CHAr. in.] RHETORICAL SOPHISMS EXEMPLIFIED. 241 



So sanctuaiy-men, who were commonly malefactoi*s, 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.* 



V. — As all parties chalUnge the jirst place, that to which the rest unani- 

 vwusly give the second seems the best; each taking the first place out of 

 affection to itself, but giving the second where it is 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.** " 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 Las these forms, — let us not wander in g«?ne- 

 rals, let us compare particular Avith particular, &c., 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 l)est ot May. 2. Because the uatm-e of thing? 



• Matt, ix, ■ Academ. Frag. By Varru, 



