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HE Greek and Roman ANTIQUITIES lying difperfed in fo many large and chargeable Volumes, are almost lost to those who have not either Money to procure, or Leifure to peruse them; and the few Compendium's which have been made, being either very imperfect, or fo immethodical, that it requir'd a great deal of Time to be tolerably inform'd concerning any particular Antiquity: Our AUTHOR thought it very necessary to digest that fort of Learning Alphabetically, that by that means it might be more readily confulted, and the Authors in both Languages better understood.

His Defign is very extensive, and comprehends both the Ancient Greek and Roman Religion, Mythology, Hiftory, Chronology and Geography; Sacred and Prophane Rites and Customs; their Laws, the Opinions of their most famous Philofophers; their Polity, Architecture, Art of War, Warlike Engines and Navigation; the Lives of Men Illuftrious for Arms and Arts, &c. All which, with vast Industry and Judgment, he has collected from the Anci-" ents themselves, and the best of the Moderns, well attefted Medals, Infcriptions, Statues, Relievo's and Baffo-Relievo's.

The Neceffity of a Work of this Nature will be very evident to those who please to confider a few Inftances, of a great many which might be produced. Every Scholar knows that Volumen is derived from volvo, to roll up, and that Volumen it felf fignifies a Book; but, perhaps, does not know, that before the Ufe of Paper, Men wrote on the Skins of Beafts, or Bark of Trees lengthwife, which they rolled up as fast as they finish'd their Lines; whence evolvere Librum fignified, to read a Book, because the Manufcript being rolled up, it was impoffible to read it without unrolling it.

Likewife how could that Expreffion of Horace, ad Umbilicum ducere Opus, be understood to finish a Work, if we did not know that the Romans xfed to roll up thefe Skins or Bark when written upon, and join them together at both Ends with Two Boffes of Horn or Ivory, each like a Navel, which o safion'd that of Statius?

Binis umbilicis decoratus Liber.

Also another of the fame Author;

Multaque pars mei,

Vitabit Libitinam.

is very much illucidated, when we know that Libitina was the Goddess which prefided over Funerals.

Who again can well apprehend that other of Horace, S4. Ix. Lib.1.

Divina mota anus Urna.

without being inform'd, that in this place Horace fpeaks of Divination, by the Urn and Lots, which was perform'd by throwing feveral Letters and entire Words into the Urn, which being well mix'd, what Chance produc'd by the Ranging of the Balots, compos'd the Divination and Answer?

Cicero calls the Letter A, litera falutaris, because the fudges used it in publick Sentences, causing it to be infcrib'd on the Balots, which they threw into the Urn, to express their Abfolving the Perfon accus'd, for the fingle Letter A fignify'd Abfolvo.

Thus it appears, of what Importance it is to be acquainted with the Mythology and Antiquities of the Greeks and Romans, confidering there are innumerable Difficulties which cannot be conquer'd, and Beauties which may be pass'd over and loft, without a competent Knowledge of them.

Our AUTHOR having gain'd a fufficient Reputation by his former Dictionary, and being by the Illuftrious Duke of Montaufier, Governour to the Dauphin, thought very capable of Compiling this WORK, for the Ufe of his Royal Pupil, and his Sons the Dukes of Burgundy, Anjou and Berry: The TRANSLATOR had rather leave his Performance to the Fudgment of the Learned, than anticipate the Reader by faying any thing in its Praife. He cou'd have wifb'd he had found the Original illustrated with thofe Mapps, which were abfolutely neceffary to be added, and has only this to fay, that Care has been taken to have them perform'd after the beft Originals, and improv'd by the best Information that cou'd be procur'd.

The TRANSLATOR is fenfible, that fome Faults have efcap'd Correction, but fince they are merely Typographical, 'tis hoped, they won't injure the Sence of the AUTHOR.

A