Funestum & lachrymabiliem illum diem, quo ultimam Naturæ legen, eâ parte, quâ mori potuit, implevit clariſſimus Noſter Codringtonus, memoriâ repenti; Defunctique Herois Virtutes, Victorias, Beneficia & egregia Facta perpendenti, ingentem mihi fere elingui tremorem incuſſit, Argumenti Pondus Varietaſque, & vel poſt ſexcennium Recens tantæ Cladis Dolor. Tene enim, O Præſidium, & dulce Decus noſtrum, quem Chichleium alterum & Tutelare quoddam ſtatuimus Numen Fortunæ Nominiſque noſtri, quem India Occidentalis Imperatorem auguſtum, Britannia Tutelam, Academia Oxonienſis Incrementum ingens & ſydus præfulgidum, Literatorum Orbis Patronum munificentiſſimum, Orbiſque Chriſtianus Virum ad Publicam Eccleſiæ Utilitatem natum, factum, datumque divinitus, habuernut; Tene, inquam, intuemur hodie, ſine animâ Corpus, ſine ſenſu Truncum, cadaver, cineres, nihil? Ergone immortalem animi Vigorem, optimarum Virtutum fæcundum Ingenium promptum, Memoriam firmam, Judicium perſpicax, Elocutionem venuſtam, Fortitudinem pluſquam Heroicam, & tot annorum Triumphos, Diei unius nefaſtæ horula, momentum, abſtulit? Sed age, quis credat Benefactorum illum atque Heroum Principem, cum Sarcinam hanc carnis & Vehiculum Imbecillitatis, Mortale Corpus, depoſuerit, totum perire? In mediis funeribus Exequiiſque Immortalitatem ſpiramus Chriſtiani, & datum eſt nobis fic in Chriſto vivere, ut mortui in æternum vivamus. Seſe etiam in Terris, ampliſſimis Operibus Poſteritati vivum tranſmiſit Codringtonus, & in cælis nactus eſt Victoriam Trophæis omnibus ſplendidiorem. Non de Prin- cipibus captis aut vinctis poſt currum Ducibus, ut ſolebas, Victoriam reportaſti ; ſed Imbecillitatem, Miſeriam, & Mortem ipſam, communem humani generis Hoſtem, beatè moriendo viciſti ; & laureâ decoratus Cæleſti, & Deum cum Cælituum choro aſſidue laudus, ſimulque Cælites tui Laudatores habes. Diem igitur vitæ Tuæ mortalis no- viſſimam minime deflere, ſed æternæ felicitatis Natalem, Tibi gratulari debemus. Quod enim in Te immortale fuit Mors non laeſit, & quod mortale ſurripuit, illud eſt glorioſius redditura.
Non Juſta ergo Tibi, invictiſſime Heros, ſciſſis veſtibus, trepidoque & funeſto, qualem in hoſte conſpexiſſe ſolebas, vultu, ſed erecto Tuoque con- ſtanti animo, qualem per ignes & pilas ubique Tui ipſius circumtuliſti memor, facienda ſunt ; cum media agmina perrupiſti ſolus, & nullâ hoſtium multitudine mortiſque apparatu commotus, nec gradum nec vultum mutaſti. Quoniam autem de Viro dicendum eſt, qui tantum ſupra com- munem Heroum ſortem egreſſus eſt, quantum illi à privatis receſſerunt, eæ folæ ex vitâ tam laudis fæcundâ decerpendae ſunt virtutes, quæ illius potiſſimum animi propriæ, quae maſculum Codringtoni ſpirent Vigorem, & ob oculos formidabile illud Belli fulmen, Paciſque Ornamentum, quodammodo ponant. Et ſane ei magis in honorem cedet Veritatis ipſius Penicillo delineari, quam fucato verborum apparatu elaborate frigideque laudari, nec tam Exequiarum Luxu magnifico, quam ſincerâ Virtutum Imitatione, nos decet, piis Benefactoris noſtri Manibus parentare.
Proſapiam ex nobili ac vetuſtſſimâ Familiâ deduxit, licet haud adeo gloriæ vacuus ſit Noſter, ei ut honos, ex mutuatitiâ illâ laude aſciſcendus ſit, quam natalium ſplendor emittit. Nobilitatem non extra ex ſanguine, ſed intus in animo ferebat ; qnæ nullis Tabulis ſubnixa, nec dari nec adimi poteſt, ſed, perinde ac animus ipſe, immortalis eſt, & per ſe ſine alterius teſtimonio illuceſcit. Liceat illis, qui in ſeipſis nihil laude dignum habent, ex majorum meritis Famam captare : Codringtonus ſibi ipſe illuſtriſſima Familia eſt, & quæ geſſserit ſolus, rerum multitudine Annales, gloriâ Orbem implebunt.
Ut ſummatim prima ætatis Rudimenta & Tyrocinia complectar, quantus in Codringtono adhuc puero Gloriæ comparandæ ardor, quanta ad Imperatorii nominis decus aſſurgendi Cupido? Non Delicias, non Epulas, non Convivia, verum Pericula & Pugnas ardebat, & Certamina pro ludis habebantur. Dignius illud laudis genus exiſtimans, quod armorum ſtrepitu, Vociferatione Militum, Buccinarum Cantu, bellicoque Tumultu & Fragore circumſonat. Et quidem non fictis adumbratiſque Concertationibus, ſed cum fortiſſimis hoſtibus congrediendo, non legendis meditandiſque domi præliis, ſed ſuis ipſe Periculis, ſuo ſanguine, magni animi ſemper prodigus, & nunquam ſe ipſo minor, ad Imperatoriæ Dignitatis culmen graſſatus eſt & pervenit.
Verum ut ferociam illam militarem, à Naturâ inſitam pauliſper literatum dulcedine delinîret, Muſaram caſtra adoleſens ſecutus eſt, & in hâc florentiſſimâ Literarum ſede, quæ Fæcunditate, Cultu, Honore, quamvis Ingeniorum Matrem facile antecellit, ſummâ cum gloriâ militavit. Talem ſe accepiſſe alumnum gioriatur Chichleiana Ædes, per quem ipſa effloreſcet, nec ultimis annumeret Laudibus Celeberrima Ædes Chriſti Codringtonum. Hauſit ibi ex ore perchari Præceptoris, Hodierni Epiſcopi Briſtolienſis digniſſimi, & Decani Ædis Chriſti Conſummatiſſimi, quantum ſufficeret viro non ſcholis tantum, ſed Reipublicæ victuro, & duplici, ut ſic dixerim, Minervæ ſe ſua- que conſecraturo. Hunc adibat, ſectabatur, & in deliciis habuit virum, multiplici Eruditione, & Integritate vitæ, præſtantiſſimum ; in quo nempe cum Pietate Doctrina, cum Naturâ Ars, cum Diſciplinâ rerum uſus, videantur certare. Haud mirabimur Codringtonum indies egregia oftendiſſe Sapientiæ & Doctrinæ incrementa, qui ingenio ipſe plurimum pollebat, & tali tantoque viro familiariſſimè utebatur, à quo nunquam ſe abiiſſe profeſſus eſt, quin vel doctior vel melior rediret. Inſita erat tunc temporis diſcendi mira quædam in ejus animo Aviditas, & tanto Literarum amore exarſit, ut ſe totum in cognitione & ſcientiâ ac- quirendà collocaret. Vividum igitur ingenium, atque igneum animi vigorem, quem natura ei dono ampliſſimo dederat, tanquam opimum aliquod & ferax ſolum, matutinis excubiis, nocturniſque vigiliis adeo excoluit, ut difficile ſit dicere, quid neſciverit, multo difficilius autem exponere, quid cognoverit. Invicto enim ſuoque ardore alatus, per totum orbem, tota ſapientiæ Latifundia ferebatur pennis gloriæ ; & non ſolum Ulyſſis ad inſtar, multas urbes, regioneſque peragravit, & plurimorum hominum Inſtituta & mores penitiſſimè introſpexit, ſed & ſcientiarum orbem fæliciſſimè emenſus eſt, & tam rerum quam hominum cumulatiſſimam ſibi notitiam comparavit. Non viſum eſt ei ſatis uno artium rivulo tingi, ſed univerſo ſimul politioris Literaturæ imbutus eſt Oceano. Subtilia Matheſeos, Obſcura Phyſices, Sublimia Metaphyſices non deguſtata erant leviter, ſed penitiſſime eique Adoleſcentulo, digeſta ; Cui expedítius erat univerſum Philoſophiæ Iter abſolvere, quam alteri primas ſemitas adituſque recludere. Facilem & perfectam eorum Authorum Intelligentiam habuit, à quibus omnis rerum optimarum atque artium Ubertas petenda eſt ; ex Ariſtotelis & Platonis limpidiſſimis fontibus ingenuam & liberalem Philoſophiam hauſit ; Animi ſui ſenſum, ſive Italicè, ſive Gallicè, ſive Latinè, ſive Anglicè, Verba eſſunt facienda, ſermone promebat eleganti & facundo ; Græcarum & Romanarum Rerum Hiſtoriam univerſam eviſceraverat ; & Quamplurima verſibus elegantiſſimis ludens ex fæcundiſſimo Ingenio ſuo deprompſit Immortalitate digniſſima. Nihil denique tam Arduum quod moraretur inceptum, quod non toto ſtatim pectore arriperet, & debellaret rapax Ingenium; eâque Præcipitatione, ut nec annos, nec menſes, ſed dies propemodum acquirendis ſcientiis diſtingueret. Pauculos verſus Juris publici fecit, eâ Elegantiâ & Fælicitate compoſitos, ut Ruborem facile iis offundant, qui ornatè ſcribendi Facultatem unicè affectant. In Metaphoris enim emicuit fælix, ſententiis gravis, figuris varius, Verborum ſupellectile dives, venuſtus, floridus, & ſalibus gratus. Seu Tragicum & Heroicum quiddam verborum ſententiarumque pondere altius intonet ; ſeu Lyricos Elegiamve ſuavius, mollius, urbanius, ſpiret ; ſeu violenter nos cogat, ſeu ſuaviter alliciat ; ſeu feratur rapidior, ſeu fluat plenior ; in dubio ſemper fuerit, an plus Elegantiæ aut Spiritus, Naturæ aut Artis, Utilitatis aut Deliciarum in illo conſpicuum eſſet, dixeriſque & Palladis Numine aflatum, & Gratiarum Choro ſtipatum, in arenâ Poeticâ certare.
Academicorum vero Humanitas ſtudiorum Bellicum Ardorem retundere non potuit, ſed animus irrequies Martem ſpiravit, & Armorum quotidie recrudeſcens amor, ſteriles juſſit abire Muſas, ut Fortunæ ſuæ ſplendidius, Patriæque utilius invigilaret. Inciderat in ea Tempora, quibus prìma poſuerit ſub Gulielmo Rege Scientiæ Militaris Rudimenta, Namurcæ Obſidium ; Urbis, ſupra Europæas ſerme omnes, Propugnaculis, Molibus, Foſſis, Aggeribus, Turribus, Machiniſque ad pertinacem Defenſionem adeo inſtructæ, & Confæderato Exercitui inacceſſæ, ut omnia non tantum in præcipiti, ſed deſperata propemodum erant. Creſcebat vero illi animus cum periculi Magnitudine, & Codringtonianum Nomen haud decere putabat hoſti Tergum vertere, vel de ſuâ ſalute in Conſilium ire, cum de Reipublicæ ſalute ageretur. Perrumpendi erant denſiſſimi hoſtium cunei, & cum Propugnaculis, Moriſque Foſſarum, ipſiſque Elementis pugnandum. Nullis autem vel monitis vel precibus ab hoc viginti annorum Adoleſcentulo impetrari potuit, ut ſe Patriæ ſervaret. Licet vero fortiſſimis hoſtium Turmis undequaque cinctus, & ſulphereo nimbo flammiſque obrutus ; licet cum Naturâ & Arte, totiſque Gallorum viribus committeretur Heros noſter, media tamen agmina perrupit Primus, oſtenditque præſtantiori virtuti viam ſemper ad ſalutem & gloriam patere. Jure optimo meruit heroico illo facto, ut Naſſovio eſſet in Deliciis, & Ludovico Magno Terrori, jam tum præſagienti, fatalem ſibi Fortitudinem fore quæ in Adoleſcente triumpharet.
E pulvere tumultque militari ad ſplendidiſſimam Charibicarum Inſularum Gubernationem traductus, vel Ei etiam ſe param in iſtâ ætate præ- ſtitit. Ob hoc ſolum pluribus imperare ſibi in votis erat, ut benefaceret quamplurimis, & perire Tempus Gubernatori cenſebat, quod non omne Reipublicæ commodis vacaret. Summæ Fortunæ Magnitudinem ſine faſtu, Inferioris Humiltatem ſine Contemptu retinebat. Magnatum, Famæ & Virtutum ſplendore, Æqualium, converſationis Dulcedine & Incantamentis, Inferiorum, comitate admirabili, animos ſibi adjungebat ; & Veritati ſtudium, Vitiis odium, Literis amorem, exemplo ſuo concilibat. Vitia ſic oderit etiam in ſeipſo ut Virtutem vel in hoſte veneratus ſit. Haud nimium vernabat luxuriâ promiſſorum prompta Humanitas, nec Veritatem mentiebatur ſpecioſis dictis, ſed in Lingua, in Oculis, in Vultu, in toto denique corpore, atque omni vitæ curſu emicuit ſides. Plura facere quam promittere magni animi eſſe cenſebat, & ſolidæ Virtutis, Virtutem præſtare, potius quam præ ſe ferre. Amicos ex animo amavit & coluit, Inimicos Benefactis vincere aut contemnere, quam ulciſci maluit. Non ſibi equidem ſoli exiſtimavit Divitias datas, ſed partem earum Amicos, partem Egentes Jure ſibi optimo vendicare : quamplurium vota largitionibus implevit, quamplurium antevertit, de Pudore æquè ac Egeſtate ſollicitus ; de Rep. denique bene mereri, bonos fovere, ſcleratiſſimis atque audaciſſimis os occludere, manuſque conſtringere, eos quibus præfuit meliores reddere, nec ſolum fortunis corporibuſque, ſed animis etiam excolendis proſpicere, ſumma illi Voluptas, & tota imperandi Ratio.
Jam vero quæ Oratio adeo auguſta atque magnifica ſit, ut Corporis firmitatem & Dignitatem oris virilem, ad vivum delineare, ſuiſque adeo ut par eſt coloribus exornare poſſet, ut ex eadem fronte rideret amabilis ſerenitas, terribilis fulminaret Majeſtas, quarum alterâ amorem conciliare, alterâ obſequium cogere, alterâ demulcere & flectere, alterâ proſternere, utràque certe imperare ſolitus erat in vivis Noſter. Quippe Vultus ipſe Dignitatis ſuæ index ; oculique magni vividique ; robur non ducis modo ſed militis ; & agilitas tanta, ut armis, ſaltu, equeſtri exercitio omnes facile anteiret, longe lateque Heroem oſtendebant. Dixiſſes hanc domum à magno Hoſpite habitari, & quidem ſi à domicilio animi ad animum ipſum aſcendamus, tanta diſſimillimarum alioqui Virtutum in hâc auguſtiſſimâ floruit ſede Harmonia & Concentus, ut licet univerſa Belli Paciſque ornamenta ſimul complexus eſt, nec Comitate Gravitas, nec Majeſtate Simplicitas, nec Parſimoniâ Liberalitas, nec Facilitate Juſtitia, nec Fortitudine & Bellico Ardore Benevolentia Candorque animi læderetur.
Sed ab hiſce virtutibus, vulgaris tanquam ſortis, revocant ad ſe jamdudum, atque omnem dicendi copiam abſorbent, quæ in eo præcipue eluxerunt animi Generoſitas & Munificentia. Hæ Virtutes cætera ornamenta ita Lucis ſuæ ſplendore complent, & quaſi obtegunt, ut contuentium oculos in ſe ſolas propemodum convertant. Ab hoc enim veluti fonte Virtutis & Gloriæ, promanatura eſt Moles illa ad cælum aſſurgens, cæloque cognata & amica, Bibliotheca Chichleio Codringtoniana. Ad quam dignè laudandam Libro potius quam Oratione, & Digito prætereuntium magis quam Linguâ, niſi vel Ciceronis, vel Fundatoris ſui, opus eſt. Sicut enim iſtiuſmodi Ædificiis impares ſunt columnae niſi firmiſſimæ, ita tanti Argumenti Pondus, tenue & vulgare Ingenium non ſuſtinebit. Periclitaretur ſumptuoſiſſimæ Ædis gloria, ſi minori quam quo extructa eſt animo, contingat laudari.
Et quidem ſub Illius Auſpiciis & Curâ fæliciſſimè ſurget Auguſta Moles, qui largiendo & extruendo, obeundo Honores ſummos & relinquendo, & Viri Integerrimi & Funatoris gloriam adeptus eſt ; qui in Aulâ Academicam retinuit Simplicitatem, in Academiâ Aulæ Elegentiam & Splendorem, Nobiſque ea Sanctitatis Magnificentiâ ad Altare Regis Regum accedere dedit, ut Illius Cultui haud minùs lautè incumbere poſſimus, quam ſtupendâ hâc Codringtoni Munificentiâ, Doctrinæ ſtudiis vacare.
Jam vero quam hoc in Codringtono generoſi animi, quan auguſti, non unum aliquem Liberalitate demereri, ſed totius Literati orbs ambitu Munificentiam terminare ? Deum ipſum imitari, ſimulque omnia in commune profundere, & Be- neficia non tam noſtræ Ædi, quam humano generi præſtare !
Quantum enim Eccleſiam, quantum univerſum Literatorum ordinem Beneficiis ſibi obſtrinxerit, illuſtre illud Religionis & bonarum Literarum Seminarium in Barbadæ Inſulâ aſſurrecturum ad omne ævum teſtabitur. Magnum quidem, Codringtone, & unice tuum eſt, in ultimos Eois Occidentiſque quà Sol uterque illuſtrat fines, Munificentiam diffundere ; Terris Ethnicâ Ignorantiâ & Caligine obrutis Evangelii Lucem oſtendere, Muſiſque quaſi Spiritum & Vitam, Patriamque no- vam donare, diſſitiſſima loca Liberalitate conjungere, efficereque, ut utriuſque Hemiſphærii Incolæ, & tam barbari quam politiorum artium ſtudioſi, uno ore, variis licet diſſoniſque linguis, Laudes Tuas concelebrarent.
Verum in medio ingentium Factorum curſu, fatiſcere tandem ceperat mortalis iſta pars, quæ immortalis, & tam magna meditantis animi, ſocia erat & impar Inſtrumentum. Qui in Caſtris quotidie ſeſe ultro objecerat morti, tandem in ipsâ aulâ illi occurrebat, animo ubique victore, & ſupra Mortalitatis leges evecto. De ſtatione ſuâ Avocationem ab Imperatore ſummo alacer & imperterritus Miles expectabat, & quamvis vincere amplius non poſſet, ſe tamn nec ab hoſte, nec à morbo, nec à Naturâ ipsâ deficiente vinci pateretur ; ſed ratus, Imperatorem pugnantem mori oportere, ultimas horas, ſtrenuiſſime cum Morte eluctando, clauſit ; animamque humilem in agnitione ſui, exultantem vero in Meritis Christi, atque inter ſuſpiria gemituſque ſanctos triumphantem, eo Vultu, quo proſperrima excipere ſolebat, tranquillo, compoſito, exporrecto, reſignabat. Sic ægrotavit, ut nemo dolentem cerneret, ſic demigravit, ut nemo morientem videret. Demigravit quippe ab hominibus, ut adiret Deum, & corpore correpſit in terram, ut ſpiritu ſubvolaret in cælum. Digniſſimus tali & vitâ & morte, quarum altera glorioſorum laborum, altera Immortalitatis plena. In terris magnum erat, Doctrinâ, Virtute, Honore, Poteſtate, Divitiis, Fortunâ, conſectutum fuiſſe quicquid prope in mortalem concidere potuiſſet : Sed in cælis, Divinâ favente Clementiâ, ut ſperamus, Angeli & Archangeli Te aſcriptum ſuorum numero excipiunt, ambiunt, comitantur. Ubi nulla librorum cura, ſed abditiſſima Scientiæ Myſteria uno conſpiciuntur intuitu & pateſcunt ; ubi forſan ad Chichleii Latus aſſides, & cum Sheldono, Bodleio, Ratcliffio, cæteriſque hujus Academiæ munificentiſſimis Benefactoribus, diem agis, ſemper lætam, ſemper glorioſam, atque infra Te poſitam vides Auguſtiſſimam Tuam Molem, & quicquid grande in Terris vocamus.
Nos igitur, Te inter Triumphales Cælituum choros relicto, Tuam in Conſobrino Tuo ſpirantem adhuc Imaginem, Veneratione ſummâ proſequemur, & quæ Summa Votorum eſt, Tuum Animum, Tuam Virtutem, Tuam Fælicitatem exoptamus illi & auguramur. Macte Codringtoni Sanguis & Hæres, & in Conſanguineas Virtutes & Gloriam eodem animi vigore ito. Nec majus habere poſſis Exemplum, nec propius. Fac ut Illum tanquam ſuperſtitem nobis orbique repræſentes, & ſi fieri poſſit, ut nec Memoria ejus in Deſiderium eat. Et nos, ne vel ingloria Tibi Turba videamur, aut Illi ingrata, operam dabimus, ut quemadmodum nos illi omnigenam Eruditionem, & Facundiam forſan ad celebrandas Ipſius Virtutes poſthac idoneam, debituri ſumus, ſic Ille nobis verè Academicum debeat munus, Famam, nullo Senio morituram, ſuoque Marmore perenniorem.
LADIES, You are ſurpriz'd, and juſtly, to find Your ſelves Here, in ſuch very new Circumſtances, formidably incloſed by Latin, in the midſt of Strangers, that do not ſo much as ſpeak your own Tongue. You may ſeem to your ſelves like the beautiful Family of Darius (which You have ſo often admired) Reſpectfully Diſtreſſed, and as it were made Priſoners by One that pretends to wait on You with his Eſteem. Or rather You may appear, like the Fair Sabines, (You know the Story) Caught at a Solemnity to which You were invited, and detain'd in Roman Diſtricts without Your Conſent. To encreaſe theſe Your falſe Apprehenſions of Danger and Diſtreſs, the Criticks, it is not Improbable, make an Outcry, and half draw their Pens in your Favour. They vow it is an Unheard of, Irregular, and Barbarous Uſage; and, like bold Knight-Errants, will break your fancy'd Bonds, and reſcue the lovely and innocent Captives from a Caſtle in the Air. As it is uſual for the Combatant firſt to look on the Scene of Battle, then to turn aſide and collect himſelf, before he enters on it ; ſo will I ſpeak a word to Another purpoſe, Then enter with Re- ſolution on this perilous Point, and look incens'd Cri- ticiſm in the Face.
Our Great Benefactor,and, Ladies (to riſe in His Titles) Your Relation cannot receive more Reſpect than is due. He has ſo deſerv'd of Mankind, and Us in particular, that all Marks of Gratitude and Eſteem are to be thought of. Every thing ſacred to his Memory, and deſign'd in his Honour, ſhould be made as Publick as his Character, and Travel round the World with his Fame. A Private Celebration of a Codrington carries a Degree of Detraction in it, and takes away a Diſtinction between Him, and leſs illuſtrious Perſons. The Meanneſs of a Performance muſt not be its Excuſe, for not doing Homage to His Excellencies in the Face of the World. Shall my want of Genius rob Him of a Debt,and paſs perhaps with ſome for His want of Merit? This Performance is principally to diſcharge our Duty , not to raiſe our Credit : No, nor His neither. If it was, That might be another Handle of Excuſe . But Codrington' s Name ſtands of it ſelf, independent of Others Abilities. A Small Capacity may ſhew an Inclination to advance it, and the Greateſt (ſuch is its Luſtre) can do no more; and That which the beſt Praiſe cannot Improve , the worſt cannot Injure.
Inclin'd by theſe Conſiderations, and the Requeſt of Thoſe who are entitled to command, I, who though unworthy, had the Honour to ſpeak on the late great Occaſion, and greater ſtill by Your Preſence, have condemned the following Thing to the Preſs; nor would I, through Regard to my own Reputation, be any way wanting to our Second Founder's Glory. But ſome there are who ſeem to think that the Publication of Trifles wants no Apology ; by Such, I beg to be excus'd, for this Their Deviation for I think it none at all.
When I had once determin'd to Print, my Buſineſs was to hide the Slenderneſs of the Performance, and ſend it abroad in ſome Importance foreign to its own Worth. My Art was, Ladies, to throw over it ſomething like (with Reſpect be it mention'd) a Hoop-peticoat, to ſwell it into Notice, and make it ſtrut in the Reader's Imagination beyond it ſelf. Nothing then certainly so proper as a Female Patronage? And Who, in that kind, can blame my Choice? What Other Name could make it a more ſpecious Impoſition, or carry it into the World with greater Credit? Nor is it more than juſt, that You who rob'd me of my Audience when I ſpoke (for who could Attend when You were Preſent?) ſhould give me my Readers now I Print.
But, to give the Word of Battle, I write in a learned Tongue;--Yes, and therefore I write to You. Not becauſe You underſtand it, but becauſe, I hope, You do not. For it is, I fear, my Intereſt not to be too well underſtood by thoſe whoſe Favour I ſeek; I am ſure it is Your Intereſt not to be led into Inconveniencies, the Patron's common Fate, through a Colour of Reſpect. From ſome of the Patron's Inconveniencies You will be freed, by my Odd Method of Inſcribing to You a Piece in a ſtrange Language. By This Method I give an Opportunity, to You ever welcome, of ſhewing Good Nature without Violence to Your Opinion ; I exempt You from the hard Neceſſity of putting Your ſelves, or the Writer out of Countenance. You may favour the Unworthy without Blame; nay to Your Commendation, ſince pure Humanity inclines You to it, and Judgement does not interpoſe.
Beſides theſe,there are many weighty Motives to This Practice. Is it Nothing to have it ſaid in after time, that You were the Firſt that receiv'd the Patronage of what You did not underſtand, and what is more, perhaps the Laſt alſo? Is it nothing to nettle the Critick, who will be in wrath that this Thing has the Impudence to be ſo very right though it never came into his Thought, and borrowes no Excellence from being Old? Is it nothing, Ladies, to fling the aukward Creature into ſuch a Reſentment, as no Mask can hide, no Fan can cool? Then this new Method, will necceſſarily occaſion many Queſtions, and he that ſtarts Queſtions concerning You, only Praiſes with Delicacy, for All muſt be reſolv'd to Your Glory. But it will indeed unavoidably fling me into a Singularity, it will oblige me to write an Epiſtle Dedicatory, void of Common-place, and which was never publiſh'd before by any Author whatever. But that's a Trifle to Its good Effects. It will be a ſnare to ſome very Fine Gentlemen to pretend they underſtand Latin. They will be ambitious of telling You what I Gibber, in my Outlandiſh Speech of Your Great Relation, they will civilly Imagine, and Utter ſomething very handſome that might be there, ſhewing at once their Ignorance and Parts. As This Practiſe by this means would promote Mirth, ſo by other means would it promote Learning alſo. I muſt inform You, La dies, That there are ſome amongſt Us who are excluded the Patronage of the Fair by their profound Scholarſhip; They are well qualified to Introduce themſelves at a Learned and Eaſie rate, by Others Merit and their own Labour, they can give a Seneca or a Plato in his beſt dreſs, and neat from the Receſſes of Antiquity ; but They know not well how to Stoop, or rather Riſe to the leſs pompous Quality of thinking for Themſelves. Now ſhould this new Method prevail, how would ſuch a ſhining ſcene Opened to their Ambition incite their Induſtry? How would the Glory of laying Greek or Hebrew in a fair hand without Pricking it, without giving Offence, puſh on their Labour? With what pleaſure would they examine a Liſt of Toaſts for a Patron to Ariſtotle, and debate what Complection would caſt on his Metaphyſicks the faireſt Light. Each new Beauty would publiſh an Antient, and the admiring Editor would ſee through all the Difficulties of Criticiſm, as much by the Aſſiſtance of his Fair Patroneſſes Eyes as his Own. And as this Method would give Us the Antients, ſo I do not Deſpair but that it might Poliſh ſome Moderns alſo. Since I expect the Dedication ſhould be Engliſh, though The Work be not, this Method would be a Temptation to ſome very Learned Men, great Reſtorers of Greek and Latin, to attain the Accompliſhment of being able to write a Page in their Mother-Tongue. Again, ſince it will be Odd to ſee the Tranſlation in the Young Gentleman's Study, and the Original in his Siſters, I hope this Practice will check the immoderate Uſe, and Uſurpation of Tranſlation amongſt Us ; which begins not ſo much to Illuſtrate and Endear, as to Supplant and Dethrone the Original. I would fain have Tully turn Roman, and recover his Latinity among Men of Education. Without any Diſreſpect to, nay, out of pure Value for the Excellence of Engliſh Poetry, I would not have our Curioſity ſtop ſhort of Trapp in Latin, and Pope in Greek.
I ſhall add but one Motive more, but that very Subſtantial. This Practiſe abſolves You from any Obligation of Reading what is preſented to You. To theſe Reaſons I ſhall joyn One Authority, and that of weight. The Bookſeller, ſince I will not be ſo kind as to Write up to a Publick Cenſure, approves of This; He ſays it will make People Stare, it is Abſurd enough, and perfectly Right.
On theſe Accounts and many more, I do not only juſtiſie my ſelf in what I have done, but recommend to ſome Others alſo the ſaving Practice of flinging a Veil over their Senſe, and keeping it as much a Secret as they can from Thoſe whoſe good Opinion they eſteem ; this Practice, to ſhew my Charity, I recommend in a particular manner to ſuch as ſhall Criticiſe on me for it.
But if after all that has been ſaid,if after all the Deluſion I have raiſed, This muſt not be permitted to paſs for a Dedication of any thing, but my Self, (for I know not how far the Humour may bear) then That which I chiefly deſign'd cannot be Miſtaken, or Overlookt. How ought We to eſteem the Relations of our Munificent Benefactor? A Gentleman truly Great, as a Soldier, a Scholar, a Prince; for in his high Station abroad,he was no leſs. A Gentleman, to bring the Fullneſs of his Glory within a Word, whoſe Conſanguinity is no ſmall Honour even unto You. To the Fair Relations of ſuch a Noble Spirit, I was greatly deſirous of ſhewing my Gratitude, and ſincere Reſpect ; and of Thanking Them for the late great and particular Honour They did Our, or rather, to ſpeak proudly, Codrington's Society. If the Occaſion I have taken for it appear proper, vouchſafe Your Smile, and all is well; if, which is likelier, I want Art to make it appear as ſuch, I can turn my Defeat, to ſome account, and Enjoy a little the Badneſs of the Opportunity; ſince it more effectually declares with what impatient Zeal I am, Ladies, Your moſt Obedient, and moſt Humble Servant Edw. Young.
CUM nec uberrima mihi contingit dicendi materies, nec feliciori Manu penitùs intacta, non eſt, Auditores digniſſimi, cur prolixam & ſplendidam expectetis Orationem à Tenuitate & Imperitiâ meâ. Quid enim de copioſiſſimis Codringtoni Laudibus à Coteſio Noſtro celebratis eſt reliquum mihi, præter prima Murorum ſurgentium Veſtigia, prætèr hoc, quod ſpectatis, Marmor ? Sed Vos Adeſtis : A Quibuſdam vel Audiri Magnum eſt ; & Afflatûs Divini nequaquàm Expers. Si quid igitur paulò Fæcundius, ſi quid ab Oratoris Dignitate minùs abhorrens ore rudi, & inexercitato forfitàn exciderit, apud Vos ſit omnis, ut oportet, Gloria. Si quid de Bibliotheca minus Indoctum, ſi quid poſt Coteſium minùs auditoribus Inſulſum, ſi quid in hiſce Codringtoni laudibus minùs Humile, ſi quid coràm Vobis Inelegans minùs, à me proferetur, Vobis Omnibus, vel potiùs, Academici, ut Fa- vorem veſtrum mihi conciliem magis, (a) Hiſce Solis acceptum refero. Ne quis tamen Adulationis inſumulet, ſuccenſere me fateor, quod Hoſpites Hæ ſuaviſſimæ dum Oratoris Vim ſuppeditant, Ambitionem Oratoris angunt. Augent hanc Frequentiam, Auditores minuunt ; vel Præfentes
(a) Adfuerunt Fœminæ Generoſæ Codringtono cognatæ
mihi denegant ; Oculis enim attentis adeò, peregrinentur Aures, neceſſe eſt. In munere meo pergendum eſt tamen ; & lætiùs, cum vires perpendo meas, quoniàm à Peraucis contigit audiri.Ut Mos eſt Honeſtiſſmus, ſic & perantiquus quem Hodierna ſecuta eſt Feſtivitas. Humanum genus ætate præcedit. Cum Terrarum Orbis locata ſunt Fundamenta, Stellæ Matutinæ cantum dederunt ; & ingenti cum clamore ab univerſis Dei Filiis Erupit Gaudium. Magnarum rerum Exordiis Reverentia magna, Lætitiæque Pompa quædam debetur. Iis Moliminibus, in Semine ſuiſque principiis, frigidè & oſcitantèr Inhiare, quæ, Commodum in Eximium & Publicum aliquandò ſunt exitura, ſi non Impiæ Mentis, eſt ſaltèm Puſillæ & Generoſæ parùm. Sublatum Heroa Veſpere heſterno quam juſtè deflevimus ? quam juſtum deflendi modum Hæc Dies attulit ? Vivit Hìc, nec Vitam brevem ; Vitam cui Superſtites dignentur Invidere. Convenimus autèm ad Natalitia Hujus exorientis Gloriæ non eo fortaſsè, quem exoptaremus, Splendore ; ſed eo quem Codringtonus amavit, quem coluit, quo & aliquandò fuerat indutus. Hoc recolenti multùm Ornatiores, quam anteà, videmur ; & literatæ Dignitatis inſignia, novis, alienis, à tali viro mutuò ſumptis Honoribus & Luce eniteſcunt ; vel potiùs eniteſcerent, ni Has præſentes, oblectatione ſane periculosâ ſuſpiceremus. Has---- quonam Nomine deſignandas putem ? Ni foret Harum Imminutio videri quicquam, niſi quod reverà ſunt, tantùm & Loci hujus & Occaſionis Monitui, Gloriæque Muſarum indulgerem, ut Appellarem Muſas. O Muſas non Academici ſolummodò Colendas! Si vultus tales Muſarum cohors ſemper extuliſſet, non habuiſſet quod in ipsâ Barbarie timeret. Tuam Græciam, Tuam Romam, O Codringtone, conſervaſſet ; & nunc dierum non reſarſiſſes Ruinas, ſed florentiſſimam Doctrinæ fortunam conſummaſſes ; Quam lautè,quam Animosè ex Hiſce vel Fundamentis, & adhùc equidem vix Fundamentis, innoteſcit abundè.
In iſtoc verò Marmor, quod Hic præſertìm obſervandum venit, ut Argumenti Caput, oculos intendamus : Nunc primùm, nunc ſupremùm nobis in conſpectu eſt ; mox etenim Mœnia in cælum evecta glorioſiſſimè Tenebris damnabunt. Pax, Salus, Honor, Imperium, Eccleſia Scientiis, & Artibus innituntur ; Artes & Scientiæ Huic Fundamento. Et ſi parvum eſt quod loquimur, ab Hoc Aſſurrecturus eſt Saxo Fundator Inclytiſſimus ; quem Aſpici vel in Marmore Humani generis intereſt, ſi tam pulchros in Uſus apud Illuſtrium Imagines Hodie, quam Olìm, fervet Æmulatio. Effundantur ergo Flores, innectantur Corollæ---- ſed nullus Aliundè petitus Honos, Unctio nulla in Famam & Conſecrationem Hujus Saxi deſideratur, quod Tale Nomen habet Inſcrip- tum, (a) Tali Manu Terræ demandatur.
En ! Hiſtoriam brevem, ſacram Poſteris, citatæ rerum humanarum Vertigini probè quidèm accommodatam, ſperamus tamèn inutilem. (b) Hanc
(a) Hæredis digniſſimi.
(b) Inſcriptionem Marmoris terra defoſſi.
etenìm Notitiam intùs Clauſam, Sacrificiorum ritu Gentilium, non niſi Interitu ſuo Hæc ſtrues aperiet ; & ut fiat Oraculum, neceſſe eſt, quod Dii averruncent, ut priùs fiat Victima. Dies autèm, verendum eſt, adveniet, in qua Decus Hoc Orbis Literati, quod nondùm eſt, non diutiùs erit. Hoc in loco ruinoſum, & informem Cumulum amolita ſera Gens Hominum, niſu non minori quam Hodiè materiem Elaboratam undiquaquè collectam huc coacervamus, Lapidem Hunc inveniet ; & Gratitudinem noſtram eheu ! quam Parvam, quam Magnam Codringtoni Gloriam hoc ſcripto leget. Nec nullo leget negotio. Tenebris pulverque deterſis, Temporum diverſitas, & ipſarum forsàn Literarum imperitia Nubem obducent alteram : Codringtonum paulatìm Excudet; & de Literulâ quâque in lucem reductâ Victoriam quandam reportabit. Erit Doctrina, nec Multorum, illud ſcire, quod nunc ignorare (percrebuit adeo Codringtoni fama) quiddam habet difficile. (a) Hearnium Alterum Verbis Mutilatis totum incumbentem, fortitèr, obſtinatè, contractis ſuperciliis infixum, & Temporibus ſuis hoc è Saxo Ingenii ſui Vi vel Duritie potiùs, Lumen elidentem videor videre. Proút ipſe nunc Loquor, Tacentibus Vobis, Hic Lapis Docebit, cum inſtructiſſimum Hoc Muſeum, proh Dolor ! deſiit Docere. Summa verò Mali, quod veremur, hæc eſt ; Quod Eſt Capitolium, Quod Lyceum, Hæc Erit Bibliotheca.(a) Hearnius fuit doctus Antiquarius, & Induſtriæ ſummæ, vixit A.D. 1443. Hic Talpa Eruditus Egregia è tenebris eruit ; multum Scalpſit, Corraſit, & Occultus Ipſe, literaturæ Cumulos, Naſo ſatis acuto, in Lucem edidit.
Abeat nihilominùs, & recedat præſaga mali mens, & quicquid omen ſapit Infauſtum ; Omne Lætum Hic Locus & Occaſio Rogat; Omne Lætum Dat, & animo depingit. Cum Ima Tellûris Heros Virgilianus ſubibat, ut in hoc Ædificii Profundum à nobis deſcenditur, fertur aſpexiſſe Futura ſui Generis Lumina, & Abſenti Gloria, Victoriis, Imperio, è longinquò potitum fuiſſe. Ingentes Domûs Codringtonianæ Filios, Theologos, Medicos, Juriſconſultos ordine longo ſplendentique Hinc procedentes, & Noſtrum eſt Aſpicere, & Aſpectis Triumphare. Hos Reipublicæ dat Fundator ; Donum Ingens ! ni Moriens didiſſet : Donum Ingens ! ni Iacturâ Minus. Hos dat Reipublicæ, & dat in Perpetuum ; Uxore non Auctus Mundum, ut Vir, amplexus eſt ; non Prole, Poſteritatem adoptavit : eò magìs ab Humano Genere Deflendus, quod materiem in Gaudia ſua tam abundantem ſuppeditandem curavit.
Fundamenta verò ſatìs habemus Inſpecta ; ſe
tandèm tollat Oratio, & in Amplitudine ſuâ quaquaverſum diffusâ dilatis animis accipiamus Opus
abſolutum ; & ſic Abſolutum ut nec Bodleium præcedentem reformidat, nec ſuccedentem Ratcliffium.
Alexandrino, Byzantino, Romano, non niſi Tem-
pore poſtponendum eſt Hoc Doctrinæ Sacrarium.
En Aream abundè patentem in quâ longè latèque
Liberalitis expatietur, & Ingens ſe Circumagat
Mens Codringtoni ; Stupendam ! Si ab Alio.
Ecce Plauſtrorum gementium Pondus grave, Montium parturientium fœtus Enormes, & Ampliſſima Terræ decreſcentis Spolia ! Quantus Pulvis
adeſt, Sudor quantus ! Futuræ Venuſtatis immensâ Congerie, laborat Solum & ſepilitur. Quam
Novum & aliis Inauſum pluſquam pollicetur Hoc
Lapideum Chaos,
---Minæque
Murorum Ingentes, æquataque Machina cælo?
Hic & Intus & Extra fæcundiſſima Laudis Materies ; & Lunguarum Varietas, & Ædificii Superbia Babel Antiquum in mentem trahunt.
(a) Sublimis & perpolitæ Illius Structuræ vel in umbrâ ſumus, nec abhìnc longe Magnificentia ſe recepit Sheldoniana. Hoc eſt Vicinium, & vel in hoc Vicinio non Informes adeò nobis videmur ; at vel ſub Iſtius Turris Supercilio ſatìs Auguſto Latentibus adhùc, & quodammodò Depreſſis, parvos quoſdam Jacantiæ tumores non reprimendos Ebullire, minime diffiteor. Si longiùs abfuiſſet magis ſe jactaret & Præſul, & Rex. Eſt danda tamèn Codringtono Venia ; Aliâ ratione nunquàm vel Præſulum, vel Regum Majeſtatem imminuit ; nunquam non ardentiſſimè provexit. Quod Admirantibus convenit,Alia Collegia circumſtant, & Omne claudunt Latus ; Circumſtent, dum ſuperant, & Salva eſt Academia. (b) Quod propiùs à nobis abeſt, nitidiſſimum attollit caput, decantatum Decus Academiæ ! Decus eſt Academiæ fateor, ſed & Noſtrum: Magnum enim majus, Pulchrum pulchrius, Majeſtatis non expers, Majeſtatem pleniorem, Oſtendit, & Commendat. Et eſſemus Ingrati, ni fateremur Iſtas Ædes celeberrimas non minùs Officioſi, & in rem noſtram conſulentis Pro-
(a) Schol. Publ.
(b) Coll. Reg.
ximi, quam Æmuli ſuperbi partes præſtitiſſe. (a) Surgit ex adverſo Ratcliffianæ Liberalitatis Monumentum : Primævo Fidum Modulo, Veteris Ædificii Reverentiæ nihil detrahit. Obtenet Antiquum per Omnia : Nulla Ludit Levitas, nulla Tumet Ambitio, nec tanto Sumptu quicquam Affertur Novi, niſi quod producta Vetuſtatis ſunt Inſignia, niſi quod Alfredi Barba ſit aliquantò prolixior, ut ita dicam, & comptior fortaſsè quam non ita pridèm fuit. Ædificant & alibì dumque ſeculis præeuntibus Palmam eripiunt, haud indecora Codringtonianæ Magnanimitatis edunt præludia. Sin cuiquam videar Intumeſcere, & animum imptentem in Spem iniquam relaxare, habeo quod ſecurus reponam ; (b) Tuis ſub Auſpiciis Opus Ingens Initium ſumit ; Procuratione (c) Tua, læto fruitur Progreſſu, ſibique feliciſſimum, nec arrogantèr Te preſpecto, jamjam Gratulatur Exitum.Nos autem Gothico pondere laboramus, & hirſuto nimis Ingenio, in Barbariem relabimur. Illi meram Spirant Italiam, & delicatâ ſe limat Elegantiâ. Sed quid ſi Vi Septentrionali Compta Auſonia rursùs ſe Victam fateatur? Sublimis eſt animi felicitèr Audere ; Tum Vera Laus profluit, cùm pulchro rerum Exitu ſimùl & Perculſi ſumus, & Decepti ; cum Inviti Reſipiſcenteſque laudamus. Frigidæ cujuſdam Mediocritatis eſt, ſi non Vitii, Cunctis placuiſſe. Vos, O Judices Eruditiſſimi, quòd Nonnulli nimiùm & delicatè ſapiendo inſipiunt, ne diſpliceat Vobis Inceptum Hoc Conſultiſſimum. Ne Veſtræ, id eſt Veræ laudis diſpendio
(a) Coll. Univ.
(b) Cuſtodis.
(c) Doctoris --
Luat imperitiam Vulgi ; Quòd Excellit tantoperè, Huic, precor, Ignoſcatis ; Nec Gloriæ ſuæ vitio detur, quod major ſit, quam ut anguſtæ puſillæque menti ſe totam ingerat. Quo Tardior accreſcit, Hominum Approbatio, eò, Molis hujus inſtar Operoſæ, cum ſemèl accrevit & Fortior eſt & Diuturnior.Spiritus Huic Operi liberaliſſimo Par, è quam paucis eſt eximendus. Multi Doctrinam omninò neglectui habent ; Multi Reſpiciunt, ſed non Amant ; Amant multi, ſed Propriam; Et Aliorum multi ſed non Omnium ; Et Omnium multi, ſed Sumptibus Alienis. Selectos Animos Hoc Munus exigit ; Hìnc ſit quod Bibliothecæ Principes plerumquè Fundatores, interdùm & Curatores habuere. Illis maximè cordi ſunt Literæ, quorum intereſt maximè Memoriam ſuam Diffundi, Tradique per Sæcula. Bibliothecam qui ponit Indoctus, ſplendidam ſolummodò Pænitentiam agit ; Qui Pravus, ſuo Periculo ſpirat Honeſtum, & Inſtrumenta congerit, quibus Ipſe puniatur.
Nôſtis, O Bibliothecis maximè Verſati, minime Carentes! quod Bibliotheca eſt Templum Elapſi temporis Gloriæ dicatum, Futuri Commodo. Eſt Acies adversùs Ignorantiam, & Errores, per Terrarum Orbem conſcripta, benè Inſtructa, nunquàm non Parata. Hæc eſt Acies, O Britanni, quam nulla Dies, & Vobis Annuentibus, Exauctorabit. Virtutem tribuit Eruditione ſuâ, ſuâ remunerat Voluptate. Secundas res Ornat, Lenit Adverſas. Aut Opes dat, aut dat quod majus, non Carere. Hìc Vivunt Veteres, Hìnc Vita Poſteris. Viro dat Eſſe Magno, Puſillo Latere. Hìc vel Nos Amittimus, vel Invenimus Gloriam. Sheldoni, Codring- toni, Wakei Hinc Emergunt ; Hic Ipſe memet Occultabo. Hudſone Noſter, Hic Immortalitas (in Oxonio deeſt cui mi vertam, dicens) Hic & Oblivio.
Et ut Donum Hoc Eximium naturâ ſuâ Magnum, ſic Auctore Majus. Accepimus enim Bibliothecam à Galeato ; à Togato Victoriam & Triumphos. Hìc orbi terrarum rependit Arces, quas apud Namurcam, non ibi magis Victor delevit. Illic Rege Teſte, ſuperbivit ; Hic loci, Vobis. Sed quorſum abeo ? Heroa Literatum ſolummodò Meum eſt delineare ; & attendatis velim, quam magnus è Codringtono Vir excerpendus eſt, Aulico, Duce, Gubernatore ſalvis Integriſque relictis.
In Studiis Ardens, ut in Bello, ſimùl in omnes Literatum Copias impetum fecit ; omnes Oppoſitus profligavit ; & ab omni Scientiâ, proprio Marte Tyro noſter Academicus retulit Victoriam. Ut ab Oculo ſuo, mirum in modum, ſic & ab Oratione, Poeſiquè (tanta Vis inerat!) Scintillæ videbantur abſiſtere: Num Verbum eſt Ardentius? de Codringtono loquor: De Codringtono loquens qui non incaleſcit, obliviſcitur Argumenti. Doctrinâ verò Humaniori Florentiſſimum quis ignorat? Per Arida, Obſcura, Salebroſa Literarum celerem expedivit animum ; Codringtonus & in His. Ex Variis Operoſam Gloriam ſibi cumulavit. In omnibus Vehemens fateor, (laudent Alii) ſuprà quod cuiquam Credibile eſt : Non vehementibus, vehementiam conciliavit ; Vehementèr erat Doctus. Mentis ejus Lumen, Fulgur magis quam Stellam referebat : Multum enim & Vis & Æſtûs Luce com- miſcuit ; & nonnulli, qui Splendorem Ejus Noluerunt Videre, vel Inviti ſenſerunt. Nec Præſens ſolum & omninò Noſter, Noſtra curabat ; vel in belli Fulmine nos reſpexit ; Libris coëmendis ſatis amplos Sumptus fecit quotannis ; Et ubi Vitæ fuit Oblitus, Literaturæ conſuluit. Cæſari, (nec in hoc unicè,) Comparandus, quod unâ manu Fluctus tumentes fortitèr impulit, unâ gloriosè Scripta ſuſtinuit. Et quoniàm Cæſaris mentionem feci, non erit abs re Subjicere, quod Vitæ clariſſimæ Spatium ſupremum extruendæ Bibliothecæ deſtinavit Hic virorum Maximus. Moriens autèm Opus verè Imperatorium, cum Terrarum Orbe, legavit Auguſto; Proùt Mundi Dominum decebat, Hic exſtruxit ; & tamèn poſt Auguſtum in eodem Laudis campo, Magnus eſt Codringtonus. Doctrinæ licet, & indè conflati Nominus avidiſſimus, nullis tamèn erat Ividiæ Stimulis, ut fere ſit, Agitatus. Vos, O Socii, teſtor, quibus Invidiſſe culpâ pene vacaſſet ; Te, Creeche, teſtor præ cæteris, in Eleganti Cœtu, nunquam obliviſcende, nunquam non celebrande ; Te teſtor, quod Codringtonus Eruditioni Studuit non tantum Suæ, & munificentiſſimè ſtuduit. Suum Effert Roma Lucretium, Britannia Suum. Undè generoſus Ardor & mentis inexhauſta Vis in tam pulchra, tam Ardua Suppetebat? Sepoſitis unicè Memmio Codringtonoque, Cunctis in promptu eſt dicere. O modeſtam, O pulchram Horum Ignorantiam ! Maximâ, Suâ Scientiâ Pulchriorem ! Sed ip- ſam reformido Veritatem, ne Dicti Fides laboret ; Exciderem Veritate, ſi Veriſimilia tenerem : Scientèr admodùm Inſtituit Addiſonus,qui Heroa, Solutam Orationem Sublimi Genio fugientem, Vigore Poeſis attigit ; & effuſis Muſarum Opibus, Virum non exornandum, Enarravit. Si Menti, Judices, Ignem inditum, ſi ſplendidum Ingenium, ſi Nominis Amplitudinem, ſi bello Vim, ſi Vitam, (eheu! cur amico Lane defuiſti ? ) breviſſimam, ſi totum denique Virum, in exiguo depingendum, Uno verbo coarctandum mihi deſumpſerim, Ducem præſtantiſſimum Pulveri pyreo ab igne correpto conferre non timerem ; Caluit, Enituit, Inſonuit, Concuſſit, Abivit.
Codringtonum, Qui minimè norunt, dicent fortaſſe, me Multum in Laudando fuiſſe, Qui probe, Brevem. Vos Illius quondàm Sodales & Neceſſarii, non Veſtrum eſt tam Auſcultare quam me Corrigere. Ad Memoriam veſtram Vos relego ; Veſtra Cogitatio, eſt Oratio mea ; Fio ſic demum Eloquens, & Argumento Sublimi Par.
Quantus autem Codringtonus Qualiſque prius Audîſtis : Et ab Illo, quem, Ipſe verba facturus, Vos audiviſſe minimè vellem, ni Viri conjunctiſſimi Famam, longe prætulerim meæ. Elegantiam & ab Hoſte prædicandam ! Quam molli Eloquio, quam lenè fluenti, delicatè pronuntiato, ex animo humaniſſimè deprompto dolorem noſtrum flagrantem demulſit ? Nec Oratoris Laudi Vos defuiſtis. In plauſu veſtro Tum Triumphabam ; Manu pluſquam meâ Tum palmam arri- pui; & quamcunque feratis in animo de Futilitate noſtrâ ſententiam, ſero nimis eſt Hodie veſtram Indulgentiam mihi denegare.
Ad Te vero, Marmor, mei Punctum Argumenti, revertar, Oportet; & ut unde ſit Orſa, in eodent terminetur Oratio mea. O Marmor Chariſſimum! Viri chariſſimi nomen gerens, Honoratiſſimum! Fundatoris Honoratiſſimi tibi famam ex parte commiſſam habens, Potentiſſimum! & Me ad Oratoris Munus ſubeundum extimulans, Valeas : Molem tibi concreditam fortiter diuque ſuſtineas ; Et cum Longa Dies Te luci reddet, (nam quid Occultum Longa Dies non luci redditura?) notum facias fuiſſe Codringtonum, & ſe præclarum dediſſe : ſed Omnino talem, qualem Nos experti ſumus, & antequam Hoc tam Grande meditatus eſt, non Tuum eſt Enarrare : ----Imo, nec Ciceronis. Ciceronis, in Facultate dicendi longè longèque Principis. Quem Multi Theſauris effuſis ambiêre, nunquam nimirùm Inopes reputandi, quibus ſuperfuit Cicero; Quem Aurum & Purpura & Pauper Oriens donis ſuis ſplendidiſſimis profusè, ſed & parùm Ornavit; Quem ſinu foverunt Imperatores, & Diadema Decus habuerunt Secundum; His indiciis Gloriæ cumulatiſſimus, Humanorum maximus Auctorum nondùm Aſſecutus eſt Faſtigium, imo nec aſſecuturus, donèc Claſſibus tuis collocetur, Bibliotheca O Sumptuoſiſſima Chichleio-Codringtoniana.
FINIS.