Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/19

 Models, if he proposes to himself to be excellent in that Art himself: All which Things will be neglected, and he will content himself to read them in their Translations, to furnish his Mind with Topicks of Discourse, and to have a general Notion of what these Ancient Authors say, if he thinks he may be equally excellent a nearer Way. To read Greek and Latin with Ease, is a Thing not soon learnt: The Languages are too much out of the common Road; and the Turn which the Greeks and Latins gave to all their Thoughts, cannot be resembled by what we ordinarily meet with in Modern Languages; which makes them tedious, till mastered by Use. So that constant Reading of the most perfect Modern Books, which does not go jointly on with the Ancients, in their Turns, will, by bringing the Ancients into Dis-use, cause the