A Philosophicall Essay for the Reunion of the Languages

A Philosophicall Essay for the Reunion of the Languages Or, The Art of Knowing All by the Mastery of One. As the Knowledge of forreign Languages ought not to be reputed one of those vain and useless curiosities that serve only to amuse the mind, but is certainly conducive to a thousand different ends; so we ought not to think it strange if our age, which gives such æquall and secure judgement of the value of things shew more of passion then ever for it, notwithstanding all the difficulties that are pretended. The Roman Idioms are the Italian, Spanish and French, which cannot now be unknowne to any but such as are shamefully ignorant; I may adde likewise the Portuguese, which although not very different from the Castilian, yet is not wanting in its owne particular beauties, and hath receiv'd no mean accession of use and honour from the conquests of its Kings in the most remote parts of the world.