Then compare them of their countrée.
Of their parentes.
Of their auncestours.
Of their educacion.
Of their actes.
Of their death.
Then adde the conclusion.
¶ A comparison betwene De-
mosthenes and Tullie.
O speake moche in the praise of famous men,
no argument can wante, nor plentie of matter
to make of them, a copious and excellent Ora-
cion. Their actes in life through nobilitée,
will craue worthelie more, then the witte and
penne of the learned, can by Eloquence expresse. Who can
worthelie expresse and sette foorthe, the noble Philosopher
Plato.
Aristotle. Plato, or Aristotle, as matter worthelie forceth to commend,
when as of them, all learnyng, and singularitée of artes hath
flowen. All ages hath by their monuments of learning, par-
ticipated of their wisedome. Grece hath fostered many noble
wittes, from whom all light of knowlege, hath been deriued
by whose excellencie Rome in tyme florishyng, did seeke by
nobilitée of learnyng, to mate the noble Grecians. So moche
Italie was adorned, and beautified with the cunnyng of the
Grecians. Emong the Romaines many famous Oratours
and other noble men hath spronge vp, who for their worthi-
nesse, might haue contended with any nacion: either for their
Tullie. glorie of learnyng, or noble regiment. Emong whom Tul-
lie by learning, aboue the rest, rose to high fame, that he was
a renoume to his countree: to learnyng a light, of all singuler
Eloquence a fountaine. Whom Demosthenes the famous
Oratour of Athenes, as a worthie mate is compared with,
whom not onely the nobilitée, and renoume of their Coun-
trée shall decorate, but thē selues their owne worthines & no-
bilitée of fame. No age hath had twoo more famous for lear-
nyng, no common wealthe hath tasted, twoo more profitable
to their countrée, and common wealthe: for grauitée and coū-
saile, nor the posteritée of ages, twoo more worthie celebra-
Thusidides. cion. Thusidides speakyng, in the commendacion of famous
men sheweth: as concernyng the fame of noble men, whose
The enuious
manne. vertue farre surmounteth thē, and passeth al other. Thenui-
ous man seketh to depraue, the worthinesse of fame in other,
The igno-
raunte. his bragging nature with fame of praise, not decorated. The
ignoraunte and simple nature, accordyng to his knowlege,
iudgeth all singularitée, and tempereth by his owne actes the
praise of other. But the fame of these twoo Oratours, nei-
ther the enuious nature can diminishe their praise, nor the
ignoraunt be of them a arbitrator or iudge, so worthely hath
all ages raised fame, and commendacion of their vertues.