like Deucalion and Pygmalion: and this, if I mistake not, is the common pronunciation of a ship in the British navy, so called from the name of the Argonauts, who accompanied Jason in his expedition to Colchis to fetch the golden fleece.

30. The same difficulty of deciding between common usage and classical propriety appears in words ending in ia; as Alexandria, Antiochia, Seleucia, Samaria, Iphigenia, and several others which were pronounced by our ancestors, as appears from their poetry, according to our own analogy, with the accent on the antepenultimate syllable; and there is no doubt but every word of this form would have fallen into the same accentuation, if classical criticism had not stepped in and prevented it. A philosophical grammarian would be apt to think we are not much obliged to scholars for this interruption of the vernacular current of pronunciation: but as there is so plausible a plea as that of reducing words to their original languages, and as a knowledge of these languages will always be an honourable distinction among men, it is strongly to be suspected that these words will not long continue in their plain homespun English dress. This critical correction, however, seems to have come too late for some words, which, as Pope expresses it, have "slid into verse," and taken possession of our ears; and therefore, perhaps, the best way of disposing of them will be to consider them as the ancients did the quantity of certain doubtful syllables, and to pronounce them either way. Some, however, seem always to have preserved the accent of their original language, as Thalia and Sophia: but Iphigenia, Antiochia, Seleucia, and Samaria, have generally yielded to the English antepenultimate accent; and Erythia, Deidamia, Laodamia, Hippodamia, Apamia, Ilithyia, and Orithyia, from their seldom appearing in mere English composition, have not often been drawn aside into plain English pronunciation. The same may be observed of words ending in nicus or nice if they are compounded of the Grek, the penultimate syllable is always long, and must have the accent, as Stratonicus, Berenice, &c.; if this termination be what is called a gentile, signifying a man by his country, the penulti

t

mate is short, and the accent is on the antepenultimate; as Macedonicus, Sardonicus, Britannicus, &c. See ANDRONICUS.

31. Thus we see many of these proper names are of dubious accentuation; and the authorities which may be produced on both sides sufficiently shew us the inutility of criticising beyond a certain point. It is in these as in many English words : there are some which, if mispronounced, immediately show a want of education; and there are others which, though not pronounced in the most erudite manner, stamp no imputation of ignorance or illiteracy. To have a general knowledge, therefore, of the pronunciation of these words, seems absolutely necessary for those who would appear respectable in the more respectable part of society. Perhaps no people on earth are so correct in their accentuation of proper names as the learned among the English. The Port-Royal Grammar informs us, that "notwithstanding all the rules that can be given, we are "often under the necessity of submitting to custom, and of "accommodating our pronunciation to what is received among "the learned according to the country we are in." "So we "we pronounce," says the grammarian" Aristo' bulus, Basi' lius, "Idolium, with the accent on the antepenultimate, though the "penultimate is long, because it is the custom : and, on the " contrary, we pronounce Andre'as, ide a, Mari'a, &c. with the "accent on the penultimate, though it is short, because it is the "custom of the most learned. The Italians," continues he, "place "the accent on the penultimate of antonomasi'a, harmoni'a, philosophi'a, theologi'a, and similar words, according to the "Greek accent, because, as Ricciolius observes, it is the custom "of their country. Alvarez and Gretser think we ought always "to pronounce them in this manner, though the custom, not only "of Germany and Spain, but of all France, is against it: but "Nebrissensis authorises this last pronunciation, and says, that it " is better to place the accent of these vowels on the antepenulti"mate syllable; which shows," concludes the grammarian, "that when we once depart from the ancient rules, we have but "little certainty in practice, which is so different in different "countries."

2

But however uncertain and desultory the accentuation of many words may be, it is a great satisfaction to a speaker to know that they are so. There is a wide difference between 'pronouncing words of this kind ignorantly and knowingly. A person who knows that scholars themselves differ in the pronunciation of these words can always pronounce with security: but one, who is acquainted with the state of the accent, is not sure that he is right when he really is so, and always pronounces at his peril.

* It is hoped the candid peruser of this work will make allowances for an occasional error in dividing a syllable or placing an accent, when he reflects on the difficulty with which such a work must necessarily be attended. The Author flatters himself, however, that such attention has been paid both to the compilation and the proofs, that the fewest errors imaginable have escaped him.

OF

GREEK and LATIN PROPER NAMES.

INITIAL VOCABULARY.

When a word is succeeded by a word printed in Italics, the latter word is merely to spell the former as it ought to be pronounced. Thus Abansheas is the true pronunciation of the preceding word Abantias; and so of the rest.

The Figures annexed to the words refer to the Rules prefixed to the Work. Thus the figure (3) after Achæi refers to Rule the 3d, for the pronunciation of the finali; and the figure (4) after Abii refers to Rule the 4th, for the pronunciation of the unaccented i, not final: and so of the rest.

When the letters Eng. are put after a word, it is to show that this word is the preceding word Anglicised. Thus Lu'can, Eng., is the Latin word Lucanus, changed into the English Lucan.

* Every a ending a syllable, with the accent upon it, is pronounced like the a in the English words fa-vour, ta-per, &c. See Rule the 1st, prefixed to this vocabulary.

t

Every unaccented a, whether initial, medial, or final, ending a syllable, has an obscure sound, bordering on the a in father. See Rule the 7th, prefixed to this vocabulary.

B.

Achabytos.-Ch, in this and all the subsequent words have the sound of k, Timms Achabytos, Achæa, Achates, &c., are pronounced as if written Akabytos, Akma, Aketes, &c. See Rule the 12th