470 THE OCTAVIUS OF CHAPTER XIV. ARGuMENT. — With somethingof theprideof self-satisfaction, Cwciliusurges Octaviusto replyto his arguments; and Minucius with modesty answers him, that he must not exultat his own by no means ordinaryeloquence,and at theharmoniousvarietyof hisaddress. Tnus far Caecilius;and smiling cheerfully(for the vehe mence of hislengthydiscoursehad relaxedthe ardour of his indignation),he added : "And what does Octaviusventure to replyto this,a man of theraceof Plautus,1who, whilehe was chiefamong themillers,was stillthelowestof philosophers?" " Restrain,"saidIj " your self-approvalagainsthim ; for itis not worthy of you to exultat the harmony of your discourse, beforethe subjectshallhave been more fullyargued on both sides; especiallysinceyour reasoningis strivingaftertruth, not praise. And in however greata degree your discourse has delightedme by itssubtilevariety,yet I am very deeply moved, not concerningthe presentdiscussion,but concerning the entirekind of disputation— that for the most part the conditionof truthshouldbe changed accordingto the powers of discussion,and even the facultyof perspicuouseloquence. This isvery wellknown to occur by reasonof the facilityof the hearers,who, being distractedby the allurementof words from attentionto things,assentwithoutdistinctionto every thing thatissaid,and do not separatefalsehoodfrom truth: unaware that even in thatwhich isincrediblethereisoften truth,and in verisimilitudefalsehood.Thereforethe oftener they believebold assertions,the more frequentlythey are convincedby those who are more clever,and thus are con- 1 "Plautinaeprosapiae."The expressionisintendedas a reproach againstthehumbleoccupationsof many of theChristianprofessors. Plautusissaid,when inneed,to havelabouredata baker'shand-mill. CaeciliustellsOctaviusthathe may be thefirstamong themillers,but heisthelastamongthephilosophers.Stieberproposes" Christianoram-- insteadof" pistorum"— " Christians"insteadof" millers."