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

SECT. III. Have overtaken them in Rhetorick, which is encouragement to set upon Philosophy.

WHen on the contrary we soon clos'd with the Orator, at first no Scholar, but of a popular Eloquence, though plain; afterwards Scholar too, for Galba, Africanus, Laelius, are re∣ported to have been learned; and Cato who liv'd before them to have studied after these, Lepidus, Carbo, the Gracchi; since whom down to our Age, men so ev'ry ways acomplish'd, that we come not much if any thing at all, behind the Greeks. Phi∣losophy to this Age hath lain neglected, nor re∣ceiv'd any lustre from the Latin Tongue, which is our present attempt to raise up and illustrate that so, if, when employ'd, we were any way service∣able to our Country-men, we may further serve them in our retirements, wherein we are oblig'd to use the more diligence, because many Books are said to be already written in Latin unadvisedly by well-meaning but insufficient men. Now it is possible, that one may have true Conceptions, and yet not be able to express his Notions in proper Terms; but for a man to commit his thoughts to writing for the publick, who can neither put them in due method, nor illustrate them with clear Proofs, nor by any delightful Ornaments entertain his Reader, is the part of one that at no rate abuses his own time, and the benefit of Writing. Here∣upon they read their own Books among them∣selves,

nor doth any one else meddle with them, but they that expect allowance to write after the same loose fashion. Whereupon if we have brought Oratory any credit by our Industry, we shall much more earnestly discover the Springs of Philosophy, from whence those other Rivulets issued. *

* We soon clos'd with the Orator] Tulley hath done his Pro∣•••••••• that Honor, as to draw up an accurate List of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Roman Advocates, with their Character, in a Trea∣•••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the same Brutus, and thence stil'd Brutus, 〈…〉〈…〉 the famous Orators.

〈…〉〈…〉 Books are said to be already written in Latin] He in∣•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 Epicurean Pieces crudely done into Latin, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Amafinius known to him only by hearsay, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as he would not give himself the trouble to read 〈…〉〈…〉.