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

SECT. XXV. The Indignation of Orators, Displeasure of Pa∣rents, or other Governours regular.

BUT for an Orator to be angry, is far from de∣cent; to make as though he were, is not in∣decent. Do you take us to be angry then, when we speak any thing in our pleadings, with some∣what more than ordinary earnestness and vehe∣mency? What? after the Tryal is past and gone, when we pen our Orations, do we pen them in anger?

Ho! None attend? Bind him—

Do we think (i) that either Aesop ever acted in anger, or Attius writ in anger? These things are acted handsomly, and indeed better by an Orator if he be a true Orator, than by any Player; but they are acted dispassionately and with a calm mind. But to praise Lust, what a piece of Lust is it? You produce me Themistocles and Demosthenes; you add Pythagoras, Democritus, Plato. What do you call Studiousness, Lust? which though it be after the best things, as are those in which you instance, yet ought to be compos'd and calm. But to praise Discontent, the thing of all to be most abhor'd; what Philosophers, I pray, must that argue? But Afranius said ingeniously.

F.

Grieve he, though grieve for what he please.

He there spoke of a prodigal and dissolute Son, but our question proceeds upon a constant and wise man. Nay let a Captain or Ensign take this very anger, or others who are not necessary to be mention'd, least we divulge the Misteries of Rhetoricians, for it is expedient for him to serve him∣self of Affections, who cannot make use of Reason; but the Subject of our Question is, as I often testifie, a Wise man.

(i) That either Aesop ever acted in anger.] Aesop the Player liv'd in Tully's time; the Fabulist 500 years before.