58. But they were written by unlearned and ignorant men, and should not therefore be readily believed. See that this be not rather a stronger reason for believing that they have not been adulterated by any false statements, but were put forth by men of simple mind, who knew not how to trick out their tales with meretricious ornaments. But the language is mean and vulgar. For truth never seeks deceitful polish, nor in that which is well ascertained and certain does it allow itself to be led away into excessive prolixity. Syllogisms, enthymemes, definitions, and all those ornaments by which men seek to establish their statements, aid those groping for the truth, but do not clearly mark its great features. But he who really knows the subject under discussion, neither defines, nor deduces, nor seeks the other tricks of words by which an audience is wont to be taken in, and to be beguiled into a forced assent to a proposition.

LVIII. Sed ab indoctis hominibus et rudibus scripta sunt, et idcirco non sunt facili auditione credenda. Vide ne magis haec fortior causa sit, cur illa sint nullis coinquinata mendaciis, mente simplici prodita, et ignara lenociniis ampliare. Trivialis et sordidus sermo est. Numquam enim veritas sectata est fucum, nec quod exploratum et certum est, circumduci se patitur orationis per ambitum longiorem. Collectiones, enthymemata, definitiones, omniaque illa ornamenta, quibus fides quaeritur assertionis, 0797A suspicantes adjuvant, non veritatis liniamenta demonstrant. Caeterum qui scit, quid sit illud quod dicitur, nec definit, nec colligit, neque alia sectatur artificia verborum, quibus capi consueti sunt audientes, et ad consensum rei circumscriptionis necessitate traduci.