The Dissertations of Maximus Tyrius

and unfolded into the most pleasing and admirable light. Their labors, however, have been ungratefully received The reader who wishes to see a specimen of the manner in which the labors of these admirable men have been received by the worthless vulgar of modern times may peruse an account of my translation of the works of Plato in a production as mean as it is malevolent, called "The Imperial Review." To the scurrilous and anonymous hireling who, in this publication, has thought fit to vilify me no less than these most excellent philosophers, my masters, I shall only observe that it is natural for dogs to bark at strangers. To Dr. Gillies, who has also thought fit to join in this abuse in a work just published (which is cited in the aforementioned review), I shall shortly reply in an octavo pamphlet, in which the injustice he has done to Aristotle, in a translation—as he calls it—of the "Ethics" of that philosopher, and his ignorance of the doctrines which he so insolently calumniates, will be fully unfolded.. The beautiful light which they benevolently disclosed has hitherto, unnoticed, illumined Philosophy in her desolate retreats, like a lamp shining on some venerable statue amidst dark and solitary ruins. The prediction of the master has been unhappily fulfilled in these his most excellent disciples. "For an attempt of this kind," says he See the seventh epistle of Plato., "will only be beneficial to a few, who from small vestiges, previously demonstrated, are themselves able to