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the_o scythian_n who_o make_v themselves_o wolf_n once_o a_o year_n and_o resume_v after_o some_o day_n their_o human_a form_n one_o can_v then_o say_v that_o he_o have_v indifferent_o mingle_v truth_n with_o fable_n without_o distinguish_v they_o nor_o that_o he_o be_v a_o liar_n though_o he_o often_o rehearse_v the_o fable_n of_o other_o which_o the_o most_o exact_a law_n of_o history_n do_v not_o forbid_v nay_o those_o very_a law_n oblige_v we_o to_o report_v the_o rumour_n which_o have_v be_v current_n and_o the_o different_a opinion_n of_o man_n as_o he_o well_o observe_v in_o his_o polyhimnia_fw-la on_o the_o subject_a of_o the_o argian_n by_o a_o advertisement_n which_o may_v ferve_fw-la for_o all_o his_o whole_a history_n add_v to_o this_o that_o herodotus_n have_v be_v a_o most_o religious_a observer_n of_o the_o divine_a worship_n of_o which_o he_o make_v profession_n if_o one_o may_v
history_n he_o live_v in_o the_o hundred_o and_o thirty_o year_n of_o christ_n he_o be_v a_o disciple_n of_o epictetus_n it_o be_v not_o easy_a to_o know_v whether_o his_o history_n be_v write_v before_o his_o enchiridion_n and_o those_o other_o discourse_n of_o his_o master_n which_o simplicius_n in_o his_o commentary_n assure_v we_o to_o be_v compose_v by_o he_o for_o though_o it_o may_v not_o be_v think_v according_a to_o the_o ordinary_a and_o natural_a course_n of_o man_n disposition_n he_o shall_v apply_v himself_o to_o philosophical_a contemplation_n in_o the_o youthful_a part_n of_o his_o life_n yet_o it_o appear_v in_o the_o preface_n of_o those_o discourse_n that_o he_o write_v they_o as_o they_o be_v speak_v by_o epictetus_n collect_v from_o his_o mouth_n whilst_o he_o be_v yet_o the_o scholar_n of_o that_o great_a philosopher_n and_o he_o complain_v that_o they_o be_v publish_v without_o his_o privity_n which_o be_v a_o certain_a evidence_n of_o their_o be_v write_v in_o 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purgamenta_fw-la maris_fw-la but_o there_o be_v some_o place_n also_o in_o arrian_n history_n which_o the_o other_o do_v very_o well_o explain_v and_o i_o shall_v not_o determine_v which_o of_o they_o have_v be_v most_o lucky_a in_o express_v the_o name_n of_o alexander_n physician_n who_o arrian_n call_v critodemus_n and_o quintus_fw-la curtius_n critobulus_n for_o plutarch_n make_v no_o mention_n of_o either_o and_o pliny_n when_o he_o commend_v the_o excellency_n of_o that_o physician_n who_o draw_v the_o arrow_n out_o of_o alexander_n father_n eye_n without_o disfigure_v his_o face_n name_a he_o critobulus_n make_v it_o to_o be_v reasonable_o suppose_v that_o his_o son_n make_v use_v of_o the_o same_o physician_n and_o consequent_o that_o curtius_n do_v not_o mistake_v in_o the_o name_n photius_n commend_v arrian_n as_o equal_a to_o the_o best_a historian_n his_o narration_n be_v always_o agreeable_a because_o it_o be_v both_o short_a and_o intelligible_a and_o he_o never_o 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oration_n and_o sometime_o direct_a one_o
in_o a_o little_a time_n all_o that_o sâ—perbe_n edifice_n be_v consume_v in_o flame_n and_o at_o the_o same_o time_n they_o let_v a_o eagle_n fly_v which_o the_o pagan_a superstition_n of_o that_o age_n believe_v be_v to_o carry_v away_o the_o soul_n of_o the_o decease_a herodian_a use_v direct_a ovation_n in_o all_o his_o history_n as_o in_o the_o first_o book_n we_o have_v that_o of_o marcus_n antoninus_n to_o his_o friend_n a_o little_a before_o his_o death_n with_o another_o which_o commodus_n deliver_v to_o his_o soldier_n whilst_o he_o be_v yet_o very_o young_a to_o gain_v â—heir_a affection_n to_o he_o and_o his_o eight_o book_n do_v as_o it_o be_v conclude_v with_o that_o speech_n which_o maximus_n make_v in_o the_o middle_n of_o his_o army_n a_o little_a before_o he_o march_v with_o it_o to_o rome_n and_o all_o his_o other_o book_n be_v fill_v with_o the_o like_a discourse_n which_o be_v lean_v to_o the_o form_n of_o declamation_n and_o which_o without_o any_o difficulty_n he_o continual_o use_v as_o occasion_v offer_v as_o may_v be_v see_v by_o that_o letter_n which_o macrinus_n write_v from_o antioch_n to_o the_o senate_n and_o roman_a people_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o his_o five_o book_n he_o do_v not_o moreover_o avoid_v digression_n in_o his_o composition_n there_o be_v one_o in_o his_o first_o book_n on_o the_o occasion_n of_o that_o idol_n of_o the_o mother_n of_o the_o god_n which_o the_o roman_n cause_v to_o be_v bring_v from_o phrygia_n after_o have_v relate_v that_o the_o stone_n all_o ingraved_a as_o it_o be_v into_o the_o form_n of_o the_o image_n fall_v down_o from_o heaven_n in_o the_o field_n of_o pesinunta_n and_o make_v the_o ship_n that_o carry_v it_o stop_v at_o the_o mouth_n of_o tiber_n till_o a_o vestal_a in_o proof_n of_o her_o virginity_n have_v draw_v it_o out_o with_o her_o cincture_n and_o he_o give_v no_o other_o reason_n for_o the_o sacrifice_n which_o the_o eunuch_n celebrate_v to_o such_o a_o divinity_n and_o many_o other_o 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empress_n mammea_n who_o be_v propose_v by_o some_o as_o a_o pattern_n to_o those_o to_o who_o the_o education_n of_o such_o prince_n which_o they_o shall_v have_v bring_v into_o the_o world_n may_v appertain_v he_o by_o no_o mean_n approve_v of_o her_o government_n sometime_o he_o describe_v she_o as_o a_o avaritious_a person_n that_o invade_v the_o possession_n of_o many_o person_n by_o evil_a and_o fraudulent_a mean_n and_o say_v she_o be_v for_o that_o reason_n hate_v by_o she_o son_n and_o then_o he_o represent_v she_o to_o be_v so_o proud_a that_o she_o can_v not_o endure_v her_o daughter_n in_o law_n augusta_n impatient_a to_o have_v the_o title_n of_o empress_n give_v to_o any_o but_o herself_o but_o banish_v she_o into_o africa_n after_o have_v cause_v her_o father_n to_o be_v put_v to_o death_n against_o the_o consent_n of_o the_o emperor_n because_o he_o make_v public_a complaint_n of_o the_o wrong_n he_o and_o the_o young_a empress_n augusta_n his_o daughter_n have_v 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refrain_v from_o arraign_v the_o impudence_n of_o her_o avarice_n for_o amass_v together_o all_o the_o gold_n and_o silver_n she_o can_v gather_v and_o when_o he_o relate_v the_o assassinate_n of_o alexander_n severus_n he_o say_v that_o prince_n be_v grievous_o reproach_v by_o his_o murderer_n with_o the_o covetousness_n of_o his_o mother_n and_o sextus_n aurelius_n victor_n decline_v not_o to_o have_v it_o pronounce_v to_o that_o unfortunate_a emperor_n at_o the_o last_o moment_n of_o his_o life_n that_o the_o same_o person_n which_o give_v it_o to_o he_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o his_o death_n and_o he_o add_v that_o mammea_n have_v reduce_v her_o son_n to_o that_o extremity_n by_o her_o frugal_a humour_n that_o the_o meat_n which_o be_v untouched_a at_o the_o table_n one_o day_n be_v save_v to_o be_v serve_v to_o it_o the_o day_n follow_v to_o content_v she_o though_o at_o best_a it_o be_v but_o mean_o furnish_v but_o though_o herodian_a just_o blame_v mummea_n for_o her_o ill_a 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great_a pain_n she_o take_v to_o preserve_v her_o son_n from_o so_o vile_a a_o monster_n as_o heliâ—gabalus_n who_o try_v always_o to_o deprive_v he_o of_o his_o life_n less_o praise_n worthy_a as_o our_o historian_n observe_v and_o lampridius_n who_o as_o it_o be_v before_o hint_v commend_v her_o piety_n of_o life_n add_v to_o it_o that_o never_o any_o prince_n be_v better_o educate_v than_o alexander_n severus_n in_o all_o the_o exercise_n of_o peace_n and_o war_n by_o the_o excellent_a master_n she_o provide_v for_o he_o and_o he_o finish_v his_o discourse_n of_o the_o life_n of_o that_o emperor_n in_o say_v he_o be_v of_o a_o very_a good_a disposition_n be_v the_o son_n of_o a_o most_o virtuous_a mother_n zosimus_n relate_v that_o the_o animosity_n of_o the_o soldiery_n against_o mammea_n and_o her_o son_n proceed_v from_o her_o favour_n to_o ulpian_n the_o fame_a lawyer_n prefer_v he_o above_o the_o captian_n of_o the_o emperor_n guard_n which_o be_v no_o small_a proof_n of_o the_o zeal_n she_o have_v morere_fw-la to_o maintain_v the_o law_n the_o chronologer_n cassiodorus_n report_v that_o the_o piety_n and_o respect_n which_o alexander_n have_v for_o his_o mother_n mammea_n make_v he_o to_o be_v belove_v by_o all_o man_n but_o eusebius_n have_v surpass_v all_o other_o in_o her_o commendation_n extol_v she_o to_o be_v a_o lady_n of_o virtue_n and_o piety_n in_o a_o more_o religious_a sense_n than_o that_o of_o cassiodorus_n and_o equal_a to_o if_o not_o exceed_v therein_o all_o the_o woman_n of_o her_o time_n and_o he_o improve_v that_o his_o good_a opinion_n of_o she_o to_o we_o because_o of_o she_o send_v for_o origen_n from_o antioch_n to_o confer_v with_o he_o of_o the_o mystery_n of_o christianity_n what_o shall_v we_o then_o conclude_v of_o the_o bad_a report_n which_o herodian_a write_v of_o she_o may_v we_o not_o believe_v with_o julius_n capitolinus_n
he_o speak_v like_o the_o christian_n of_o his_o time_n but_o there_o be_v other_o passage_n in_o his_o write_n so_o contrary_a to_o that_o doctrine_n and_o the_o opinion_n of_o those_o that_o believe_v he_o be_v a_o ethnic_a be_v found_v upon_o such_o strong_a consideration_n that_o i_o can_v but_o yield_v to_o it_o for_o not_o insist_v upon_o his_o seem_n in_o many_o place_n to_o esteem_v fortune_n a_o great_a goddess_n and_o not_o mind_v the_o strange_a antimosity_n which_o he_o show_v against_o justinian_n ground_v partly_o upon_o the_o interest_n of_o religion_n that_o place_n alone_o in_o his_o first_o book_n of_o the_o war_n of_o the_o goth_n where_o he_o speak_v of_o the_o ambassador_n which_o the_o emperor_n send_v to_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n to_o reconcile_v the_o different_a opinion_n of_o christian_n be_v sufficient_a to_o undeceive_v those_o who_o consider_v he_o as_o a_o christian_a historian_n 〈◊〉_d i_o will_v not_o trouble_v myself_o say_v he_o to_o relate_v the_o 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busy_v in_o suppress_v the_o heresy_n of_o the_o arrian_n in_o what_o relate_v to_o the_o second_o person_n of_o the_o trinity_n his_o discourse_n express_v he_o to_o be_v a_o perfect_a deist_n who_o think_v as_o many_o other_o philosopher_n have_v do_v and_o among_o the_o rest_n that_o melissus_n in_o hesychius_n that_o one_o can_v determine_v nothing_o of_o god_n but_o rash_o and_o that_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o have_v any_o knowledge_n of_o he_o how_o can_v it_o be_v imagine_v that_o such_o a_o man_n be_v a_o christian_a who_o found_v his_o whole_a belief_n of_o heavenly_a matter_n upon_o such_o erroneous_a maxim_n if_o we_o add_v to_o this_o the_o mark_n of_o pagan_a superstition_n which_o appear_v in_o all_o his_o book_n we_o shall_v be_v hardly_o able_a to_o distinguish_v he_o from_o the_o most_o profane_a of_o the_o gentile_n the_o tale_n he_o tell_v in_o the_o first_o book_n of_o the_o persian_a war_n of_o the_o artifice_n use_v by_o some_o of_o the_o magi_n to_o make_v 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justinian_n which_o he_o make_v so_o visible_a in_o his_o anecdota_n iâ—edita_fw-la it_o be_v expedient_a to_o examine_v that_o work_n a_o little_a because_o it_o be_v the_o place_n from_o whence_o those_o who_o pretend_v to_o defame_v this_o emperor_n have_v always_o collect_v their_o detraction_n if_o we_o make_v it_o apparent_a that_o procopius_n be_v much_o to_o blame_v in_o write_v so_o defamatory_n a_o satyr_n against_o his_o sovereign_n to_o gratify_v his_o passion_n we_o shall_v at_o the_o same_o time_n render_v those_o aspersion_n inconsiderable_a which_o other_o have_v cast_v upon_o his_o reputation_n the_o word_n anecdota_n import_v that_o it_o be_v a_o secret_a work_n and_o that_o the_o author_n thereof_o have_v no_o mind_n to_o be_v know_v he_o be_v judge_v to_o have_v compose_v it_o in_o the_o two_o and_o thirty_o year_n of_o the_o empire_n of_o justinian_n and_o leave_v it_o imperfect_a as_o well_o because_o he_o repent_v that_o he_o be_v so_o far_o transport_v as_o 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the_o mean_a time_n his_o book_n of_o anecdota_n remain_v suidas_n make_v mention_n of_o it_o and_o they_o who_o for_o divers_a consideration_n have_v be_v animate_v against_o the_o memory_n of_o justinian_n make_v use_v of_o it_o and_o allege_v the_o matter_n in_o it_o to_o his_o prejudice_n it_o be_v not_o long_o since_o print_v with_o exposition_n and_o comment_n as_o bad_a as_o the_o text_n they_o explain_v other_o beside_o myself_o have_v already_o endeavour_v to_o confute_v the_o absurdity_n of_o it_o trivorius_n but_o it_o shall_v suffice_v to_o shoâ—_n summary_o that_o all_o which_o procopius_n have_v write_v of_o history_n will_v prove_v ridiculous_a if_o never_o so_o little_a credit_n be_v give_v to_o the_o calumny_n of_o this_o piece_n he_o protest_v in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o first_o book_n of_o the_o persian_a war_n that_o he_o can_v be_v reasonable_o reproach_v of_o write_v any_o thing_n for_o favour_n or_o to_o oblige_v the_o undeserving_a nor_o of_o refrain_v to_o 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