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

SECT. XI. Digressions against the Poets.

IT is a hard matter therefore, for us not to pro∣nounce a man in these Circumstances misera∣ble; and if he be miserable, Pain must conse∣quently be evil.

S.

(d) You do hitherto bring Arguments in my favour, but that I shall examine anon; in the mean time, (e) where had you those Verses? for I re∣member not to have met with them before.

M.

I will tell you truly, for it is a proper que∣stion; do you not see that I have little to do?

S.

What of that?

M.

You have been, I suppose, in the Philoso∣phers Schools, when you were at Athens.

S.

I have so, and with great satisfaction.

M.

You must needs then mark, though there were none at that time very fluent, yet that Verses were mix'd with their Discourse.

S.

Yes, and many too by Dionysius the Stoick.

M.

You say right; but he would repeat them as a School-boy doth his Lesson, without any di∣stinction of what was proper or elegant. (f) Philo observ'd both the due number, and choice Pieces, and would apply them in their proper place. Therefore since I have taken to this sort of declaim∣ing, as it were for my old Age, I am much con∣versant in our Poets; but if they be any where de∣ficient, I translate many things my self out of Greek, that the Latin Tongue might not come behind in

any sort of Ornaments in this kind of Disputations. But do you see (g) what mischief Poets do? for they bring upon the Stage Persons of a brave Cha∣racter lamenting, they soften our Spirits: then so luscious are they, as not only to be read by us, but also gotten by heart. Thus when over and above ill breeding at home, a sedentary and soft life, the Poets come in with their Charms also, they emasculate the Soul. Therefore Plato did well, to dismiss them out of the State which he modell'd, when he enquir'd af∣ter the sound best Policy, and best order'd State of a Commonwealth. (h) But we now, as fetch∣ing our Education from Greece, read and learn these things from our Child-hood; we account this Gentile Breeding and Scholarship.

(d) You do hitherto bring Arguments in my favour.] These Instances allow'd by popular applause, he alledges against the Epicureans, who affirm'd Pain to be sweet. These over-strain the Matter, a Notion abhorrent from Nature and the common Sense of Mankind. Therefore sufficiently run down by Stories, poetically amplify'd and approv'd by the Vulgar; however the case on the other side upon a just estimate be herein too far relax'd.

(e) Where had you those Verses?] The Greek, he said before, were of Aeschylus, in his other Prometheus, not tha•• which is extant; and the Latin ones are so properly ex∣press'd, as that he was loth posterity should be ignorant he was the Author of them. So true is that judgment I think of Quintilian, that Tully was a Poet comparable to the best of his Age; contrary to the vulgar Conception about him; grounded, I suppose, upon the censure of the Satyrist, which yet should be restrain'd to that by-word of his, noted as well for the Matters, being invidious as the clench ungrateful.

(f) Philo observ'd both the due number, and choice pieces, and would apply them in their proper place.] The Artifice of Tully, (which he learn'd from Philo) is admirable, for here treating of a melancholy Subject, he chears up the Reader

with large Portions of Poetry, as if he were at an Enterlude or Opera. Besides these fabulous or heroical Instances of Pain and Impatience, like magnified Objects, or Colossick Statues, present to the Fancy a clearer view of the Passion in all its parts, and raise admiration with delight.

(g) What mischief Poets do.] Here is a grave Digression against the Poets, not giving true measures of Honor. Plato gave them leave to depart with good words, whom Cicero commends for it. Indeed what Conceptions of God did the Epicks deliver? what boisterous Humors do the Tragoe∣dians vent? the Lyricks are often incentives to Lust and Lux∣ury, which they recommend with melody of Voice and Instruments. Poetry must conform to the Age upon which it depends, and pleaseth for its likeness. But Comedy still resembleth the most misguided part of Mankind. So that the wisest Philosophers have prescrib'd the Poets to be read with more than ordinary caution, and strong correctives of the ill qualities lurking in them.

(h) But we, now, as fetching our Education from Greece.] It was modish with the Romans, at that time, to train up their Children early to Greek, and they begun at the Poets. Therefore Quintilian maketh reading the Poetry part of the Grammarians Province, whereas expounding Orations be∣long'd to the Master of Rhetorick. Thus was Cicero first enter'd in his Studies, by Archias a Grecian and Poet. This was in Practice after the taking Greece, and acquaintance with the more polite literature of that Nation.