affectation. As for Example: First, By mutilation of some words, pronouncing and writing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Secondly, By compaction of several words into one, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Thirdly, By confu∣sion of sound, as making no difference in the pronouncing of three Vowels, viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and two Dipthongs, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; all which five they pronounce by one letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they pronounce Icos, Icon, Stithi, Lipi. Fourthly, By translation of Ac∣cents from the Syllables, to which in ancient pronunciation they belong'd to others. All which four kinds of corruption, are very common in their Language, and may have produced the unelegant variation in the Greek Tongue. The Greek Language (more especially in their Poets) is difficult, by reason of the several Dialects, viz. the Attick, which was the purest of all, and used only at Athens; the Dorick, which was the most gross; the Eolick, and Ionick; which three last were used in other Greek Countreys re∣mote from Athens. But the Greeks are now at this day (by reason of their slavery to the Turk) so ignorant and unlearned, that they have (saith Cabasilas) about 70 Dialects of the modern Greek, whereof the purest is at Constantinople, and the most barbarous of all at Athens. I think I may say without vanity, that both for understanding and pro∣nouncing of the pure ancient Greek, there is at this day no people under Heaven more expert at it than the English, which all Travellers acknowledg. Wherefore having so eminent Grecians amongst us, and since by the French example we see how much good Translations benefit a Language, I cannot but lament to see such noble Authors as Plu∣tarch, Josephus, Appian, and others, translated into English at second hand out of the French Translations, and not out of the original Greek: a thing not only highly scanda∣lous to our Nation, but also unfaithful and prejudicial to the Authors themselves; since notwithstanding the French are sometimes to be commended for their Notes, Print, Cuts, and Paper, yet I have known very great Judges which will not allow their very best Translations to be any other than Paraphrases; nor will their Language admit of so com∣pendious and exact a Version as ours. But to proceed; there is no Language of more use than the Greek: First, For that there is none so happy in composition, nor so fit in joyning and coupling one word with another as the Greek, which Iulius Pollux a Greek Author in his Onomasticon fully demonstrates. Aul. Gell. lib. 11. ch. 16. All the Hebrew and Latin Eloquence, know not with their mystery and gravity how to express and utter so properly and naturally many Nouns and Verbs, as are to be found frequently in the Books of Greek Authors. Turneb. Animadvers. lib. 5. ch. 19. Greek Books, saith the lear∣ned Causabon (Enthus. ch. 2.) are best able to make a man wise and learned. Secondly, Many terms of Art both in Grammar, Logick, Physick, Rhetorick, Musick, Arithmetick, Geometry, Chronology, and Mathematicks, derive their original from the Greek: so that Ignoratis terminis, ignoratur & Ars.

The next of the three Learned Tongues, is the Latine, in comparison of which, all others are said to be barbarous. Some hold that the flourishing pure, and incorrupt Age

of the Latine Tongue, was from Terence to the times of Quintilian: for in that Age lived Terence, Pacuvius, Lucretius, Virgil, Horace, Propertius, Tibullus, Catullus, Ovid, Persius, Seneca, Silius Italicus, and Martial, Poets; Varro, Cicero, Iulius Caesar, Salust, Columella, Livy, Quintus Curtius, Historians and Orators. The Latine Tongue grew to perfection by degrees, and in Caesar's and Cicero's times, (whereof the one for purity, the other for copiousness, were the best that ever writ) it came to the highest flourish, together with the Empire under Augustus Caesar. Among the Poets, Plautus, Naevius, Accius, Pacu∣vius, Ennius, and Virgil most refined it; among the Orators and Historians, M. Cato, Sisenna, Caesar and Cicero. Both Iulius and Ioseph Scaliger held, that many Originals of the Latine Speech were deduced from the Greek; however Crinesius derives the Latine from the Hebrew. Mr. Breerwood in his Enquiries, produces five several examples to prove the variation of the Latine Tongue, before any Foreign inundation happen'd: First, because Quintilian records, that the Verses of the Salii which were composed by Numa, could hardly be understood by the Priests of later times in the Commonwealth, as Quintilian writes, Instit. Orat. lib. 1. ch. 6. Secondly, For that Festus (in his Book de Verb. significat.) who lived in Augustus's time, declares, that the Latin Speech (so na∣med of Latium) was at that time so much changed, that (saith he) scarcely any part of it remain'd in knowledge. Thirdly, In as much as the Laws of the Roman Kings, and of the Decemviri, (called the Laws of the 12 Tables, and collected by Fulvius Vrsinus) if compared with the later Latin, will testifie the same. Fourthly, Because Polybius (lib. 3.) writes, that the Articles of a League betwixt the people of Rome and Carthage, made soon after the expulsion of the Roman Kings, could in his time very hardly be understood by the best Antiquaries in Rome. Fifthly and lastly, For as much as there remaineth at this day in the Capitol at Rome, though much defaced by the injury of time, a Pillar (called Columnam rostratam) dedicated to the memory of a Roman Consul, upon a Naval Victory which he obtain'd in the first Punick War: the words inscribed on the Pillar, together with the later Latin under them, are these, and thus written:

Obsol. Lat. Recen. Lat. Exemet. Leciones. Macistratos. Castreis. Exfociont. Pucnandod. Exemit. Legiones. Magistratus. Castris. Effugiunt. Pugnando. Cepet. Enque. Navebos. Marid. Consol. Primos. Ornavet. Navebous. Cepit. Inque. Navibus. Mari. Consul. Primus. Ornavit. Navibus. Claseis. Poenicas. Sumas. Cartaciniensis. Dictatored. Altod. Socieis. Classes. Punicas. Summas. Carthaginiensis. Dictatore. Alto. Sociis. Triresmos. Naveis. Captom. Numei. Navaled. Proedad. Poplo, &c. Triremes. Naves. Captum. Nummi. Navali. Proeda, Populo, &c.

Where you may see in many words, e for i, c for g, o for u, and sometimes for e, also d, superfluously added to the end of many words: Breerw. Enquiries, ch. 6. Now that the Roman Tongue did refine and vary from the impurity of its Original, we cannot op∣pose: neither by any thing I have yet read or heard, do I see any just grounds to recede from that common opinion, which supposeth, that the mixture of the Northern barbarous Nations among the ancient Inhabitants, was the cause of changing the Latin Tongue, in∣to the Languages which now they speak, the Languages becoming mingled, as the Na∣tions themselves were. Now from hence two things are observable; First, The Persons who thus over-ran Italy: and they were the Huns in Pannonia, the Vandals in Africk, the East-Goths and Longobards in Italy, and the West-Goths in Aquitain and Spain. The second thing to be observ'd, is the time of the dissolution of the Empire, which happen'd in Europe and Africk, in the time of Valentinian the third, and about the year 450. be∣ing caused by the barbarous Nations of the North: as afterwards the like dissolution of the same Empire happen'd in Asia by the Arabians, in the time of Heraclius, about the year 640. when together with the Rule of the Empire in the West, by the inundation of the said barbarous Nations, the Latin Tongue became likewise corrupted.

The Spanish Tongue as now it is, consisteth of the old Spanish, Latin, Gottish, and Ara∣bick, as there is good reason it should, Spain having been so long in the possession of the Romans, Goths, and Moors: of which, the Latin is the greatest part, and next to it the Arabick, wherefore they themselves call their Language Romance. And Breerwood him∣self says, that he hath seen an Epistle written by a Spaniard, whereof every word was

both good Latin and good Spanish; also an example of the like is to be seen in Merula: Cosmog. part. 2. l 2. But the Language of Valentia, Catalonia, and part of Portugal, is much temper'd with the French. Now the ancient and most general Language used in Spain before the Roman Conquest, without question seemeth to have been the Cantabrian Tongue. See more of this in Breerwood's Enqu. ch. 7.

The French Tongue, what it was of old remaineth doubtful, some thinking it to have been the German, others the Greek, and some the Welsh. But these suppositions were grounded upon an error, of thinking that one Language was vulgar throughout all France; whereas both Caesar and Strabo record, that divers Languages were spoken in the several parts of France. Strabo tells us, that the Speech of Aquitain had much affi∣nity with the Spanish: as also that part in Caesar call'd Belgia upon the Rhine, did partake much of the German Tongue: And the Celtae who inhabited the middle of France, (as Hottoman, and from him Breerwood, are of opinion) used (as now they do) a Language compounded half of a Latin Original; and the other half made up of the German, Greek, and British, or Welsh words, with an equal proportion of each. Of the deduction of the French words from the Greek, you may read Perionius, Postellus, and others: of those from the German, Tschudus, Goropius, Isacius, &c. of the Welsh, Lhuid, Cambden, &c.

Italy was heretofore divided into many ancient Tongues, (as well as Dialects) accor∣ding to its several Provinces: In Apulia, the Mesapian Tongue; in Tuscany and Vmbria, the Hetruscan, now quite perish'd, (whereof some few Monuments (though understood by no man) are registred by Gruter and Scaliger in the Book of ancient Inscriptions;) in both the higher and lower Calabria, as also far along the Maritime Coast of the Tyrrhene Sea, the Greek; in Latium, (now Campagna di Roma) the Latin; in Lombardy and Li∣guria, the old French Tongue, whatsoever it was. And though besides these five, we find mention in ancient Writings of the Sabine, the Oscan, the Tusculan, and some other Tongues in Italy, yet were they no other than differing Dialects of some of the former Languages; as may be easily proved out of Varro, Festus, Servius, Paulus Diaconus, and others. Now people speak the best Spanish in Castile, best French in Blois and Orleance, and best Italian in Hetruria. The modern Spanish Tongue is near to the Italian, and seems to come nearer the Latin than the French, but not so near as the Italian. The Language of the Spaniards is said to be Manly, the Italian Courtly, and the French Amorous. Sca∣liger prefers the French Language for its elegancy and sweetness, before either the Spa∣nish or Italian. But for my own part, I have as ill an opinion of the French Tongue as Peo∣ple; since the very Language it self is a Cheat, being written one way, and pronounced another: moreover that which they call the beauty and grace of their Language, seems altogether tedious and impertinent to me. Ioseph Scaliger saith, the Latin Tongue was the Mother of the Italian, French, and Spanish, all which in a barbarous manner were called Romanse instead of Roman.

The German Tongue hath also divers Dialects, or Idiomes; the chief whereof are the Dutch, Saxon, and Danish.

The Slavonick Tongue is the vulgar Language of many Nations in Europe, and some in Asia. It is also much spoken in the Turk's Senrail at Constantinople, as well as by his Jani∣zaries and Souldiers.

Now concerning the Antiquity of Languages in general: Herodotus (lib. 2.) tells us, that one Psamneticus, King of Aegypt, caused two Children to be closely brought up by a Shepherd, with order to suckle them with Goats Milk, and not ever suffer them to hear any humane Voice: whereupon after two years spent in this Education, the Chil∣dren utter'd these words, Bec, Bec, having learnt so much from the Goats; which the King finding to signifie Bread in the Phrygian Language, and not knowing how they had learnt it, very weakly concluded the Phrygian Tongue to be the most ancient.

[12] I pretend to understand all the Languages of men: Philostratus herein thinks not only to outvy the Gift of Tongues, which the Holy Ghost bestow'd on the Apostles, by entitling his Prophet Apollonius to the same power; but likewise to exceed them, in ma∣king Apollonius acquainted with the most secret thoughts of mens hearts.