My Profeffion as well as Inclination powerfully induce me to rejoice in every Thing that facilitates the Path of Inftruction, in every Book that illuftrates the Greek and Roman Claffics, and exhibits to the World the Lives, Characters, and Compofitions of those incomparable Writers. The following Work, therefore, being excellently calculated for the Amusement and Inftruction of Youth, whether in private Families, or in our Schools, Academies, and Univerfities, I thought I fhould deferve well. of Parents, Preceptors, and Tutors, if I devoted fome of my vacant Hours to augment and improve it. I have not indiligently revised the Whole, added in every Life feveral Particulars, corrected many Mistakes in Names, Places, and Facts, and have written four entire new Lives. At the End of every Article I have added a List of the best Editions of each Claffic Author, much more complete and accurate than any before published. I have only to add, that the Study and Pains I have employed on thefe Two Volumes, will be amply recompenfed, if they in any Respect conduce to delight and inftruct young Perfons, and prove inftrumental in endowing their Minds with Knowledge and Virtue.

LONDON, October 8, 1777.

E. HARWOOD.

PREFACE.

TH

HE Ufefulness, or the Neceffity rather, of a Work of this Nature, if executed with Judgment and Accuracy, can never be disputed by fuch as profefs any Regard for Claffical Learning, or for those mighty and celebrated Names, which have been tranfmitted to us, with Renown, through fo many revolving Ages, as the great and venerable Founders of it. The mere Perufal and Grammatical Knowledge of thefe Writers must be jejune and unaffecting, unless you are in fome Meafure made acquainted with their Characters, their Lives, their Hiftories, their feveral Beauties and Imperfections, the Times in which they lived, the Figure they have made in the Republic of Letters, and the Sentiments and Judgment of the Learned in all Ages on their Compofitions. Thefe, and many other Circumftances, are so neceffary to be known by a young Student, who begins to tread upon Claffic Ground, in order to conduct him with Delight and Improvement thro the Courfe of his Studies, that without these Helps

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Helps, he must walk with Dubioufness and Diffidence, must be led aftray by falje Lights, and be deprived of many wonderful and agreeable Difcoveries, which a Collection of this Species must undoubtedly hold out to him.

I would have it understood that these Volumes are chiefly defigned for the Use and Inftruction of younger Scholars, though perhaps they may be of real Benefit to thofe Gentlemen, who have for fome Years neglected the Advantages of their Education, and are defirous of refuming thofe pleasant and useful Studies, in which they formerly made a Progrefs at the Schools or Universities. Every Thing contained in them is fubmitted, with great Deference, to the most eminent Masters of Claffical Literature, who will find no greater Faults, than I hope will be atoned by the Diligence they will fee I have employed in collecting proper Materials, and the Care I have taken to difpofe them in a clear and ufeful Method. In short, I prefume I have in this Defign not unsuccessfully accomplished what the Title promifes, and therefore shall not plead want of Time or Abilities, the poor and vulgar Refuge of little Authors; fince thofe must be miferable Excufes for a Man's Writing but indifferently, which are strong Reasons why he should not have written at all.

I am not aware of any material Objection that can be offered against the Method I have obferved in the Arrangement of this Work, though it intirely differs from the Scheme that has been followed by those who have preceded me. The Lives of the Grecian Poets have been written many Years ago by a very learned Perfon, and lately, at a great Distance indeed, have appeared the Lives of the Roman Poets, attended with Remarks and Criticifms. But thefe Writers feem to have studied more to difplay their own Accomplishments, and a finifter Affectation of their own Skill, than to inform the young Student who wants Help; they entertain you with their own Obfervations, and rest wholly upon them, without vouchfaving to call to their Aid the Judgment and Sentiments of the many Learned who went before them, and who have acquired Immortality by their laborious Commentaries, and Difquifitions; they overwhelm you with pompous and long Quotations, that cover above half their Pages. Befides the Circumftance of their Thoughts lying vague, and fcattered, and unconnected, they are generally dull and tedious, and therefore trouble and perplex you in the Perufal of them: This Fault I have carefully endeavoured to avoid the Lives, and principal Incidents that relate to the Greek and Roman Claffics, will be found in a narrow and concife View, and the Opinion of the

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