Before I make an end of this Introduction, I shall obviate an Objection which some supercilious Criticks will be apt to make against this Work, viz. That most of these _Apophthegms_, _Jests_, _Repartees_ and _Stories_, are already known to Persons of good Education, and to Men of Learning: To which I answer, That granting this to be true, yet ’tis hoped they may be glad to find them here again, just as we are pleased to hear a fine Tune over and over, provided it be well Sung: But besides, this Collection is so vastly Rich, that it is hard, if not impossible, for any single Reader to know all it contains and not be either instructed or diverted by some thing that will be new to him. To which I must add, That my chief Design in this Collection is to facilitate the Learning of the _French_ Tongue to the _English_; and that of the _English_ Language to Foreigners, and upon that score I have taken particular care to make both Languages answer one another, as near as their different Idioms would allow. Avant que de finir cette Introduction, je previendrai une Objection que quelques Critiques de mauvaise humeur pourront faire contre cét Ouvrage, qui est, que la pluspart de ces _Apophthegmes_, _Bons Mots_, _Reparties_ & _Contes_ sont deja seus par les Personnes bien élevées, & par les gens de Lettres; à quoi je repons, que quand cela seroit, on espere pourtant qu’ils seront bien-aise de les retrouver ici, de même qu’on entend avec plaisir un bel Air, quoi qu’on fait deja entendu, pourveu qu’il soit bien chanté. Dailleurs ce Recueil est si grand & si riche, qu’il est difficile, pour ne pas dire impossible qu’un même Lecteur sache tout ce qu’il contient, & qu’il ne soit instruit ou diverti par quelque chose qui aura pour lui la grace de la nouveautê. A quoi je dois ajoûter que mon dessein principal dans ce Recueil est de rendre la Langue _Françoise_ facile à apprendre aux _Anglois_, & l’_Angloise_ aux Etrangers; & c’est pour cela que je me suis attaché avec soin â faire repondre ces deux Langues l’une à l’autre autant que leurs differens Idiomes l’ont pû permettre. THE Apophthegms OF THE ANCIENTS, BEING Their wise Sayings, fine Thoughts, noble Sentiments, Jests and witty Repartees, &c. 1. A Rich Man of _Athens_ desired the Philosopher _Aristippus_ to tell him how much he must give him to instruct his Son: _Aristippus_ ask’d him a Thousand Drachms. How! said the _Athenian_, I could purchase a Slave for that Money: _Do so_, answer’d _Aristipus_, _and thou shalt have two_; giving him to understand, that his Son would have the Vices of a Slave, if he did not bestow a liberal Education upon him. LES Apophthegmes DES ANCIENS, C’est à dire Leurs Sentences, belles Pensees, nobles Sentimens, bons Mots, & Reparties fines, &c. 1