Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/314

 Pag. 52.

(13.) I by no Means intend to launch out into the philoophical Reflections that may be made on the Advantages and Diadvantages of this Intitution of Languages; 'tis not for Perons like me to expect Leave to attack vulgar Errors, and the lettered Mob repect their Prejudices too much to bear with Patience my pretended Paradoxes. Let us therefore let thoe peak in whom it has not been deemed criminal to dare ometimes take part with Reaon againt the Opinion of the Multitude. "Nor hould we be les happy, if all thee Languages, whoe Multiplicity occaions o much Trouble and Confuion, were utterly abolihed, and Men knew no other Method of peaking to each other but by Signs, Motions, and Getures. Whereas Things are now come to uch a Pas, that Animals, whom we generally conider as Brute and void of Reaon, may be deemed much happier in this Repect, ince they can more readily, and perhaps too more aptly, expres their Thoughts and Feelings, without an Interpreter, than any Man living can his, epecially when obliged to make Ue of a foreign Language."—I. Voius, de Poemat. Cant. et Viribus Rythmi, p. 66.