Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/123

 them; since, if we believe that there were 600000 Books in the Ptolemæan Library, we shall hardly pretend to equal it by any of ours, nor perhaps by all put together; that is, we shall be scarce able to produce so many Originals that have lived any Time, and thereby given Testimony of their having been thought worth preserving,' All this, as it is urged by Sir William Temple, is liable to great Exception. For, (1.) If we should allow that there is no Hyperbole in the Number of Books in the Ptolemæan Library, yet we are not to take our Estimate by our Way of Reckoning. Every Oration of Demosthenes and Isocrates, every Play of Æschylus or Aristophanes, every Discourse of Plato or Aristotle, was anciently called a Volume. This will lessen the Number to us, who take whole Collections of every Author's Works in one Lump; and call them accordingly in our Catalogues, if printed together, but by one Title. (2.) Sir William Temple seems to take it for granted, that all these Books were Originals; that is to say, Books worth preserving; which is more than any Man can now prove. I suppose he himself believes that there were Ancients of all Sorts and Sizes, as well as there are Moderns now. And