Friday. July 29th.
A hard day at Greek & philosophy. Began & finished the 4th. book of Antoninus. He repeats himself a good deal, & his style is not flowing or harmonious: but there is an elevation in his thoughts & an energy in their expression, which I very much admire. How I do wish that Gataker’s system of reform[1] had been applied i.e. introduced into the text. As it is, to refer constantly to the notes when you wish to understand the text, is like dipping this pen into ink every time you wish to make a single stroke, which by the way I am obliged to do—or like being forced to look at the sun before you can see any object by its light.
Some thunder & lightening today—not very severe; but sufficiently so, to prove what they might be. No letter.
Besides the 4th book of Antoninus, I prepared a part of the Seven chiefs for Mr. Boyd tomorrow. Not very much tired after all; and tranquil & comfortable in my mind. Thank God for that.
1. As set forth in his De Novi Instrumenti Stylo Dissertatio (London, 1648).
