Yet, saith M. Harding, Strabo being borne in the same Country, and living under the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius, in the time of S. Paul, writeth in his Geography, that, where as there were then sixteen sundry Nations in Asia the Less, three only of them were Greeks, and the rest Barbarous. I know not whether M. Harding be unwittingly deceived him self, or wilfully goo about to deceive others. But well I know, that this is no part of Strabo's meaning. For Strabo1 speaketh not this of his own time, but of the time of Ephorus, that lived well near five hundred years before him. This Ephorus reporteth, that in his time there were but three Greek nations as yet entered into Asia, but all the rest then were Barbarous. And therefore Apollodorus saith, that before the Battle of Troy, no people of the Greeks at all ever came over, to dwell there. For if Strabo had meant this of his own time, to what end should he allege the record of Ephorus, that lived so many hundred years before him, for proof of the thing, that he had so diligently viewed, & seen him self: & specially seeing his purpose is not to follow,2 but to reprove Ephorus: as it well appeareth by his words. As for Apollodorus, thus he saith of him. He seemeth not discreetly to deal herein: 3for he disordereth, and falsely allegeth the words of Homer. And unto this construction of Strabo, very well agreeth the place of Plinius here alleged, & concludeth manifestly against M. Harding, as it appeareth by the very words: In omni •o tractu proditur, tres tantùm gentes Graecas jure dici, Doricam, Jonicā, A•olicam: Caeteras barbarorū esse. 4In which whole circuit, it is written, that only three nations be rightly called Greeks: and that the rest are of the Barbarians. In that he saith proditur, it is written, he meaneth by Ephorus, Apollodorus, or such others, as had lived long before. In that he saith: Caeteras barbarorum esse, the reaste be of the Barbarians, he meaneth, that they had arrived thither, not out of Graecia, as had the other three, but out of other Countries that were Barbarous. But in that he saith, Tres tantùm gentes Graecas jure dici, that only three Nations be rightly, or naturally called Greeks, he must needs mean that the rest were called Greeks also, although not so rightly, and naturally, as the other.
Yet, saithe M. Hardinge, Strabo beinge borne in the same Countrie, and liuinge vnder the Emperours Augustus and Tiberius, in the time of S. Paule, writeth in his Geographie, that, where as there were then sixteene sundrie Nations in Asia the Lesse, three onely of them were Greekes, and the reast Barbarous. I knowe not whether M. Hardinge be vnwittingely deceiued him selfe, or wilfully goo aboute to deceiue others. But wel I knowe, that this is no parte of Straboes meaninge. For Strabo1 speaketh not this of his owne time, but of the time of Ephorus, that liued wel néere fiue hundred yeeres before him. This Ephorus reporteth, yt in his time there were but three Greeke nations as yet entred into Asia, but al the reste then were Barbarous. And therefore Apollodorus saith, yt before the Battaile of Troye, no people of ye Gréekes at al euer came ouer, to dwell there. For if Strabo had meante this of his owne time, to what ende should he allege the recorde of Ephorus, yt liued so many hundred yéeres before him, for proufe of ye thinge, that he had so diligently vewed, & seene him selfe: & specially seeing his purpose is not to folow,2 but to reprooue Ephorus: as it wel appeareth by his woordes. As for Apollodorus, thus he saithe of him. He seemeth not discretely to deale herein: 3for he disordereth, and falsely allegeth the woordes of Homer. And vnto this constructiō of Strabo, very wel agreeth the place of Plinius here alleged, & concludeth manifestly againste M. Harding, as it appeareth by the very woordes: In omni •o tractu proditur, tres tantùm gentes Graecas iure dici, Doricam, Ionicā, A•olicam: Caeteras barbarorū esse. 4In whiche whole circuite, it is written, that onely three nations be rightly called Greekes: and that the rest are of the Barbariens. In yt he saithe proditur, it is written, he meaneth by Ephorus, Apollodorus, or such others, as had liued longe before. In that he saithe: Caeteras barbarorum esse, the reaste be of the Barbariens, he meaneth, that they had arriued thither, not out of Graecia, as had the other three, but out of other Countries that were Barbarous. But in that he saithe, Tres tantùm gentes Graecas iure dici, that onely three Nations be rightly, or naturally called Greekes, he muste needes meane that the reste were called Greekes also, although not so rightly, and naturally, as the other.
- 1Strabo Geogra. lib. 14.
- 2Strabo li. 14. eodem loco.
- 3[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 4Plin. hist. nature. li. 6. ca. 2.Plin. hist. natur. li. 6. ca. 2.
