acquaintance with the Inspired Writings. It is, perhaps, necessary to observe here that some of these references are made to books which some persons are unwilling to admit within the precincts of the Sacred Scriptures; such are the apocalypse of St. John, the epistle to the Hebrews, etc. For such persons, therefore, these books must only answer as old records of wise and salutary doctrines, and most beautiful precepts; though, for my own part, I must say, with Grotius, "Neque vero causa idonea fingi potest, cur illos libros quis- quam supposuerit; cum nihil inde colligi possit, quod non aliis. indubitatis libris abunde contineatur." (Grot. De ver. Chris. Rel. Lib. 3.) All the references are taken from the "Latin Vulgate."
As to any poetic fame which I may be thought desircus of obtaining from this performance, candor obliges me to con- fess that this is with me a mere secondary consideration. But I am not indifferent as to how it may be received; upon this point I am, decidedly, most anxious. If I have succeeded in rendering the Precepts of Epictetus attractive to the English reader, thereby causing them to be more generally sought after and studied, I have attained the chief end which I sought by this Translation. Few, indeed, comparatively speaking, read this beautiful work in the original text; very many even of those who have passed through their classical course in the Seminaries of learning have not read it; for, strange to say, it is not generally included in the "Course," while works, not only of inferior merit, but of scarcely any merit at all, are set down as of essential utility. This is the first time that the "Enchiridion" has been put into English verse; at all events,
