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

SECT. V. The Method of the ensuing Disputation.

M.

BEcause Chrysippus and the Stoicks, when they Dispute about the Passions, take up much time in the dividing and defining them; for that part of their Discourse is very small, healeth the Soul, and suffers not its affections to grow boister∣ous. On the other side the Peripateticks bring many motives to allay the Heats of the mind; but pass by the pricking Thorns of Divisions and Definiti∣ons. I enquire therefore, whether I should pre∣sently spread the Sails of my Discourse, or should push it on a while before with the Oars of Logi∣cians.

S.

Do this latter, for the whole matter in que∣stion will be more compleat by joyning both means of handling it.

M.

That is indeed the more orderly way of Proceeding; but if any thing shall fall out to be somewhat obscure, you may do well afterwards to enquire about it.

S.

I shall do so; yet you after your usual man∣ner, will deliver those obscure matters plainer than they are deliver'd by the Greeks.

M.

I will use my best endeavours; but there is need of heedful attention, (u) lest all should slip away, if any one thing escape you. Now what the Greeks call Passions, we chuse rather to call Distempers than Diseases; in the opening those, I shall follow the old Description which was first used by Pytha∣goras,

and then by Plato, who divide the Soul into two parts; the one they make rational, the other irrational; in the reasonable part they place Tran∣quillity of mind, that is a gentle and quiet Con∣stancy; in the other the turbulent Commotions both of Anger and Concupiscence, contrary to Reason, and at Enmity with it. Let this therefore be the source of all; yet in the describing of these Passions, we shall make use of the Stoicks Defini∣tions and Devisions, who seem to me to handle this question most judiciously.

(u) Least all should slip away, if any one thing escape you.] As the Notion he lays down of a Passion, is the Sinew of the whole ensuing Argument.