A Philosophicall ESSAY for the REUNION OF THE

LANGUAGES, OR, the Art of Knowing all by the Mastery of one. 

OXFORD Printed by HEN: HALL for JAMES GOOD. 1675. 

The Printer to the

READER. 

_Meeting by chance with this ingenuous offer, I thought it might not beimproper since I found it in another dresse, to make it speak anotherLanguage too, which among the most creditable of Europe, hath not desistedfrom its claim to Antiquity: There are very few Nations but have, atsometime or other, laid in their pretences to a supremacy for theirLanguage, and have boasted an assistance from unsuspected reason andAuthority: But however variously the controversie hath been manag'd, themodesty, and ingenuity of this Author hath rendred, his designe moreplausible, for having without any private regard (in such cases most usuallto the spruce and flourishing Air of his owne Native tongue) made thatnoble Language of the Romans the Basis of his project; And finding himthroughout altogether free from prejudice and partiality, I thought ananteview of so excellent and usefull, a designe would not be unacceptableto the more ingenious part of the world, and that I ought not to neglect sofaire an opportunity of recommending to their consideration thatillustrious dialect, which as it is certainly of all others the mostvaluable, so to the shame of these modern ages, is either exceedinglyimpair'd or lost in its familiar uses among those who challenge the titleof the _Beaux Esprits_ of the times. The aime therefore of this Projectorbeing to facilitate and expedite the Mastery of this as well as others, itssurvey may possibly appear not altogether ungratefull if it be but in hopesto find this incouragement that we shall he able to reserve some number ofyears from our usually tædious application to its study for other eminentuses, and commence men & Schollers at a much easier rate and in an earlierage then now commonly practic'd; I should prevent the Author if I shouldentertaine you with any farther commendation of it then that he hath takenfor his model the most creditable and plausible Language of the world. Ifat any time you divert your selfe with reading Novels; you will here meetwith notions that are both Philosophicall and Airy, and in order to themaine designe for the most part purely scientifick and demonstrative; andafter if all you shall think that you have not mispent your time byobserving something that is either a usefull or pleasurable I shall have mydesigne and the Author the credit. _

_Farewell. _

 * * * * *

As the Knowledge of forreign Languages ought not to be reputed one of thosevain and useless curiosities that serve only to amuse the mind, but iscertainly conducive to a thousand different ends; so we ought not to thinkit strange if our age, which gives such æquall and secure judgement of thevalue of things shew more of passion then ever for it, notwithstanding allthe difficulties that are pretended. I am of an opinion, that one cannot dothe world a more acceptable piece of service, then to invent a certain andeasie way to become universally acquainted with the Languages, and to quita subject from those intrigues, in which the more knowing have at presentinvolv'd it, either from a pure impotence to disingage it, or possibly froma fond desire of a freer breath of popular Air from those who areordinarily most taken with what they least understand. 

This designe being only a proper entertainment for the most criticall ofthe Virtuoses, I am the more inclinable to expose to the public, theproject and plain I have form'd, before I intirely abandon the whole totheir censure; that I may at first anticipate all manner of reply, and takeadvantage from the lights of the most accomplisht and intelligent persons, if their zeale hath courage enough to make them willing to serve the worldin their love and communication. 

_The Authors designe. _

Most men being prepossest with two unjust prejudices against the nature ofthe Languages, th'one, that they have not all either resemblance or accordamong them, the other, that they only depend upon the inconstancie ofchance, and the whisling toyishness of custome, it might be thought nomatter of extraordinary concernment, if one pretended to succeed in a studyof this nature by the single efforts of the memory, without either thevivacitie of imagination, or the force of reason being interress'd. 

But being not very well perswaded of the agreeableness of this method, indirect opposition to it, I have fastn'd the whole designe in hand uponthese two propositions:

First, that _there is a certain accord between the Severall Languages:_ andthat therefore they are attainable by comparison. 

Secondly, _they are unquestionably founded upon reason_, and therefore thatmust be made use of in their mutuall reference. It is upon these twofoundations that I pretend to establish the true method of gaining amastery of the Languages, making it appear to the world by a sensibleexperience that the mind can as easily make reflections upon words, as uponthe things they represent: _Imagination_ and _Reason_ being the twofaculties, that can reflect upon their objects, they both will appear inthe present designe in their uses suitable to their nature, the effects of_Imagination_ shall be visible in the severall resemblances, and theinferences that are thence made; and it will be the worke of _Reason_ toreduce all to certain principles, upon which the argumentative part mustrelye. 

_The first part of the Designe. _

For the easier exercise of Imagination, I shall acquaint you with a methodthat will appeare very naturall, by which insteed of considering theLanguages precisely in themselves (as hitherto hath been usuall) they maybe compar'd one with the other without much difficultie, and at the sametime their accord, dependance, and mutuall relation, discover'd either fromthe resemblance of words, the proportion of their scope or compasse, andthe conformity of their expressions. Tis true that this agreement, andrelation is not a little obscur'd by the severall od constitutions of mensminds, that checque at, and satisfie themselves with the first, and nakedappearance without any farther inquirie, but withall its presently, andeasily perceiv'd by those who are happy enough, in a genius for such kindof Learning. Its something like the paradoxes Geometry proposeth upon therelation, and proportion of figures, where we are mus'd at the firstdraught, and there appeares so little likelihood in them that theunexperienc't would take them only for the tricks and whims of amelancholique brain; whereas an ingenuous Artist, from the most naturall, and simple notions gradually conducts the mind to a kind of insensiblediscovery of truth, and makes it see on a suddain what it could not expect, and that with such open assurances as quit that from all suspicion, whichbut now had scarce any face of truth. 

Knowing no other method then this, that may be proper to make newdiscoveries in the sciences I endeavour'd to make what use I could of it, so farr as my subject permitted; And since amidst the severall resemblancesof the Languages, there are some so evident, as necessarily grance upon themost unobserving eye, I have so order'd my reflections, that by a referenceto these, as models, I might by degrees arrive at the knowledge of theothers, which although reserv'd, and sometimes more distanc't, yet areneither less certain, nor reall: not unlike the subalternate conclusions inspeculation, which are not a jot the lesse true for being farther remov'dfrom their first principle. 

Thus tis that a Language with which we are already acquainted, either bythe assistance of Art, or Conversation, leads us to an intimacy with thosethat were altogether unknown to us before, and that their relationredresseth the treachery of the memory in the close and juncture of onewith the other. 

But that I may compasse this my designe with lesse trouble, my greatestcare is to make choise of one Language as a rule to measure by, and aprinciple to reduce all the rest too: for to pretend to compare themimmediately one with another, as some would have it, is to cherishconfusion among those things that demand the most of order. 

The veneration that I have alwayes had for antiquity, made me think atfirst of ingaging for the _Hebrew_, as being (for ought we know) theearliest, the most noble, and most naturall Language of the world and thatfrom which all others, in a manner, derive themselves. But it was not longbefore I began to consider, that this would directly crosse the firstprinciples of my intended method, and appear a kind of indeavour to teachan unknown Language, by another, of which we have the most imperfect, andslender information of all. The kindnesse, and inclination I ought to havefor my own Country, had almost perswaded me to rest my self there, and tomake my native tongue the basis of this universall reduction but then therest of the Europæan world (which I have no reason to slur or contemne)would have as ill resented the project, as we did it in the Germans, whowould long agoe have challenged this honour to themselves. I had in the endno other course to take, but to throw myselfe upon the _Latine_, in which Iluckily met with all the necessary conditions that did easily, andplausibly conduce to my design'd attempt. 

To say the truth _Aristotle_ himselfe, a man of a judgement in such thingsthe most exact that ever was to take a _measure_ from, demanded but threequalifications, viz. _Universality_, _Certainty_, and _Proportion_; that itshould be generally known to all those that are to make use of it in thequality of a measure, that it should be fixt, and determin'd in its selfe, and then that it should be proportion'd to all those things, to which itprescribes their bounds, all which characters do with advantage combine inthe Latine, and that with such propriety that they cannot be attributed toany other without some sort of injustice; for the greatest part of theother Languages they are determind to the extent of a particular Kingdom orCountry, the Latine hath no such disadvantage upon it. It is to speakproperly the Language of Europe: Religion, and the Sciences have moreenlarg'd its dominions, then all the conquests of the Romans; tis almostthe common Idiom of the North, and universally knowne to persons of birthand education, who alone are presum'd to stand in need of the assistance offorraigne Languages. 

It disownes the common imperfection of others, which by nature beingsubject to change, cannot by consequence, serve for a certain determinaterule in all ages; and if it now survive through the large extent of itsentertainment, it hath much the advantage of others, that are in a mannerdeceas'd to this that is fixt, and retaind by a well assur'd custome and ifits being universally known allows all persons to share its uses, so itsbeing steddy, and unalterable, secures it from all the uneven changes oftime. 

As to its proportion, it in a manner keeps a mean between the Ancient andModern Languages, it is neither altogether so pure as the one, nor socorrupt as the other, and so with the same ease is applicable to both; andin earnest is infinitely the most compendious, it being farre less troubleto passe from the mean to an extream, or from the extream to the mean, thento trace it from one extream to another. However this would seemincommodious beyond all redresse, to attempt to reduce all the Languages, either to the most ancient, or else to any one of the most modern, becausein reality, the former have no more relation to the later, then these havewith others of the same age, which have been as so many channels to deriveAntiquity to us. 

Besides the Latin makes a friendly meeting between the Eastern, and WesternLanguages; as to the first alone it owes its birth and life, so the othersdo to it. 

It seems then no more difficult to attain the one, by streaming it up tothe fountain, then to gain all the rest by making a like descent, by way ofresemblance to what we observe in nature when we discern, as well theeffect by the cause, as the cause by the effect. In one word, to make upall the differences that may arise about the supremacie of the Languages, Iconsider the Latin under three different regards, as the _daughter_ of theLanguages of the _East_, as the _Mother_ of those in the _West_, and as the_Sister_ of the more _Northerne_. 

As it is abundantly copious, and rich, having been refind, and improv'd formore then 3000 years by an infinite variety of nations, with whose spoylsit is now invested, so it may have a very great number of resemblances, under which with little difficultie it will admit of a reference to all therest. For in conclusion, to reduce all to the most refin'd, and politeLanguage, is not what I pretend to; the Barbarous stile of the ancientRomans will do me as much service, as the quaintnesse, and elegance ofCicero; the Latin of the declining Empire, since the irruptions of theNorthern Nations, may be admitted into this designe to as good purpose, asthe language of Augustus his time; any sense is the same of that of the_Sciences_, which makes one almost altogether distinct from what is commonand vulgar; the proper names of Philosophy, naturall History, and Divinity, those of Physick, and the Mathematicks, of Arts, Law, and Commerce; thenames of illustrious persons, people and places, of which Historyfurnisheth us with a plausible account, will afford me no lesse assistanceon this occasion, then the names of things that are most common. 

After having made choice of a Language in order to the design, I am in thenext place to determine my self to a _certain number of them_, the reunionof which may be justly thought a modest and reasonable attempt; for asthere are some, the knowledge of which will be of very little use; so I amobliged to prescribe some bounds to a designe that would lead me tosomething indetermin'd, and infinite, and withall I suspect the inlargementboth of mind, and memory to compasse all; especially considering theconsequence of some to be indifferent, neither that of Biscany, nor thelower Brettaigne should in my opinion much afflict any mans braine, nor doI believe that there are many more in the world interest for them, thenthere are for the dialect of Finland or Frizland, or the Barbarous janglingof the Negroes and Savages. In the choise that I was to make I could notbut give the preference to those of the greatest credit and repute, _tooksome Prince_ (excuse the allusion) _who having laid his design to reuniteall the Kingdomes of the world, began his conquest upon those Nations thatwere most formidable and renown'd, from an apprehension that the rest in alittle time would be less able to make any opposition. _

As I am not of an humour to attempt any thing without an incouragement fromreason; or to give my selfe any trouble through a kind of caprice, purelyto gratifie my curiositie; _Religion_, _State_, and the _Sciences_ are the_three grand rules_ from which I make a judgement what Languages are reallythe most important and noble; I have only therefore selected such as_Europe_ may use to the best advantage, either for the defence of theChurch, the good of the State, the advancement of the Sciences, or theperfection of the most laudable Arts. It is for this end that I haveentertained in my designe all the Languages that concerne Religion, andmake a particular mention of such as furnish us with originall texts, andthe most authentick translations of the Bible, being of no mean consequencetowards the faithfull interpretation of our sacred Records, and theconfirmation of the Articles of our Creed. 

I am in the next place obliged to find a place for such as concern andrelate to State affaires, the most renowned Empires, Kingdomes, and warlikeNations, which may afford a suitable entertainment for all sorts of people, and withall very much conduce to the succesful management of forraignebusinesse, the most important negotiations, Embassies, the transactions ofwar or peace, as well as the most hopefull designes of travellers. Butabove all I find myself concern'd for those that give us the most refin'dand polite discoveries of wit and Science, and have been cherisht and nurstup to our hands by the most knowing and ingenious of all Nations. 

I can hardly believe I shall meet with any inclinable to quarrell me forthe number of 24. That I have thought on for my designe, since I presume itno easie matter for the most nicely curious to find a just occasion; andalthough there are none of them that are not unquestionably deriv'd fromthe same originall, it being no great difficulty to convince any wellsettled head, that in the propriety of speech there is but one motherLanguage: Yet to avoid confusion I distribute them all into 7. Differentorders, as they seem to carry an immediate reference to the Languages, which are the commonly suppos'd originals: such are in the opinion of theLearned the _Roman_, and the _Greec_, the _Teutonic_ and _Sclavonic_, the_Hebrew_, _Scythian_, and the _Persian_. 

The Roman Idioms are the _Italian_, _Spanish_ and _French_, which cannotnow be unknowne to any but such as are shamefully ignorant; I may addelikewise the _Portuguese_, which although not very different from the_Castilian_, yet is not wanting in its owne particular beauties, and hathreceiv'd no mean accession of use and honour from the conquests of itsKings in the most remote parts of the world. 

To the Greec I shall reduce its 3. Principall relations, _viz_ the LiterallGreec, such as we meet with in our old Classic Authors, the vulgar as it iscommonly used since the declining age of the Empire at Constantinople, andthe Coptique or Ægyptian, which is but a remainder of the famous governmentof the Ptolomies in Ægypt: for although in its idiome there be somethingyet remaining of an originall stamp, either in that its words seem to touchupon the auntient Language of the Pharaohs, or that its inflection no wayresembles the Greec, yet the Empire of Alexander and his successors induc'dsuch a confusion, that the Greec hath almost got the better, and involv'dall the lesser remains of Antiquity. 

Under the Teutonic I comprehend the Almain or high German, the Flemmish orlow Dutch, the English and the Danish, which is to this day entertain/'d inthe most Northerne regions, and may give us some intimations of a clearerlight then any besides, as having yet carefully secured some footsteps ofthe ancient Language. 

The Sclavonic is accompani'd with 3. More considerable dialects the trueSclavonic, the Polish, and Muscovitish, to which the valour of the Nationsthat speak them have brought more reputation then any other ingeniousperformances. 

The Hebrew hath no less then seven in its retinue, the pure Hebrew, such aswe meet with in our Bible, the Language of the Rabbins and Talmudists, theChaldee, the Syriaque, the Æthiopick or Abyssin, the Samaritan, and theArabique, which in our age hath so inlarg'd its dominion, that its eitherspoke or understood in the three parts of the Old World Asia, Africa andEurope; and hath alone produc't such a prodigious number of books, that onewould scarce believe how a Nation so famous for its exploits in warr shouldhave so much leasure to attend to the improvement of learning. 

The Scythian hath two very illustrious dialects in its traine, the Turkishand lesser Tartarian, both which may serve in some measure to acquaint uswhat Languages are used in the North of Asia. 

The last is the Persian, which is not only universally priz'd in the Empireof the Sophy, but a common entertainment in the Court of the grandSeigneur, as well as in that of the Mogull, where it is hugely valued andesteem'd. 

As this reference of the Languages to one another would be to litlepurpose, if the less qualifi'd and accomplisht were not capable of judgingof it, since tis for them principally I am most concern'd, I believ'dtherefore it would be necessary intirely to retrench all that strangevariety of characters, whose od and fantasticall figures do strangelydivert the imaginations of those, who are not well qualifi'd to conceivethem. Neither do I intend to humour my selfe in that vaine kind ofostentation that some affect, to make this kind of writing one of that mostmysterious parts of their learning, but have found out a method ofexpressing the sounds of all the distinguishing characters of each Languageonely by the Roman, and that in a manner as easie and disingag'd as it isaccurate and new; insomuch that the resemblances of words, which altogetherdisappear'd under those uncouth figures (which like a veile interceptedthem from the less clarify'd eye) presently face the light, there beingnothing left to interpose between them, and a closer consideration, whichnotwithstanding shall not acquit me from my designe of discovering anexpedient to decypher with ease all those severall kinds of writing, and offixing them upon the imagination in such a manner as without difficulty canadmit of no confusion. 

After having remov'd this first obstruction, which hath so long imbroildand retarded the knowledge of the Languages, that I may with less troublereduce them to their first principle, I shall run near the same course, that hath been successively taken in their removall, so farr as any historycan informe us, upon which I principally lay the stresse and basis of mydesigne by producing such arguments from it, the force of which cannotplausibly be eluded. For I do not believe that any of the more curious willfind fault with me for fastning the origine, and alliance of the Languageupon the same bottome with the begining and first society of mankind, whoare observed never to shift their Country, without having their Language tobear their Arms and Customes company. As I never thought fit to dispute itwith the Learned, why they did not make use of the affinity of theLanguages, which sometimes are of clearer notice to them to discover thethe first rise of a people more remote, and with which they are lesseacquainted; So I hope I may be permitted to make what advantage I can ofthe first combinations and colonies to give a clearer light to thebeginnings and connexion of the severall Tongues, there being somethingnear the same, or a like proportion between both: as for instance, To makegood the opinion of Dionysius Halicarnasseus, and Quintilian, who bothpretend that the Latin tongue is no more then a Dialect of the AntientGreek, is but in plain and easie words to give an account of all the littlesettlements, and Plantations in Italy, which for some continuance of timewas only inhabited by colonies from Greece. 

Upon what other terms I hardly understand this new project should besurprizing to any, it being not the meer effect of imagination, or anhumorous Idea, neither will it much ingage any sort of people, but onlysuch as can easily dislodge their prejudices when their owne lights shallassist in their conviction, and that from such assurances as shall be mostfree from suspicion, being faithfull deductions from the histories of theColonies. But as it is impossible that the Languages should not be liableto severall alterations and mixtures from the different associations ofpeople in severall removes, so neither is it to be believ'd that this wasdone all on a sudden; there seems to be a resemblance between the wordsthat make up the Language and Travellers, who do not put off theiraccustom'd usages and manners so soon as they arrive at a new Country, neither are they naturaliz'd, but with time and by degrees become mastersof the Air, humors, and qualities of the persons with whom they converse. 

Since then this corruption is but of a graduall and intensible growth, there is a necessitie, for its more certain discovery, of an orderlyreflection upon the very first beginnings of the differences, being in theinterim very sollicitous to prevent a false retreat that might eitheringage me too farr, or else in some unluckie circumstances, from which itwould be no little difficulty to retire. And this seems to be the only waythat I could find out to scatter a certain Air and appearance of truth uponall that regard the present subject, which hath no farther a probabilitythen what is given it from such a carefull mannagement, that shall sufferno pass from one extreame to the other without touching upon that meanwhich is as it were the time of communication between both, for it is fromthis chain of words and sequel of alterations that all the suitablenesse, and likelyhood of this present method principally depends. 

Although in reality there is no reason to doubt but that the French is acorruption of the Latine, I could not however very easily perswade my selfethat the word _dechoir_ should derive its selfe from _cadere_ of theLatines, if I did not perceive all its severall and distinct conveiancesthrough the Alembic. They that first corrupted the Language of the _Romans_instead of _cadere_ made use of _cader_, as the Italians do to this day, who commonly cut off the final vowels where they obseve them to followLiquids. They that came after proceeded yet farther in their retrenchment, and from _cader_ form'd _caer_, as the Spaniards now use it, by taking awaythe letter _d_ according to their ordinary custome, when it is seated inthe middle of words. There are another sort of people yet more sturdy andblunt in their formes of speech, who would say _Car_ or _Ker_ by acontraction of the two Vowels into one, as is observable among the Peasantsof France, and those of Picardy, who retain very much of Antiquity, whichseems to be agreeable with the manner of speech among the Ancient French, who delighted to shorten and contract their words as much as possible, thatthey might make up a Language altogether as free as their humour, some ofthe most remote of these would instead of _Ker_ pronounce _Cher_ by achange of that firm and surly letter into one more easy and soft as we yetfind it Customary in the remains of some of the Ancient Romans, and thenafter all by the turn of a Vowel into a Dipthong, from _Cher_ is form'd_Choir_, which now begins to be out of date altho its Composit _dechoir_ bestill of plausible and commendable use. Thus 'tis that _Cadere_, _Cader_, _Caer_, _Car_, _Ker_, _Cher_, _Choir_, and _Dechoir_ make up but one intirechain and connexion, yet all to very little purpose if any one of thedegrees by chance should have been wanting. 

For this reason altho I consider every Language in its greatest perfection, yet for clearing its originall in rendring this sequel of words more openand palpable I have been oblidg'd to make numerous reflections upon theolder forms of speech as well as Orthographie, by which a better discoverymay be made of all the varieties that occure in pronunciation, as also ofthe severall medlies and Gibrish of the Provinces of Each Empire that speakthe same Language, but most of them in a singular fashion. 

So that it is most certain that that Language which is most quaint andpolite is very often the lesse pure and most debaucht, if we make an æqualljudgment from its originall which is the most unquestionable rule: Uponwhich account the dialects of Province, Gascogne, Languedoc, and that whichis known by the name of the Antient Gauls is infinitely lesse alter'd anddistanc't from its original, then the Languages of the Court and Nobility, who take a pleasure in receding from the Latin: Those of Lombardy andNaples are for the most part lesse corrupt than these of Siena andFlorence; Altho the Spaniards have a saying among them, that the Catalonianand that of Arragon is commonly more pure then the Castilian that is morePompous. And not to spare the French more then the Spaniard, if they havereason to boast their Language to be the most refin'd and Polite of theworld, yet their Neighbours might justly returne upon them, that of all theDialects of the Latin, there is none more degenerate than theirs, forasmuchas its quaintness ariseth from its sweetnesse, so that it is not attainablewithout a strange descent from its principle. Thus _le Capo_ of theItalians, _le Cabo_, of the Spaniards, _le Cap_, of the old French and _leKef_ of Picardy are all variously alterd from _Caput_ of the Latins, butnone so much as _le Chef_ of the French, which notwithstanding claims thesame Originall. 

But this is not all; as the resemblance and connexion of the Languages isnot alwaies the same but depends more or lesse upon the communication ofthe Nations that speak them, So it's not necessary that this method shouldbe invariable, it must admitt of alteration with its subjects, andaccomodate it selfe to the diversity of Tongues. 

There is much more of Art requir'd to reduce those which only carry aresemblance in their words, and abundantly lesse for those which withalladmitt of an analogie in inflexion, And Since the same words which allow ofthis accord may have it in severall distinct manners they are not all (if Imay be permitted to say so) neither of Kin, nor alliance in the samedegree; their relation is sometimes nearer, Sometimes at a greaterdistance, for we may by way of analogie discours at the same rate of thegenealogie of words as we do of the degrees of consanguinity; for if theone sort be rang'd under the same Line either direct or Collaterall, theothers admitt of a little deflection and do not exactly corespond; some areallied in the first, some in the 2d degree, some in advancing from thebranches to the stock, others in a descent from that to the branches, in aword this accord is neither always immediate nor at all directly opposite. 

I add besides that as there are, some allied two or three ways and thatsince the first division have contracted new and closer relations, so Iconfesse there are others that content themselves with their Originallreference, and that have scarce any other agreement among them than whatdepends upon the common tie and union that they have with their firstprinciple, which in reallity is no more then this famous Mother Tongue ofwhich some make a mystery without well understanding what they say: Foraltho it hath subsisted in its selfe before the first confusion, yet wemust not think of discoursing of it at the same rate, nor put our mindsupon the harasse of receiving it. 

'Tis no more now as some fondly imagaine a particular and distinct Languagefrom others, so that there is but one way to regain it and reestablish itat least so far as is necessary for a compleat execution of my designe, andthat is to make a judicious choice of all that is primitive and most simpleamong the Remains of the antient Language either by considering the firstcombinations of sounds or by a regard to the earnest ideas of the mind, that were apply'd to these sounds; to the end that we may referr thither bya sequel, all the essentiall and fundamentall words of each Language as totheir fountaine; which admiting of divisions, runnes now in lesser streamswhich assume the names of Originalls; because they have their rise fromthat grand Source where the first inhabitants of the world ingrost all. Sothat it may be truly said of this Mother Tongue that it is in no sense apart as being really every where either in sums of its divisions or in itseffects and dependances something like your vertues of the elements and theoriginall seeds of things, that Subsist not of themselves but in themixtures that compose them. 

I shall possibly be wonderd at, that being able to accomplish all by thissingle method, I have not in the interim recours to it, when all other waysprove unserviceable; But after all, tho this method be perhaps moreingenuous and of a more profound speculation, it is not however the mostnaturall and compendious, be it never so refind'd or accomodate to mydesigne, and I hardly understand the reason why any man should affect acrooked and uncouth road to active at his purpose when the streight lyesbefore him. 

_The second part of the desine. _

Comparison alone is not (in the opinion of some) sufficient to accomplishthe present intention, however accurate it be; if it want the supports of_reason_, it may rationally be suspected for being more airy then solid, and without injustice the same character may be given to some of thoseunusuall Chances that sometimes produce the most surprizing effects. Besides altho the vivacity and force of imagination be easily admitted intothe relations of the Languages, and leaves there forcible impressions, yetit neither warrants certitude, nor dislodgeth confusion; 'tis reason alonethat establisheth the mind in its cognizances, and credits all itsconceptions with order, tis that alone which perfects the combination ofall their relations and agreements according to the naturall connexionwhich they have with the same principles on which they depend in Common. 

That which seems to be of greatest moment is that the principles beplausible and rationall and such as man may lay a stress on withoutsuspicion or fear, and this is that which in a singular manner theprinciples of this Art challenge to themselves, being in my opinioninfinitely more sensible then those which Philosophy proposeth under thecharacters of uncontroleable truths; I have therefore taken them all fromthe very natures of the subject of which I am treating _viz_: from thedeflections and different regards under which the consideration of wordsmay be manag'd; wch may last of all serve for an assurance, that chancehath not all that Empire and authority, that is given it over theLanguages; and that it would be no great difficulty to make it appear, thatin the Languages themselves there are well fram'd and solid reasons, forevery thing that appears otherwise, and hath been hitherto suppos'd to bethe bare effect of Caprice. 

It may be perceiv'd by the very effects themselves that it will make up ascience fully demonstrative, and back't with such consequences, as may verywell passe for compleat models in this kind: And above all the scope of itsprinciples infinitely shortens the way without being at all oblig'd to makea descent to a thousand tædious and wearisome differences; which appearmuch better, and in a more elegant manner in their principles then inthemselves, which is an incouragement for me to hope that a Language forthe acquest of which we have formerly by a close application numbredseverall years, will by this means be made the divertisement of some hours, or at most but some few days. 

Words being in the opinion of all men but significant sounds, they may betaken either as they are _Natural sounds_, or _arbitrary signs_, I wouldsay, either as they are the proper effect of the motion of our organs, oras the lively representation of the thought of our minds. And since theymake their passes from one Language to another they cannot well admit ofany alteration in this their transit but in three respects; for whatsoeverchange be suppos'd it will necessarily fall out, either in the _soundsthemselves_ that compose the words, or in _their significations_, or intheir _different modifications_, and its from these three distinct regardsthat the generall principles have their rise, upon which I have fastn'dthis new Systime of the Philosophie of the Languages. 

That I may make my procedure more justificable and artificiall, I examinewith all exactnesse the different organs of the voice, the various motionsof the muscles belonging to these organs, and the admirable concent andaccord of those motions; and these I make use of to demonstrativelyexplaine the precise number of all the simple sounds, that enter into thecomposition of the Languages, to discover the nature and properpronunciation of these sounds, and by consequence to disclose theirnearnesse and affinity, the resemblances of some, and the disproportion ofothers, their accord and opposition, their Sympathy and Antipathy, in aword, all their combinations and mixtures, their divisions anddistinctions, their orders and severall degrees. From whence I concludethat all the astonishing and surprizing depravations and Corruptions thatare met withall in the words that one Language borrows from another, inchanging or in transposing, in adding or retrenching, have their basis innature; which never attempts any thing but to the purpose, and with asollicitous care, when to us it appears to have acted with an open andobservable neglect. 

We may Study Nature upon the Latine it selfe which may serve as well for amodel as it doth for a principle; It will in the first place acquaint usthat the Vowels are almost accounted for nothing, for altho there are someof them that admitt of easie changes among themselves according as they aremore open or reserv'd, we know neverthelesse that there are none of thembut what may be absolutely shifted into the place of another of what kindsoever, either immediately, or by succession and degrees. For a finallconfirmation of this we have no more to doe but to make an easie comparisonof the different derivative of the same word, the reference of these three_Cepa_; _incipio_ and _occupo_, to the Verb _Capio_ may serve for aninstance, if we shall but grant the truth of this principle which theorientalists have always suppos'd, who form the greatest part of theirwords from the sole change of their Vowels. 

The same is not altogether allowable in relation to the Consonants, wherewe must not admitt indifferently all sorts of changes; the sole affinity ofthe Organs is that which must regulate almost all their varieties: theLabiall letters easily supplant one another but the Dentall or Linguallwith more difficulty succeed them as being not of the same order; For asthese consonants, M. B. P. V. F. Make neer the same sound, which ismodified by the divers force of the Air opening the lips after severallforms. So the Letters D. T. Z. S. Ought to make an order by themselves, having a particular relation to the point of the tongue, which only bytouching upon the teeth in various manners frames their pronunciation. 

But it is not a single and easie reflexion, that can absolutely determinewhether two letters have resemblance and proportion, because there are someof them that being made up of the movements of severall organs, maybedifferently alter'd according to their various resemblances, so the letterH. Carrys not only the resemblance of a gutturall as it is pronounc'd bythe assistance of the muscles of the throat, but also as an Aspirationbesides the regard it hath to the whispers of the tongue, and the 6. Aspirates of the Lips, Teeth, and Palate. However if the precipitance orforwardnesse of any, hath by chance brought into use, other methods ofaltering sounds, as they have not so certain a foundation in reason, soneither can they be receiv'd within the Compas of this Art, at least beingnot establisht by a regular and constant analogie. 

From the sound of words, I passe to their _signification_, which in thesame dialect may be call'd the soul of a word, as the sound is its body; toexpresse it in other terms, then what seem to rellish the dry andunpleasant humour of the Pedant or Grammarian; I suppose that words beingthe expressions of our thoughts, and our thoughts the representations ofobjects, the different significations that are given to words, principallydepend upon the various conceptions, that every Nation frames of the sameobjects, agreeable to what seems most neerly to concern it. 

This ingageth me to explaine the intire sequel, and naturall dependances ofour Ideas, and the manner of their forming; of which the world hath yetreceiv'd a very imperfect account. In order to this, you may understandwhat those objects are, of which we have proper Ideas, and what those arewhich we conceive by forreigne images, and that we do not name but infigurative terms; whence ariseth that alliance and resemblance of ourIdeas, and why the greatest share of our words if refer'd to their firstoriginall, are but metaphors which represent objects to us in such terms asare proper to another, with which it hath some agreement, or neererelation, and withall what are the grand principles of metaphors; either ofAttribution or Proportion, that do not only make op the beauty, but almostthe intire body of the Language. 

Our Ancestors that gave no names to things, but by a directing prudence, purposing to distinguish the works of Nature and Art, had an especiallregard to the naturall resemblance they had with any thing that was mostknown to them, and that was already distinguisht by its character, or toany one of their most prevailing properties, or to the principall actionthat distinguisht them from other beings. They made use of almost the sameartifice, to impose names upon things more expressive of their properties, by considering them only with reference to their operations, of which theywere the immediate principles. As for the operations, themselves being notæqually knowne, nor æqually obvious to sense they plac't the samesubordination in the terms they made use of to represent them, that Naturehath establisht in our apprehensions and cognisances. 

There being therefore nothing in the world of which they could have fram'da more distinct Idea, then of the _motion_ of bodies; which is obvious toall the senses, we must not wonder if considering Locall motion as thefirst and principall object of their knowledge, they afterwards gave nonames to the Operations of each being, but such as seem'd to express somerelation either to motion in generall, or to its different species, or tosome one of its dependances such as are place, figure, situation, extention, Union and seperation, in a word to all the resemblances andagreements that in any way or kind relye upon motion. For if ModernPhilosophy that Studies Nature by a closer application then formerly, pretend to a clear and evident explication of Naturall effects in thereferring them all to the _Sole movement of matter_ as their true cause;there is much more reason that in order to the giveing an account of allthat is to this day past among the Languages, we should have recours tosuch terms as are expressive of motion, since it is not to be doubted butthat all others that are reducible, may be referr'd hither as to the firstprinciple of their signfication. 

Besides motion is allow'd a far greater Scope and extent among theLanguages then in Nature for 'tis to that we referr our most refin'd andspirituall conceptions I mean such as we frame of the operations of oursouls and the propensions of our wills, So when we say that the mind orunderstanding applyes it self to think, to conceive, to discours, toexplaine, to disimbroile, to disingage a businesse, to discover a truth;when we talke of troubles, aversions, of hurries and consternations of thesoul, to expresse such actions as are most remote from sense, we make useof such Images as are corporeall in their first originall, although for themost part they have lost their proper significance to assume another thatis purely figurative. 

'Tis by their Principles I reduce to naturall reason all imaginable ways bywhich words alter their primitive signification to imbrace another, eithermore inlarg'd or reserv'd, or never so little diversifi'd either inProportion or Alliance; for tis no easie matter for words to travell fromone Country to another without meeting with the same casualties, that useto befall forreign Plants which, are seldome remov'd into a new soile, butdegenerate and either lose some of their Native virtue, or acquire somenew. But most people having met wich this generally proposall, to expresseat first appearance, what they think with as little trouble as is possible, it thence falls out that to ingrosse a great deal of sense in a few words, they scarce allow enough precisely to marke out the simple ideas of theirminds, fitted out to all their severall resemblances, they that are mostsimple in themselves, are commonly compounds in their significations, neither is there any one of the least considerable, but what is diversify'din each Language by a thousand different modifications. 

From thence proceed all the methods of inflexion, derivation, andcomposition that give being to the most subtle kind of Sophistry; all thespecies and forms of Nouns, Verbs, and particles that make up the oeconomyof a Language, together withall diversity of Numbers, Genders, Cases, tenses, Modes, and Persons which have more of Art than at first sight isimagin'd, for the Custome of Nations hath not only authoriz'd theseinventions to vary the Cadence of words, but with an admirable facility toexpresse all the deflexions, by which an Idea of the same object may berepresented to our conceptions according as it admitts of a mixture ofresemblances, which it may have either to its effects or Causes, or as itis related to the severall estates, wherein it subsists, to the differencesof time or place, and to all the circumstances that may accompany it, either within or without us. As the more sensible differences of theLanguages principally consist in all these modifications; so one of thegreatest secrets of this Art is to know how choisly to select anddistinguish, both in our ideas and in the words that expresse them, thatwhich is principall and essentiall from what is purely accessory, subtly todifference the first ideas from the second, the second from the third, thesimple from the Compound, the primitive and Originall signification fromits dependences and references, its modifications and divers restrictions, in one word (if I may so expresse it) not to confound the habit with theperson. For in a manner these modifications are the same words, that thehabit is to the body; this new dresse that is given to forreign words tofitt them up alamode to the Country, for the most part time so disfiguresthem and renders them so obscure, that they impose as well upon our eyes asears, and passe for origalls and Natives of the Country, although inreality they are borrow'd from our Neighbourhood, and sometime from beyondthe seas. 

To make a secure judgement therefore of the originall, there remainsnothing but to consider them all, naked and intirely disspoil'd of all thattrompery that disguis'd them; and that this may be done with more safety wemust follow them step by step in their travels, and espie out the differentranges they have taken and the habits they have shifted, to come thusvizarded and masqued to us. 

These are the most inlarg'd principles and infallible ways by which Idiscover this secret and misterious accord of the Languages which withoutdoubt will appear so much the more admirable, as haveing been never to thishour been believ'd that they had any such close tie or relation: But theseprinciples may be apply'd severall ways, and therefore least they shouldcontinue undermin'd, I make it appear by the sequel, what in particularmust be done in each Language in conformity to its genius and properCharacter. This is that which obligeth me to make an exact inquirie intothe nature of those Languages I pretend to reduce, I do not content myselfe infallibly to take my draught either in the generall consent ofnations, which are as often cheated in their Ideas they have of theLanguage of each Nation as they are commonly in its manners, or from theparticular sentiments of the more knowing or Learned, who without anypreoccupation of mind have studied their own Native Language with more thenordinary care. But to make all yet more certain, I principally form myexaminations from the very history of the Languages, which is the mostæquall rule we can take our measures from, in relation to the presentdesigne. 

In order to this, 'tis necessary that we make reflexions upon the firstbeginnings of each Nation, and that from other memoires then such withwhich we are for the most part furnish't by the Criticks, and seriously toexamine the continuall comerce it hath had with the most considerable ofits neighbours, the wars, feuds and Leagues of its Governours with otherPrinces, the irruptions and invasions of Conquering Nations, that havecorrupted its Language as they ingrost its spoils, the frequent Coloniesthat Conquerors have sent thither besides its voyages at Sea, and itstraffick, with the most remote plantations, These are the more immediatecauses of this confusion and mixture. 

It may perhaps withall be no mean pleasure to see the basis of eachLanguage distinguisht from the changes and accessions of time orrevolutions of State, what every Nation hath contributed of its owne toinrich it, what Religion, the Government and what Sciences havecommunicated to it, what it retains of Antiquity and what new acquests ithath made to retrieve its losses with advantage. 

Afterall, this is yet but the sceleton, or at most but the body of aLanguage, Its necessary that this rude, and indigested masse made up of somany different dialects should be animated by some secret spirit thatshould expand it selfe through all its parts and severall members, andreduce them to unity by communicating the same air to them, and that thisSpirit or Soul should be the individuall principle of all the effects, andsensible changes, which make us easily distinguish one Language fromanother: The Temper, Humour, and Nature of a people, the dispositions oftheir minds, their genius and particular gusts, their more generall andforcible inclinations, their ordinary passions, and such singularqualities, by which one Nation is remarq'd and distinguisht from another, are the most evident signs to discover the true genius of a Language, because they are in reality the immediate causes and the very originallsafter which I have copied all my draughts to compleat the present piece, which in my opinion is not wanting in something that is very Naturall, Besides this, the very manners and customes of Nations, their Laws andpolicy, and their publick transactions, both of peace and War, are thingsso universally known, that there is no need of any farther search, how tobe able to judge by proportion of the genius, and characters of theLanguages so securely, as by that of the people that speak them. 

But as the care of a Nation to improve and advance the Arts and Sciencesand other kinds of good Learning, is that which contributes most to theperfection of its Language, So tis upon the manner in which its receiv'd, and the characters of its Authors, that I cheifly depend to determine, whether it be modest or imperious, whether it rellish more of a softnesse, sweetnesse, and delicacy, than of a certain Noble brisque and generous air, whether it incline more to the simplicity of Nature, or the subtilerefinements of Art, whether it be polite to affectation, or betray acertain negligence which hath its graces too, as well as its measures ofArt, and last of all whether it be not a little crampt in attempting to betoo exact, or else better accomodate it selfe by its freedome from allrestraint. 

Having discoverd the genius and proper character of each Language, I havefram'd the most perfect Idea that is possible, by way of analogie with theprinciples of the Platonists, with whose method I was always as much takenas I am dissatisfy'd with their doctrine. 

This Idea being unmasqued serves me in the sequell for a generall rule, toestablish the true and proper reasons of all that passe for singular andremarqueable in each Language, either in relation to the choice, themixture, and union of sounds, the force and significations of words, or theAir and manner of expression; For tis most certain that all these thingsare alter'd according to the genius of a people: So the Spaniards woulddistinguish themselves from other Nations by their haughtinesse, andaffected gravity, and their words are easily understood by a certainpompous Air, that seems to border upon grandeur and Majesty: On theContrary the Italians are the Nation of the world that seems to be mostfond of its pleasure, and its naturall, that this softnesse should becommunicated to their Language, and that all their words should breathnothing, but what is sweet, polite, and the most exact harmony; theircompositions admitt of no sounds but such, as can flatter the Ear, theysuffer not the concours of consonants, whose rudenesse may never so littleoffend the Organ, but they are extreamly in Love with Vowels, and oftenallow their sequences to make their pronunciation more sweet and delicate. For their signification, that they might mixe an accord with their energie, they have hardly any but what are more or lesse figurative, from apersuasion, that a Metaphor represents objects to the mind, in that mostcurious and diverting manner, and withall they are carefull to make choiseof none, but such as represent the fairest images: They are no lessesollicitous to diversifie their words by agreeable modifications, theirinflexion hath very little uneasie in it, it is all of it æqually facileand gay; their diminutives are exceedingly rellishing, because there issomething more than ordinarily pretty in them, they are rich inderivatives, and compounds, not only because their pronunciation is moreharmonious, but also because they expresse themselves in a more naturallmanner, In one word they banish every thing that may appear ingratefull, and are passionately in quest of all that may conduce to the Sweetnesse oftheir Language. 

My sense is much the same of other Languages, but because reason it selfemay be suspected by some, especially if at any time it appear too just orplausible, I was the rather concern'd so to order my instances, thatbesides the induction, I intended custome and experience should supportreason, and reason should confirme experience, and withall the examples areso naturally chain'd with their principles, and all of them so distributedin their proper places, that without so much as making the least reflexion, I imperceptibly comprize all the fundamentall and essentiall words of eachLanguage, being willing my selfe to draw all my conclusions from theprinciples I have mention'd, and to make all necessary inductions, withoutleaving any thing of trouble or disease to the reader, who in such cases isglad to be quitt from paines and inconvenience, I have some hopes, that acompetition thus differently made up of History, reflexions and Criticismessupported by principles, deductions and examples may contribute somethingto the agreeableness of the designe, and sett off a subject that of itselfeis dry and knotty enough, without making it more unacceptable by that meanand disreputed method, that hath so much decry'd the Critiques, andordinarily hath given a disgust to a science before it hath been allow'dthe least consideration, besides that didacticque way, is by no meansproper in the present case, for as there is little pleasure in being takennotice of under the character of a Scholler, so the only remedy is tocontrive some way to come to the knowledge of things without lying underthe suspicion of having a master. 

Thus you see in grosse and generall, the whole designe exprest in as fewwords as the brevity of the subject would permitt me; And However rationallit may be in it selfe yet it wants not its adversaryes; Some with a greatdeal of heat, plead that if this method acquiring the Languages, hath anything in it that is Curious by way of speculation, it is however uselesseenough in relation to its practice, since _Custome_ and _Conversation_ only(say they) is the great Master of Language, and that we must intirely relyeupon memory and the assiduity of constant and resolv'd industry. 

Others confesse that it hath in earnest its advantages, but doubt much ofthe possibility of its execution, hardly beleeving that the Languages havein good truth such an accord and resemblance as I suppose they have, orthat there is a possibility for the witt of man now to discover it. 

By way of reply to the first, I confesse that one thing I wonder at, isthat persons so knowing and ingenuous should so highly declare themselvesagainst the judgement in favour of the memory, I have a very great regardto their qualitie and worth, but cannot submitt my selfe to their opinion, The only way (as I imagine) to Learn the Languages, and that in what numberwe please, to do it with ease without tædiousnesse, confusion, trouble andlosse of time, and without the common hazard, of forgetting them with asmuch ease as we acquire them with difficulty, and to be master of them allin such a manner, as shall rellish nothing that is mean or not becomeing aRationall man, is in one word, to attribute more to the judging andreflecting faculty then to the memory; for if the memory depend and relyeonly upon the reflexions of the judgement, we have no reason to expect muchfrom its single Conduct, for however plausible it may appear, it willalways be slow, limited, confus'd, and faithlesse; its action is notvigorous enough to take us off from those fatigues that distast our mostlikely enterprizes, and its efforts to weak and Languishing in a littletime to execute a designe of so large a compasse as this; being sodetermin'd as it is, it is impossible it should reduce so great a number ofLanguages so distanc't in appearance one from another; If at any time itseem extraordinary in an action, its Species are soon displac't by theirmultitude, and when they are rang'd in the best order imaginable, theycontinue not so long without being either effact by those that supervene ordisappearing of themselves, haveing nothing that can fixe and retaine them, So that the Languages being of so vast an extent, there is no reason thatthe memory alone should be confided to for their acquest, unlesse we couldbe content to sacrifice an infinite space of time to the Sole knowledge ofwords, which being so valuable as it ought to be to us, may be imployd withmore discretion and successe, either towards the cognizance of things orthe management of businesse. 

To satisfie others, I have nothing more at present to say to them but thatif the designe shall appear to them at first sight either fantasticall ortemerarious, the execution will soon justifie me, and perhaps convince themthat it is not always rationall positively to passe a judgement upon anything before a close and a narrow search, and that we ought not hastily todespaire of any thing; the gaining of which hath not been attempted allimaginable wayes. 

Last of all, as I do not beleeve my selfe to be deceiv'd in that which makeup the grosse and main of the designe, so I do not expect that all that Ishall advance in the sequel upon this connexion of the Languages, should bereceiv'd by all for uncontrouleable truths, of which I my selfe amsufficiently perswaded; I am too well acquainted with the nature of truthto beleeve my selfe so succesfull as to have alwayes uncover'd that in themost imbroyld and the most doubtfull affaires of the world; yet I confessethat notwithstanding that great respect that is due to it, I have in somecases lesse regarded it when it did not appear to comply with thecapacityes of ordinary men, persuading my selfe that conjecture well fram'dand adjusted by a plausible Air is more rellishing to ingenious persons, then an obscure and fainting truth, of which sort there is a very greatnumber in the present subject. 

I propose then to the Learned, this new systeme of the Languages, not as anincontestable Thesis in all its parts but only as an Hypothesis, notaltogether irrationall and which besides hath this particular advantage, that although it should be the falsest thing in the world in speculation, it may at least be allowable in the practice, And I hope to receive thesame favour that persons (that were most obstinately resolv'd against hisHypothesis) granted Copernicus by their confession, that let it be never sofalse it is however the best accommodated to use and Astronomicallsupputations. 

FINIS. 

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