Thomas Vaughan Anthroposophia Theomagica (1650)

for Method, though they lack Matter. Their Philosophy is like a Church that is all discipline and no Doctrine. For, if you take away their prolegomena original: "prolegomena"; introductory remarks or preliminary discussions, their form of Arguing, their Reciting of Different Opinions, along with several other digressions, the substance of these prolific writers original: "Tostati"; a reference to Alfonso Tostado, a 15th-century theologian known for his immense volume of writing will scarcely amount to a single drop of essence original: "Mercury"; here used to mean the volatile or essential spirit of a thing.

Besides, their Aristotle is a Poet in his writing; his principles are nothing but Fancies, and they rely more on what we grant them original: "Concessions" than on his own foundations. This is why his followers, despite the Assistance of so many Ages, can extract nothing from him but Notions. And these they certainly use, as Aristotle says Lycophron used his Epithets: Not as Seasoning, but as the Main Dish original: "Non ut Condimentis, sed ut Cibis"; from Aristotle's Rhetoric.

Aristotle's Rhetoric

Their Compositions are a mere swelling original: "Tympanie"; a medical term for a swelling or bloating of the abdomen of Terms. It is better than a fight in Don Quixote to observe what duels and sword-fights original: "Digladiations" they have over Him [Aristotle]. One will make him speak Sense, another Nonsense, and a third both. Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, the influential medieval philosopher touches him gently, while Scotus Duns Scotus, a rival medieval philosopher known for his complex "Subtle" style makes him