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

SECT. IV. Pythagoras Founder of the Italian Sect.

NOR was Pythagoras only Inventor of the Name, but also enlarger of the Notion; who having after this Discourse at Phlius, come in∣to Italy, adorn'd that Greece, which was call'd the Great, both in private and publick, with most excellent Arts and Ordinances; about whose Dis∣cipline another occasion of discoursing may per∣haps occur. But, by the ancient Philosophers, down to Socrates numbers and motions were han∣dled, and whence all things were generated, and whether they were resolv'd. Also the magnitudes, distances; courses of the Stars were diligently ob∣serv'd, and the whole Celestial Globe. But Socra∣tes was the first that fetch'd down Philosophy from Heaven, and lodg'd it in Cities, nay introduc'd it into Houses, and oblig'd it to enquire after Life and Manners, what things are Good, and what

Evil. Whose manifold Form of arguing, variety of Subjects, and excellency of Wit, being consecrated by the elegant Records of Plato, hath produc'd many Sects of Dissenting Philosophers: From amongst which, we have especially espous'd that which we think Socrates us'd, to conceal our own opinion, to undeceive others, and in every Dispute to enquire what carried the fairest appearance of Truth. This Custom as Carneades held with great subtilty and copiousness, so have we done both often elsewhere; and lastly in our place at Tuscu∣lum, to dispute after the same Fashion. And as to four days Debate, we have pen'd and sent it to you in the former Books. But on the fifth day, when we had taken our Seats in the same place, it was thus propounded upon what we should Dispute.