compiled; and it is one of these collections which I fuppose Euclid to have had in his library. I have faid in the fame place that he also had in his library certain impromptus; and have cited in the margin a paffage from Athenæus, who has given us fix verses of Simonides, compofed extempore. Some may hence be inclined to inquire whether the practice which in Italy is called improvifating was known to the Greeks, who were endowed with an imagination at least as lively as that of the Italians, and whofe language was ftill better adapted to poetry than the Italian. The following are two facts, one of which is prior by two centuries, and the other pofterior by three, to the time in which I fuppofe Anacharfis to have travelled. 1. The first effays of tragedy were entirely extempore, and Ariftotle gives us to understand that they were in verse y. 2. Strabo mentions a poet of Tarfus in Cilicia, who lived in his time, and who could declaim in fuch elegant verfe on any propofed fubject, that he seemed to be immediately infpired by Apollo. He efpecially fucceeded in fubjects for tragedy. Strabo adds, that this talent was not uncommon among the inhabltants of Tarfus; and hence, no doubt, is derived the epithet Tarficus, which was given to certain poets who produced, without premeditation, tragic scenes at the pleasure of those by whom they were requested". y Ariftot. de Poet. cap. 4. t. ii. p. 654, E. et 655, B. z Strab. lib. 14. p. 676. a Id. ibid. p. 674. b Diogen. Laert. lib. 4. § 58. Me nag. ibid. ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING TABLES. I HAVE imagined that these Tables might be useful to those who should read, and also to those who should not read, the Travels of the Younger Anacharfis. The first contains the principal epochas of the Grecian history to the reign of Alexander. I have carefully examined them all; and though I have chosen the most able guides, I have not implicitly followed their opinions, but compared them with those of other chronologists, I have given tables of the measures, weights, and money of Athens; because these frequently occur in my work. The tables of the itinerary measures of the Romans were neceffary to ascertain those of the Greeks. I have given no tables of the cubic measures of the ancients, nor the money of the different ftates of Greece; because I have rarely had occafion to speak of these, and have found only uncertainty in my inquiries concerning them. In fubjects of this kind we frequently can only obtain, by our most elaborate refearches, the right to confefs our ignorance; and this I think that I have aɛquired. TABLES, I. PRINCIPAL Epochas of the Grecian History, from the Foundation of the Kingdom of Argos to the reign of Alexander. 1. Names of Persons who have distinguished themselves in Literature and the Arts, from the Time of the Trojan War to the Reign of Alexander, inclufively. III. Names of illustrious Men, arranged in Alphabetical Order, IV. Roman Measures reduced to French (and English). V. Roman Feet reduced to French (and English) Feet. VI. Roman paces reduced to French Toises (and English Yards). VII. Roman Miles reduced to French Toifes (and English Miles, &c.). VIII. Grecian Feet reduced to French (and English) Feet. IX. Stadia reduced to French Toifes, Roman Miles (and English Measures), X. Stadia estimated in French Leagues of 2500 Toiscs each. XI. Athenian Money reduced to French (and English). XII. Grecian Weights reduced to French (and English), TABLE I. CONTAINING the principal Epochas of the Grecian History, from the Foundation of the Kingdom of Argos to the Reign of Alexander. It will be proper to premife, that, for the dates preceding the first of the Olympiads, I have almost always followed the calculations of the late M. Freret, as he has given them either in his work intitled Defense de la Chronologie, or in the feveral papers of which he is the author, in the Memoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres. In the dates pofterior to the first Olympiad, I have commonly followed the Fafti Attici of father Corfini. Colony of Danaus to Argos 1586 Deluge of Deucalion in the environs of Parnaffus, or in the southern part of Theffaly 1580 Birth of the arts in Greece 1547 Reign of Perfeus at Argos 1458 Foundation of Troy 1425 Arrival of Pelops in Greece 1423 Birth of Hercules 1383 Birth of Thefeus 1367 Expedition of the Argonauts may be placed towards the year 1360 Atreus begins to reign at Olympia 1345 First war of Thebes between Eteocles and Polynices, fons of Qedipus Return of the Heraclide into Peloponnefus Emigration of the Ionians into Afia Minor, where they found the cities |