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LONDON,
Printed in the Year M.DCC.XXIII.
An Epistle concerning the Excellencies
of the Engliih Tongue.
IT were more fitting (in respect of discretion) that men should first
weigh Matters with Iudgment, and then incline their Affection where
the greatest Reason swayeth. But ordinarily it falleth out to
the contrarie; for by Custom we first settle our Affection, and then
afterwards draw in those Arguments to approve it, which should have
forgone to perswade ourselves. In this preposterous Course (seeing
that antiquity from our Elders and uniuersalitie of our Neighbours
do entitle with a Right) I hold myself the more freely warranted
delirare, not onely cum vulgo, but also cum sapientibus, in seeking
out with what Commendations I may attire our English Language,
as Stephanus hath done for the French, and diuers of other Nations,
for theirs.
Locutio is defined Animi sensus per vocem expressio.
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