Page 19 [19]
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 grant¬
ed, 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 fuccefs¬
fully 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 Obfer¬
vation: Originals of ome Language are dif¬
Serently to be rendred into another, accord¬
ing to their refpeltive Matter and Subjed ;
In an Argument of Hiftory, but more efpe¬
cially in Phyficks, and Mathematicks, fo
much depends on tbe Critical Genuine Senſe
of the Autbor, tbat tbere can be no Lati¬
tude or Deviation allowed, but a harfh Ca¬
dence zs far more preferable, than a bold,
though tunable Variation: Whereas on the
contrary,