Ch. Now be as good as your Word.  Perform the Task you have taken upon you.

Au. What is it you’d have me speak of chiefly?

Ch. I us’d formerly to admire many Things in Pollio’s Orations; but chiefly this, that he us’d so easily, so frequently and beautifully to turn a Sentence, which seemed not only a great Piece of Wit, but of great Use.

Au. You were much in the Right on’t, Christian, to admire that in Pollio.  For he seems, in this Matter, to have had a certain divine Faculty, which I believe, was peculiar to him, by a certain Dexterity of Art, and by much Use of Speaking, Reading and Writing, rather than by any Rules or Instructions.

Ch. But I would fain have some Rule for it, if there be any to be given.

Au. You say very well; and since I see you are very desirous of it, I’ll endeavour it as much as I can:  And I will give those Rules, as well as I can, which I have taken Notice of in Pollio’s Orations.

Ch. Do, I should be very glad to hear ’em.

Au. I am ready to do it.

* * * * *

The ARGUMENT.

A short Rule concerning this Copia, it teaches how to vary a Sentence pleasantly, copiously, easily, frequently, and elegantly; by short Rules given, and by a Praxis upon these Rules, in an elegant Turning of one Phrase.

In the first Place, it is to be set forth in pure and choice Latin Words; which to do is no mean Piece of Art:  For there are a great many, who do, I don’t know after what Manner, affect the Copia and Variation of Phrase, when they don’t know how to express it once right.  It is not enough for them to have babbled once, but they must render the Babble much more babbling, by first one, and then by another turning of it; as if they were resolv’d to try the Experiment, how barbarously they were able to speak:  And therefore, they heap together, certain simple synonymous Words, that are so contrary one to the other, that they may admire themselves how they do agree together.  For what is more absurd, than that a ragged old Fellow, that has not a Coat to his Back, but what is so ragged that he may be ashamed to put it on, should every now and then change his Rags, as though he design’d to shew his Beggary by Way of Ostentation:  And those Affectators of Variety seem equally ridiculous, who, when they have spoken barbarously once, repeat the same Thing much more barbarously; and then over and over again much more unlearnedly.  This is not to abound with Sentences, but Solaecisms:  Therefore, in the first Place, as I have said, the Thing is to be express’d in apt and chosen Words. 2.  And then we must use Variety of Words, if there are any to be found, that will express the same Thing; and there are a great many. 3.  And where proper Words are wanting, then we must use borrow’d