Sources
| Source | ID | Link |
|---|---|---|
| GoodReads | 26937267 | https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26937267 |
| Amazon |
Description
Excerpt from Fables of the Ancients
The earliest antiquity lies buried in silence and oblivion excepting the remains we have of it in sacred writ. This si lence was succeeded by poetical fables; and these, at length, by the writings we now enjoy: so at the concealed and se cret learning of the ancients, seems separated from the history and hnosnledge of the following ages, by a W, or partition wall of fables, interposing between the things that are lost, and those that remain. Many may imagine that I am here entering upon a work of fancy, or amusement; and design to use a poetical liberty, in explaining poetical fables. It is true, fables in general are composed of ductile matter, that'may be drawn into' great ou riety, by a witty talent, or an inventive genius: and be deli vered of plausible meanings which they never contained. But this procedure has already been carried to excess and great numbers, to procure the sanction of antiquity to their own no tions and inventions, have miserably wrested and abused the fables of the ancients.
The earliest antiquity lies buried in silence and oblivion excepting the remains we have of it in sacred writ. This si lence was succeeded by poetical fables; and these, at length, by the writings we now enjoy: so at the concealed and se cret learning of the ancients, seems separated from the history and hnosnledge of the following ages, by a W, or partition wall of fables, interposing between the things that are lost, and those that remain. Many may imagine that I am here entering upon a work of fancy, or amusement; and design to use a poetical liberty, in explaining poetical fables. It is true, fables in general are composed of ductile matter, that'may be drawn into' great ou riety, by a witty talent, or an inventive genius: and be deli vered of plausible meanings which they never contained. But this procedure has already been carried to excess and great numbers, to procure the sanction of antiquity to their own no tions and inventions, have miserably wrested and abused the fables of the ancients.