_Theodoret_ writes, that _Julian_ the Apostate received an Answer from _Apollo_ at _Delphos_, 300 Years after the Birth of our Saviour. All which may be seen in Bishop _Potter_'s _Greek_ Antiquities, a most excellent Book; and if we had more such Antiquaries as that learned Prelate's and Mr. _Basil Kennet_'s who wrote the Antiquities of _Rome_, we might at the same Time improve ourselves both in antient and polite Learning. These being, I think the two most valuable Pieces of the Kind in any Language. As the middle Way is safest in all Things, so as to the Antients to run them down as _Perrault_ has done, or cry them up as _Boileau_ is perhaps equally dangerous, and out of the Medium. Whatever Advantages we have had of the Antients, probably they had the same of those that preceeded them. This we know, that the _Latins_ borrow'd as much from the _Greeks_ as we have borrow'd from them; and it would be no difficult Matter to prove, that in all the Branches of polite Literature, the Moderns, particularly the _English_, have excell'd the Antients in as many as the Antients excelled them. The Passage of my Lord _Bacon_'s before cited, gave Occasion to Monsieur _Perrault_, to bring in that noble Author for an Evidence on his Side against the Antients: But _Boileau_ vindicates him in this Point; and Father _Bouhours_, as another Instance of his excellent Judgement, declares he prefers the Lord Chancellor _Bacon_ before the most celebrated Names of Antiquity. _Rapin_ calls him the greatest _Genius of England_, and he has not more Glory from his own Countrymen than from the learned Men in _France_. I expect no Quarter from the Dealers in monastick Learning, in Heraldry, and Genealogy, who generally doat upon them even to Frenzy. _Du Val_ in his Geography informs us, that there is a Nation in _America_, bordering on the River of the _Amazons_, where old Women go off better than young; under a Notion, that the Knowledge of the One is preferable to the Vigour and Beauty of the Other. Thus these Men please themselves more with the Dryness and Gravity of Antiquity, than with a beautiful Imagination, and the Charms of Eloquence. I believe their Opinion will not have many Followers, nor their Example be much imitated. However, when such an Antiquary as the great _Selden_ appears in the World, the Instruction it will receive from him, more than makes amends for the Labour and Time which others lose in hunting after worthless Manuscripts, forg'd Charters, and monkish Fables. The learned and polite Dr. _Bathurst_ of _Oxford_, wrote an admirable Poem on the Death of _Selden_: _So fell the sacred_ Sibyl, _when of Old Inspir'd with mere than mortal Breast could hold: The gazing Multitude stood doubtful by, Whether to call it Death or Extasy: She silent lies, and now the Nations find No Oracles, but i' th' Leaves she left behind._