SIXTH BOOK 



CHAPTER I 



Division of Tradition into the Doctrine of the Organ, the Method and 

 the Illustration of Speech. The Organ of Speech divided into the 

 Knowledge of the Marks of Things, of Speaking, and Writing. The 

 two last comprise the two Branches of Grammar. The Marks of 

 Things divided into Hieroglyphics and Real Characters. Grammar 

 again divided into Literary and Philosophical. Prosody referred to 

 the Doctrine of Speech, and Ciphers to the Department of Writing 



ANY man may, excellent King, when he pleases, take the 

 liberty to jest and laugh at himself or his own projects. 

 Who, then, knows as there is a book in the famous 

 library of St. Victor, entitled " Formicarum Artium,"o whether 

 our book may not be an accidental transcript of its contents? 

 We have, indeed, only accumulated a little heap of dust, and 

 deposited therein many grains of the arts and sciences whereto 

 ants may creep to repose awhile, and then betake themselves to 

 their labors : nay, the wisest of kings points out the ant as an 

 example to those whose only care is to live upon the main stock, 

 neglecting to cultivate the fields of science, and reap a new har- 

 vest of discoveries.^ 



We next proceed to the art of delivering, uttering, and com- 

 municating such things as are discovered, judged of, and treas- 

 ured up in the memory ; and this we call by the general name of 

 traditive doctrine, which takes in all the arts relating to words 

 and discourse. For, although reason be as the soul of dis- 

 course, yet they ought both to be treated separate, no less than 

 the soul and body. We divide this traditive doctrine into three 

 parts ; viz., with regard, I. to the organ ; 2. the method; and 3. 

 the illustration or ornament of speech and discourse. 



The vulgar doctrine of the organ of speech called grammar 

 is of two kinds, the one having relation to speaking, the other 

 to writing. For, as Aristotle well observed, words are the 

 marks of thoughts, and letters of words ; and we refer both of 



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