Where-ever the Author's Sense is clear and discoverable, (tho',
perchance, low and trivial;) I have not by any Innovation tamper'd
with his Text; out of an Ostentation of endeavouring to make him
speak better than the Old Copies have done.
Where, thro' all the former Editions, a Passage has labour'd under
flat Nonsense and invincible Darkness, if, by the Addition or
Alteration of a Letter or two, I have restored to Him both Sense
and Sentiment, such Corrections, I am persuaded, will need no
Indulgence.
And whenever I have taken a greater Latitude and Liberty in
amending, I have constantly endeavoured to support my Corrections
and Conjectures by parallel Passages and Authorities from himself,
the surest Means of expounding any Author whatsoever. _Cette voie
d'interpreter un Autheur par lui-meme est plus sure que tous les
Commentaires_, says a very learned _French_ Critick.
As to my _Notes_, (from which the common and learned Readers of our
Author, I hope, will derive some Pleasure;) I have endeavour'd to
give them a Variety in some Proportion to their Number. Where-ever
I have ventur'd at an Emendation, a _Note_ is constantly subjoin'd
to justify and assert the Reason of it. Where I only offer a
Conjecture, and do not disturb the Text, I fairly set forth my
Grounds for such Conjecture, and submit it to Judgment. Some Remarks
are spent in explaining Passages, Where the Wit or Satire depends
on an obscure Point of History: Others, where Allusions are to
Divinity, Philosophy, or other Branches of Science.
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