{"collection":"philosophy-ethics","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_15649/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_15649","id":"gutenberg_15649","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15649","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Language & Communication","Category: Philosophy & Ethics","Language and languages -- Philosophy -- Early works to 1800"],"text":"Produced by David Starner, Keith Edkins and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Team\n\n\n\n\n\nA Philosophicall ESSAY for the REUNION OF THE\n\nLANGUAGES,\n\nOR,\n\nthe Art of Knowing all by the Mastery of one.\n\nOXFORD Printed by HEN: HALL for JAMES GOOD. 1675.\n\nThe Printer to the\n\nREADER.\n\n_Meeting by chance with this ingenuous offer, I thought it might not be\nimproper since I found it in another dresse, to make it speak another\nLanguage too, which among the most creditable of Europe, hath not desisted\nfrom its claim to Antiquity: There are very few Nations but have, at\nsometime or other, laid in their pretences to a supremacy for their\nLanguage, and have boasted an assistance from unsuspected reason and\nAuthority: But however variously the controversie hath been manag'd, the\nmodesty, and ingenuity of this Author hath rendred, his designe more\nplausible, for having without any private regard (in such cases most usuall\nto the spruce and flourishing Air of his owne Native tongue) made that\nnoble Language of the Romans the Basis of his project; And finding him\nthroughout altogether free from prejudice and partiality, I thought an\nanteview of so excellent and usefull, a designe would not be unacceptable\nto the more ingenious part of the world, and that I ought not to neglect so\nfaire an opportunity of recommending to their consideration that\nillustrious dialect, which as it is certainly of all others the most\nvaluable, so to the shame of these modern ages, is either exceedingly\nimpair'd or lost in its familiar uses among those who challenge the title\nof the _Beaux Esprits_ of the times. The aime therefore of this Projector\nbeing to facilitate and expedite the Mastery of this as well as others, its\nsurvey may possibly appear not altogether ungratefull if it be but in hopes\nto find this incouragement that we shall he able to reserve some number of\nyears from our usually taedious application to its study for other eminent\nuses, and commence men & Schollers at a much easier rate and in an earlier\nage then now commonly practic'd; I should prevent the Author if I should\nentertaine you with any farther commendation of it then that he hath taken\nfor his model the most creditable and plausible Language of the world. If\nat any time you divert your selfe with reading Novels; you will here meet\nwith notions that are both Philosophicall and Airy, and in order to the\nmaine designe for the most part purely scientifick and demonstrative; and\nafter if all you shall think that you have not mispent your time by\nobserving something that is either a usefull or pleasurable I shall have my\ndesigne and the Author the credit._\n\n_Farewell._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nAs the Knowledge of forreign Languages ought not to be reputed one of those\nvain and useless curiosities that serve only to amuse the mind, but is\ncertainly conducive to a thousand different ends; so we ought not to think\nit strange if our age, which gives such aequall and secure judgement of the\nvalue of things shew more of passion then ever for it, notwithstanding all\nthe difficulties that are pretended. I am of an opinion, that one cannot do\nthe world a more acceptable piece of service, then to invent a certain and\neasie way to become universally acquainted with the Languages, and to quit\na subject from those intrigues, in which the more knowing have at present\ninvolv'd it, either from a pure impotence to disingage it, or possibly from\na fond desire of a freer breath of popular Air from those who are\nordinarily most taken with what they least understand.\n\nThis designe being only a proper entertainment for the most criticall of\nthe Virtuoses, I am the more inclinable to expose to the public, the\nproject and plain I have form'd, before I intirely abandon the whole to\ntheir censure; that I may at first anticipate all manner of reply, and take\nadvantage from the lights of the most accomplisht and intelligent persons,\nif their zeale hath courage enough to make them willing to serve the world\nin their love and communication.\n\n_The Authors designe._\n\nMost men being prepossest with two unjust prejudices against the nature of\nthe Languages, th'one, that they have not all either resemblance or accord\namong them, the other, that they only depend upon the inconstancie of\nchance, and the whisling toyishness of custome, it might be thought no\nmatter of extraordinary concernment, if one pretended to succeed in a study\nof this nature by the single efforts of the memory, without either the\nvivacitie of imagination, or the force of reason being interress'd.\n\nBut being not very well perswaded of the agreeableness of this method, in\ndirect opposition to it, I have fastn'd the whole designe in hand upon\nthese two propositions:\n\nFirst, that _there is a certain accord between the Severall Languages:_ and\nthat therefore they are attainable by comparison.\n\nSecondly, _they are unquestionably founded upon reason_, and therefore that\nmust be made use of in their mutuall reference. It is upon these two\nfoundations that I pretend to establish the true method of gaining a\nmastery of the Languages, making it appear to the world by a sensible\nexperience that the mind can as easily make reflections upon words, as upon\nthe things they represent: _Imagination_ and _Reason_ being the two\nfaculties, that can reflect upon their objects, they both will appear in\nthe present designe in their uses suitable to their nature, the effects of\n_Imagination_ shall be visible in the severall resemblances, and the\ninferences that are thence made; and it will be the worke of _Reason_ to\nreduce all to certain principles, upon which the argumentative part must\nrelye.\n\n_The first part of the Designe._\n\nFor the easier exercise of Imagination, I shall acquaint you with a method\nthat will appeare very naturall, by which insteed of considering the\nLanguages precisely in themselves (as hitherto hath been usuall) they may\nbe compar'd one with the other without much difficultie, and at the same\ntime their accord, dependance, and mutuall relation, discover'd either from\nthe resemblance of words, the proportion of their scope or compasse, and\nthe conformity of their expressions. Tis true that this agreement, and\nrelation is not a little obscur'd by the severall od constitutions of mens\nminds, that checque at, and satisfie themselves with the first, and naked\nappearance without any farther inquirie, but withall its presently, and\neasily perceiv'd by those who are happy enough, in a genius for such kind\nof Learning. Its something like the paradoxes Geometry proposeth upon the\nrelation, and proportion of figures, where we are mus'd at the first\ndraught, and there appeares so little likelihood in them that the\nunexperienc't would take them only for the tricks and whims of a\nmelancholique brain; whereas an ingenuous Artist, from the most naturall,\nand simple notions gradually conducts the mind to a kind of insensible\ndiscovery of truth, and makes it see on a suddain what it could not expect,\nand that with such open assurances as quit that from all suspicion, which\nbut now had scarce any face of truth.\n\nKnowing no other method then this, that may be proper to make new\ndiscoveries in the sciences I endeavour'd to make what use I could of it,\nso farr as my subject permitted; And since amidst the severall resemblances\nof the Languages, there are some so evident, as necessarily grance upon the\nmost unobserving eye, I have so order'd my reflections, that by a reference\nto these, as models, I might by degrees arrive at the knowledge of the\nothers, which although reserv'd, and sometimes more distanc't, yet are\nneither less certain, nor reall: not unlike the subalternate conclusions in\nspeculation, which are not a jot the lesse true for being farther remov'd\nfrom their first principle.\n\nThus tis that a Language with which we are already acquainted, either by\nthe assistance of Art, or Conversation, leads us to an intimacy with those\nthat were altogether unknown to us before, and that their relation\nredresseth the treachery of the memory in the close and juncture of one\nwith the other.\n\nBut that I may compasse this my designe with lesse trouble, my greatest\ncare is to make choise of one Language as a rule to measure by, and a\nprinciple to reduce all the rest too: for to pretend to compare them\nimmediately one with another, as some would have it, is to cherish\nconfusion among those things that demand the most of order.\n\nThe veneration that I have alwayes had for antiquity, made me think at\nfirst of ingaging for the _Hebrew_, as being (for ought we know) the\nearliest, the most noble, and most naturall Language of the world and that\nfrom which all others, in a manner, derive themselves. But it was not long\nbefore I began to consider, that this would directly crosse the first\nprinciples of my intended method, and appear a kind of indeavour to teach\nan unknown Language, by another, of which we have the most imperfect, and\nslender information of all. The kindnesse, and inclination I ought to have\nfor my own Country, had almost perswaded me to rest my self there, and to\nmake my native tongue the basis of this universall reduction but then the\nrest of the Europaean world (which I have no reason to slur or contemne)\nwould have as ill resented the project, as we did it in the Germans, who\nwould long agoe have challenged this honour to themselves. I had in the end\nno other course to take, but to throw myselfe upon the _Latine_, in which I\nluckily met with all the necessary conditions that did easily, and\nplausibly conduce to my design'd attempt.\n\nTo say the truth _Aristotle_ himselfe, a man of a judgement in such things\nthe most exact that ever was to take a _measure_ from, demanded but three\nqualifications, viz. _Universality_, _Certainty_, and _Proportion_; that it\nshould be generally known to all those that are to make use of it in the\nquality of a measure, that it should be fixt, and determin'd in its selfe,\nand then that it should be proportion'd to all those things, to which it\nprescribes their bounds, all which characters do with advantage combine in\nthe Latine, and that with such propriety that they cannot be attributed to\nany other without some sort of injustice; for the greatest part of the\nother Languages they are determind to the extent of a particular Kingdom or\nCountry, the Latine hath no such disadvantage upon it. It is to speak\nproperly the Language of Europe: Religion, and the Sciences have more\nenlarg'd its dominions, then all the conquests of the Romans; tis almost\nthe common Idiom of the North, and universally knowne to persons of birth\nand education, who alone are presum'd to stand in need of the assistance of\nforraigne Languages.\n\nIt disownes the common imperfection of others, which by nature being\nsubject to change, cannot by consequence, serve for a certain determinate\nrule in all ages; and if it now survive through the large extent of its\nentertainment, it hath much the advantage of others, that are in a manner\ndeceas'd to this that is fixt, and retaind by a well assur'd custome and if\nits being universally known allows all persons to share its uses, so its\nbeing steddy, and unalterable, secures it from all the uneven changes of\ntime.\n\nAs to its proportion, it in a manner keeps a mean between the Ancient and\nModern Languages, it is neither altogether so pure as the one, nor so\ncorrupt as the other, and so with the same ease is applicable to both; and\nin earnest is infinitely the most compendious, it being farre less trouble\nto passe from the mean to an extream, or from the extream to the mean, then\nto trace it from one extream to another. However this would seem\nincommodious beyond all redresse, to attempt to reduce all the Languages,\neither to the most ancient, or else to any one of the most modern, because\nin reality, the former have no more relation to the later, then these have\nwith others of the same age, which have been as so many channels to derive\nAntiquity to us.\n\nBesides the Latin makes a friendly meeting between the Eastern, and Western\nLanguages; as to the first alone it owes its birth and life, so the others\ndo to it.\n\nIt seems then no more difficult to attain the one, by streaming it up to\nthe fountain, then to gain all the rest by making a like descent, by way of\nresemblance to what we observe in nature when we discern, as well the\neffect by the cause, as the cause by the effect. In one word, to make up\nall the differences that may arise about the supremacie of the Languages, I\nconsider the Latin under three different regards, as the _daughter_ of the\nLanguages of the _East_, as the _Mother_ of those in the _West_, and as the\n_Sister_ of the more _Northerne_.\n\nAs it is abundantly copious, and rich, having been refind, and improv'd for\nmore then 3000 years by an infinite variety of nations, with whose spoyls\nit is now invested, so it may have a very great number of resemblances,\nunder which with little difficultie it will admit of a reference to all the\nrest. For in conclusion, to reduce all to the most refin'd, and polite\nLanguage, is not what I pretend to; the Barbarous stile of the ancient\nRomans will do me as much service, as the quaintnesse, and elegance of\nCicero; the Latin of the declining Empire, since the irruptions of the\nNorthern Nations, may be admitted into this designe to as good purpose, as\nthe language of Augustus his time; any sense is the same of that of the\n_Sciences_, which makes one almost altogether distinct from what is common\nand vulgar; the proper names of Philosophy, naturall History, and Divinity,\nthose of Physick, and the Mathematicks, of Arts, Law, and Commerce; the\nnames of illustrious persons, people and places, of which History\nfurnisheth us with a plausible account, will afford me no lesse assistance\non this occasion, then the names of things that are most common.\n\nAfter having made choice of a Language in order to the design, I am in the\nnext place to determine my self to a _certain number of them_, the reunion\nof which may be justly thought a modest and reasonable attempt; for as\nthere are some, the knowledge of which will be of very little use; so I am\nobliged to prescribe some bounds to a designe that would lead me to\nsomething indetermin'd, and infinite, and withall I suspect the inlargement\nboth of mind, and memory to compasse all; especially considering the\nconsequence of some to be indifferent, neither that of Biscany, nor the\nlower Brettaigne should in my opinion much afflict any mans braine, nor do\nI believe that there are many more in the world interest for them, then\nthere are for the dialect of Finland or Frizland, or the Barbarous jangling\nof the Negroes and Savages. In the choise that I was to make I could not\nbut give the preference to those of the greatest credit and repute, _took\nsome Prince_ (excuse the allusion) _who having laid his design to reunite\nall the Kingdomes of the world, began his conquest upon those Nations that\nwere most formidable and renown'd, from an apprehension that the rest in a\nlittle time would be less able to make any opposition._\n\nAs I am not of an humour to attempt any thing without an incouragement from\nreason; or to give my selfe any trouble through a kind of caprice, purely\nto gratifie my curiositie; _Religion_, _State_, and the _Sciences_ are the\n_three grand rules_ from which I make a judgement what Languages are really\nthe most important and noble; I have only therefore selected such as\n_Europe_ may use to the best advantage, either for the defence of the\nChurch, the good of the State, the advancement of the Sciences, or the\nperfection of the most laudable Arts. It is for this end that I have\nentertained in my designe all the Languages that concerne Religion, and\nmake a particular mention of such as furnish us with originall texts, and\nthe most authentick translations of the Bible, being of no mean consequence\ntowards the faithfull interpretation of our sacred Records, and the\nconfirmation of the Articles of our Creed.\n\nI am in the next place obliged to find a place for such as concern and\nrelate to State affaires, the most renowned Empires, Kingdomes, and warlike\nNations, which may afford a suitable entertainment for all sorts of people,\nand withall very much conduce to the succesful management of forraigne\nbusinesse, the most important negotiations, Embassies, the transactions of\nwar or peace, as well as the most hopefull designes of travellers. But\nabove all I find myself concern'd for those that give us the most refin'd\nand polite discoveries of wit and Science, and have been cherisht and nurst\nup to our hands by the most knowing and ingenious of all Nations.\n\nI can hardly believe I shall meet with any inclinable to quarrell me for\nthe number of 24. that I have thought on for my designe, since I presume it\nno easie matter for the most nicely curious to find a just occasion; and\nalthough there are none of them that are not unquestionably deriv'd from\nthe same originall, it being no great difficulty to convince any well\nsettled head, that in the propriety of speech there is but one mother\nLanguage: Yet to avoid confusion I distribute them all into 7. different\norders, as they seem to carry an immediate reference to the Languages,\nwhich are the commonly suppos'd originals: such are in the opinion of the\nLearned the _Roman_, and the _Greec_, the _Teutonic_ and _Sclavonic_, the\n_Hebrew_, _Scythian_, and the _Persian_.\n\nThe Roman Idioms are the _Italian_, _Spanish_ and _French_, which cannot\nnow be unknowne to any but such as are shamefully ignorant; I may adde\nlikewise the _Portuguese_, which although not very different from the\n_Castilian_, yet is not wanting in its owne particular beauties, and hath\nreceiv'd no mean accession of use and honour from the conquests of its\nKings in the most remote parts of the world.\n\nTo the Greec I shall reduce its 3. principall relations, _viz_ the Literall\nGreec, such as we meet with in our old Classic Authors, the vulgar as it is\ncommonly used since the declining age of the Empire at Constantinople, and\nthe Coptique or AEgyptian, which is but a remainder of the famous government\nof the Ptolomies in AEgypt: for although in its idiome there be something\nyet remaining of an originall stamp, either in that its words seem to touch\nupon the auntient Language of the Pharaohs, or that its inflection no way\nresembles the Greec, yet the Empire of Alexander and his successors induc'd\nsuch a confusion, that the Greec hath almost got the better, and involv'd\nall the lesser remains of Antiquity.\n\nUnder the Teutonic I comprehend the Almain or high German, the Flemmish or\nlow Dutch, the English and the Danish, which is to this day entertain/'d in\nthe most Northerne regions, and may give us some intimations of a clearer\nlight then any besides, as having yet carefully secured some footsteps of\nthe ancient Language.\n\nThe Sclavonic is accompani'd with 3. more considerable dialects the true\nSclavonic, the Polish, and Muscovitish, to which the valour of the Nations\nthat speak them have brought more reputation then any other ingenious\nperformances.\n\nThe Hebrew hath no less then seven in its retinue, the pure Hebrew, such as\nwe meet with in our Bible, the Language of the Rabbins and Talmudists, the\nChaldee, the Syriaque, the AEthiopick or Abyssin, the Samaritan, and the\nArabique, which in our age hath so inlarg'd its dominion, that its either\nspoke or understood in the three parts of the Old World Asia, Africa and\nEurope; and hath alone produc't such a prodigious number of books, that one\nwould scarce believe how a Nation so famous for its exploits in warr should\nhave so much leasure to attend to the improvement of learning.\n\nThe Scythian hath two very illustrious dialects in its traine, the Turkish\nand lesser Tartarian, both which may serve in some measure to acquaint us\nwhat Languages are used in the North of Asia.\n\nThe last is the Persian, which is not only universally priz'd in the Empire\nof the Sophy, but a common entertainment in the Court of the grand\nSeigneur, as well as in that of the Mogull, where it is hugely valued and\nesteem'd.\n\nAs this reference of the Languages to one another would be to litle\npurpose, if the less qualifi'd and accomplisht were not capable of judging\nof it, since tis for them principally I am most concern'd, I believ'd\ntherefore it would be necessary intirely to retrench all that strange\nvariety of characters, whose od and fantasticall figures do strangely\ndivert the imaginations of those, who are not well qualifi'd to conceive\nthem. Neither do I intend to humour my selfe in that vaine kind of\nostentation that some affect, to make this kind of writing one of that most\nmysterious parts of their learning, but have found out a method of\nexpressing the sounds of all the distinguishing characters of each Language\nonely by the Roman, and that in a manner as easie and disingag'd as it is\naccurate and new; insomuch that the resemblances of words, which altogether\ndisappear'd under those uncouth figures (which like a veile intercepted\nthem from the less clarify'd eye) presently face the light, there being\nnothing left to interpose between them, and a closer consideration, which\nnotwithstanding shall not acquit me from my designe of discovering an\nexpedient to decypher with ease all those severall kinds of writing, and of\nfixing them upon the imagination in such a manner as without difficulty can\nadmit of no confusion.\n\nAfter having remov'd this first obstruction, which hath so long imbroild\nand retarded the knowledge of the Languages, that I may with less trouble\nreduce them to their first principle, I shall run near the same course,\nthat hath been successively taken in their removall, so farr as any history\ncan informe us, upon which I principally lay the stresse and basis of my\ndesigne by producing such arguments from it, the force of which cannot\nplausibly be eluded. For I do not believe that any of the more curious will\nfind fault with me for fastning the origine, and alliance of the Language\nupon the same bottome with the begining and first society of mankind, who\nare observed never to shift their Country, without having their Language to\nbear their Arms and Customes company. As I never thought fit to dispute it\nwith the Learned, why they did not make use of the affinity of the\nLanguages, which sometimes are of clearer notice to them to discover the\nthe first rise of a people more remote, and with which they are lesse\nacquainted; So I hope I may be permitted to make what advantage I can of\nthe first combinations and colonies to give a clearer light to the\nbeginnings and connexion of the severall Tongues, there being something\nnear the same, or a like proportion between both: as for instance, To make\ngood the opinion of Dionysius Halicarnasseus, and Quintilian, who both\npretend that the Latin tongue is no more then a Dialect of the Antient\nGreek, is but in plain and easie words to give an account of all the little\nsettlements, and Plantations in Italy, which for some continuance of time\nwas only inhabited by colonies from Greece.\n\nUpon what other terms I hardly understand this new project should be\nsurprizing to any, it being not the meer effect of imagination, or an\nhumorous Idea, neither will it much ingage any sort of people, but only\nsuch as can easily dislodge their prejudices when their owne lights shall\nassist in their conviction, and that from such assurances as shall be most\nfree from suspicion, being faithfull deductions from the histories of the\nColonies. But as it is impossible that the Languages should not be liable\nto severall alterations and mixtures from the different associations of\npeople in severall removes, so neither is it to be believ'd that this was\ndone all on a sudden; there seems to be a resemblance between the words\nthat make up the Language and Travellers, who do not put off their\naccustom'd usages and manners so soon as they arrive at a new Country,\nneither are they naturaliz'd, but with time and by degrees become masters\nof the Air, humors, and qualities of the persons with whom they converse.\n\nSince then this corruption is but of a graduall and intensible growth,\nthere is a necessitie, for its more certain discovery, of an orderly\nreflection upon the very first beginnings of the differences, being in the\ninterim very sollicitous to prevent a false retreat that might either\ningage me too farr, or else in some unluckie circumstances, from which it\nwould be no little difficulty to retire. And this seems to be the only way\nthat I could find out to scatter a certain Air and appearance of truth upon\nall that regard the present subject, which hath no farther a probability\nthen what is given it from such a carefull mannagement, that shall suffer\nno pass from one extreame to the other without touching upon that mean\nwhich is as it were the time of communication between both, for it is from\nthis chain of words and sequel of alterations that all the suitablenesse,\nand likelyhood of this present method principally depends.\n\nAlthough in reality there is no reason to doubt but that the French is a\ncorruption of the Latine, I could not however very easily perswade my selfe\nthat the word _dechoir_ should derive its selfe from _cadere_ of the\nLatines, if I did not perceive all its severall and distinct conveiances\nthrough the Alembic. They that first corrupted the Language of the _Romans_\ninstead of _cadere_ made use of _cader_, as the Italians do to this day,\nwho commonly cut off the final vowels where they obseve them to follow\nLiquids. They that came after proceeded yet farther in their retrenchment,\nand from _cader_ form'd _caer_, as the Spaniards now use it, by taking away\nthe letter _d_ according to their ordinary custome, when it is seated in\nthe middle of words. There are another sort of people yet more sturdy and\nblunt in their formes of speech, who would say _Car_ or _Ker_ by a\ncontraction of the two Vowels into one, as is observable among the Peasants\nof France, and those of Picardy, who retain very much of Antiquity, which\nseems to be agreeable with the manner of speech among the Ancient French,\nwho delighted to shorten and contract their words as much as possible, that\nthey might make up a Language altogether as free as their humour, some of\nthe most remote of these would instead of _Ker_ pronounce _Cher_ by a\nchange of that firm and surly letter into one more easy and soft as we yet\nfind it Customary in the remains of some of the Ancient Romans, and then\nafter all by the turn of a Vowel into a Dipthong, from _Cher_ is form'd\n_Choir_, which now begins to be out of date altho its Composit _dechoir_ be\nstill of plausible and commendable use. Thus 'tis that _Cadere_, _Cader_,\n_Caer_, _Car_, _Ker_, _Cher_, _Choir_, and _Dechoir_ make up but one intire\nchain and connexion, yet all to very little purpose if any one of the\ndegrees by chance should have been wanting.\n\nFor this reason altho I consider every Language in its greatest perfection,\nyet for clearing its originall in rendring this sequel of words more open\nand palpable I have been oblidg'd to make numerous reflections upon the\nolder forms of speech as well as Orthographie, by which a better discovery\nmay be made of all the varieties that occure in pronunciation, as also of\nthe severall medlies and Gibrish of the Provinces of Each Empire that speak\nthe same Language, but most of them in a singular fashion.\n\nSo that it is most certain that that Language which is most quaint and\npolite is very often the lesse pure and most debaucht, if we make an aequall\njudgment from its originall which is the most unquestionable rule: Upon\nwhich account the dialects of Province, Gascogne, Languedoc, and that which\nis known by the name of the Antient Gauls is infinitely lesse alter'd and\ndistanc't from its original, then the Languages of the Court and Nobility,\nwho take a pleasure in receding from the Latin: Those of Lombardy and\nNaples are for the most part lesse corrupt than these of Siena and\nFlorence; Altho the Spaniards have a saying among them, that the Catalonian\nand that of Arragon is commonly more pure then the Castilian that is more\nPompous. And not to spare the French more then the Spaniard, if they have\nreason to boast their Language to be the most refin'd and Polite of the\nworld, yet their Neighbours might justly returne upon them, that of all the\nDialects of the Latin, there is none more degenerate than theirs, forasmuch\nas its quaintness ariseth from its sweetnesse, so that it is not attainable\nwithout a strange descent from its principle. Thus _le Capo_ of the\nItalians, _le Cabo_, of the Spaniards, _le Cap_, of the old French and _le\nKef_ of Picardy are all variously alterd from _Caput_ of the Latins, but\nnone so much as _le Chef_ of the French, which notwithstanding claims the\nsame Originall.\n\nBut this is not all; as the resemblance and connexion of the Languages is\nnot alwaies the same but depends more or lesse upon the communication of\nthe Nations that speak them, So it's not necessary that this method should\nbe invariable, it must admitt of alteration with its subjects, and\naccomodate it selfe to the diversity of Tongues.\n\nThere is much more of Art requir'd to reduce those which only carry a\nresemblance in their words, and abundantly lesse for those which withall\nadmitt of an analogie in inflexion, And Since the same words which allow of\nthis accord may have it in severall distinct manners they are not all (if I\nmay be permitted to say so) neither of Kin, nor alliance in the same\ndegree; their relation is sometimes nearer, Sometimes at a greater\ndistance, for we may by way of analogie discours at the same rate of the\ngenealogie of words as we do of the degrees of consanguinity; for if the\none sort be rang'd under the same Line either direct or Collaterall, the\nothers admitt of a little deflection and do not exactly corespond; some are\nallied in the first, some in the 2d degree, some in advancing from the\nbranches to the stock, others in a descent from that to the branches, in a\nword this accord is neither always immediate nor at all directly opposite.\n\nI add besides that as there are, some allied two or three ways and that\nsince the first division have contracted new and closer relations, so I\nconfesse there are others that content themselves with their Originall\nreference, and that have scarce any other agreement among them than what\ndepends upon the common tie and union that they have with their first\nprinciple, which in reallity is no more then this famous Mother Tongue of\nwhich some make a mystery without well understanding what they say: For\naltho it hath subsisted in its selfe before the first confusion, yet we\nmust not think of discoursing of it at the same rate, nor put our minds\nupon the harasse of receiving it.\n\n'Tis no more now as some fondly imagaine a particular and distinct Language\nfrom others, so that there is but one way to regain it and reestablish it\nat least so far as is necessary for a compleat execution of my designe, and\nthat is to make a judicious choice of all that is primitive and most simple\namong the Remains of the antient Language either by considering the first\ncombinations of sounds or by a regard to the earnest ideas of the mind,\nthat were apply'd to these sounds; to the end that we may referr thither by\na sequel, all the essentiall and fundamentall words of each Language as to\ntheir fountaine; which admiting of divisions, runnes now in lesser streams\nwhich assume the names of Originalls; because they have their rise from\nthat grand Source where the first inhabitants of the world ingrost all. So\nthat it may be truly said of this Mother Tongue that it is in no sense a\npart as being really every where either in sums of its divisions or in its\neffects and dependances something like your vertues of the elements and the\noriginall seeds of things, that Subsist not of themselves but in the\nmixtures that compose them.\n\nI shall possibly be wonderd at, that being able to accomplish all by this\nsingle method, I have not in the interim recours to it, when all other ways\nprove unserviceable; But after all, tho this method be perhaps more\ningenuous and of a more profound speculation, it is not however the most\nnaturall and compendious, be it never so refind'd or accomodate to my\ndesigne, and I hardly understand the reason why any man should affect a\ncrooked and uncouth road to active at his purpose when the streight lyes\nbefore him.\n\n_The second part of the desine._\n\nComparison alone is not (in the opinion of some) sufficient to accomplish\nthe present intention, however accurate it be; if it want the supports of\n_reason_, it may rationally be suspected for being more airy then solid,\nand without injustice the same character may be given to some of those\nunusuall Chances that sometimes produce the most surprizing effects.\nBesides altho the vivacity and force of imagination be easily admitted into\nthe relations of the Languages, and leaves there forcible impressions, yet\nit neither warrants certitude, nor dislodgeth confusion; 'tis reason alone\nthat establisheth the mind in its cognizances, and credits all its\nconceptions with order, tis that alone which perfects the combination of\nall their relations and agreements according to the naturall connexion\nwhich they have with the same principles on which they depend in Common.\n\nThat which seems to be of greatest moment is that the principles be\nplausible and rationall and such as man may lay a stress on without\nsuspicion or fear, and this is that which in a singular manner the\nprinciples of this Art challenge to themselves, being in my opinion\ninfinitely more sensible then those which Philosophy proposeth under the\ncharacters of uncontroleable truths; I have therefore taken them all from\nthe very natures of the subject of which I am treating _viz_: from the\ndeflections and different regards under which the consideration of words\nmay be manag'd; wch may last of all serve for an assurance, that chance\nhath not all that Empire and authority, that is given it over the\nLanguages; and that it would be no great difficulty to make it appear, that\nin the Languages themselves there are well fram'd and solid reasons, for\nevery thing that appears otherwise, and hath been hitherto suppos'd to be\nthe bare effect of Caprice.\n\nIt may be perceiv'd by the very effects themselves that it will make up a\nscience fully demonstrative, and back't with such consequences, as may very\nwell passe for compleat models in this kind: And above all the scope of its\nprinciples infinitely shortens the way without being at all oblig'd to make\na descent to a thousand taedious and wearisome differences; which appear\nmuch better, and in a more elegant manner in their principles then in\nthemselves, which is an incouragement for me to hope that a Language for\nthe acquest of which we have formerly by a close application numbred\nseverall years, will by this means be made the divertisement of some hours,\nor at most but some few days.\n\nWords being in the opinion of all men but significant sounds, they may be\ntaken either as they are _Natural sounds_, or _arbitrary signs_, I would\nsay, either as they are the proper effect of the motion of our organs, or\nas the lively representation of the thought of our minds. And since they\nmake their passes from one Language to another they cannot well admit of\nany alteration in this their transit but in three respects; for whatsoever\nchange be suppos'd it will necessarily fall out, either in the _sounds\nthemselves_ that compose the words, or in _their significations_, or in\ntheir _different modifications_, and its from these three distinct regards\nthat the generall principles have their rise, upon which I have fastn'd\nthis new Systime of the Philosophie of the Languages.\n\nThat I may make my procedure more justificable and artificiall, I examine\nwith all exactnesse the different organs of the voice, the various motions\nof the muscles belonging to these organs, and the admirable concent and\naccord of those motions; and these I make use of to demonstratively\nexplaine the precise number of all the simple sounds, that enter into the\ncomposition of the Languages, to discover the nature and proper\npronunciation of these sounds, and by consequence to disclose their\nnearnesse and affinity, the resemblances of some, and the disproportion of\nothers, their accord and opposition, their Sympathy and Antipathy, in a\nword, all their combinations and mixtures, their divisions and\ndistinctions, their orders and severall degrees. From whence I conclude\nthat all the astonishing and surprizing depravations and Corruptions that\nare met withall in the words that one Language borrows from another, in\nchanging or in transposing, in adding or retrenching, have their basis in\nnature; which never attempts any thing but to the purpose, and with a\nsollicitous care, when to us it appears to have acted with an open and\nobservable neglect.\n\nWe may Study Nature upon the Latine it selfe which may serve as well for a\nmodel as it doth for a principle; It will in the first place acquaint us\nthat the Vowels are almost accounted for nothing, for altho there are some\nof them that admitt of easie changes among themselves according as they are\nmore open or reserv'd, we know neverthelesse that there are none of them\nbut what may be absolutely shifted into the place of another of what kind\nsoever, either immediately, or by succession and degrees. For a finall\nconfirmation of this we have no more to doe but to make an easie comparison\nof the different derivative of the same word, the reference of these three\n_Cepa_; _incipio_ and _occupo_, to the Verb _Capio_ may serve for an\ninstance, if we shall but grant the truth of this principle which the\norientalists have always suppos'd, who form the greatest part of their\nwords from the sole change of their Vowels.\n\nThe same is not altogether allowable in relation to the Consonants, where\nwe must not admitt indifferently all sorts of changes; the sole affinity of\nthe Organs is that which must regulate almost all their varieties: the\nLabiall letters easily supplant one another but the Dentall or Linguall\nwith more difficulty succeed them as being not of the same order; For as\nthese consonants, M. B. P. V. F. make neer the same sound, which is\nmodified by the divers force of the Air opening the lips after severall\nforms. So the Letters D. T. Z. S. ought to make an order by themselves,\nhaving a particular relation to the point of the tongue, which only by\ntouching upon the teeth in various manners frames their pronunciation.\n\nBut it is not a single and easie reflexion, that can absolutely determine\nwhether two letters have resemblance and proportion, because there are some\nof them that being made up of the movements of severall organs, maybe\ndifferently alter'd according to their various resemblances, so the letter\nH. carrys not only the resemblance of a gutturall as it is pronounc'd by\nthe assistance of the muscles of the throat, but also as an Aspiration\nbesides the regard it hath to the whispers of the tongue, and the 6.\nAspirates of the Lips, Teeth, and Palate. However if the precipitance or\nforwardnesse of any, hath by chance brought into use, other methods of\naltering sounds, as they have not so certain a foundation in reason, so\nneither can they be receiv'd within the Compas of this Art, at least being\nnot establisht by a regular and constant analogie.\n\nFrom the sound of words, I passe to their _signification_, which in the\nsame dialect may be call'd the soul of a word, as the sound is its body; to\nexpresse it in other terms, then what seem to rellish the dry and\nunpleasant humour of the Pedant or Grammarian; I suppose that words being\nthe expressions of our thoughts, and our thoughts the representations of\nobjects, the different significations that are given to words, principally\ndepend upon the various conceptions, that every Nation frames of the same\nobjects, agreeable to what seems most neerly to concern it.\n\nThis ingageth me to explaine the intire sequel, and naturall dependances of\nour Ideas, and the manner of their forming; of which the world hath yet\nreceiv'd a very imperfect account. In order to this, you may understand\nwhat those objects are, of which we have proper Ideas, and what those are\nwhich we conceive by forreigne images, and that we do not name but in\nfigurative terms; whence ariseth that alliance and resemblance of our\nIdeas, and why the greatest share of our words if refer'd to their first\noriginall, are but metaphors which represent objects to us in such terms as\nare proper to another, with which it hath some agreement, or neere\nrelation, and withall what are the grand principles of metaphors; either of\nAttribution or Proportion, that do not only make op the beauty, but almost\nthe intire body of the Language.\n\nOur Ancestors that gave no names to things, but by a directing prudence,\npurposing to distinguish the works of Nature and Art, had an especiall\nregard to the naturall resemblance they had with any thing that was most\nknown to them, and that was already distinguisht by its character, or to\nany one of their most prevailing properties, or to the principall action\nthat distinguisht them from other beings. They made use of almost the same\nartifice, to impose names upon things more expressive of their properties,\nby considering them only with reference to their operations, of which they\nwere the immediate principles. As for the operations, themselves being not\naequally knowne, nor aequally obvious to sense they plac't the same\nsubordination in the terms they made use of to represent them, that Nature\nhath establisht in our apprehensions and cognisances.\n\nThere being therefore nothing in the world of which they could have fram'd\na more distinct Idea, then of the _motion_ of bodies; which is obvious to\nall the senses, we must not wonder if considering Locall motion as the\nfirst and principall object of their knowledge, they afterwards gave no\nnames to the Operations of each being, but such as seem'd to express some\nrelation either to motion in generall, or to its different species, or to\nsome one of its dependances such as are place, figure, situation,\nextention, Union and seperation, in a word to all the resemblances and\nagreements that in any way or kind relye upon motion. For if Modern\nPhilosophy that Studies Nature by a closer application then formerly,\npretend to a clear and evident explication of Naturall effects in the\nreferring them all to the _Sole movement of matter_ as their true cause;\nthere is much more reason that in order to the giveing an account of all\nthat is to this day past among the Languages, we should have recours to\nsuch terms as are expressive of motion, since it is not to be doubted but\nthat all others that are reducible, may be referr'd hither as to the first\nprinciple of their signfication.\n\nBesides motion is allow'd a far greater Scope and extent among the\nLanguages then in Nature for 'tis to that we referr our most refin'd and\nspirituall conceptions I mean such as we frame of the operations of our\nsouls and the propensions of our wills, So when we say that the mind or\nunderstanding applyes it self to think, to conceive, to discours, to\nexplaine, to disimbroile, to disingage a businesse, to discover a truth;\nwhen we talke of troubles, aversions, of hurries and consternations of the\nsoul, to expresse such actions as are most remote from sense, we make use\nof such Images as are corporeall in their first originall, although for the\nmost part they have lost their proper significance to assume another that\nis purely figurative.\n\n'Tis by their Principles I reduce to naturall reason all imaginable ways by\nwhich words alter their primitive signification to imbrace another, either\nmore inlarg'd or reserv'd, or never so little diversifi'd either in\nProportion or Alliance; for tis no easie matter for words to travell from\none Country to another without meeting with the same casualties, that use\nto befall forreign Plants which, are seldome remov'd into a new soile, but\ndegenerate and either lose some of their Native virtue, or acquire some\nnew. But most people having met wich this generally proposall, to expresse\nat first appearance, what they think with as little trouble as is possible,\nit thence falls out that to ingrosse a great deal of sense in a few words,\nthey scarce allow enough precisely to marke out the simple ideas of their\nminds, fitted out to all their severall resemblances, they that are most\nsimple in themselves, are commonly compounds in their significations,\nneither is there any one of the least considerable, but what is diversify'd\nin each Language by a thousand different modifications.\n\nFrom thence proceed all the methods of inflexion, derivation, and\ncomposition that give being to the most subtle kind of Sophistry; all the\nspecies and forms of Nouns, Verbs, and particles that make up the oeconomy\nof a Language, together withall diversity of Numbers, Genders, Cases,\ntenses, Modes, and Persons which have more of Art than at first sight is\nimagin'd, for the Custome of Nations hath not only authoriz'd these\ninventions to vary the Cadence of words, but with an admirable facility to\nexpresse all the deflexions, by which an Idea of the same object may be\nrepresented to our conceptions according as it admitts of a mixture of\nresemblances, which it may have either to its effects or Causes, or as it\nis related to the severall estates, wherein it subsists, to the differences\nof time or place, and to all the circumstances that may accompany it,\neither within or without us. As the more sensible differences of the\nLanguages principally consist in all these modifications; so one of the\ngreatest secrets of this Art is to know how choisly to select and\ndistinguish, both in our ideas and in the words that expresse them, that\nwhich is principall and essentiall from what is purely accessory, subtly to\ndifference the first ideas from the second, the second from the third, the\nsimple from the Compound, the primitive and Originall signification from\nits dependences and references, its modifications and divers restrictions,\nin one word (if I may so expresse it) not to confound the habit with the\nperson. For in a manner these modifications are the same words, that the\nhabit is to the body; this new dresse that is given to forreign words to\nfitt them up alamode to the Country, for the most part time so disfigures\nthem and renders them so obscure, that they impose as well upon our eyes as\nears, and passe for origalls and Natives of the Country, although in\nreality they are borrow'd from our Neighbourhood, and sometime from beyond\nthe seas.\n\nTo make a secure judgement therefore of the originall, there remains\nnothing but to consider them all, naked and intirely disspoil'd of all that\ntrompery that disguis'd them; and that this may be done with more safety we\nmust follow them step by step in their travels, and espie out the different\nranges they have taken and the habits they have shifted, to come thus\nvizarded and masqued to us.\n\nThese are the most inlarg'd principles and infallible ways by which I\ndiscover this secret and misterious accord of the Languages which without\ndoubt will appear so much the more admirable, as haveing been never to this\nhour been believ'd that they had any such close tie or relation: But these\nprinciples may be apply'd severall ways, and therefore least they should\ncontinue undermin'd, I make it appear by the sequel, what in particular\nmust be done in each Language in conformity to its genius and proper\nCharacter. This is that which obligeth me to make an exact inquirie into\nthe nature of those Languages I pretend to reduce, I do not content my\nselfe infallibly to take my draught either in the generall consent of\nnations, which are as often cheated in their Ideas they have of the\nLanguage of each Nation as they are commonly in its manners, or from the\nparticular sentiments of the more knowing or Learned, who without any\npreoccupation of mind have studied their own Native Language with more then\nordinary care. But to make all yet more certain, I principally form my\nexaminations from the very history of the Languages, which is the most\naequall rule we can take our measures from, in relation to the present\ndesigne.\n\nIn order to this, 'tis necessary that we make reflexions upon the first\nbeginnings of each Nation, and that from other memoires then such with\nwhich we are for the most part furnish't by the Criticks, and seriously to\nexamine the continuall comerce it hath had with the most considerable of\nits neighbours, the wars, feuds and Leagues of its Governours with other\nPrinces, the irruptions and invasions of Conquering Nations, that have\ncorrupted its Language as they ingrost its spoils, the frequent Colonies\nthat Conquerors have sent thither besides its voyages at Sea, and its\ntraffick, with the most remote plantations, These are the more immediate\ncauses of this confusion and mixture.\n\nIt may perhaps withall be no mean pleasure to see the basis of each\nLanguage distinguisht from the changes and accessions of time or\nrevolutions of State, what every Nation hath contributed of its owne to\ninrich it, what Religion, the Government and what Sciences have\ncommunicated to it, what it retains of Antiquity and what new acquests it\nhath made to retrieve its losses with advantage.\n\nAfterall, this is yet but the sceleton, or at most but the body of a\nLanguage, Its necessary that this rude, and indigested masse made up of so\nmany different dialects should be animated by some secret spirit that\nshould expand it selfe through all its parts and severall members, and\nreduce them to unity by communicating the same air to them, and that this\nSpirit or Soul should be the individuall principle of all the effects, and\nsensible changes, which make us easily distinguish one Language from\nanother: The Temper, Humour, and Nature of a people, the dispositions of\ntheir minds, their genius and particular gusts, their more generall and\nforcible inclinations, their ordinary passions, and such singular\nqualities, by which one Nation is remarq'd and distinguisht from another,\nare the most evident signs to discover the true genius of a Language,\nbecause they are in reality the immediate causes and the very originalls\nafter which I have copied all my draughts to compleat the present piece,\nwhich in my opinion is not wanting in something that is very Naturall,\nBesides this, the very manners and customes of Nations, their Laws and\npolicy, and their publick transactions, both of peace and War, are things\nso universally known, that there is no need of any farther search, how to\nbe able to judge by proportion of the genius, and characters of the\nLanguages so securely, as by that of the people that speak them.\n\nBut as the care of a Nation to improve and advance the Arts and Sciences\nand other kinds of good Learning, is that which contributes most to the\nperfection of its Language, So tis upon the manner in which its receiv'd,\nand the characters of its Authors, that I cheifly depend to determine,\nwhether it be modest or imperious, whether it rellish more of a softnesse,\nsweetnesse, and delicacy, than of a certain Noble brisque and generous air,\nwhether it incline more to the simplicity of Nature, or the subtile\nrefinements of Art, whether it be polite to affectation, or betray a\ncertain negligence which hath its graces too, as well as its measures of\nArt, and last of all whether it be not a little crampt in attempting to be\ntoo exact, or else better accomodate it selfe by its freedome from all\nrestraint.\n\nHaving discoverd the genius and proper character of each Language, I have\nfram'd the most perfect Idea that is possible, by way of analogie with the\nprinciples of the Platonists, with whose method I was always as much taken\nas I am dissatisfy'd with their doctrine.\n\nThis Idea being unmasqued serves me in the sequell for a generall rule, to\nestablish the true and proper reasons of all that passe for singular and\nremarqueable in each Language, either in relation to the choice, the\nmixture, and union of sounds, the force and significations of words, or the\nAir and manner of expression; For tis most certain that all these things\nare alter'd according to the genius of a people: So the Spaniards would\ndistinguish themselves from other Nations by their haughtinesse, and\naffected gravity, and their words are easily understood by a certain\npompous Air, that seems to border upon grandeur and Majesty: On the\nContrary the Italians are the Nation of the world that seems to be most\nfond of its pleasure, and its naturall, that this softnesse should be\ncommunicated to their Language, and that all their words should breath\nnothing, but what is sweet, polite, and the most exact harmony; their\ncompositions admitt of no sounds but such, as can flatter the Ear, they\nsuffer not the concours of consonants, whose rudenesse may never so little\noffend the Organ, but they are extreamly in Love with Vowels, and often\nallow their sequences to make their pronunciation more sweet and delicate.\nFor their signification, that they might mixe an accord with their energie,\nthey have hardly any but what are more or lesse figurative, from a\npersuasion, that a Metaphor represents objects to the mind, in that most\ncurious and diverting manner, and withall they are carefull to make choise\nof none, but such as represent the fairest images: They are no lesse\nsollicitous to diversifie their words by agreeable modifications, their\ninflexion hath very little uneasie in it, it is all of it aequally facile\nand gay; their diminutives are exceedingly rellishing, because there is\nsomething more than ordinarily pretty in them, they are rich in\nderivatives, and compounds, not only because their pronunciation is more\nharmonious, but also because they expresse themselves in a more naturall\nmanner, In one word they banish every thing that may appear ingratefull,\nand are passionately in quest of all that may conduce to the Sweetnesse of\ntheir Language.\n\nMy sense is much the same of other Languages, but because reason it selfe\nmay be suspected by some, especially if at any time it appear too just or\nplausible, I was the rather concern'd so to order my instances, that\nbesides the induction, I intended custome and experience should support\nreason, and reason should confirme experience, and withall the examples are\nso naturally chain'd with their principles, and all of them so distributed\nin their proper places, that without so much as making the least reflexion,\nI imperceptibly comprize all the fundamentall and essentiall words of each\nLanguage, being willing my selfe to draw all my conclusions from the\nprinciples I have mention'd, and to make all necessary inductions, without\nleaving any thing of trouble or disease to the reader, who in such cases is\nglad to be quitt from paines and inconvenience, I have some hopes, that a\ncompetition thus differently made up of History, reflexions and Criticismes\nsupported by principles, deductions and examples may contribute something\nto the agreeableness of the designe, and sett off a subject that of itselfe\nis dry and knotty enough, without making it more unacceptable by that mean\nand disreputed method, that hath so much decry'd the Critiques, and\nordinarily hath given a disgust to a science before it hath been allow'd\nthe least consideration, besides that didacticque way, is by no means\nproper in the present case, for as there is little pleasure in being taken\nnotice of under the character of a Scholler, so the only remedy is to\ncontrive some way to come to the knowledge of things without lying under\nthe suspicion of having a master.\n\nThus you see in grosse and generall, the whole designe exprest in as few\nwords as the brevity of the subject would permitt me; And However rationall\nit may be in it selfe yet it wants not its adversaryes; Some with a great\ndeal of heat, plead that if this method acquiring the Languages, hath any\nthing in it that is Curious by way of speculation, it is however uselesse\nenough in relation to its practice, since _Custome_ and _Conversation_ only\n(say they) is the great Master of Language, and that we must intirely relye\nupon memory and the assiduity of constant and resolv'd industry.\n\nOthers confesse that it hath in earnest its advantages, but doubt much of\nthe possibility of its execution, hardly beleeving that the Languages have\nin good truth such an accord and resemblance as I suppose they have, or\nthat there is a possibility for the witt of man now to discover it.\n\nBy way of reply to the first, I confesse that one thing I wonder at, is\nthat persons so knowing and ingenuous should so highly declare themselves\nagainst the judgement in favour of the memory, I have a very great regard\nto their qualitie and worth, but cannot submitt my selfe to their opinion,\nThe only way (as I imagine) to Learn the Languages, and that in what number\nwe please, to do it with ease without taediousnesse, confusion, trouble and\nlosse of time, and without the common hazard, of forgetting them with as\nmuch ease as we acquire them with difficulty, and to be master of them all\nin such a manner, as shall rellish nothing that is mean or not becomeing a\nRationall man, is in one word, to attribute more to the judging and\nreflecting faculty then to the memory; for if the memory depend and relye\nonly upon the reflexions of the judgement, we have no reason to expect much\nfrom its single Conduct, for however plausible it may appear, it will\nalways be slow, limited, confus'd, and faithlesse; its action is not\nvigorous enough to take us off from those fatigues that distast our most\nlikely enterprizes, and its efforts to weak and Languishing in a little\ntime to execute a designe of so large a compasse as this; being so\ndetermin'd as it is, it is impossible it should reduce so great a number of\nLanguages so distanc't in appearance one from another; If at any time it\nseem extraordinary in an action, its Species are soon displac't by their\nmultitude, and when they are rang'd in the best order imaginable, they\ncontinue not so long without being either effact by those that supervene or\ndisappearing of themselves, haveing nothing that can fixe and retaine them,\nSo that the Languages being of so vast an extent, there is no reason that\nthe memory alone should be confided to for their acquest, unlesse we could\nbe content to sacrifice an infinite space of time to the Sole knowledge of\nwords, which being so valuable as it ought to be to us, may be imployd with\nmore discretion and successe, either towards the cognizance of things or\nthe management of businesse.\n\nTo satisfie others, I have nothing more at present to say to them but that\nif the designe shall appear to them at first sight either fantasticall or\ntemerarious, the execution will soon justifie me, and perhaps convince them\nthat it is not always rationall positively to passe a judgement upon any\nthing before a close and a narrow search, and that we ought not hastily to\ndespaire of any thing; the gaining of which hath not been attempted all\nimaginable wayes.\n\nLast of all, as I do not beleeve my selfe to be deceiv'd in that which make\nup the grosse and main of the designe, so I do not expect that all that I\nshall advance in the sequel upon this connexion of the Languages, should be\nreceiv'd by all for uncontrouleable truths, of which I my selfe am\nsufficiently perswaded; I am too well acquainted with the nature of truth\nto beleeve my selfe so succesfull as to have alwayes uncover'd that in the\nmost imbroyld and the most doubtfull affaires of the world; yet I confesse\nthat notwithstanding that great respect that is due to it, I have in some\ncases lesse regarded it when it did not appear to comply with the\ncapacityes of ordinary men, persuading my selfe that conjecture well fram'd\nand adjusted by a plausible Air is more rellishing to ingenious persons,\nthen an obscure and fainting truth, of which sort there is a very great\nnumber in the present subject.\n\nI propose then to the Learned, this new systeme of the Languages, not as an\nincontestable Thesis in all its parts but only as an Hypothesis, not\naltogether irrationall and which besides hath this particular advantage,\nthat although it should be the falsest thing in the world in speculation,\nit may at least be allowable in the practice, And I hope to receive the\nsame favour that persons (that were most obstinately resolv'd against his\nHypothesis) granted Copernicus by their confession, that let it be never so\nfalse it is however the best accommodated to use and Astronomicall\nsupputations.\n\nFINIS.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *","title":"A philosophicall essay for the reunion of the languages : $b or, The art of knowing all by the mastery of one","tradition":"philosophy-ethics","translated_text":null,"word_count":10545}