the composition of his Roman tragedies, 'than to examine the writings of the ancients, and not to rest on their sole authority, or take all upon trust from them; provided the plagues of judging and pronouncing against them be away; such as are envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurril scoffing. For, to all the observations of the ancients, we have our own experience; which if we will use and apply, we have better means to pronounce. It is true they opened the gates, and made the way, that went before us; but as guides, not commanders: Non domini nostri sed duces fuere. Truth lies open to all; it is no man's several. Patet omnibus veritas: nondum est occupata. Multum ex illâ etiam futuris relictum est.'[1]
Time and space would fail me to transcribe all that is worth transcription, to comment on everything that deserves commentary, in this treasure-house of art and wisdom, eloquence and good sense. But the following extract could be passed over by no eye but a mole's or a bat's.
- ↑ The scandalously neglected text reads relicta. Perhaps we should read 'Multa—relicta sunt.'
