The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.

SECT. XXX. From the Authority of Socrates and Cato.

FOR thus he maintain'd, and thus he argued. There are two ways, and a double Post-road for Souls, when they go out of the Body. For they who had polluted themselves with the Vices of the

World, and abandon'd themselves wholly to Lusts, with which being blinded, they had defil'd them∣selves, as it were with Hereditary Family Vices, and Scandals, or had committed inexpiable Vil∣lanies in the overthrow of the State, that these were carried in a By-road, debarred from the blessed Assembly of the Gods. But those who had kept themselves pure and uncorrupt, and had contracted least infection from their Bodies, but had alwayes drawn themselves into retirement from them, and in humane Bodies had imitated the life of God, that such had an easie and open return to those from whom they came; and then he recounts how Swans, which are not without reason, dedicated to Apollo; but because they seem to have the Gift of Divination from him, by which foreseeing what benefit there is in death, they dye with Melody and Pleasure, so should all good and learned men do. Nor could any one doubt of this, unless it fared with us, when we think ear∣nestly about our Souls, as it is wont to do with those that gaze stedfastly upon the Sun in Eclipse, that they quite lose their sight; so the eye of the mind, looking nearly into it self, is sometimes dazled; and by that very means we let go the in∣tenseness of Contemplation. Therefore our whole discourse upon the Subject, proceeds with suspence, viewing round the Coast, demurring, crusing for∣ward and backward, as a small Pinnace beats about in the vast Ocean. But these are old Instances, and fetch'd from the Greeks. Now Cato of late, so parted with life, as that he was glad he had got∣ten an occasion of dying. For that Vicegerent of God, which Rules within us, lays a strict Injun∣ction, not to depart hence without his leave: But when God himself shall give a just Cause, as he did

Socrates then, Cato now, and many often; then truly will the Wise man joyfully escape out of this darkness, into the light. Nor yet will he break Prison, for the Laws defend that; but be∣ing so discharg'd and dismiss'd by God, as by a Magistrate, or lawful Authority, he will depart. For the whole Life of Philosophy, as the same Author saith, is a Meditation of Death.