Lipsius gives to his Epictetus; pluris facio quum relego; semper ut novum, et quum repetivi, repetendum, the more I read, the more shall I covet to read.  I will not press you with my pamphlets, or beg attention, but if you like them you may.  Pliny holds it expedient, and most fit, severitatem jucunditate etiam in scriptis condire, to season our works with some pleasant discourse; Synesius approves it, licet in ludicris ludere, the [4436]poet admires it, Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci; and there be those, without question, that are more willing to read such toys, than [4437]I am to write:  “Let me not live,” saith Aretine’s Antonia, “If I had not rather hear thy discourse, [4438]than see a play?” No doubt but there be more of her mind, ever have been, ever will be, as [4439]Hierome bears me witness.  A far greater part had rather read Apuleius than Plato:  Tully himself confesseth he could not understand Plato’s Timaeus, and therefore cared less for it:  but every schoolboy hath that famous testament of Grunnius Corocotta Porcellus at his fingers’ ends.  The comical poet,

[4440]  ------“Id sibi negoti credidit solum dari,
Populo ut placrent, quas fecissit fabulas,”

made this his only care and sole study to please the people, tickle the ear, and to delight; but mine earnest intent is as much to profit as to please; non tam ut populo placerem, quam ut populum juvarem, and these my writings, I hope, shall take like gilded pills, which are so composed as well to tempt the appetite, and deceive the palate, as to help and medicinally work upon the whole body; my lines shall not only recreate, but rectify the mind.  I think I have said enough; if not, let him that is otherwise minded, remember that of [4441]Maudarensis, “he was in his life a philosopher” (as Ausonius apologiseth for him), “in his epigrams a lover, in his precepts most severe; in his epistle to Caerellia, a wanton.”  Annianus, Sulpicius, Evemus, Menander, and many old poets besides, did in scriptis prurire, write Fescennines, Atellans, and lascivious songs; laetam materiam; yet they had in moribus censuram, et severitatem, they were chaste, severe, and upright livers.

[4442] “Castum esse decet pium poetam
        Ipsum, versiculos nihil necesse est,
        Qui tum denique habent salem et leporem.”

I am of Catullus’ opinion, and make the same apology in mine own behalf; Hoc etiam quod scribo, pendet plerumque ex aliorum sententia et auctoritate; nec ipse forsan insanio, sed insanientes sequor.  Atqui detur hoc insanire me; Semel insanivimus omnes, et tute ipse opinor insanis aliquando, et is, et ille, et ego, scilicet.[4443] Homo sum, humani a me nihil alienum puto:[4444] And which he urgeth for himself, accused of the like fault, I as justly plead, [4445]_lasciva est nobis pagina, vita proba est_.  Howsoever my lines err, my life is honest, [4446]_vita