more earnestly as I never, I think, wrote with the same
empressenient in any of my former speeches; for I have
endeavoured to imitate your old favourite Demosthenes and
Calvus, who is lately become mine, at least in the rhetorical forms
of the speech; for to catch their sublime spirit, is given, alone, to
the "inspired few." My subject, indeed, seemed naturally to lend
itself to this (may I venture to call it?) emulation; consisting, as it
did, almost entirely in a vehement style of address, even to a
degree sufficient to have awakened me (if only I am capable of
being awakened) out of that indolence in which I have long
reposed. I have not however altogether neglected the flowers of
rhetoric of my favourite Marc-Tully, wherever I could with
propriety step out of my direct road, to enjoy a more flowery path:
for it was energy, not austerity, at which I aimed. I would not have
you imagine by this that I am bespeaking your indulgence: on the
contrary, to make your correcting pen more vigorous, I will
confess that neither my friends nor myself are averse from the
publication of this piece, if only you should join in the approval of
what is perhaps my folly. The truth is, as I must publish something,
I, wish it might be this performance rather than any other, because
it is already finished: (you hear the wish of laziness.) At all events,
however, something I must publish, and for many reasons; chiefly
because of the tracts which I have already sent in to the world,
though they have long since lost all their recommendation from
novelty, are still, I am told, in request; if, after all, the booksellers
are not tickling my ears. And let them; since, by that innocent
deceit, I am encouraged to pursue my studies. Farewell.

III