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logical and Aristotelian dispositions of parts are of no use。 I would
have a man begin with the main proposition。 I know well enough what
death and pleasure are； let no man give himself the trouble to anatomise
them to me。 I look for good and solid reasons； at the first dash； to
instruct me how to stand their shock； for which purpose neither
grammatical subtleties nor the quaint contexture of words and
argumentations are of any use at all。 I am for discourses that give the
first charge into the heart of the redoubt； his languish about the
subject； they are proper for the schools； for the bar； and for the
pulpit； where we have leisure to nod； and may awake； a quarter of an hour
after； time enough to find again the thread of the discourse。 It is
necessary to speak after this manner to judges； whom a man has a design
to gain over； right or wrong； to children and common people； to whom a
man must say all； and see what will come of it。 I would not have an
author make it his business to render me attentive： or that he should cry
out fifty times Oyez！ as the heralds do。 The Romans； in their religious
exercises； began with 'Hoc age' as we in ours do with 'Sursum corda'；
these are so many words lost to me： I come already fully prepared from my
chamber。 I need no allurement； no invitation； no sauce； I eat the meat
raw； so that； instead of whetting my appetite by these preparatives； they
tire and pall it。 Will the licence of the time excuse my sacrilegious
boldness if I censure the dialogism of Plato himself as also dull and
heavy； too much stifling the matter； and lament so much time lost by a
man； who had so many better things to say； in so many long and needless
preliminary interlocutions？ My ignorance will better excuse me in that
I understand not Greek so well as to discern the beauty of his language。
I generally choose books that use sciences； not such as only lead to
them。 The two first； and Pliny； and their like； have nothing of this Hoc
age； they will have to do with men already instructed； or if they have；
'tis a substantial Hoc age； and that has a body by itself。 I also
delight in reading the Epistles to Atticus； not only because they contain
a great deal of the history and affairs of his time； but much more
because I therein discover much of his own private humours； for I have a
singular curiosity； as I have said elsewhere； to pry into the souls and
the natural and true opinions of the authors； with whom I converse。 A
man may indeed judge of their parts； but not of their manners nor of
themselves； by the writings they exhibit upon the theatre of the world。
I have a thousand times lamented the loss of the treatise Brutus wrote
upon Virtue； for it is well to learn the theory from those who best know
the practice。
But seeing the matter preached and the preacher are different things；
I would as willingly see Brutus in Plutarch； as in a book of his own。
I would rather choose to be certainly informed of the conference he had
in his tent with some particular friends of his the night before a
battle； than of the harangue he made the next day to his army； and of
what he did in his closet and his chamber； than what he did in the public
square and in the senate。 As to Cicero； I am of the common opinion that；
learning excepted； he had no great natural excellence。 He was a good
citizen； of an affable nature； as all fat； heavy men； such as he was；
usually are； but given to ease； and had； in truth； a mighty share of
vanity and ambition。 Neither do I know how to excuse him for thinking
his poetry fit to be published； 'tis no great imperfection to make ill
verses； but it is an imperfection not to be able to judge how unworthy
his verses were of the glory of his name。 For what concerns his
eloquence； that is totally out of all comparison； and I believe it will
never be equalled。 The younger Cicero； who resembled his father in
nothing but in name； whilst commanding in Asia； had several strangers one
day at his table； and； amongst the rest； Cestius seated at the lower end；
as men often intrude to the open tables of the great。 Cicero asked one
of his people who that man was； who presently told him his name； but he；
as one who had his thoughts taken up with something else； and who had
forgotten the answer made him； asking three or four times； over and over
again； the same question； the fellow； to deliver himself from so many
answers and to make him know him by some particular circumstance； 〃'tis
that Cestius；〃 said he； 〃of whom it was told you； that he makes no great
account of your father's eloquence in comparison of his own。〃 At which
Cicero； being suddenly nettled； commanded poor Cestius presently to be
seized； and caused him to be very well whipped in his own presence； a
very discourteous entertainer！ Yet even amongst those； who； all things
considered； have reputed his； eloquence incomparable； there have been
some； who have not stuck to observe some faults in it： as that great
Brutus his friend； for example； who said 'twas a broken and feeble
eloquence； 'fyactam et elumbem'。 The orators also； nearest to the age
wherein he lived； reprehended in him the care he had of a certain long
cadence in his periods； and particularly took notice of these words；
'esse videatur'； which he there so often makes use of。 For my part； I
more approve of a shorter style； and that comes more roundly off。 He
does； though； sometimes shuffle his parts more briskly together； but 'tis
very seldom。 I have myself taken notice of this one passage：
〃Ego vero me minus diu senem mallem；
quam esse senem； antequam essem。〃
＇〃I had rather be old a brief time； than be old before old age。
〃Cicero； De Senect。； c。 10。＇
The historians are my right ball； for they are pleasant and easy； and
where man； in general； the knowledge of whom I hunt after； appears more
vividly and entire than anywhere else：
＇The easiest of my amusements； the right ball at tennis being that
which coming to the player from the right hand； is much easier
played with。Coste。＇
the variety and truth of his internal qualities； in gross and piecemeal；
the diversity of means by which he is united and knit； and the accidents
that threaten him。 Now those that write lives； by reason they insist
more upon counsels than events； more upon what sallies from within； than
upon what happens without； are the most proper for my reading； and；
therefore； above all others； Plutarch is the man for me。 I am very sorry
we have not a dozen Laertii；＇Diogenes Laertius； who wrote the Lives of
the Philosophers＇ or that he was not further extended； for I am equally
curious to know the lives and fortunes of these great instructors of the
world； as to know the diversities of their doctrines and opinions。 In
this kind of study of histories； a man must tumble over； without
distinction； all sorts of authors； old and new； French or foreign； there
to know the things of which they variously treat。 But Caesar； in my
opinion； particularly deserves to be studied； not for the knowledge of
the history only； but for himself； so great an excellence and perfection
he has above all the rest； though Sallust be one of the number。 In
earnest； I read this author with more reverence and respect than is
usually allowed to human writings； one while considering him in his
person； by his actions and miraculous greatness； and another in the
purity and inimitable polish of his language； wherein he not only excels
all other historians； as Cicero confesses； but； peradventure； even
Cicero himself； speaking of his enemies with so much sincerity in his
judgment； that； the false colours with which he strives to palliate his
evil cause； and the ordure of his pestilent ambition excepted； I think
there is no fault to be objected against him； saving this； that he speaks
too sparingly of himself； seeing so many great things could not have been
performed under his conduct； but that his own personal acts must
necessarily have had a greater share in them than he attributes to them。
I love historians； whether of the simple sort； or of the higher order。
The simple； who have nothing of their own to mix with it； and who only
make it their business to collect all that comes to their knowledge； and
faithfully to record all things； without choice or discrimination； leave
to us the entire judgment of discerning the truth。 Such； for example；
amongst others； is honest Froissart； who has proceeded in his undertaking
with so frank a plainness that； having committed an error； he is not
ashamed to confess and correct it in the place where the finger has been
laid； and who represents to us even the variety of rumours that were then
spread abroad； and the different reports that were made to him； 'tis the
naked and inform matter of history； and of which every one may make his
profit； according to his understanding。 The more excellent sort of
historians have judgment to pick out what is most worthy to be known；
and； of two reports； to examine which is the most likely to be true： from
the condition of princes and their humours； they conclude their counsels；
and attribute to them words pr