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for_o they_o both_o compose_v a_o defence_n of_o socrates_n and_o many_o other_o moral_n and_o politic_a treatise_n according_a to_o the_o observation_n of_o diogenes_n in_o plato_n life_n without_o any_o mention_v one_o another_o with_o reciprocal_a praise_n whatsoever_o occasion_n present_v itself_o among_o so_o many_o dialogue_n by_o they_o expose_v in_o the_o name_n of_o socrates_n with_o his_o disciple_n some_o will_v have_v it_o that_o xenophon_n represent_v in_o very_o lively_a colour_n the_o defect_n of_o one_o menon_n a_o thessalian_a in_o the_o end_n of_o the_o second_o book_n of_o cyrus_n his_o expedition_n for_o no_o other_o reason_n than_o that_o he_o be_v a_o friend_n to_o plato_n but_o as_o for_o that_o other_o book_n de_fw-fr 5._o aequivocis_fw-la print_v a_o age_n ago_o under_o the_o name_n of_o xenophon_n it_o be_v to_o be_v hold_v one_o of_o the_o imposture_n of_o annius_n viterbius_fw-la in_o like_a manner_n some_o will_v have_v a_o certain_a suppositious_a 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the_o itinerary_n of_o alexander_n geraldin_n bishop_n of_o st._n dominick_n who_o pretend_v to_o have_v find_v over_o all_o aethiopia_n on_o this_o and_o the_o other_o side_n of_o the_o line_n roman_a inscription_n and_o antiquity_n of_o such_o value_n that_o all_o other_o which_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o earth_n afford_v will_v be_v despicable_a if_o the_o worst_a of_o his_o be_v true_a but_o it_o be_v observable_a that_o none_o before_o or_o after_o he_o ever_o see_v they_o nor_o be_v there_o any_o scholar_n so_o unexperienced_a in_o this_o sort_n of_o read_v that_o can_v easy_o discover_v the_o falsehood_n of_o his_o observation_n so_o unlikely_a they_o be_v be_v it_o not_o a_o great_a impertinence_n to_o raise_v pillar_n to_o testify_v the_o conquest_n and_o absolute_a dominion_n of_o the_o roman_n in_o place_n where_o apparent_o none_o of_o they_o ever_o set_v foot_n and_o in_o direct_a opposition_n to_o all_o we_o have_v from_o their_o own_o history_n the_o same_o judgement_n be_v to_o be_v make_v of_o those_o hetruscian_a or_o tuscan_a antiquity_n which_o we_o have_v of_o a_o fresh_a date_n from_o one_o inghiramius_n who_o impudence_n be_v unpardonable_a for_o deceive_v the_o world_n at_o such_o a_o rate_n and_o perhaps_o it_o be_v not_o unfit_a to_o have_v punishment_n establish_v to_o signalise_v the_o infamy_n of_o those_o that_o dare_v expose_v to_o the_o public_a spiritual_a aliment_n so_o corrupt_v and_o mortal_a as_o those_o be_v for_o no_o poison_n operate_v with_o more_o violence_n and_o bad_a effect_n upon_o the_o body_n than_o error_n and_o imposture_n upon_o our_o mind_n xenoph._n when_o we_o be_v infect_v with_o they_o a_o author_n of_o the_o last_o age_n accuse_v xenophon_n of_o have_v love_v agesilaus_n so_o passionate_o filium_fw-la that_o not_o only_o in_o his_o book_n which_o he_o write_v of_o his_o praise_n but_o likewise_o in_o his_o history_n he_o make_v rash_a judgement_n in_o his_o favour_n and_o extol_v his_o victory_n much_o more_o than_o the_o law_n of_o history_n will_v permit_v but_o this_o capricio_n of_o a_o italian_a will_v be_v approve_v of_o by_o very_a few_o because_o it_o arraign_v the_o judgement_n of_o all_o antiquity_n which_o never_o speak_v so_o much_o to_o the_o disadvantage_n of_o xenophon_n and_o tully_n who_o mention_n his_o praise_n of_o that_o prince_n do_v not_o accuse_v he_o of_o any_o indecency_n in_o it_o as_o for_o his_o style_n one_o may_v see_v what_o hermogenes_n write_v of_o it_o who_o commend_v it_o especial_o for_o its_o sweetness_n and_o simplicity_n which_o he_o make_v one_o of_o the_o principal_a ornament_n of_o language_n and_o in_o this_o respect_n he_o by_o much_o prefer_v xenophon_n to_o plato_n he_o be_v by_o birth_n a_o athenian_a and_o the_o son_n of_o one_o grillus_n and_o live_v about_o four_o hundred_o year_n before_o the_o nativity_n of_o christ._n reflection_n upon_o the_o history_n of_o polybius_n as_o xenophon_n be_v the_o first_o philosopher_n that_o apply_v himself_o to_o write_v history_n so_o polybius_n have_v the_o advantage_n to_o have_v give_v we_o the_o most_o considerable_a one_o extant_a and_o make_v it_o appear_v more_o clear_o than_o any_o other_o historiographer_n that_o history_n be_v as_o it_o be_v the_o metropolitan_a of_o philosophy_n 1._o to_o use_v the_o term_n of_o the_o historian_n of_o who_o we_o shall_v write_v in_o the_o chapter_n follow_v but_o what_o be_v say_v of_o polybius_n may_v be_v more_o reasonable_o admit_v if_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o his_o work_n be_v now_o extant_a of_o which_o only_o the_o least_o part_n remain_v since_o of_o forty_o book_n which_o he_o compose_v there_o be_v but_o the_o five_o first_o entire_a with_o the_o epitome_n of_o the_o follow_v twelve_o which_o be_v continue_v to_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o eighteen_o many_o be_v of_o opinion_n that_o this_o epitome_n be_v write_v by_o the_o great_a assertour_n of_o roman_a liberty_n marcus_n brutus_n because_o it_o be_v know_v that_o he_o delight_v in_o nothing_o so_o much_o as_o in_o read_v history_n be_v a_o man_n so_o difficult_a to_o please_v that_o cicero_n work_n do_v not_o affect_v he_o and_o therefore_o he_o employ_v his_o leisure_n in_o epitomise_v the_o history_n of_o polybius_n find_v therein_o beside_o that_o instruction_n wherewith_o it_o abound_v the_o consolation_n he_o need_v in_o the_o last_o and_o most_o unfortunate_a day_n of_o his_o life_n the_o subject_a of_o this_o history_n be_v all_o the_o most_o considerable_a action_n in_o the_o world_n from_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o second_o punic_a war_n to_o the_o end_n of_o that_o which_o terminate_v the_o difference_n of_o the_o roman_n with_o the_o macedonian_a king_n by_o the_o utter_a ruin_n of_o their_o monarchy_n this_o include_v the_o space_n of_o three_o and_o fifty_o year_n the_o event_n of_o which_o polybius_n show_v in_o the_o last_o eight_o and_o thirty_o book_n for_o the_o two_o first_o be_v not_o so_o much_o of_o the_o body_n of_o his_o history_n as_o they_o serve_v for_o a_o preparative_n in_o a_o summary_n narration_n of_o the_o take_n of_o rome_n by_o the_o gaul_n under_o the_o conduct_n of_o brannus_n and_o of_o that_o which_o follow_v until_o the_o first_o year_n of_o the_o second_o war_n against_o the_o carthaginian_n but_o though_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o roman_a empire_n be_v much_o more_o exact_o describe_v by_o he_o than_o the_o rest_n of_o those_o that_o write_v of_o that_o subject_a because_o his_o chief_a aim_n be_v to_o omit_v nothing_o that_o may_v give_v a_o perfect_a information_n of_o they_o yet_o he_o neglect_v not_o also_o to_o represent_v the_o concern_v of_o all_o the_o other_o power_n of_o the_o universe_n unsold_v the_o interest_n of_o the_o king_n of_o syria_n egypt_n macedon_n pontus_n cappadocia_n and_o persia_n with_o those_o of_o all_o the_o different_a dynasty_n which_o be_v then_o in_o greece_n and_o therefore_o he_o give_v the_o name_n of_o catholic_n or_o universal_a to_o his_o history_n as_o inform_v we_o of_o the_o destiny_n of_o all_o the_o nation_n of_o the_o earth_n there_o be_v scarce_o any_o at_o that_o time_n which_o have_v not_o some_o difference_n with_o or_o dependence_n on_o the_o roman_n he_o receive_v at_o his_o birth_n great_a gift_n from_o nature_n which_o favour_v his_o enterprise_n and_o that_o chance_v of_o fortune_n which_o make_v he_o come_v to_o rome_n be_v no_o small_a advantage_n to_o he_o since_o he_o be_v indebt_v to_o it_o not_o only_o for_o the_o best_a part_n of_o his_o learning_n but_o the_o important_a friendship_n he_o contract_v with_o scipio_n and_o lelius_n which_o contribute_v much_o to_o the_o celebration_n of_o his_o history_n to_o posterity_n but_o the_o pain_n he_o take_v in_o the_o acquisition_n of_o all_o that_o can_v put_v he_o in_o a_o capacity_n of_o write_v it_o well_o and_o labour_v for_o eternity_n seem_v worthy_a to_o be_v consider_v
greek_a because_o even_o in_o their_o time_n the_o athenian_a eloquence_n be_v already_o transfer_v to_o rome_n and_o that_o faculty_n which_o delight_v in_o command_n have_v quit_v the_o vanquish_a to_o follow_v the_o fortune_n of_o the_o victorious_a take_v their_o habit_n and_o language_n it_o be_v no_o wonder_n then_o that_o diodorus_n be_v not_o equal_a in_o this_o respect_n to_o herodotus_n thucydides_n or_o xenophon_n be_v a_o sicilian_a only_o and_o have_v add_v to_o that_o the_o disadvantage_n to_o write_v in_o such_o a_o season_n photins_n nevertheless_o do_v not_o forbear_v to_o praise_v his_o style_n as_o be_v very_o clear_a unaffected_a and_o very_o proper_a for_o his_o subject_n which_o be_v history_n it_o be_v say_v he_o neither_o too_o attic_a nor_o too_o full_a of_o ancient_a word_n his_o manner_n of_o writing_n have_v a_o just_a mediocrity_n between_o the_o most_o high_a style_n and_o the_o other_o which_o the_o school_n call_v humble_a and_o creep_a for_o its_o lowness_n which_o be_v always_o avoid_v by_o diodorus_n there_o be_v certain_o more_o reason_n to_o credit_n 5._o that_o learned_a patriarch_n of_o constantinople_n who_o be_v a_o most_o exact_a critic_n in_o his_o tongue_n than_o john_n bodin_n who_o though_o he_o understand_v greek_n much_o less_o venture_v to_o give_v a_o quite_o contrary_a judgement_n and_o reprehend_v the_o word_n as_o well_o as_o the_o style_n of_o diodorus_n as_o if_o a_o stranger_n at_o this_o day_n can_v say_v any_o thing_n worthy_a consideration_n in_o that_o matter_n after_o what_o have_v be_v say_v by_o the_o ancient_n and_o contrary_a to_o the_o opinion_n of_o those_o to_o who_o greek_n be_v a_o maternal_a language_n nor_o be_v there_o more_o heed_n to_o be_v take_v trad_a to_o the_o invective_n of_o lodovicus_n vives_n the_o spaniard_z against_o diodorus_n than_o to_o that_o of_o bodin_n the_o french_a man_n the_o last_o blame_n even_o the_o expression_n and_o word_n the_o first_o arraigns_n the_o body_n of_o his_o history_n and_o the_o thing_n whereof_o his_o narration_n be_v compose_v if_o we_o believe_v vives_n there_o be_v nothing_o more_o vain_a than_o the_o historical_a library_n of_o our_o sicilian_n and_o pliny_n be_v much_o to_o blame_v in_o his_o opinion_n to_o say_v in_o his_o preface_n that_o diodorus_n be_v the_o first_o of_o the_o greek_n who_o speak_v serious_o and_o abstain_v from_o write_v trifle_n i_o know_v the_o authority_n of_o this_o accuser_n be_v not_o small_a he_o be_v very_o learned_a in_o respect_n of_o his_o age_n and_o one_o of_o the_o ornament_n of_o his_o country_n neither_o be_o i_o ignorant_a that_o other_o beside_o he_o as_o pighius_fw-la and_o sigonius_n complain_v of_o the_o fault_n which_o diodorus_n commit_v in_o chronologie_n for_o have_v follow_v bad_a computation_n and_o i_o consider_v that_o vives_n have_v commented_a on_o the_o book_n of_o st_n augustin_n 18._o de_fw-fr civitate_fw-la dei_fw-la remark_v in_o they_o 40._o how_o that_o great_a doctor_n of_o the_o church_n laugh_v at_o the_o egyptian_n who_o say_v that_o they_o have_v record_n in_o their_o book_n a_o hundred_o thousand_o year_n old_a to_o which_o diodorus_n his_o text_n be_v not_o repugnant_a nay_o he_o go_v far_a than_o this_o when_o he_o make_v mention_n 2._o of_o the_o great_a knowledge_n of_o heavenly_a thing_n which_o the_o chaldean_n have_v acquire_v who_o brag_v that_o they_o have_v make_v observation_n upon_o they_o for_o the_o space_n of_o four_o hundred_o seventy_o and_o two_o thousand_o year_n before_o the_o conquest_n of_o alexander_n the_o great_a in_o asia_n he_o have_v already_o say_v 1._o that_o the_o egyptian_n reckon_v some_o ten_o and_o other_o of_o they_o three_o and_o twenty_o thousand_o year_n from_o isis_n and_o osiris_n to_o the_o same_o alexander_n and_o that_o their_o first_o king_n who_o be_v god_n do_v each_o of_o they_o reign_n no_o less_o than_o twelve_o hundred_o year_n this_o be_v doubtless_o that_o account_n which_o vives_n can_v not_o suffer_v and_o which_o provoke_v he_o to_o declare_v so_o high_o against_o diodorus_n who_o will_v not_o allow_v he_o to_o have_v be_v praise_v by_o pliny_n for_o any_o other_o thing_n than_o the_o title_n of_o his_o history_n which_o be_v indeed_o neither_o improper_a nor_o ridiculous_a as_o many_o of_o those_o be_v which_o the_o other_o grecian_n ordinary_o give_v to_o their_o book_n but_o if_o that_o may_v be_v say_v to_o be_v the_o only_a occasion_n which_o move_v pliny_n to_o pronounce_v this_o fair_a elegy_n of_o our_o historian_n viz._n primus_fw-la apud_fw-la graecos_n desciit_fw-la nugari_fw-la diodorus_n yet_o it_o be_v always_o favourable_o interpret_v to_o extend_v to_o his_o whole_a composition_n and_o it_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o injustice_n to_o affirm_v as_o vives_n do_v that_o there_o be_v nothing_o more_o vain_a not_o less_o solid_a than_o his_o history_n as_o for_o the_o egyptian_a ephemerides_n and_o the_o astronomical_a calculation_n of_o the_o chaldean_n they_o be_v infert_v only_o to_o show_v what_o be_v the_o common_a belief_n of_o those_o people_n not_o argue_v that_o he_o give_v any_o credit_n to_o they_o he_o be_v so_o far_o from_o it_o that_o he_o say_v express_o in_o his_o second_o book_n that_o he_o can_v possible_o acquiese_v to_o what_o the_o college_n of_o chaldean_n have_v determine_v of_o the_o long_a space_n of_o time_n which_o precede_v the_o victory_n of_o alexander_n i_o be_o so_o far_o from_o condemn_v the_o fable_n and_o excellent_a mythology_n in_o the_o five_o first_o book_n of_o diodorus_n that_o in_o my_o opinion_n we_o have_v nothing_o more_o precious_a in_o all_o that_o remain_v of_o antiquity_n for_o beside_o that_o fable_n may_v be_v tell_v serious_o and_o that_o plato_n timaeus_n with_o several_a other_o work_n of_o very_o great_a consideration_n shall_v be_v reject_v if_o they_o be_v absolute_o unnecessary_a it_o be_v to_o be_v say_v of_o these_o that_o they_o teach_v we_o the_o whole_a theology_n of_o the_o idolater_n and_o if_o it_o be_v lawful_a to_o give_v a_o holy_a name_n to_o a_o profane_a thing_n i_o may_v call_v the_o five_o forementioned_a book_n the_o bible_n of_o paganism_n since_o they_o teach_v we_o at_o the_o first_o sight_n what_o the_o gentile_n believe_v of_o eternity_n and_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o world_n and_o the_o birth_n of_o the_o first_o man_n be_v therein_o afterward_o describe_v according_a to_o the_o pure_a light_n of_o nature_n so_o that_o they_o represent_v to_o we_o so_o well_o all_o the_o theogony_n of_o the_o egyptian_n whence_o that_o of_o the_o greek_n draw_v its_o original_a that_o without_o diodorus_n we_o shall_v be_v ignorant_a of_o what_o be_v most_o curious_a in_o that_o sort_n of_o knowledge_n nevertheless_o he_o be_v not_o the_o first_o infidel_n that_o begin_v his_o history_n with_o the_o original_a of_o all_o thing_n as_o well_o as_o moses_n with_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o world_n history_n for_o he_o himself_o teach_v we_o in_o 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by_o the_o delight_n he_o have_v in_o read_v the_o same_o history_n but_o it_o be_v strange_a to_o consider_v with_o how_o much_o passion_n other_o go_v about_o to_o defame_v if_o they_o can_v a_o person_n of_o such_o rare_a merit_n in_o the_o age_n wherein_o he_o live_v asinius_n pollio_n arraign_v his_o style_n which_o he_o call_v patavinity_n augustus_n tax_v he_o of_o have_v favour_v pompey_n party_n but_o do_v not_o therefore_o diminish_v his_o good_a will_n towards_o he_o and_o caligula_n a_o while_n after_o accuse_v he_o of_o negligence_n on_o the_o one_o side_n and_o too_o excessive_a redundancy_n of_o word_n on_o the_o other_o take_v away_o his_o image_n and_o write_n from_o all_o library_n where_o he_o know_v they_o be_v curious_o preserve_v but_o the_o capricious_a and_o tyrannic_a humour_n of_o this_o prince_n be_v exercise_v in_o the_o same_o manner_n towards_o the_o work_n and_o statue_n of_o virgil._n 10._o and_o he_o will_v have_v suppress_v the_o verse_n of_o homer_n 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which_o he_o prove_v by_o divers_a ancient_a inscription_n some_o think_v that_o it_o consist_v mere_o in_o a_o repetition_n or_o rather_o multiplicity_n of_o many_o synonymous_n word_n in_o one_o period_n contrary_a to_o what_o be_v practise_v at_o rome_n where_o they_o do_v not_o affect_v such_o a_o redundancy_n which_o denote_v a_o foreigner_n other_o report_v that_o the_o paduan_n have_v always_o be_v of_o pompey_n party_n which_o be_v apparent_o the_o just_a as_o we_o have_v observe_v pollio_n that_o be_v a_o caesarian_a deride_v livys_n patavinity_n and_o accuse_v he_o of_o have_v show_v too_o great_a a_o inclination_n for_o the_o unhappy_a faction_n of_o the_o vanquish_a which_o seem_v so_o much_o the_o likely_a by_o the_o conformity_n it_o have_v with_o that_o opinion_n of_o augustus_n which_o we_o already_o mention_v there_o be_v those_o who_o likewise_o affirm_v that_o livy_n partiality_n for_o those_o of_o milan_n appear_v manifest_o in_o those_o book_n which_o be_v lose_v where_o he_o be_v lead_v by_o his_o subject_n to_o a_o immoderate_a praise_n of_o his_o countryman_n it_o be_v the_o same_o fault_n which_o polybius_n impute_v to_o philinus_n as_o a_o carthaginian_a and_o fabius_n as_o a_o roman_a and_o many_o modern_a historian_n have_v be_v charge_v therewith_o whereof_o guicciardin_n be_v one_o who_o to_o oblige_v the_o floreutine_n dwell_v so_o long_o upon_o the_o least_o concern_v of_o their_o state_n and_o amplify_v so_o much_o their_o small_a action_n that_o he_o often_o become_v troublesome_a and_o sometime_o ridiculous_a in_o many_o man_n judgement_n the_o quaint_a distich_n of_o actius_n syncerus_fw-la against_o that_o of_o poggius_n on_o the_o like_a occasion_n render_v it_o altogether_o despicable_a dum_fw-la patriam_fw-la laudat_fw-la damnat_fw-la dum_fw-la poggius_fw-la hostem_fw-la nec_fw-la malus_fw-la est_fw-la civis_fw-la nec_fw-la bone_fw-la historicus_fw-la they_o who_o rather_o imagine_v than_o prove_v a_o like_a passion_n in_o