The Life of the Truly Eminent and Learned Hugo Grotius - Containing a Copious and Circumstantial History of the Several Important and Honourable Negotiations in Which He Was Employed; together with a Critical Account of His Works by Jean Lévesque de Burigny
page 58 of 478 (12%)
page 58 of 478 (12%)
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also necessary to be acquainted with the sentiments of the different
sects of Philosophers; for without that knowledge you will be much at a loss in reading the Ancients, and profit little by them." To unbend after this serious study, some other short and agreeable books that have a relation to it may be read: such as _Ecclesiasticus_, the _Wisdom of Solomon_, _Theognis_, _Phocilides_, the _Golden Verses ascribed to Pythagoras_, _Epictetus's Enchiridion_, _Hierocles_, and the _Commentaries of Arrian_; not omitting the _Characters of Theophrastus_. What the Poets have written on Morality may also be perused; with some select Tragedies of Euripides, _Terence's Comedies_, and _Horace's Epistles_. Young people and grown persons admire different things in these writings: the beauty of the style pleases the first: the others learn by them to know men. To these works may be added _Cicero's Offices_, a piece not enough esteemed, purely because it is in the hands of every one; some of _Seneca's Epistles_, the Tragedies that go under his name; and the best of Plutarch's smaller pieces. After having gone through _Aristotle's Politics_, the excellent extract by Polybius of Republics is to be read; with the _Harangues of Mecænas and Agrippa to Augustus_, in Dion; and _Sallust's Letter to Cæsar_. _Plutarch's Lives of Pericles_, _Cato_, _the Gracchi_, _Demosthenes_, _and Cicero_, must not be omitted: much may be learned too from _Cicero's Letters to Atticus_, if they were translated by one well acquainted with the Roman History of that period. After this would be the proper time for reading _Aristotle's Rhetoric_: for, as is well remark'd by that great man, who possessed all the arts and sciences in an eminent degree, from Morals and Politics must the arguments be drawn that are to convince mens understandings; that is to say, it is impossible to be truly eloquent without extensive knowledge. The better to perceive the use of the precepts it would be proper to |
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