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

(i) The Stoicks bring little Arguments to prove it not to be evil.] Cicero having confuted the Epicureans, who, contra∣ry to their own Principles, in a Bravado gave out, that they counted Pain pleasant, or at the worst but indifferent; now attacks the Stoicks, who thought it indeed offensive, but not evil, because not morally evil: this Restriction of the term he doth not allow, because in common acceptation it is of larger import. Then satisfieth them with assigning a different definition of the term, Evil, according to the re∣ceived Sense. Yet withall, he allows it comparatively to bear no proportion with dishonesty; so that forfeiture of Honor and Conscience in the least, is infinitely worse than suffering the greatest Pain. Then dismisseth the Cause, as a meer Controversie about words. Here he bears the Person of a moderate Peripatetick.