A DISSERTATION UPON THE GREEK COMEDY, Tranflated from BRUMOY *. ADVERTISEMENT. CONCLUDE this work according to my proCONCLUDE this work mife, with an account of the Comic Theatre, and intreat the reader, whether a favourer or an enemy of the ancient Drama. not to pafs his cenfure upon the authors or upon me, without a regular perusal of * Published by Mrs. Lennox in 4to, 1759. To the third volume of this work the following Advertisement is prefixed. "In this "volume, the Discourse on the Greek Comedy, and the General « Conclufion, are tranflated by the celebrated author of the Ram"bler. The Comedy of the Birds, and that of Peace, by a young "Gentleman. The Comedy of the Frogs, by the learned and in"genious Dr. Gregory Sharpe. The Discourse upon the Cyclops, "by John Bourrya, Efq. The Cyclops, by Dr. Grainger, au. thor of the tranflation of Tibullus." E. VOL. III. B this this whole work. For, though it feems to be compofed of pieces of which each may precede or follow without dependance upon the other, yet all the parts, taken together, form a fyftem which would be deftroyed by their disjunction. Which way fhall we come at the knowledge of the ancients fhews, but by comparing together all that is left of them? The value and neceffity of this comparison determined me to publish all, or to publish nothing. Befides, the reflections on each piece, and on the general taste of antiquity, which, in my opinion, are not without importance, have a kind of obfcure gradation, which I have carefully endeavoured to preferve, and of which the thread would be loft by him who should slightly glance fometimes upon one piece, and fometimes upon another. It is a structure which I have endeavoured to make as near to regularity as I could, and which must be feen in its full extent and in proper fucceffion. The reader who skips here and there over the book, might make a hundred objections which are either anticipated, or answered in those pieces which he might have overlooked. I have laid fuch stress upon the connection of the parts of this work, that I have declined to exhauft the fubject, and have fuppreffed many of my notions, that I might leave the judicious. reader to please himself by forming fuch conclufions as I fuppofed him like to difcover, as well as myself. I am not here attempting to prejudice the reader by an apology either for the ancients, or my own manner. I have not claimed a right of obliging others to determine, by my opinion, the degrees of esteem which I think due to the authors of the Athenian Stage; nor do I think that their reputation in the prefent time, ought |