compenfe the pains we take in perufing his DIAL. work, will allow us the freedom of our I.. judgment; and putting himself into the hands of all, he must expect to fall under the cenfure of fome.

CLEAND. Are you refolved then to cenfure Callicrates, in fpite of his numerous admirers?

EUDOX. He may juftly have many admirers in other refpects, but I believe his Style is difliked by great numbers. However, granting what you are pleased to believe, yet if I were fo difpofed, I could perhaps give many reasons to justify my refolution. Tho', I confess, it is hard to hold up against the common consent.

GLEAND. Not hard only, but rafh too, and apt to expofe one to publick laughter. It is never thought any great commendation to disagree from all the world befides; and the name of a Diffenter in matters of this nature, lies heavier lies heavier upon a man's reputation than it does now-a-days among us in point of Religion. You remember too what we lately read together in Pliny's Epiftles", In numero ipfo eft quoddam magnum collatumque confilium: quibufque fingulis judicii parum, omnibus plurimum. This applied

a Lib. 7. Epift. 17.

DIAL. to our cafe will prove, that where each

I.

par

ticular judgment might be fufpected, the common judgment of many upon an Author's performance, is almoft irrefragable.

EUDOX. Some are of opinion that Pliny often fpeaks in fentences which are rather pretty than true. than true. Whether this is one of thofe places, let others judge. Nay, were the matter to be decided by his authority, I fancy I could make that very Epiftle stand

for me.

CLEAND. Thus it is; now-a-days we make Authors fay what we please. But what do you answer to the argument I pretend to draw from the common approbation?

EUDOX. If that is your only or your best argument, Callicrates will not be much obliged to you for your defence. For what if I fhou'd anfwer by applying what Pliny fays of Orators, Scito eum peffimè dicere qui probabitur maximè, and then back it with an odd faying of Sir Roger L'Eftrange, that an univerfal applaufe is at least two thirds of a fcandal. Which faying, Callicrates has borrow'd without telling us fo: and he adds, A man may almost fear he is in the wrong, when he is generally cry'd

Lib. 2. Epift. 14.

C Poftfcript to Seneca's Morals. up.

up. And more to the fame purpose; and in DIAL. the fame tune with him who tells us, tho' I. the multitude has ever been allow'd many heads, it was never allow'd any brains. However, tho' the common confent is often of great moment, yet never lefs than in the repute of fome certain Authors. Unless too that general confent prove constant, it will fignify but little in whatever matter. Tho' all the world fhou'd commend a book to-day, if they cry'd it down again to-morrow, I fuppofe you wou'd not rely much upon the commendation. Now, without being the son of a prophet, I dare say the reputation of Callicrates will foon be confiderably abated. And then, Sir, I will tell you, Time is a better judge of Authors, than a fudden repute.

CLEAND. Time, doubtless, is the better judge, because the more mature: But what reason have you to think Callicrates's repu tation will not be permanent?

EUDOX. My reason in part is, that seeing the applaufe fome Authors had formerly, who are now but little efteem'd, and finding, as I think, fomewhat of their character in his Style, I may have reason to conjecture from them, of him. Now, Cleander, that fome Authors have fallen fo con

d Religio Stoici.

B 3

fiderably

DIAL. fiderably from their firft vogue, is what you

I.

cannot but have obferved. I could inftance the matter in fome of our own nation: But fince you are a great admirer of French Writers, I will do it in fome of them. Take for example the Gentlemen of PortRoyal. Certainly you perceive they are far from having now the mighty vogue, they had fome years ago. Then all their works were cried up for mafter-pieces. Nothing cou'd be more eloquent and polite. But not long after the world took them in another prospect, and grew weary of their frequent Parentheses, which clog a difcourfe and make it languid and unintelligible. Their long Periods grew tedious, and were found to be, not fo much the effects of an abundance of fenfe, as a want of that exactness of thought, that juft dimension and extent of parts, which makes the lasting beauty of Styles; while, as Ariftotle obferves, if they are too long, they tire out the Reader; and if too fhort, they hurry him along too fast.

CLEAND. But hold, Sir. Suppofing thofe Gentlemen as much fallen as you think, from the common efteem, yet certainly you cou'd not have pitched upon any writers lefs proper for your purpofe, or farther from the character of him you cenfure. For my

Rhet. 1. 3. cap. 9.

part,

I.

part, I find his Style convenient for fhort DIAL. Lungs; and methinks, of all things, you cannot complain his Periods put you out of breath.

EUDOX. They feem indeed to be generally made in favour of Readers that are troubled with an Afthma; and I fear, his are as much too fhort, as those others are too long. And yet the perfection of a Style, as of all other things, confists in a Medium. As for the likeness I pretend is in both, it confifts in the novelty of their Styles, and the lastingness of their Vogue. Their way of writing was as new once, as his now; and perhaps an appearance of novelty will be found the great, but weak support of both.

CLEAND. Why indeed there is nothing fo old, but it once was new. So that, methinks, you will have nothing esteem'd, because its credit must have a beginning. Which is an injuftice, you know, made Horace lose his temper, and wou'd vex many a lefs cholerick man f.

EUDOX. All I pretend, is, that a man's rifing credit, to be truly valuable, must have

Indignor quidquam reprehendi non quia crassè compofitum, illepidéve putetur, fed quia nuper. Lib. 2. Epist. 2.