[152]   ------“Arcades ambo
Et Cantare pares, et respondere parati.”

       “Both young Arcadians, both alike inspir’d
        To sing and answer as the song requir’d.”

If we do wrangle, what shall we get by it?  Trouble and wrong ourselves, make sport to others.  If I be convict of an error, I will yield, I will amend. Si quid bonis moribus, si quid veritati dissentaneum, in sacris vel humanis literis a me dictum sit, id nec dictum esto.  In the mean time I require a favourable censure of all faults omitted, harsh compositions, pleonasms of words, tautological repetitions (though Seneca bear me out, nunquam nimis dicitur, quod nunquam satis dicitur) perturbations of tenses, numbers, printers’ faults, &c.  My translations are sometimes rather paraphrases than interpretations, non ad verbum, but as an author, I use more liberty, and that’s only taken which was to my purpose.  Quotations are often inserted in the text, which makes the style more harsh, or in the margin, as it happened.  Greek authors, Plato, Plutarch, Athenaeus, &c., I have cited out of their interpreters, because the original was not so ready.  I have mingled sacra prophanis, but I hope not profaned, and in repetition of authors’ names, ranked them per accidens, not according to chronology; sometimes neoterics before ancients, as my memory suggested.  Some things are here altered, expunged in this sixth edition, others amended, much added, because many good [153]authors in all kinds are come to my hands since, and ’tis no prejudice, no such indecorum, or oversight.

[154] “Nunquam ita quicquam bene subducta ratione ad vitam fuit,
        Quin res, aetas, usus, semper aliquid apportent novi,
        Aliquid moneant, ut illa quae scire te credas, nescias,
        Et quae tibi putaris prima, in exercendo ut repudias.”

       “Ne’er was ought yet at first contriv’d so fit,
        But use, age, or something would alter it;
        Advise thee better, and, upon peruse,
        Make thee not say, and what thou tak’st refuse.”

But I am now resolved never to put this treatise out again, Ne quid nimis, I will not hereafter add, alter, or retract; I have done.  The last and greatest exception is, that I, being a divine, have meddled with physic,

[155] “Tantumne est ab re tua otii tibi,
        Aliena ut cures, eaque nihil quae ad te attinent.”

Which Menedemus objected to Chremes; have I so much leisure, or little business of mine own, as to look after other men’s matters which concern me not?  What have I to do with physic? Quod medicorum est promittant medici.  The [156]Lacedaemonians were once in counsel about state matters, a debauched fellow spake excellent well, and to the purpose, his speech was generally approved:  a grave senator steps up, and by all means would have it repealed, though good, because dehonestabatur pessimo auctore,