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Corax promised Tisias to teach him Rhetorick, and Tisias on his side engaged to give him a Reward for it; but when he had learnt it, he refused to satisfy him: Corax therefore called him before the Judge; Tisias trusting to the subtilty of his Rhetorick, asked him what Rhetorick consisted in: Corax answered in the Art of Perswading. Then said Tisias, If I can perswade the Judge that I ought to give you nothing, I’ll pay you nothing, because you will be cast; and if I do not perswade them, I shan’t pay you neither; because I have not learnt how to perswade; therefore your best way is to relinquish your enterprize. But Corax, who was more subtle than he, resumed the Argument in this Manner, if you perswade the Judges you ought to pay me; because you have learnt Rhetorick; if you do not perswade them, you must pay me likewise, because you will be cast; so let it be how it will you ought to satisfy me.
22
Corax promit à Tisias de luy enseigner la Rhétorique, & Tisias de son côté s’engagea de lui en payer le Salaire; mais l’ayant apprise, il ne vouloit point le satisfaire, c’est pourquoy Corax l’appella en justice. Tisias se fiant sur la subtilité de sa Rhétorique lui demanda, en quoy consistoit la Rhétorique: Corax repondit, qu’elle consistoit dans l’art de persuader. donc dit Tisias, si je persuade les juges, que je ne te dois rien donner, je ne te payeray aucune chose, parce que je gagneray le procez; & si je ne les persuade pas, je ne te payeray pas non plus, parce que je n’auray pas appris à persuader; ainsi tu feras mieux d’abandonner l’entreprise. Mais Corax qui ètoit plus fin que luy, reprit l’argument de cette maniere; si tu persuades les juges, tu me dois payer, parce que tu auras appris la Rhétorique, si tu ne les persuader pas, tu me dois payer de même; parce que tu perdras ton procez, ainsi de quelle façon que ce soit tu dois me satisfaire.