Grotius left France a little after the date of this letter; and his death, which soon followed, was no doubt the greatest obstacle to the publication of the Anthologia, the printing of which Blaeu discontinued.  Grotius’s copy falling into Le Clerc’s hands, he gave hopes that he would publish it with considerable additions.  He has a great deal about it in his Bibliotheque Choisie[470].  “Those who shall read Grotius’s version, says he, will equally admire the happy genius, and the uncommon patience of that excellent man, who translated the whole book in the same number of verses as in the original, which he very often equals, and sometimes even surpasses.  There will be an excellent Preface by Grotius, treating of the Anthologia and his version of it.”

Unhappily M. le Clerc did not fulfil the engagement he entered into with the public.  Father Berthier, a famous Jesuit, who, to solid piety joins extensive learning, has lately given us, in the Memoirs de Trevoux, a very curious article relating to Grotius’s Anthologia.  It is entitled, An Account of a Manuscript version of the Greek Anthologia by Grotius.  He tells us, that the original, in Grotius’s own hand, is in the library of the Jesuits College at Paris, where it was deposited in the year 1665 by Edmund le Mercier, Grotius’s Secretary.  This work, the learned Jesuit observes, is valuable on three accounts.  First, because the Latin verses are excellent, and of the same measure with the Greek; so that if the text be Elegiac verses, or pure Hexameters, or Iambics of six feet, or Anacreontics, the version is always of the same species of poetry.  Secondly, he has every where confined himself to the number of verses in the original, being never more laconic nor more prolix; which discovers a very ready genius, and a singular patience.  Thirdly, he corrects the text from time to time by short notes placed in the margin.

Father Berthier gives afterwards Grotius’s translation of several Epigrams; which makes it earnestly to be wished, that the learned Jesuit would publish the whole work:  but the present prevailing taste for trifles gives us ground to apprehend, that the booksellers of France dare not undertake this work, which deserves so well to be transmitted to posterity.

Besides the Epigrams that are to be found in all the editions, Grotius’s manuscript contains, first, those which were collected by Henry Stephens, and are placed at the end of his edition of the Anthologia. 2dly, A very large number of inscriptions from Gruter. 3dly, A collection made by Grotius himself from manuscripts.

A note at the beginning of this valuable manuscript informs us, that the version of the seven books of the Anthologia was begun by Grotius in September, 1630, and finished before next September:  which shews the wonderful ease with which this great author wrote.

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