§. I. THE Dictionary that the Academy is forming well deferves to be finish't. Cuftom indeed which often change's living Languages may at length alter what this Dictionary fhall determin :

.69-

Nedum fermonum ftet honos, & gratia vivax. HoR. de
Multa renafcentur quæ jam cecidere; cadentque Ar. Poet.
Qua nunc funt in honore vocabula, fi volet ufus;
Quem penes arbitrium eft, & jus, & norma lo-

(quendi.

However it will be of feveral Ufes. It will be ferviceable to Foreigners who are fond of the French Language, and improve themselves by reading the many excellent Books of feveral kinds that are publifh't in it. Befides, the moft polite among the French themfelves may fome

times have occafion to confult the Dictionary, about fuch Words as they doubt of. In fine, when our Language becomes much alter'd, the Dictionary will help to explain thofe Books that are written in the prefent Age, and which will be admir'd by Pofterity. Are we not oblig'd now to explain the Language of VILLEHARDOUIN, and JOINVILLE? We wou'd be extremely glad to have Greek, and Latin Dictionarys made by the Antients themselves. It muft indeed be own'd that the perfecting of Dictionarys

is

is a Point in which the Moderns have out-done the Antients. In time, Pofterity will find the Benefit of having a Dictionary, that will ferve as a Key to fo many fine Books. The Value of fuch a Work must increase in proportion to it's Age.

3

§. II. IT were to be wifh't, methinks, that the ACADEMY wou'd add a GRAMMAR to their Dictionary. It wou'd be a great Help to Foreigners, who are, often perplex't with our irregular Phrases. The habitual Eafinefs of speaking our own Language, hinders us from perceiving what it is that puzzles them. Befides, most of the French themselves wou'd fometimes have occafion to confult fuch an establish't Rule. They learn't their Mother-tongue only by Custom : and Cuftom has its Defects, every-where: Each Province has its own: Paris is not faultlefs. Even the Court it-felf has a Tang of the Language of Paris; where the Children of the higheft Quality are usually educated. The moft polite People can scarce get rid of the Tone, and peculiar Expreffions they learn't in their Childhood, by converfing with their Attendants, in Gafcony, Normandy, or in Paris it-felf.

The

The Greeks and Romans did not think it enough that they learn't their Nativetongue by mere Practice. When they grew up, they ftudy'd it in the Works of Grammarians, to obferve the Rules, the Exceptions, the Etymologys, the figu rative Senses, the Structure of the whole Language, and it's Variations.

A learn'd Grammarian wou'd be in danger of making a Grammar too elaborate, and too full of Precepts. I think it wou'd be beft to keep to a fhort and easy Method. At first, give only the moft common Rules: the Exceptions will be learn't by degrees. The chief Point is to fet a Learner, as foon as poffible, to apply the general Rules, by frequent Practice and afterward he will take a Pleafure in observing the particular Rules that he follow'd at firft, without heeding them.

This Grammar cou'd not fix a living Language: but it wou'd probably leffen the capricious Changes, by which the Mode governs our Words as well as our Cloaths. Thefe fanciful Alterations may at length perplex and fpoil a Language, instead of improving it.

§. III. MAY I not prefume here, from an Excefs of Zeal, to offer a Proposal, which I readily fubmit to fuch a judi

cious

cious SOCIETY? Our Language wants a great many Words and Phrafes. Nay I cannot but think that within these hundred Years, it has been cramp't and impoverish❜t by refining it. 'Twas then fomewhat unpolish't indeed, and too verbofe: but we regret the Lofs of the old Language, when we find it in the Works of MAROT, AMIOT, the Cardinal D'OSS AT; in the most humorous Writings, as well as in the moft ferious. It had fomething in it very fhort, fimple, bold, lively, and affecting. If I mistake not we have thrown out more Words than we have taken in. Now I wou'd have none loft; but new ones introduc'd. I wou'd have every Word authoriz'd, that we want, if it found fweetly, and be not ambiguous.

When we carefully examine the Signification of Words, we perceive there are fcarce any two that have exactly the fame Meaning. We find very many that do not point-out an Object diftinctly enough, unless we add a fecond Word. Hence comes the frequent Ufe of Circumlocutions; which oblige us to use several Words to exprefs one Idea. It wou'd be proper to abridge our Language, by fixing one plain proper Word to exprefs every Object, every Sentiment, and every Action. I wou'd even have feveral fynonymous

fynonymous Terms for one Thing. This is the way to avoid all Ambiguity; to vary our Expreffions; and to make them all harmonious feeing we might easily chufe out of several fynonymous Words, that which runs fmootheft with the reft of the Period.

The Greeks had a great Number of these compounded Words; fuch as Pantocrator, Glaucopis, Eucnemides, &c. And tho' the Latins were more referv'd in this Point, they imitated the Greeks a-little; as in Lanifica, Malefuada, Pomifer, &c. This way of compounding Words made their Language concise, and their Verfes more magnificent. Befides, the Greeks freely us'd feveral Dialects in the fame Poem; to make their Verfification more various and eafy. The Latins enrich't their Tongue with fuch Foreign Words as they needed. For inftance, they wanted fome Terms that were proper for Philofophy, which began at Rome very late. So when they learn't Greek they borrow'd it's Terms to argue upon the Sciences. TULLY who was nicely fcrupulous about the Purity of his Language, very freely us'd fuch Greek Terms as he needed. A Greek Word, when firft us'd, was reckon'd uncouth : however fome beg'd leave to use it: and then the Permiffion