Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/117

Whether his Reasonings are just, I dare not determine: Thus much may very probably be inferred, That in these Things also the World does not decay so fast as Sir William Temple believes; and that Poussin, Le Brun and Bernini have made it evident by their Performances in Painting and Statuary, (h) Pag. 52.(h) That we have had Masters in both these Arts, who have deserved a Rank with those that flourished in the last Age, after they were again restored to these Parts of the World.

 

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CHAP. VII.

General Reflections relating to the following Chapters: With an Account of Sir William Temple's Hypothesis of the History of Learning.

IF the bold Claims of confident and numerous Pretenders might, because of their Confidence and Numbers, be much relied on, it were an easie Thing to determine the present Question, without any further Trouble. The Generality of the Learned have given the Ancients the

Preference