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To the Reader. ing at leaſt of one of theſe Tranflations might bave fuperfeded the Trouble of a new one. It may, I ‘hope. be no Scandal to confefs, that till after my firft Onfet I bad neither by Sight nor Report gather d any Intimation of the Foreftalment herein, of which 1 were yet the lefs inguifitive, te» caufe the Perfon who impofed on me the Undertaking, took the Negative for granted, though be ſtood in better Circumſtances of being informed, and was more concerned in the Confequence. But allowing the worſt, Re-tranflations of late have been fo fuccefsfully performed, fo much to the Service of the prefent ‘Times, and Juftice to the Pift Authors, that Attempts of like Nature can be no longer invidious, if they are grounded on the fame Inducements, and do anfwer the fame End and Defign. How far I can “Square my Apology by this Rule will in part appear by this following Obfervation: Originals of ome Language are difSerently to be rendred into another, according to their refpeltive Matter and Subjed ; In an Argument of Hiftory, but more efpecially in Phyficks, and Mathematicks, fo much depends on tbe Critical Genuine Senſe of the Autbor, tbat tbere can be no Latitude or Deviation allowed, but a harfh Cadence zs far more preferable, than a bold, though tunable Variation: Whereas on the contrary,
