Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/97

 Grounds, since, besides a great Number of Books in both Languages, upon other Subjects, abundance of Grammatical Treatises, such as Scholia upon difficult Authors, Glossaries, Onomasticons, Etymologicons, Rudiments of Grammar, &c. have been preserved, and published by skilful Men (most of them at least) with great Care and Accuracy. So that there is Reason to believe, that some Modern Criticks may have understood the Grammatical Construction of Latin as well as Varro, or Cæsar; and of Greek as well as Aristarchus, or Herodian. But this cannot be pretended to be a new Invention; for the Grammar of dead Languages can be only learned by Books: And since their Analogy can neither be increased, nor diminished, it must be left as we find it.

So that when Sir William Temple says, That no Man ever disputed Grammar with the Ancients; if he means, that we cannot make a new Grammar of a dead Language, whose Analogy has been determined almost Two Thousand Years, it is what can admit of no Dispute. But if he means, that Modern Languages have not been Grammatically examined; at least, not with that Care that some Ancient Tongues have been; that is a Pro-