OCRed data provided
for searching only. 358 SMALL LATINE AND LESSE GREEICE
they had but only bookes of References, it would be exceeding profitable: to wit, such Common-place books as did but only containe the generall heads of matter, and then the Quotations of three or foure of the chiefe Authors: as Reusner, Erasmus, Adages, Tullies sentences, or some other; setting downe the booke and the page, where to turne of a sudden to any such matter in them. This would ease them of much searching, and make schollers to doe such exercises much sooner, and with farre greater commendations: like as in Diunitie, Law, Physicke, and whatsoeuer other Arts. Thus they may vse the matter of the best Authors, going farre beyond the matter which the wit of any child can conceiue; sith that those bookes haue in them the choisest sayings of the very wisest of all ages: although they are still to adde whatsoeuer they can inuent of their owne braine, so it be wittily and pithily.
Such a booke of Reference well gathered, and made publike, would much further young schollers herein.
Spoud. I see well how they may be furnished for store of matter; yet for choise of good words and phrase, to haue copie and variety ewer ready at hand, I make some doubt how they may be furnished: for it is a toyle to got euer to turn to phrase-bookes; neither can they haue time when they are to speake ex tempore.
Phil. Take no care for that; store of matter being thus gotten, as I haue shewed, will bring words: yet to haue copie of Synonymaes and good phrase, besides their Authors made perfect, and other helps mentioned; Calliepeia translated in propriety, and read one while out of Latine into English, an-other while out of English into Latine, and after trying how to vary both in English and Latine; will helpe very much to furnish with copie both English and Latine. Hereof 1 haue knowne some experience. A little tryall will soone confirme this.
There may be also other helpes for varying: as the rules in Erasmus de Copia, in Macropedius and others; and more specially some select phrases to seuerall purposes noted in Erasmus de Copia.
Spoud. But what say you concerning Orations ? what course doe you thinke fittest to be able to performe them with commendations ?
Phil. I take them to belong rather to the Vniuersities, that there is more seldome vse of them in Schooles, and then also to be performed by schollers grown to some maturities.
For examples or patternes of Orations, we can haue no better then Tullies Orations; wherein are presidents of all sorts. In these is the scholler to be exercised to know the nature of them, and the manner of the loftinesse of stile vsed in them. Also Turners Orations, Murefur, or others. Though for entrance into them we may follow the examples of praises in e4pthonius. Chap. 8. Or some other select Orations.
Yet, because schooles of speciall note, and where there are ancient schollers, sometimes it may be expected amongst them, that some one of them should make an Oration to entertaine a Benefactor, or other person of note; and it may be, to doe it ex tempore, as their comming is of a sodaine; there-fore certaine speciall heads of art Oration to that purpose might be euer in
[ Volume
One ] 
