Strona 20 z 62

'I heard Polemo declaim the other day, to say something of things

sublunary. If you ask what I thought of him, listen. He seems to

me an industrious farmer, endowed with the greatest skill, who

has cultivated a large estate for corn and vines only, and indeed

with a rich return of fine crops. But yet in that land of his

there is no Pompeian fig or Arician vegetable, no Tarentine rose,

or pleasing coppice, or thick grove, or shady plane tree; all is

for use rather than for pleasure, such as one ought rather to

commend, but cares not to love.

[25] Ad M. Caes, ii. 5.

A pretty bold idea, is it not, and rash judgment, to pass censure

on a man of such reputation? But whenas I remember that I am

writing to you, I think I am less bold than you would have me.

'In that point I am wholly undecided.