Bizrezz 2-9-25

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PREFACE.

TH

HE fables of Efop have always been efteemed the best leffons for youth, as being well adapted to convey the most useful maxims, in a very agreeable manner. Accordingly, many writers, both in verse and profe, have endeavoured to clothe them in an English dress. It would ill become the Author of this work to animadvert upon their labours: but he thinks it may be faid with truth, and he hopes with modefty, that nothing of this kind, which has been published in profe, can justly discourage him from the prefent undertaking.

In forming this collection, he has endeavoured to diftinguish, by two separate Books, the refpective compofitions of the earlier and later mythologifts; and he trufts

it will not be found that he has often been mistaken in this distribution, tho' an error of that kind might perhaps appear of no great importance. His principal aim was to felect fuch Fables as would make the Strongest and most useful impreffions on the minds of youth; and then to offer them in fuch unaffected language, as might have fome tendency to improve their ftyle. If in this he should be allowed to have at all fucceeded, the work, it is prefumed, will not be unferviceable to young readers, nor wholly unentertaining to perfons of maturer judg

ment.

To these he has ventured to add a third Book, confifting entirely of original Fables; and he offers it to the Public with all the diffidence which ought to accompany modern productions, when they appear in conjunction with writings of established reputation. Indeed, whatever hopes he has, that the prefent work may be favourably re

ceived,

ceived, arife chiefly from the confideration, that he has been affifted in it by gentlemen

of the most distinguished abilities; and that Several, both of the old and the new Fables, are not written by himself, but by authors with whom it is an honour to be con-nected; and who having condescended to favour him with their affiftance, have given him an opportunity of making fome atonement for his own defects.

The life of Efop prefixed to the former editions of thefe Fables, having been thought not fo full and fatisfactory as it might have been, a learned and ingenious friend has been fo kind as to confult the ancient writers who have made any mention of Efop.. He hopes he has added many facts and anecdotes of his life, not hitherto taken notice of; and that he has fet his character in a clearer and better light than it has hitherto appeared..