The art of rhetoric, with A discourse of the laws of England by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.

CHAP. V.

Of the ends which the Orator in Delibera∣tives, propoundeth, whereby to exhort, or dehort.

AN Orator in exhorting always propoun∣deth Felicity, or some part of Felicity to be attained by the actions he exhorteth unto: and in Dehortation the contrary.

By Felicity, is meant commonly, Prospe∣rity with vertue, or a continual content of the life with surety. And the parts of it are such things as we call good, in body, mind, or fortune; such as these that follow.

1. Nobility, which to a State or Nation is, to have been antient inhabitants; and to have had most antiently, and in most number, famous Generals in the Wars, or men famous for such things as fall under emulation. And

to a private man, to have been descended law∣fully of a Family, which hath yielded most an∣tiently, and in most number, men known to the World for vertue, riches, or any thing in ge∣neral estimation.

2. Many and good Children. Which is al∣so publick and private. Publick, when there is much youth in the State endued with vertue, (namely, of the body, stature, beauty, strength, and dexterity: Of the mind, va∣lour, and temperance) Private, when a man hath many such Children, both Male and Female. The vertues commonly respected in women, are of the body, Beauty, and Stature; Of the mind, Temperance, and Houswifery, without sordidness.

3. Riches. Which is, Money, Cattel, Lands, Houshold-stuffe; with the power to dispose of them.

4. Glory. Which is, the reputation of Vertue, or of the possession of such things as all, or most men, or wise men desire.

5. Honour. Which is the glory of benefit∣ing, or being able to benefit others. To bene∣fit others, is to contribute somewhat, not easily had, to another mans safety, or riches, The parts of Honour are, Sacrifices, Monuments, Rewards, Dedication of places, Precedence, Sepulchres, Statues, publick Pensions, Adora∣tions, Presents.

6. Health. Which is the being free from Diseases, with strength to use the body.

7. Beauty. Which is to different Ages different. To Youth, strength of body, and sweetness of aspect. To full men, strength of body fit for the Wars, and Countenance sweet, with a mixture of Terror. To old men, strength enough for necessary labours, with a Counte∣nance not displeasing.

8. Strength. Which is the ability to move any thing at pleasure of the Mover. To move, is to pull, to put off, to lift, to thrust down, to press together.

9. Stature. Which is then just, when a man in heighth, breadth, and thickness of bo∣dy doth so exceed the most, as nevertheless it be no hinderance to the quickness of his motion.

10. Good old Age. Which is, that which comes late, and with the least trouble.

11. Many and good Friends. Which is, to have many that will do for his sake that which they think will be for his good.

12. Prosperity. Which is, to have all, or the most, or the greatest of those goods which we attribute to Fortune.

13. Vertue. Which is then to be defined, when we speak of Praise.

These are the grounds from whence we exhort.

Dehortation is from the contraries of these.