amiss in it for the advantage of future artificers; but they are of no use to those who only intend to overthrow it utterly.
After the word (song,) in the first line the original adds, (what I have written in my tablets.) These words, which are dropped in the translation as of no consequence, the great Zoilus has thought fit to expunge; asserting for a reason, without backing it with farther proof, that tablets were not of so early invention. Now, it must be granted, this manner of proving by affirmation is of an extraordinary nature; but however it has its end with a set of readers for whom it is adapted. One part of the world knows not with what assurance another part can express itself. They imagine a reasonable creature will not have the face to say any thing which has not some shadow of reason to support it; and run implicitly into the snare which is laid for good-nature, by these daring authors of definitive sentences upon bare assertion.
P. 47. v. 15. Whom cats pursued.]The Greek word here expressly signifies a cat: Zoilus, whom Perizonius follows, affirms, they were weasels which the mouse fled from; and then objects against its probability. But it is common with one sort of critics, to show an author means differently from what he really did; and then to prove, that the meaning which they find out for him is good for nothing.
P. 40. v. 5. If worthy friendship.]In this
