30 Imaginary Conversation. POLYBIUS. Your judgement has for once deserted you, my friend. If Plato had been present, he might then indeed have described what he saw, and elegantly ; but if he had feigned the story, the name that most interests us would not have ended with a vowel. SCIPIO. You convince me, Polybius. PANETIUS. I join my hands, and give them to you. POLYBIUS. My usual manner is without variety. I endeavour to collect as much sound sense and as many solid facts as I can, to distribute them as commodiously, and to keep them as clear of ornament. If any one thought of me or my style in reading my history, I should condemn myself as a de- feated man. SCIPIO. Polybius, you are by far the wisest that ever wrote his- tory, tho many wise have written it, and if your facts are sufficiently abundant, your work will be the most interesting and important. POLYBIUS. Live then, Scipio. PANETIUS. The gods grant it ! POLYBIUS. I know what I can do and what I cannot (the proudest words perhaps that ever man uttered) I say it plainly to you, my sincere and kind monitor ; but you must also let me say that, doubtful whether I could amuse our Emilianus in his present mood, I would borrow a tale, unaccustomed as I am to such, from the library of Miletus, or snatch it from the bosom of Elephantis.
