in order to ascertain my opinion
concerning them. But the chief proof, as I have before said, will result
from the whole; from an uniform series of evidence, supported by a fair and
uninterrupted analogy.

* * * * *

OF

ETYMOLOGY,

AS IT HAS BEEN TOO GENERALLY HANDLED.

[Greek: Alla theoi ton men manien apetrepsate glosses,]
[Greek: Ek d' hosion stomaton katharen ocheteusate pegen.]
[Greek: Kai se, polumneste, leukolene parthene, mousa,]
[Greek: Antomai, hon themis estin ephemerioisin akouein.]
[Greek: Pempe par' eusebies elaous' euenion harma.]----EMPEDOCLES.

It may appear invidious to call to account men of learning, who have gone
before me in inquiries of this nature, and to point out defects in their
writings: but it is a task which I must, in some degree, take in hand, as
the best writers have, in my opinion, failed fundamentally in these
researches. Many, in the wantonness of their fancy, have yielded to the
most idle surmises; and this to a degree of licentiousness, for which no
learning nor ingenuity can atone. It is therefore so far from being
injurious, that it appears absolutely necessary to point out the path they
took, and the nature of their failure; and this, that their authority may
not give a sanction to their mistakes; but, on the contrary, if my method
should appear more plausible, or more certain, that the superiority may be
seen upon comparing; and be proved from the contrast.

The Grecians were so prepossessed with a notion of their own excellence and
antiquity, that they supposed every antient tradition to have proceeded
from themselves. Hence their mythology is founded upon the grossest
mistakes: as all extraneous history, and every foreign term, is supposed by
them to have been of Grecian original. Many of their learned writers had
been abroad; and knew how idle the pretensions of their countrymen were.
Plato in particular saw the fallacy of their claim, he confesses it more
than once: yet in this article nobody was more infatuated. His Cratylus is
made up of a most absurd system of etymology. [465]Herodotus expressly
says, that the Gods of Greece came in great measure from Egypt. Yet
Socrates is by Plato in this treatise made to derive Artemis from [Greek:
to artemes], integritas: Poseidon from [Greek: posi desmon], fetters to the
feet: Hestia from [Greek: ousia], substance and essence: Demeter, from
[Greek: didousa hos meter], distributing a