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study to the design and composition of a regular work； which
animates； while it confines； the daily application of the Author。
Caprice and accident may influence my choice； but the dexterity
of self…love will contrive to applaud either active industry or
philosophic repose。
Downing Street； May 1； 1788。
P。 S。 I shall embrace this opportunity of introducing two
verbal remarks； which have not conveniently offered themselves to
my notice。 1。 As often as I use the definitions of beyond the
Alps； the Rhine； the Danube； &c。； I generally suppose myself at
Rome； and afterwards at Constantinople； without observing whether
this relative geography may agree with the local； but variable；
situation of the reader； or the historian。 2。 In proper names
of foreign； and especially of Oriental origin； it should be
always our aim to express； in our English version； a faithful
copy of the original。 But this rule； which is founded on a just
regard to uniformity and truth； must often be relaxed； and the
exceptions will be limited or enlarged by the custom of the
language and the taste of the interpreter。 Our alphabets may be
often defective； a harsh sound； an uncouth spelling； might offend
the ear or the eye of our countrymen； and some words； notoriously
corrupt； are fixed； and； as it were； naturalized in the vulgar
tongue。 The prophet Mohammed can no longer be stripped of the
famous； though improper； appellation of Mahomet： the well…known
cities of Aleppo； Damascus； and Cairo； would almost be lost in
the strange descriptions of Haleb； Demashk； and Al Cahira： the
titles and offices of the Ottoman empire are fashioned by the
practice of three hundred years； and we are pleased to blend the
three Chinese monosyllables； Con…fu… tzee； in the respectable
name of Confucius； or even to adopt the Portuguese corruption of
Mandarin。 But I would vary the use of Zoroaster and Zerdusht； as
I drew my information from Greece or Persia： since our connection
with India； the genuine Timour is restored to the throne of
Tamerlane： our most correct writers have retrenched the Al； the
superfluous article； from the Koran； and we escape an ambiguous
termination； by adopting Moslem instead of Musulman； in the
plural number。 In these； and in a thousand examples； the shades
of distinction are often minute； and I can feel； where I cannot
explain； the motives of my choice。