THE

EPISTLE

Of Fr. Euistor.

I have at length recovered everything that happened in every day's conference, even down to the smallest personalities original: "Humours" and circumstances of our conversation. I have done this with such faithfulness that I have not omitted passages that might seem to reflect poorly on me; for I was more than once rather rudely insulted by our young friend Hylobares, who, as you know, is bold enough in that way with his close acquaintances. This bold streak made him attack Cuphophron so frequently that it even caused the amazement, and sometimes the offense, of my worthy patron Philopolis.

These two—I mean Hylobares and Cuphophron—are, so to speak, the middle and high voices original: "Mean and Treble" in this Heptachordon original: Heptachordon; a Greek term for an instrument of seven strings, referring here to the seven participants or instrument of seven strings. And indeed, they are throughout (especially in the first three dialogues) as sharp and vocal as two chirping original: "stridulous" swallows on the top of a chimney. You will find the rest of the group serious enough, and myself several degrees below seriousness—that is to say, I am quite solemnly and genuinely dull. However, I served to fill the role of a historian for them, just as I do for you in this retelling of the whole matter. Because I am recording the personalities and passions of men as well as their reasonings, if anything is faulty in any phrase of speech or the behavior of the young men, you should consider that it would have been a mistake for me to have omitted it. The flaws of the less perfect characters are so visible in the company of those more accomplished persons, and therefore they are more likely to create a dislike and a feeling of replusion original: "averſation" in the reader toward such misconduct original: "Miscarriages". This is the main goal of all moral writings, whether poetry or history.

But what may seem more harsh in those youthful persons, when compared with the discreet and perfect behavior of those of a more mature age, will yet be found very suitable and harmo-