I ragguagli di Parnasso, or, Advertisements from Parnassus in two centuries : with the politick touch-stone / written originally in Italian by that famous Roman Trajano Bocalini ; and now put into English by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Monmouth.

The XXV. ADVERTISEMENT.

Epictetus, a Stoick Philosopher, who finding his Sect to grow much deformed, asks leave of Apol∣lo to ground a new Sect of Reformed Stoicks; and is rather reprehended by his Majestie, then commended.

EPictetus, that famous Stoick, had this day long audience of Apollo, to whom he was overheard to say with great submissness, that the exemplary life, certainty of Doctrine, holy customs, quiet and fruitful leasure, that he had formerly seen in the Sect of Stoicks, had forced him to imbrace that Sect, in which he had lived with great satisfaction for the space of 25 years; but that it being now much falne from the former severity of life, and good behaviour, nothing of good remain∣ed in it, but the bare and still reverenced name, at which he was both much afflicted and scandalized, and was forced to forgo it, that he might still live in his antient purity of demeanour, poverty of life, humility, and peace of mind. That therefore (if it should stand with his Maje∣sties approbation) he, and some other of his fellow-Philosophers who were of the same mind, desired to withdraw themselves, and to ground a new sect of reformed Stoicks.

Apollo, not without some apparent signes of displeasure, answer∣ed Epictetus, That he was so far from being willing to multiply the Sects of his Philosophers, as for the good of Sciences, unity of Opini∣on, and for many other weighty respects, he was resolved to reduce them to a lesser number; and that if the Stoicks were any waies fallen from their former good orders, he wisht him to know, that such a one as he, ought rather to hide their defects, then scandalously publish them to the world by new Reformations; it not being possi∣ble to admit of a sect of Reformers, without necessarily acknowledg∣ing a deformation: And that a Philosopher so cry'd up for Wisdom, and sincerity of soul, as was Epictetus, should not endeavour to pur∣chase reputation to himself, by defaming others; and the rather, for that by the laying a foundation of new reformed Stoicks, he made it appear evidently to the whole world, That the Stoicks disorders were grown so great, as that they were become incorrigible, even by the exemplary life of such a one as himself: That therefore it was the duty of every good Stoick, when he saw his Sect forget their Rules, to strive to reduce them to their duties by his own good example, it not being only shameful ingratitude, but wicked impiety to abandon his Sect in its most urgent occasions, and greatest necessity:

For certainly that Pilat were very wicked, who seeing his Ship ready to be lost in a fearful storm at Sea, should abandon his companions, and seek∣ing to save himself in the Ship-bo•…•…t, could find in his heart to laugh at those that were in distress: And that if he should open the dore in Par∣nassus to reformed Sects, that progressus in infinitum, must of necessity follow, which ought to be so shun'd by every wise Prince. For every thing necessarily growing old and corrupt in time, by consequence the reformed Stoicks transgressing their rules, would in time divide them∣selves into new reformed Sects. And because the planting of Vinyards, and founding of Sects of Philosophers walked hand in hand, it was to be considered, that the wise Husbandman, when he saw his Vinyard, which before was very fruitful, go to ruine for want of dressing, did not suddenly fall to plant a new one, but endeavoured by dilligence and assi∣duous labour, to make it fruitful again, and never resolved upon the planting of a new Vinyard, till he clearly found, that it was impossible to reduce the impair'd Vinyard to its former condition, by any whatsoever diligence.

In which case, at the same time that he plants his new vinyard, he plucks up the old one by the very roots, and turns it into earable ground; for otherwise, in a short time, he would have foolishly encom∣bred his whole Patrimony with wild Grapes. Apollo said also, That Epictetus should reflect much upon the unfortunate condition of the pre∣sent times, wherein the whole world being infected with the pernitious disease of Polititians, whose particular profession it is, not to adhibit faith to such actions as have a certain affected appearance of extraordinary goodness, it was shrewdly to be feared, that they would interpret his good will, and excellent intention, of laying a new foundation of reform∣ed Stoicks, to be but Hypocrisie; giving it out (as it is their custom to do) in every corner, that Epictetus, a Philosoper of so well a compos'd soul, would forsake the old Stoick Sect, whereof he was but the tail, out of ambition to become the head of a new one.