A New System | Page 5

Alcides Hercule majus opus. Tendis in hostilem soli tibi fisus arenam? Excutis h?retici verba minuta Sophi[2]? Accipit ?ternam vis profligata repulsam, Fractaque sunt valida tela min?que manu. Cui Melite non nota tua est? atque impare nisu Conjunctum �� criticis Euro Aquilonis iter? Argo quis dubitat? quis Delta in divite nescit Qu�� sit J?sephi fratribus aucta domus? Monstra quot ?gypti perhibes! qu?que Ira Jehov?! Quam propri�� in falsos arma parata deos! Dum foedis squalet Nilus cum foetibus amnis, Et necis est auctor que?s modo numen erat. Immeritos Dana?m casus, Priamique dolemus Funera, nec vel adhuc ossa quieta, senis? Fata Melesigens? querimur, mentitaque facta Hectoris incertas ad Simo?ntis aquas? Eruis h?c veteris scabra �� rubigine fam?, Dasque operis vati jusque decusque sui, Magna tuis affers monumentaque clara triumphis, Cum Troja ?ternum qu��d tibi nomen erit! Ah! ne te extrema cesset coluisse senecta, (Aspicere heu! nimi? quem vetuere mor?,) Qui puer, atque infans prope, te sibi sensit amicum, Eque tuis sophi? fontibus hausit aquas! Imagis, et, pur? qu?cunque aptissima vit? Pr?mia supplicibus det Deus ipse suis, H?c pete rite seni venerando, Musa; quod Ille Nec spe, nec fama, ditior esse potest. Innumeris long��m gratus societur amicis, Inter Etonenses duxque paterque viros: Felix intersit terris: super?mque beato Paulisper talem fas sit abesse choro.
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INSCRIPTION
ON
MR. BRYANT'S MONUMENT,
IN
CYPENHAM CHURCH.
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M--S
JACOB BRYANT
Collegii Regalis apud Cantabrigienses Olim Socii Qui in bonis quas ibi hauserat artibus excolendis consenuit. Erant in eo plurim? liter? nec e? vulgares, Sed exquisit? qu?dam et recondit?, quas non minore Studio quam acumine ad illustrandam S.S veritatem adhibuit: Id quod testantur scripta ejus gravissima, tam in Histori? sacr? primordiis eruendis quam in Gentium Mythologia explicanda versata. Libris erat adeo deditus Ut iter vit? secretum iis omnino deditum; Pr?miis honoribusque qu? illi non magis ex Patroni nobilissimi gratia quam suis meritis abunde pr?sto erant, usq; pr?posuerit. Vitam integerrimam et ver�� Christianam Non sine tristi suorum desiderio, clausit Nov. 13. 1804. Anno ?tatis su? 89.
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PREFACE.
[Greek: Naphe, kai memnas' apistein; arthra tauta t?n phren?n.]----EPICHARMUS.
It is my purpose, in the ensuing work, to give an account of the first ages, and of the great events which happened in the infancy of the world. In consequence of this I shall lay before the reader what the Gentile writers have said upon this subject, collaterally with the accounts given by Moses, as long as I find him engaged in the general history of mankind. By these means I shall be able to bring surprising proofs of those great occurrences, which the sacred penman has recorded. And when his history becomes more limited, and is confined to a peculiar people, and a private dispensation, I shall proceed to shew what was subsequent to his account after the migration of families, and the dispersion from the plains of Shinar. When mankind were multiplied upon the earth, each great family had, by [3]divine appointment, a particular place of destination, to which they retired. In this manner the first nations were constituted, and kingdoms founded. But great changes were soon effected, and colonies went abroad without any regard to their original place of allotment. New establishments were soon made, from whence ensued a mixture of people and languages. These are events of the highest consequence; of which we can receive no intelligence, but through the hands of the Gentile writers.
It has been observed, by many of the learned, that some particular family betook themselves very early to different parts of the world, in all which they introduced their rites and religion, together with the customs of their country. They represent them as very knowing and enterprising; and with good reason. They were the first who ventured upon the seas, and undertook long voyages. They shewed their superiority and address in the numberless expeditions which they made, and the difficulties which they surmounted. Many have thought that they were colonies from Egypt, or from Phenicia, having a regard only to the settlements which they made in the west. But I shall shew hereafter, that colonies of the same people are to be found in the most extreme parts of the east; where we may observe the same rites and ceremonies, and the same traditional histories, as are to be met with in their other settlements. The country called Phenicia could not have sufficed for the effecting all that is attributed to these mighty adventurers. It is necessary for me to acquaint the Reader, that the wonderful people to whom I allude were the descendants of Chus, and called Cuthites and Cuseans. They stood their ground at the general migration of families; but were at last scattered over the face of the earth. They were the first apostates from the truth, yet great in worldly wisdom. They introduced, wherever they came, many useful arts, and were looked