The ancient language of Italy possessed a strong affinity with the modern.

My knowledge of the former was my only means of gaining the latter.

I had no grammar or vocabulary to explain how far the meanings and inflections of Tuscan words varied from the Roman dialect.

I was to ponder on each sentence and phrase; to select among different conjectures the most plausible, and to ascertain the true by patient and repeated scrutiny.
This undertaking, fantastic and impracticable as it may seem, proved, upon experiment, to be within the compass of my powers.

The detail of my progress would be curious and instructive.