CHAP. III.] RHETORICAL SOPHISMS EXEMPLIFIED. 241 



So sanctuary-men, who were commonly malefactors, used to 

 be nearest the priests and prelates; for the majesty of good 

 things is such, that the confines of them are reverend. On 

 the other side, good draws near to evil, not for society, but 

 for conversation and reformation ; and hence physicians visit 

 the sick more than the sound, and hence it was objected to 

 our Saviour, that he conversed with publicans and sinners. 1 



V. As all parties challenge the first place, that to which the rest unani 

 mously give the second seems the best; each taking the jirst place out of 

 a/cation to itself, but giving the second where it w really due. 



Thus Cicero attempted to prove the Academics to be the 

 best sect ; for, saith he, -Ask a Stoic which philosophy is best, 

 and he will prefer his own ; then ask him which is the next 

 best, and he will confess, the Academics. Ask an Epicurean 

 the same question, who can scarce endure the Stoic, and as 

 soon as he hath placed his own sect, he places the Academics 

 next him.&quot; u So if a prince separately examined several com 

 petitors for a place, perhaps the ablest and most deserving 

 man would have most second voices. 



This colour deceives in respect of envy ; for men are accus 

 tomed, next after themselves and their own faction, to prefer 

 those that are softest and most pliable, with intent to ex 

 clude such as would obstruct their measures; whence this 

 colour of meliority and pre-eminence becomes a sign of ener 

 vation and weakness. 



VI. That is absolutely best the excellence whereof is greatest. 

 This colour has these forms, let us not wander in gone- 

 rals, let us compare particular with particular, etc., and 

 though it seem strong, and rather logical than rhetorical, 

 yet it is sometimes a fallacy : 1. Because many things are 

 exposed to great danger, but if they escape, prove more ex 

 cellent than others; whence their kind is inferior, as being 

 subject to accident and miscarriage, though more noble in 

 the individual. Thus, to instance, in the blossoms of March, 

 one whereof, according to the French proverb, is, if it escape 

 accidents, worth ten blossoms of May; so that though in 

 general the blossoms of May excel the blossoms of March, 

 yet in individuals the best blossoms of March may be pre 

 ferred to the best ot May. 2. Because the nature of thing* 



Matt. be. Academ. Frag. By Varru. 



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