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The TRANSLATOR'S

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HE French Prefacer has given a full Account of the following Pieces. I think it needless to recommend them: they are the late Archbishop of CAMBRAY's. Some Apology however may be expected for my Undertaking a Tranflation that deferv'd the finest Pen. All I can say, without the Appearance of Vanity, is, that I was afraid it fhou'd fall into worfe Hands. I have more reafon to make fome Excufe for the unufual Liberty I have taken in tranflating the DIALOGUES. 'Tis what I cou'd not avoid. Their Stile is extremely concise; A 3 fometimes

fometimes obfcure. And the Paris-Edition, (the Standard of the other,) is fo faulty, not only in thofe Places that are mark't among the unaccurate ERRATA, but throughout the Dialogues, that either they never had the Author's finishing Hand; or they must have been publifh't from a very defective Copy. In order therefore to do him juftice, I found it neceffary to cloath his Thoughts in an English Drefs, without confining my-felf always to a strict Tranflation of the French. Accordingly I have paraphras'd feveral Paffages; tranfpos'd a few; and added whatever feem'd proper to fet his true Sentiments in the fulleft Light. I wou'd not have taken fo much Freedom with any Piece that the Author publish't in his Life-time. But as he ought not to be charg'd with the Faults of a posthumous Edition; fo I did not think myfelf oblig'd to fhow the fame Deference to the French Publisher that might be juftly due to the judicious Author himfelf. The LETTER to the French ACADEMY, that was publish't fome Years before his Death, is far more correct. In tranflating it I have kept as clofe to his Stile as our Language wou'd permit. I have not indeed always exprefs't my-felf fo fuccinctly as He: nor did I endeavour it. Tho' I admire Concife

nefs,

nefs, I prefer Perfpicuity, when I cannot be both fhort and clear.

To illuftrate and confirm our Author's Notions I have adorn'd this Tranflation with many inftructive, beautiful Paffages, collected from fome of the finest Writers both Antient, and Modern; which are not in the French Edition. I have likewise added fome few Paffages of another kind, The Quotations themselves, and the placing of the Marks of Reference, clearly point-out the View with which each Paffage is quoted. If, for this Purpose, I had every-where added introductory Notes of my own, the Reader wou'd have had reason to complain of my distrufting his Judgment.

SOME Criticks will think I have too often neglected fuch connecting Particles as For, But, Seeing, &c. There's a peculiar Beauty in this Omiffion : and I fhou'd have left-out many more, if I had closely follow'd our Author's Example, or my own Judgment. But too much must not be attempted at once,

THROUGHOUT the following Sheets perhaps there are still too many Marks of Inaccuracy. I wish they may pafs for Inftances of that affected Negligence our A 4 Author

viij

The TRANSLATOR'S, &C. Author recommends. His LETTER plainly fhews that he wou'd not always avoid every little Defect: nor ought it to be expected of his Tranflator, if he cou'd. An elaborate Stile, and a fcrupulous Exactness, are inconfiftent with the familiar Strain of a DIALOGUE. It were easy to prove that the free, and feemingly careless Manner which might be blameable in other Pieces, is really beautiful here; as being a juft Imitation of Nature ---- But I will not lengthen this Advertisement into a Preface,

THE

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