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

SECT. XI. That the Stoicks cavil about Words.

S.

YOU induce me to give you my assent; but take heed least your consistency too be not questionable.

M.

How so?

S.

Because I have lately read over your fourth Book, about the several Opinions concerning the chief Good; in that, disputing against Cato, you seem'd to me to endeavour to shew what I ex∣treamly like, that there is no difference between Zeno and the Peripateticks, but a novelty of Terms. If this be so, what reason is there, but if Zeno thinks it reasonable, that there is in Vertue, suffi∣ciency to Happiness of Life, the Peripateticks may say the same? for, I think, reality, not words, ought to be regarded.

M.

Why, you take of me a Bill under Hand and Seal, and call Witnesses to what I said or writ at any time. Deal so with others who Dispute un∣der Articles subscribed; we live from hand to mouth, whatsoever smites us with an appearance of Truth, that we allow. Therefore we only are free; but since we spoke a little before of con∣sistency, I do not think it to be at this time the enquiry whether that which Zeno and his Auditor Aristo held be true, that only which is Honest to be good; but, if it were so, then to place the whole Happiness of Life in Vertue alone. Where∣fore let us yield this to Brutus, that a Wise man is always happy; how agreeable it is to his Prin∣ciples, he must look to that. What man is more worthy the Glory of this Assertion? Yet let us hold that the same Wise man is most Happy, al∣though Zeno of Cittium, a certain Forreigner, and ignoble, but Forger of Terms, seems to have wrought himself slily into the ancient Philo∣sophy.