OF'DISCOURSE.                             1S9

licentia fede—-d,s  if suspicion did    give   a passpoit

to  faith ; but it ought  rather to  kindle it to dis¬
charge itself.
 

XXXII.
OF DISCOURSE.

Some in their discourse desire rather commendation
of wit in being able to hold all arguments, than of
judgment in discerning what is true. As if it were
a praise to know what might be said, and not what
should be thought. Some have certain common¬
places and themes, wherein they are good and want
variety ; v/hich kind of poverty is for the most part
tedious, and when it is once perceived, ridiculous.
The honourablest part of talk is to give the occasion,
and again to moderate and pass to somewhat else ;
for then a man leads the dance. It is good in dis¬
course and speech of conversation to vary and
intermingle speech of the present occasion with
arguments, tales  with  reasons,  asking  of questions