The Adamus exul of Grotius; or The Prototype of Paradise Lost — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PREFACE. Xl “John Meursius to the incomparable youth, Hugo Grotius, jurisconsult, on his Adamus Exul. ‘¢ Bertcium equals Greece and Rome in the achievements of peace and war. The award of genius was trembling in the un- decided balance ; the palm had not yet been allotted. None of us had before ventured to tread in the tragic buskin in which alone Belgium seemed inferior. But now, by the talent of Grotius, she hath conquered her rivals; and Greece and Rome must yield to her the laurels.” “ Enoc Potteitus to Hugo Grotius, on his Adamus Exul. ‘¢ You sing the miracles of nature, my Grotius, in such a noble style that every one esteems yourselfasa miracle. If any would celebrate you, according to your deserts, he must be endowed with a genius equal to your own.” ‘* Daniel Heinsius to Hugo Grotius. ‘‘ At length, great father of the reborn drama, noblest light and ornament of tragic art—thou treatest the most sacred subjects with a royal eloquence. Your Adamus Exul has delighted us all. Thou art the youthful sage, that fills Holland with admira- tion, and Italy and France with envy. You were mature even in boyhood. Others become men by degrees — Grotius was born a man. | “ Tie dum puer fuit Vir esse cepit : namque relliqui viri Tandem fuere; Grotius vir natus est.” After my efforts to revive this great curiosity of natidnal litera- ture, I must record my gratitude to learned friends connected with the press. Scholars ofall sects and parties have generously come forward to celebrate the name of Grotius; and the fame of his prose works is no longer allowed to eclipse the glory of his poetic triumphs. I find no reward of literary exertion more sweet and exhilarating, than this general approbation of men of letters joining to rescue this master-piece of Batavian genius GORMGOOO @ <S (c@