Nothing ever was a greater
Pleasure
than your Letter.
Erasmus
I set the
greater Value upon you because you love Learning. So much as you have,
so much you shall be esteem'd by all Men; so much as you have, so much
you shall be accounted of every where. It is no Matter what you are
accounted, but what you are. I value my _Christian_ above any Man else
in the World. "There are some other Verbs found with these Genitives and
Ablatives, which in their own Nature don't signify buying, or anything
like it. " _Peter_ bought a Kiss of the Maid for a Shilling. Much good
may it do him. I would not kiss at that Rate. How much do you play for?
What did you pay for Supper? We read of some that have spent Six hundred
Sesterces for a Supper. But the _French_ often sup for a Half-penny.
What Price does _Faustus_ teach for? A very small Matter. But for more
than _Delius_. For how much then? For nineteen Guineas. I won't learn to
lye at so dear a Rate. _Phædria_ in _Terence_ lost both his Substance
and himself. But I would not love at that Rate. Some Persons pay a great
Price for sleeping. _Demosthenes_ had more for holding his Tongue than
others had for speaking. I pray you to take it in good Part. "There is
another Sort of Verbs, that require an Accusative Case, with a Genitive
or Ablative, which are, _accuso_, _i. e. _ I object a Crime, or _culpo_,
also one that's absent; _Incuso_, _i. e. _ I blame without Judgment;
_arguo_, I reprehend, _insimulo_, _i. e. _ I throw in a Suspicion of a
Fault. _Postulo_, _i. e. _ I require you to answer at Law, _accerso_, I
impeach, _damno_, I condemn, I pronounce him to be in Fault. _Admoneo_,
I admonish. "
_Ch. _ For Example Sake?
_Forms of Accusing. _
_Au. Scipio_ is accused of courting the Populace. Thou who art the most
impudent, accusest me of Impudence. _Lepidus_ is accused of Bribery. You
are accus'd of a capital Crime. If you shall slily insinuate a Man to
be guilty of Covetousness, you shall hear that which is worse again. Put
him in Mind of his former Fortune. Men are put in Mind of their
Condition, by that very Word. Put _Lepidus_ in Mind of his Promise.
"There are many that admit of a double Accusative Case. I teach thee
Letters. He entreats you to pardon him. I will unteach thee those
Manners. "
"Here I must put you in Mind of that Matter, that in these the Passives
also obtain a second Accusative Case. The others will have a Genitive. "
You are taught Letters by me. They accuse me of Theft. I am accused of
Theft. Thou accusest me of Sacrilege. I am accused of Sacrilege. I know
you are not satisfied yet. I know you are not satisfied in Mind. For
when will so great a Glutton of Elegancies be satisfy'd? But I must have
Regard to the Company, who are not all equally diverted with these
Matters. After Supper, as we walk, we will finish what is behind, unless
you shall rather chuse to have it omitted.
_Ch. _ Let it be as you say. Let us return Thanks to divine Bounty and
afterwards we'll take a little Walk.
_Mi. _ You say very well, for nothing can be more pleasant, nor wholsome
than this Evening Air.
_Ch. Peter_, come hither, and take the Things away in Order, one after
the other, and fill the Glasses with Wine.
_Pe. _ Do you bid me return Thanks?
_Ch. _ Aye, do.
_Pe. _ Had you rather it should be done in _Greek_, or in _Latin_.
_Ch. _ Both Ways.
_Pe. Gratias agimus tibi, pater coelestis, qui tua ineffabili potentia
condidisti omnia, tua inscrutabili sapientia gubernas universa, tua
inexhausta bonitate cuncta pascis ac vegetas: largire filiis tuis, ut
aliquando tecum bibant in regno tuo nectar illud immortalitatis, quod
promisisti ac praeparasti vere diligentibus te, per Iesum Christum.
Amen. _
We thank thee, heavenly Father, who by thy unspeakable Power, hast
created all Things, and by thy inexhaustible Wisdom governest all
Things, and by thy inexhaustible Goodness feedest and nourishest all
Things: Grant to thy Children, that they may in due Time drink with thee
in thy Kingdom, that _Nectar_ of Immortality; which thou hast promis'd
and prepar'd for those that truly love thee, through Jesus Christ,
_Amen_.
_Ch. _ Say in _Greek_ too, that the rest mayn't understand what thou
sayest.
_Pe. _ [Greek: Heucharistoumen soi, pater ouranie, ho tê arrêtô sou
dunamei ktisas ta panta, ho tê anexereunêtô sou sophia kubernôn
hapaxapanta, ho tê anexantlêtô sou chrêstotêti hekasta trephomenos te
kai auxanon. Charizou tois yiois sou to meta sou pote piein to tês
athanasias nektar, ho upechou kai êtoimasas tois alêthôs agapôsi se, dia
Iêsou Christou, tou yiou sou, tou kyriou hêmôn, tou meta sou zôntos kai
basileuontos en henotêti tou pneumatos hagiou, eis tous aiônas. Amên. ]
_Ch. _ My most welcome Guests, I give you Thanks that you have honour'd
my little Entertainment with your Company. I intreat you to accept it
kindly.
_Gu. _ And we would not only have, but return our Thanks to you. Don't
let us be over ceremonious in thanking, but rather let us rise from
Table, and walk out a little.
_Au. _ Let us take these Virgins along with us, so our Walk will be more
pleasant.
_Ch. _ You propose very well. We'll not want Flowers, if the Place we
walk in don't afford any. Had you rather take a Turn in our Garden, in a
poetical Manner, or walk out abroad by the River-Side.
_Au. _ Indeed, your Gardens are very pleasant, but keep that Pleasure for
Morning Walks. When the Sun is towards setting, Rivers afford wonderful
pleasant Prospects.
_Ch. Austin_, do you walk foremost as a Poet should do, and I'll walk by
your Side.
_Au. _ O good God, what a jolly Company we have, what a Retinue have I!
_Christian_, I can't utter the Pleasure I take, I seem to be some
Nobleman.
_Ch. _ Now be as good as your Word. Perform the Task you have taken upon
you.
_Au. _ What is it you'd have me speak of chiefly?
_Ch. _ I us'd formerly to admire many Things in _Pollio_'s Orations; but
chiefly this, that he us'd so easily, so frequently and beautifully to
turn a Sentence, which seemed not only a great Piece of Wit, but of
great Use.
_Au. _ You were much in the Right on't, _Christian_, to admire that in
_Pollio_. For he seems, in this Matter, to have had a certain divine
Faculty, which I believe, was peculiar to him, by a certain Dexterity of
Art, and by much Use of Speaking, Reading and Writing, rather than by
any Rules or Instructions.
_Ch. _ But I would fain have some Rule for it, if there be any to be
given.
_Au. _ You say very well; and since I see you are very desirous of it,
I'll endeavour it as much as I can: And I will give those Rules, as well
as I can, which I have taken Notice of in _Pollio_'s Orations.
_Ch. _ Do, I should be very glad to hear 'em.
_Au. _ I am ready to do it.
* * * * *
The ARGUMENT.
_A short Rule concerning this Copia, it teaches how to
vary a Sentence pleasantly, copiously, easily,
frequently, and elegantly; by short Rules given, and by a
Praxis upon these Rules, in an elegant Turning of one
Phrase. _
In the first Place, it is to be set forth in pure and choice _Latin_
Words; which to do is no mean Piece of Art: For there are a great many,
who do, I don't know after what Manner, affect the _Copia_ and Variation
of Phrase, when they don't know how to express it once right. It is not
enough for them to have babbled once, but they must render the Babble
much more babbling, by first one, and then by another turning of it; as
if they were resolv'd to try the Experiment, how barbarously they were
able to speak: And therefore, they heap together, certain simple
synonymous Words, that are so contrary one to the other, that they may
admire themselves how they do agree together. For what is more absurd,
than that a ragged old Fellow, that has not a Coat to his Back, but what
is so ragged that he may be ashamed to put it on, should every now and
then change his Rags, as though he design'd to shew his Beggary by Way
of Ostentation: And those Affectators of Variety seem equally
ridiculous, who, when they have spoken barbarously once, repeat the same
Thing much more barbarously; and then over and over again much more
unlearnedly. This is not to abound with Sentences, but Solæcisms:
Therefore, in the first Place, as I have said, the Thing is to be
express'd in apt and chosen Words. 2. And then we must use Variety of
Words, if there are any to be found, that will express the same Thing;
and there are a great many. 3. And where proper Words are wanting, then
we must use borrow'd Words, so the Way of borrowing them be modest. 4.
Where there is a Scarcity of Words, you must have Recourse to Passives,
to express what you have said by Actives; which will afford as many Ways
of Variation, as there were in the Actives. 5. And after that, if you
please, you may turn them again by verbal Nouns and Participles. 6. And
last of all, when we have chang'd Adverbs into Nouns, and Nouns
sometimes into one Part of Speech, and sometimes into another; then we
may speak by contraries. 7. We may either change affirmative Sentences
into negative, or the contrary. 8. Or, at least, what we have spoken
indicatively, we may speak interrogatively. Now for Example Sake, let us
take this Sentence.
_Literæ tuæ magnopere me delectârunt.
Your Letters have delighted me very much. _
_Litertæ. _
Epistle, little Epistles, Writings, Sheets, Letters.
_Magnopere. _
After a wonderful Manner, wonderfully, in a greater, or great Manner, in
a wonderful Manner, above Measure, very much, not indifferently (not a
little) mightily, highly, very greatly.
_Me. _
My Mind, my Breast, my Eyes, my Heart, _Christian_.
_Delectârunt. _
They have affected, recreated, exhilarated with Pleasure, have been a
Pleasure, have delighted, have bath'd me with Pleasure; have been very
sweet, very pleasant, &c.
Now you have Matter, it is your Business to put it together: Let us try.
_Ch. _ Thy Letters have very greatly delighted me. Thy Epistle has
wonderfully chear'd me.
_Au. _ Turn the Active into a Passive, then it will look with another
Face. As, It can't be said how much I have been chear'd by thy Writings.
_Also by other Verbs effecting the same Thing. _
I have received an incredible Pleasure from thy Writings. I have
receiv'd very much Pleasure from your Highness's Letter. Your Writings
have brought me not an indifferent Joy. Your Writings have overwhelmed
me all over with Joy. "But here you can't turn these into Passives, only
in the last, _perfusus gaudio_, as is commonly said, Pleasure was taken
by me, Joy was brought, is not so commonly used, or you must not use so
frequently. "
_By Affido. _
Thy Letter hath affected me with a singular Pleasure.
_Change it into a Passive. _
I am affected with an incredible Pleasure by thy Letter. Thy little
Epistle has brought not a little Joy.
_By_ Sum _and Nouns Adjectives. _
Thy Letters have been most pleasant to me many Ways. That Epistle of
thine was, indeed, as acceptable, as any Thing in the World.
_By Nouns Substantives. _
Thy Letter was to us an unspeakable Pleasure. Your Letter was an
incredible Pleasure to us.
_Change it into a Negative. _
Thy Letter was no small Joy. Nothing in Life could happen more
delightful than thy Letters. "Although I have sometimes already made Use
of this Way, which is not to be pass'd over negligently. For when we
would use _multum, plurimum_, to signify, _singulariter_, we do it by a
contrary Verb. " As, _Henry_ loves you mightily: He loves you with no
common Love. Wine pleases me very much: It pleases me not a little. He
is a Man of a singular Wit: A Man of no ordinary Wit. He is a Man of
admirable Learning: He is a Man not of contemptible Learning. _Thomas_
was born in the highest Place of his Family: Not in the lowest Place.
_Austin_ was a most eloquent Man: He was not ineloquent. _Carneades_ the
Orator was noble: Not an ignoble, not an obscure Man. "And the like,
which are very frequently used. " But the Mention of a Thing so plain is
enough: Nor are you ignorant, that we make Use of a two-fold Manner of
Speech, of this Kind: For Modesty Sake, especially, if we speak of our
selves; also for Amplification Sake. For we use rightly and elegantly,
not ungrateful, for very grateful; not vulgarly for singularly.
_For Modesty Sake. _
I have by my Letters gain'd some Reputation of Learning. I have always
made it my Business not to have the last Place in the Glory of Learning.
The Examples of Amplification are mention'd before: Now let us return to
our own. Nothing ever fell out to me more gratefully, acceptably, than
thy Letter.
Nothing ever was a greater Pleasure than your Letter. I
never took so much Pleasure in any Thing, as in thy most loving Letters.
"After this Manner all the before-mention'd Sentences may be vary'd by
an Interrogation. " What in Life could be more pleasant than thy Letters?
What has happened to me more sweet, than thy Letter? What has ever
delighted me like your last Letter? And after this Manner you may vary
almost any Sentence.
_Ch. _ What shall we do now?
_Au. _ We will now turn the whole Sentence a little more at large, that
we may express one Sentence, by a Circumlocution of many Words.
_Ch. _ Give Examples.
_Au. _ "That which was sometimes express'd by the Noun _incredibile_, and
then again, by the Adverb _incredibiliter_, we will change the Sentence
in some Words. " I can't express how much I was delighted with your
Letters. It is very hard for me to write, and you to believe how much
Pleasure your Letter was to me. I am wholly unable to express how I
rejoic'd at your Letter. "And so _in infinitum_: Again, after another
Manner. For hitherto we have varied the Sentences by Negations and
Interrogations, and in the last Place by Infinitives. Now we will vary
by Substantives or Conditionals, after this Manner. " Let me die if any
Thing ever was more desired and more pleasant than thy Letters. Let me
perish if any Thing ever was more desired, and more pleasant than thy
Letter. As God shall judge me, nothing in my whole Life ever happen'd
more pleasant than thy Letters. "And also a great many more you may
contrive after this Manner. "
_Ch. _ What is to be done now?
_Au. _ Now we must proceed to Translations, Similitudes and Examples.
_There is a Translation in these. _
I have received your Letters, which were sweet as Honey. Your Writings
seem to be nothing but meer Delight. Your Letters are a meer Pleasure;
and a great many of the like Kinds. "But Care is to be taken not to make
Use of harder Translations; such as this that follows,
_Jupiter hybernas canâ nive conspuit Alpes. _
such as this is. " The Suppers of thy Writings have refreshed me with
most delicious Banquets.
_A Comparison by Simile. _
Thy Writings have been sweeter than either _Ambrosia_ or _Nectar_. Thy
Letters have been sweeter to me than any Honey. Your kind Letter has
excell'd even Liquorish, Locusts, and _Attic_ Honey, and Sugar; nay,
even the _Nectar_ and _Ambrosia_ of the Gods. "And here, whatsoever is
ennobled with Sweetness, may be brought into the Comparison. "
_From Examples. _
I will never be induc'd to believe, that _Hero_ receiv'd the Letters of
her _Leander_, either with greater Pleasure, or more Kisses, than I
received yours. I can scarce believe that _Scipio_, for the Overthrow of
_Carthage_, or _Paulus Æmylius_, for the taking of _Perseus_, ever
triumphed more magnificently than I did, when the Post-man gave me your
most charming Letter. "There are a thousand Things of this Nature, that
may be found in Poets and Historians. Likewise Similitudes are borrow'd
from Natural Philosophy; the Nature of a great many of which, it is
necessary to keep in Memory. Now if you please, we will try in another
Sentence. "
_I will never forget you while I live. _
I will always remember you, as long as I live. Forgetfulness of you,
shall never seize me as long as I live. I will leave off to live, before
I will to remember you.
_By Comparisons. _
If the Body can get rid of its Shadow, then this Mind of mine may forget
you. The River _Lethe_ itself shall never be able to wash away your
Memory.
"Besides, by an Impossibility, or after the Manner of Poets by
contraries.
_Dum juga montis aper, fluvios dum piscis amabit.
Ante leves ergo pastentur in athere cervi. _
which is no hard Matter to invent. " But lest I should seem tedious, at
the present let these suffice: At another Time, if you please, we will
talk more copiously of this Matter.
_Ch. _ I thought, _Austin_, you had been quite exhausted by this Time.
But thou hast shewn me a new Treasure beyond what I expected, which if
you shall pursue, I perceive you'll sooner want Time than Words.
_Au. _ If I can perform this with my little Learning, and indifferent
Genius, what do you think _Cicero_ himself could do, who is storied to
have vy'd with _Roscius_ the Player? But the Sun is going to leave us;
and the Dew rises; it is best to imitate the Birds, to go Home, and hide
ourselves in Bed. Therefore, sweet _Christian_, farewell till to Morrow.
_Ch. _ Fare you well likewise, most learned _Austin. _
_The RELIGIOUS TREAT. _
The ARGUMENT.
_This religious Treat teaches what ought to be the
Table-Talk of Christians. The Nature of Things is not
dumb, but very loquacious, affording Matter of
Contemplation. The Description of a neat Garden, where
there is a Variety of Discourse concerning Herbs. Of
Marjoram, Celandine, Wolfs-Bane, Hellebore. Of Beasts,
Scorpions, the Chamæleon, the Basilisk; of Sows_, Indian
_Ants, Dolphins, and of the Gardens of_ Alcinous. _Tables
were esteemed sacred by the very Heathens themselves. Of
washing Hands before Meat. A Grace before Meat out of_
Chrysostom. _Age is to be honoured, and for what Reason.
The Reading of the Scriptures very useful at Meals. That
Lay Persons may Discourse concerning the Scriptures. The
21st of_ Prov. _and 1st_ Ver. _illustrated. How God hates
Sacrifices, in Comparison of Mercy_, Hos. 6. _No Body is
hurt but by himself. That Persons in Wine speak true.
That it was unlawful for the_ Ægyptian _Priests to drink
Wine. The_ I Cor. 6. _opened. All Things are lawful for
me. The Spirit of Christ was in the Heathens and Poets. _
Scotus _is slighted in Comparison of_ Cicero _and_
Plutarch. _A Place is cited out of_ Cicero _and_ Cato
Major, _and commended;_ dare omni petenti, give to every
one that asketh, _how it is to be understood. We ought
to give to Christ's Poor, and not to Monasteries. The
Custom of burying in Churches blam'd. That we ought to
give by Choice, how much, to whom, and to what End. We
ought to deny ourselves of something that we may give it
to the Poor_. No Body can serve two Masters, _is
explained. A Grace after Meat out of St. _ Chrysostom.
EUSEBIUS, TIMOTHY, THEOPHILUS, CHRYSOGLOTTUS, URANIUS, SOPHRONIUS,
EULALIUS, THEODIDACTUS, NEPHALIUS.
_Eu. _ I admire that any Body can delight to live in smoaky Cities, when
every Thing is so fresh and pleasant in the Country.
_Ti. _ All are not pleased with the Sight of Flowers, springing Meadows,
Fountains, or Rivers: Or, if they do take a Pleasure in 'em, there is
something else, in which they take more. For 'tis with Pleasure, as it
is with Wedges, one drives out another.
_Eu. _ You speak perhaps of Usurers, or covetous Traders; which, indeed,
are all one.
_Ti. _ I do speak of them; but not of them only, I assure you; but of a
thousand other Sorts of People, even to the very Priests and Monks, who
for the Sake of Gain, make Choice of the most populous Cities for their
Habitation, not following the Opinion of _Plato_ or _Pythagoras_ in this
Practice; but rather that of a certain blind Beggar, who loved to be
where he was crowded; because, as he said, the more People, the more
Profit.
_Eu. _ Prithee let's leave the blind Beggar and his Gain: We are
Philosophers.
_Ti. _ So was _Socrates_ a Philosopher, and yet he preferr'd a Town Life
before a Country one; because, he being desirous of Knowledge, had there
the Opportunity of improving it. In the Country, 'tis true, there are
Woods, Gardens, Fountains and Brooks, that entertain the Sight, but
they are all mute, and therefore teach a Man nothing.
_Eu. _ I know _Socrates_ puts the Case of a Man's walking alone in the
Fields; although, in my Opinion, there Nature is not dumb, but talkative
enough, and speaks to the Instruction of a Man that has but a good Will,
and a Capacity to learn. What does the beautiful Face of the Spring do,
but proclaim the equal Wisdom and Goodness of the Creator? And how many
excellent Things did _Socrates_ in his Retirement, both teach his
_Phædrus_, and learn from him?
_Ti. _ If a Man could have such pleasant Company, I confess, no life in
the World could be pleasanter than a Country Life.
_Eu. _ Have you a Mind to make Tryal of it? If you have, come take a
Dinner with me to Morrow: I have a pretty neat little Country House, a
little Way out of Town.
_Ti. _ We are too many of us; we shall eat you out of House and Home.
_Eu. _ Never fear that, you're to expect only a Garden Treat, of such
Chear as I need not go to Market for. The Wine is of my own Growth; the
Pompions, the Melons, the Figs, the Pears, the Apples and Nuts, are
offered to you by the Trees themselves; you need but gape, and they'll
fall into your Mouth, as it is in the _fortunate Islands_, if we may
give Credit to _Lucian_. Or, it may be, we may get a Pullet out of the
Hen-roost, or so.
_Ti. _ Upon these Terms we'll be your Guests.
_Eu. _ And let every Man bring his Friend along with him, and then, as
you now are four, we shall be the just Number of the Muses.
_Ti. _ A Match.
_Eu. _ And take Notice, that I shall only find Meat, you are to bring
your own Sauce.
_Ti. _ What Sauce do you mean, Pepper, or Sugar?
_Eu. _ No, no, something that's cheaper, but more savoury.
_Ti. _ What's that?
_Eu. _ A good Stomach. A light Supper to Night, and a little Walk to
Morrow Morning, and that you may thank my Country House for. But at what
Hour do you please to dine at?
_Ti. _ At ten a Clock. Before it grows too hot.
_Eu. _ I'll give Order accordingly.
_Boy. _ Sir, the Gentlemen are come.
_Eu. _ You are welcome, Gentlemen, that you are come according to your
Words; but you're twice as welcome for coming so early, and bringing the
best of Company along with you. There are some Persons who are guilty of
an unmannerly Civility, in making their Host wait for them.
_Ti. _ We came the earlier, that we might have Time enough to view all
the Curiosities of your Palace; for we have heard that it is so
admirably contrived every where, as that it speaks who's the Master of
it.
_Eu. _ And you will see a Palace worthy of such a Prince. This little
Nest is to me more than a Court, and if he may be said to reign that
lives at Liberty according to his Mind, I reign here. But I think it
will be best, while the Wench in the Kitchen provides us a Salad, and it
is the cool of the Morning, to take a Walk to see the Gardens.
_Ti. _ Have you any other beside this? For truly this is a wonderful neat
one, and with a pleasing Aspect salutes a Man at his entring in, and
bids him welcome.
_Eu. _ Let every Man gather a Nosegay, that may put by any worse Scent he
may meet with within Doors. Every one likes not the same Scent,
therefore let every one take what he likes. Don't be sparing, for this
Place lies in a Manner common; I never shut it up but a-Nights.
_Ti. _ St. Peter keeps the Gates, I perceive.
_Eu. _ I like this Porter better than the _Mercuries_, Centaurs, and
other fictitious Monsters, that some paint upon their Doors.
_Ti. _ And 'tis more suitable to a Christian too.
_Eu. _ Nor is my Porter dumb, for he speaks to you in Three Languages.
_Ti. _ What does he say?
_Eu. _ Read it yourself.
_Ti. _ It is too far off for my Eyes.
_Eu. _ Here's a reading Glass, that will make you another _Lynceus. _
_Ti. _ I see the Latin. _Si vis ad vitam ingredi, serva mandata_, Mat.
19, 17. If thou wilt, enter into Life, keep the Commandments.
_Eu. _ Now read the _Greek_.
_Ti. _ I see the _Greek_, but I don't well know what to make on't; I'll
refer that to _Theophilus_, who's never without _Greek_ in his Mouth.
_Th.
greater Value upon you because you love Learning. So much as you have,
so much you shall be esteem'd by all Men; so much as you have, so much
you shall be accounted of every where. It is no Matter what you are
accounted, but what you are. I value my _Christian_ above any Man else
in the World. "There are some other Verbs found with these Genitives and
Ablatives, which in their own Nature don't signify buying, or anything
like it. " _Peter_ bought a Kiss of the Maid for a Shilling. Much good
may it do him. I would not kiss at that Rate. How much do you play for?
What did you pay for Supper? We read of some that have spent Six hundred
Sesterces for a Supper. But the _French_ often sup for a Half-penny.
What Price does _Faustus_ teach for? A very small Matter. But for more
than _Delius_. For how much then? For nineteen Guineas. I won't learn to
lye at so dear a Rate. _Phædria_ in _Terence_ lost both his Substance
and himself. But I would not love at that Rate. Some Persons pay a great
Price for sleeping. _Demosthenes_ had more for holding his Tongue than
others had for speaking. I pray you to take it in good Part. "There is
another Sort of Verbs, that require an Accusative Case, with a Genitive
or Ablative, which are, _accuso_, _i. e. _ I object a Crime, or _culpo_,
also one that's absent; _Incuso_, _i. e. _ I blame without Judgment;
_arguo_, I reprehend, _insimulo_, _i. e. _ I throw in a Suspicion of a
Fault. _Postulo_, _i. e. _ I require you to answer at Law, _accerso_, I
impeach, _damno_, I condemn, I pronounce him to be in Fault. _Admoneo_,
I admonish. "
_Ch. _ For Example Sake?
_Forms of Accusing. _
_Au. Scipio_ is accused of courting the Populace. Thou who art the most
impudent, accusest me of Impudence. _Lepidus_ is accused of Bribery. You
are accus'd of a capital Crime. If you shall slily insinuate a Man to
be guilty of Covetousness, you shall hear that which is worse again. Put
him in Mind of his former Fortune. Men are put in Mind of their
Condition, by that very Word. Put _Lepidus_ in Mind of his Promise.
"There are many that admit of a double Accusative Case. I teach thee
Letters. He entreats you to pardon him. I will unteach thee those
Manners. "
"Here I must put you in Mind of that Matter, that in these the Passives
also obtain a second Accusative Case. The others will have a Genitive. "
You are taught Letters by me. They accuse me of Theft. I am accused of
Theft. Thou accusest me of Sacrilege. I am accused of Sacrilege. I know
you are not satisfied yet. I know you are not satisfied in Mind. For
when will so great a Glutton of Elegancies be satisfy'd? But I must have
Regard to the Company, who are not all equally diverted with these
Matters. After Supper, as we walk, we will finish what is behind, unless
you shall rather chuse to have it omitted.
_Ch. _ Let it be as you say. Let us return Thanks to divine Bounty and
afterwards we'll take a little Walk.
_Mi. _ You say very well, for nothing can be more pleasant, nor wholsome
than this Evening Air.
_Ch. Peter_, come hither, and take the Things away in Order, one after
the other, and fill the Glasses with Wine.
_Pe. _ Do you bid me return Thanks?
_Ch. _ Aye, do.
_Pe. _ Had you rather it should be done in _Greek_, or in _Latin_.
_Ch. _ Both Ways.
_Pe. Gratias agimus tibi, pater coelestis, qui tua ineffabili potentia
condidisti omnia, tua inscrutabili sapientia gubernas universa, tua
inexhausta bonitate cuncta pascis ac vegetas: largire filiis tuis, ut
aliquando tecum bibant in regno tuo nectar illud immortalitatis, quod
promisisti ac praeparasti vere diligentibus te, per Iesum Christum.
Amen. _
We thank thee, heavenly Father, who by thy unspeakable Power, hast
created all Things, and by thy inexhaustible Wisdom governest all
Things, and by thy inexhaustible Goodness feedest and nourishest all
Things: Grant to thy Children, that they may in due Time drink with thee
in thy Kingdom, that _Nectar_ of Immortality; which thou hast promis'd
and prepar'd for those that truly love thee, through Jesus Christ,
_Amen_.
_Ch. _ Say in _Greek_ too, that the rest mayn't understand what thou
sayest.
_Pe. _ [Greek: Heucharistoumen soi, pater ouranie, ho tê arrêtô sou
dunamei ktisas ta panta, ho tê anexereunêtô sou sophia kubernôn
hapaxapanta, ho tê anexantlêtô sou chrêstotêti hekasta trephomenos te
kai auxanon. Charizou tois yiois sou to meta sou pote piein to tês
athanasias nektar, ho upechou kai êtoimasas tois alêthôs agapôsi se, dia
Iêsou Christou, tou yiou sou, tou kyriou hêmôn, tou meta sou zôntos kai
basileuontos en henotêti tou pneumatos hagiou, eis tous aiônas. Amên. ]
_Ch. _ My most welcome Guests, I give you Thanks that you have honour'd
my little Entertainment with your Company. I intreat you to accept it
kindly.
_Gu. _ And we would not only have, but return our Thanks to you. Don't
let us be over ceremonious in thanking, but rather let us rise from
Table, and walk out a little.
_Au. _ Let us take these Virgins along with us, so our Walk will be more
pleasant.
_Ch. _ You propose very well. We'll not want Flowers, if the Place we
walk in don't afford any. Had you rather take a Turn in our Garden, in a
poetical Manner, or walk out abroad by the River-Side.
_Au. _ Indeed, your Gardens are very pleasant, but keep that Pleasure for
Morning Walks. When the Sun is towards setting, Rivers afford wonderful
pleasant Prospects.
_Ch. Austin_, do you walk foremost as a Poet should do, and I'll walk by
your Side.
_Au. _ O good God, what a jolly Company we have, what a Retinue have I!
_Christian_, I can't utter the Pleasure I take, I seem to be some
Nobleman.
_Ch. _ Now be as good as your Word. Perform the Task you have taken upon
you.
_Au. _ What is it you'd have me speak of chiefly?
_Ch. _ I us'd formerly to admire many Things in _Pollio_'s Orations; but
chiefly this, that he us'd so easily, so frequently and beautifully to
turn a Sentence, which seemed not only a great Piece of Wit, but of
great Use.
_Au. _ You were much in the Right on't, _Christian_, to admire that in
_Pollio_. For he seems, in this Matter, to have had a certain divine
Faculty, which I believe, was peculiar to him, by a certain Dexterity of
Art, and by much Use of Speaking, Reading and Writing, rather than by
any Rules or Instructions.
_Ch. _ But I would fain have some Rule for it, if there be any to be
given.
_Au. _ You say very well; and since I see you are very desirous of it,
I'll endeavour it as much as I can: And I will give those Rules, as well
as I can, which I have taken Notice of in _Pollio_'s Orations.
_Ch. _ Do, I should be very glad to hear 'em.
_Au. _ I am ready to do it.
* * * * *
The ARGUMENT.
_A short Rule concerning this Copia, it teaches how to
vary a Sentence pleasantly, copiously, easily,
frequently, and elegantly; by short Rules given, and by a
Praxis upon these Rules, in an elegant Turning of one
Phrase. _
In the first Place, it is to be set forth in pure and choice _Latin_
Words; which to do is no mean Piece of Art: For there are a great many,
who do, I don't know after what Manner, affect the _Copia_ and Variation
of Phrase, when they don't know how to express it once right. It is not
enough for them to have babbled once, but they must render the Babble
much more babbling, by first one, and then by another turning of it; as
if they were resolv'd to try the Experiment, how barbarously they were
able to speak: And therefore, they heap together, certain simple
synonymous Words, that are so contrary one to the other, that they may
admire themselves how they do agree together. For what is more absurd,
than that a ragged old Fellow, that has not a Coat to his Back, but what
is so ragged that he may be ashamed to put it on, should every now and
then change his Rags, as though he design'd to shew his Beggary by Way
of Ostentation: And those Affectators of Variety seem equally
ridiculous, who, when they have spoken barbarously once, repeat the same
Thing much more barbarously; and then over and over again much more
unlearnedly. This is not to abound with Sentences, but Solæcisms:
Therefore, in the first Place, as I have said, the Thing is to be
express'd in apt and chosen Words. 2. And then we must use Variety of
Words, if there are any to be found, that will express the same Thing;
and there are a great many. 3. And where proper Words are wanting, then
we must use borrow'd Words, so the Way of borrowing them be modest. 4.
Where there is a Scarcity of Words, you must have Recourse to Passives,
to express what you have said by Actives; which will afford as many Ways
of Variation, as there were in the Actives. 5. And after that, if you
please, you may turn them again by verbal Nouns and Participles. 6. And
last of all, when we have chang'd Adverbs into Nouns, and Nouns
sometimes into one Part of Speech, and sometimes into another; then we
may speak by contraries. 7. We may either change affirmative Sentences
into negative, or the contrary. 8. Or, at least, what we have spoken
indicatively, we may speak interrogatively. Now for Example Sake, let us
take this Sentence.
_Literæ tuæ magnopere me delectârunt.
Your Letters have delighted me very much. _
_Litertæ. _
Epistle, little Epistles, Writings, Sheets, Letters.
_Magnopere. _
After a wonderful Manner, wonderfully, in a greater, or great Manner, in
a wonderful Manner, above Measure, very much, not indifferently (not a
little) mightily, highly, very greatly.
_Me. _
My Mind, my Breast, my Eyes, my Heart, _Christian_.
_Delectârunt. _
They have affected, recreated, exhilarated with Pleasure, have been a
Pleasure, have delighted, have bath'd me with Pleasure; have been very
sweet, very pleasant, &c.
Now you have Matter, it is your Business to put it together: Let us try.
_Ch. _ Thy Letters have very greatly delighted me. Thy Epistle has
wonderfully chear'd me.
_Au. _ Turn the Active into a Passive, then it will look with another
Face. As, It can't be said how much I have been chear'd by thy Writings.
_Also by other Verbs effecting the same Thing. _
I have received an incredible Pleasure from thy Writings. I have
receiv'd very much Pleasure from your Highness's Letter. Your Writings
have brought me not an indifferent Joy. Your Writings have overwhelmed
me all over with Joy. "But here you can't turn these into Passives, only
in the last, _perfusus gaudio_, as is commonly said, Pleasure was taken
by me, Joy was brought, is not so commonly used, or you must not use so
frequently. "
_By Affido. _
Thy Letter hath affected me with a singular Pleasure.
_Change it into a Passive. _
I am affected with an incredible Pleasure by thy Letter. Thy little
Epistle has brought not a little Joy.
_By_ Sum _and Nouns Adjectives. _
Thy Letters have been most pleasant to me many Ways. That Epistle of
thine was, indeed, as acceptable, as any Thing in the World.
_By Nouns Substantives. _
Thy Letter was to us an unspeakable Pleasure. Your Letter was an
incredible Pleasure to us.
_Change it into a Negative. _
Thy Letter was no small Joy. Nothing in Life could happen more
delightful than thy Letters. "Although I have sometimes already made Use
of this Way, which is not to be pass'd over negligently. For when we
would use _multum, plurimum_, to signify, _singulariter_, we do it by a
contrary Verb. " As, _Henry_ loves you mightily: He loves you with no
common Love. Wine pleases me very much: It pleases me not a little. He
is a Man of a singular Wit: A Man of no ordinary Wit. He is a Man of
admirable Learning: He is a Man not of contemptible Learning. _Thomas_
was born in the highest Place of his Family: Not in the lowest Place.
_Austin_ was a most eloquent Man: He was not ineloquent. _Carneades_ the
Orator was noble: Not an ignoble, not an obscure Man. "And the like,
which are very frequently used. " But the Mention of a Thing so plain is
enough: Nor are you ignorant, that we make Use of a two-fold Manner of
Speech, of this Kind: For Modesty Sake, especially, if we speak of our
selves; also for Amplification Sake. For we use rightly and elegantly,
not ungrateful, for very grateful; not vulgarly for singularly.
_For Modesty Sake. _
I have by my Letters gain'd some Reputation of Learning. I have always
made it my Business not to have the last Place in the Glory of Learning.
The Examples of Amplification are mention'd before: Now let us return to
our own. Nothing ever fell out to me more gratefully, acceptably, than
thy Letter.
Nothing ever was a greater Pleasure than your Letter. I
never took so much Pleasure in any Thing, as in thy most loving Letters.
"After this Manner all the before-mention'd Sentences may be vary'd by
an Interrogation. " What in Life could be more pleasant than thy Letters?
What has happened to me more sweet, than thy Letter? What has ever
delighted me like your last Letter? And after this Manner you may vary
almost any Sentence.
_Ch. _ What shall we do now?
_Au. _ We will now turn the whole Sentence a little more at large, that
we may express one Sentence, by a Circumlocution of many Words.
_Ch. _ Give Examples.
_Au. _ "That which was sometimes express'd by the Noun _incredibile_, and
then again, by the Adverb _incredibiliter_, we will change the Sentence
in some Words. " I can't express how much I was delighted with your
Letters. It is very hard for me to write, and you to believe how much
Pleasure your Letter was to me. I am wholly unable to express how I
rejoic'd at your Letter. "And so _in infinitum_: Again, after another
Manner. For hitherto we have varied the Sentences by Negations and
Interrogations, and in the last Place by Infinitives. Now we will vary
by Substantives or Conditionals, after this Manner. " Let me die if any
Thing ever was more desired and more pleasant than thy Letters. Let me
perish if any Thing ever was more desired, and more pleasant than thy
Letter. As God shall judge me, nothing in my whole Life ever happen'd
more pleasant than thy Letters. "And also a great many more you may
contrive after this Manner. "
_Ch. _ What is to be done now?
_Au. _ Now we must proceed to Translations, Similitudes and Examples.
_There is a Translation in these. _
I have received your Letters, which were sweet as Honey. Your Writings
seem to be nothing but meer Delight. Your Letters are a meer Pleasure;
and a great many of the like Kinds. "But Care is to be taken not to make
Use of harder Translations; such as this that follows,
_Jupiter hybernas canâ nive conspuit Alpes. _
such as this is. " The Suppers of thy Writings have refreshed me with
most delicious Banquets.
_A Comparison by Simile. _
Thy Writings have been sweeter than either _Ambrosia_ or _Nectar_. Thy
Letters have been sweeter to me than any Honey. Your kind Letter has
excell'd even Liquorish, Locusts, and _Attic_ Honey, and Sugar; nay,
even the _Nectar_ and _Ambrosia_ of the Gods. "And here, whatsoever is
ennobled with Sweetness, may be brought into the Comparison. "
_From Examples. _
I will never be induc'd to believe, that _Hero_ receiv'd the Letters of
her _Leander_, either with greater Pleasure, or more Kisses, than I
received yours. I can scarce believe that _Scipio_, for the Overthrow of
_Carthage_, or _Paulus Æmylius_, for the taking of _Perseus_, ever
triumphed more magnificently than I did, when the Post-man gave me your
most charming Letter. "There are a thousand Things of this Nature, that
may be found in Poets and Historians. Likewise Similitudes are borrow'd
from Natural Philosophy; the Nature of a great many of which, it is
necessary to keep in Memory. Now if you please, we will try in another
Sentence. "
_I will never forget you while I live. _
I will always remember you, as long as I live. Forgetfulness of you,
shall never seize me as long as I live. I will leave off to live, before
I will to remember you.
_By Comparisons. _
If the Body can get rid of its Shadow, then this Mind of mine may forget
you. The River _Lethe_ itself shall never be able to wash away your
Memory.
"Besides, by an Impossibility, or after the Manner of Poets by
contraries.
_Dum juga montis aper, fluvios dum piscis amabit.
Ante leves ergo pastentur in athere cervi. _
which is no hard Matter to invent. " But lest I should seem tedious, at
the present let these suffice: At another Time, if you please, we will
talk more copiously of this Matter.
_Ch. _ I thought, _Austin_, you had been quite exhausted by this Time.
But thou hast shewn me a new Treasure beyond what I expected, which if
you shall pursue, I perceive you'll sooner want Time than Words.
_Au. _ If I can perform this with my little Learning, and indifferent
Genius, what do you think _Cicero_ himself could do, who is storied to
have vy'd with _Roscius_ the Player? But the Sun is going to leave us;
and the Dew rises; it is best to imitate the Birds, to go Home, and hide
ourselves in Bed. Therefore, sweet _Christian_, farewell till to Morrow.
_Ch. _ Fare you well likewise, most learned _Austin. _
_The RELIGIOUS TREAT. _
The ARGUMENT.
_This religious Treat teaches what ought to be the
Table-Talk of Christians. The Nature of Things is not
dumb, but very loquacious, affording Matter of
Contemplation. The Description of a neat Garden, where
there is a Variety of Discourse concerning Herbs. Of
Marjoram, Celandine, Wolfs-Bane, Hellebore. Of Beasts,
Scorpions, the Chamæleon, the Basilisk; of Sows_, Indian
_Ants, Dolphins, and of the Gardens of_ Alcinous. _Tables
were esteemed sacred by the very Heathens themselves. Of
washing Hands before Meat. A Grace before Meat out of_
Chrysostom. _Age is to be honoured, and for what Reason.
The Reading of the Scriptures very useful at Meals. That
Lay Persons may Discourse concerning the Scriptures. The
21st of_ Prov. _and 1st_ Ver. _illustrated. How God hates
Sacrifices, in Comparison of Mercy_, Hos. 6. _No Body is
hurt but by himself. That Persons in Wine speak true.
That it was unlawful for the_ Ægyptian _Priests to drink
Wine. The_ I Cor. 6. _opened. All Things are lawful for
me. The Spirit of Christ was in the Heathens and Poets. _
Scotus _is slighted in Comparison of_ Cicero _and_
Plutarch. _A Place is cited out of_ Cicero _and_ Cato
Major, _and commended;_ dare omni petenti, give to every
one that asketh, _how it is to be understood. We ought
to give to Christ's Poor, and not to Monasteries. The
Custom of burying in Churches blam'd. That we ought to
give by Choice, how much, to whom, and to what End. We
ought to deny ourselves of something that we may give it
to the Poor_. No Body can serve two Masters, _is
explained. A Grace after Meat out of St. _ Chrysostom.
EUSEBIUS, TIMOTHY, THEOPHILUS, CHRYSOGLOTTUS, URANIUS, SOPHRONIUS,
EULALIUS, THEODIDACTUS, NEPHALIUS.
_Eu. _ I admire that any Body can delight to live in smoaky Cities, when
every Thing is so fresh and pleasant in the Country.
_Ti. _ All are not pleased with the Sight of Flowers, springing Meadows,
Fountains, or Rivers: Or, if they do take a Pleasure in 'em, there is
something else, in which they take more. For 'tis with Pleasure, as it
is with Wedges, one drives out another.
_Eu. _ You speak perhaps of Usurers, or covetous Traders; which, indeed,
are all one.
_Ti. _ I do speak of them; but not of them only, I assure you; but of a
thousand other Sorts of People, even to the very Priests and Monks, who
for the Sake of Gain, make Choice of the most populous Cities for their
Habitation, not following the Opinion of _Plato_ or _Pythagoras_ in this
Practice; but rather that of a certain blind Beggar, who loved to be
where he was crowded; because, as he said, the more People, the more
Profit.
_Eu. _ Prithee let's leave the blind Beggar and his Gain: We are
Philosophers.
_Ti. _ So was _Socrates_ a Philosopher, and yet he preferr'd a Town Life
before a Country one; because, he being desirous of Knowledge, had there
the Opportunity of improving it. In the Country, 'tis true, there are
Woods, Gardens, Fountains and Brooks, that entertain the Sight, but
they are all mute, and therefore teach a Man nothing.
_Eu. _ I know _Socrates_ puts the Case of a Man's walking alone in the
Fields; although, in my Opinion, there Nature is not dumb, but talkative
enough, and speaks to the Instruction of a Man that has but a good Will,
and a Capacity to learn. What does the beautiful Face of the Spring do,
but proclaim the equal Wisdom and Goodness of the Creator? And how many
excellent Things did _Socrates_ in his Retirement, both teach his
_Phædrus_, and learn from him?
_Ti. _ If a Man could have such pleasant Company, I confess, no life in
the World could be pleasanter than a Country Life.
_Eu. _ Have you a Mind to make Tryal of it? If you have, come take a
Dinner with me to Morrow: I have a pretty neat little Country House, a
little Way out of Town.
_Ti. _ We are too many of us; we shall eat you out of House and Home.
_Eu. _ Never fear that, you're to expect only a Garden Treat, of such
Chear as I need not go to Market for. The Wine is of my own Growth; the
Pompions, the Melons, the Figs, the Pears, the Apples and Nuts, are
offered to you by the Trees themselves; you need but gape, and they'll
fall into your Mouth, as it is in the _fortunate Islands_, if we may
give Credit to _Lucian_. Or, it may be, we may get a Pullet out of the
Hen-roost, or so.
_Ti. _ Upon these Terms we'll be your Guests.
_Eu. _ And let every Man bring his Friend along with him, and then, as
you now are four, we shall be the just Number of the Muses.
_Ti. _ A Match.
_Eu. _ And take Notice, that I shall only find Meat, you are to bring
your own Sauce.
_Ti. _ What Sauce do you mean, Pepper, or Sugar?
_Eu. _ No, no, something that's cheaper, but more savoury.
_Ti. _ What's that?
_Eu. _ A good Stomach. A light Supper to Night, and a little Walk to
Morrow Morning, and that you may thank my Country House for. But at what
Hour do you please to dine at?
_Ti. _ At ten a Clock. Before it grows too hot.
_Eu. _ I'll give Order accordingly.
_Boy. _ Sir, the Gentlemen are come.
_Eu. _ You are welcome, Gentlemen, that you are come according to your
Words; but you're twice as welcome for coming so early, and bringing the
best of Company along with you. There are some Persons who are guilty of
an unmannerly Civility, in making their Host wait for them.
_Ti. _ We came the earlier, that we might have Time enough to view all
the Curiosities of your Palace; for we have heard that it is so
admirably contrived every where, as that it speaks who's the Master of
it.
_Eu. _ And you will see a Palace worthy of such a Prince. This little
Nest is to me more than a Court, and if he may be said to reign that
lives at Liberty according to his Mind, I reign here. But I think it
will be best, while the Wench in the Kitchen provides us a Salad, and it
is the cool of the Morning, to take a Walk to see the Gardens.
_Ti. _ Have you any other beside this? For truly this is a wonderful neat
one, and with a pleasing Aspect salutes a Man at his entring in, and
bids him welcome.
_Eu. _ Let every Man gather a Nosegay, that may put by any worse Scent he
may meet with within Doors. Every one likes not the same Scent,
therefore let every one take what he likes. Don't be sparing, for this
Place lies in a Manner common; I never shut it up but a-Nights.
_Ti. _ St. Peter keeps the Gates, I perceive.
_Eu. _ I like this Porter better than the _Mercuries_, Centaurs, and
other fictitious Monsters, that some paint upon their Doors.
_Ti. _ And 'tis more suitable to a Christian too.
_Eu. _ Nor is my Porter dumb, for he speaks to you in Three Languages.
_Ti. _ What does he say?
_Eu. _ Read it yourself.
_Ti. _ It is too far off for my Eyes.
_Eu. _ Here's a reading Glass, that will make you another _Lynceus. _
_Ti. _ I see the Latin. _Si vis ad vitam ingredi, serva mandata_, Mat.
19, 17. If thou wilt, enter into Life, keep the Commandments.
_Eu. _ Now read the _Greek_.
_Ti. _ I see the _Greek_, but I don't well know what to make on't; I'll
refer that to _Theophilus_, who's never without _Greek_ in his Mouth.
_Th.
