30. R. You apprehend the matter well. But consider this, whether we can also with propriety call silver by the name of false lead. A. Not in my opinion. R. Why so? A. I know not; except that I see that it would be altogether against my will to have it so called. R. Is it perchance for the reason that silver is the better, and such a name would be contemptuous of it; but it confers a certain honor, as it were, on lead, if it should be called false silver? A. Thou hast expressed exactly what I had in mind. And therefore I believe that it is with good right that those are held infamous and incapable of bearing witness, who flaunt themselves in female attire, whom I know not whether I should more reasonably call false women, or false men. True actors, however, and truly infamous, without doubt we can call them; or, if they lurk unseen, and if infamy implies an evil repute, we may call them not without truth, true specimens of worthlessness. R. We shall have another opportunity of discussing these things: for many things are done, which in the mere guise of them appear base, yet, done for some praiseworthy end, are shown to be honorable. And it is a great question whether one, for the sake of liberating his country, ought to put on a woman’s garment to deceive the enemy, being, perhaps, by the very fact that he is a false woman, apt to be shown the truer man: and whether a wise man who in some way may have certainly ascertained that his life will be necessary to the interests of mankind, ought to choose rather to die of cold, than to indue himself in female vestments, if he can find no other. But concerning this, as has been said, we will consider hereafter. For unquestionably thou discernest how careful an inquisition it requires, how far such things can be carried, without falling into various inexcusable basenesses. But now—which suffices for the present question—I think it is now evident, and beyond doubt, that there is not anything false except by some imitation of the true.

CAPUT XVI. An meliora deteriorum nominibus vocari possint.

30. R. Bene intelligis. Sed illud vide, utrum et argentum falsi plumbi nomine congruenter appellare possimus. A. Non mihi placet. R. Quid ita? A. Nescio; nisi illud video, vehementer contra voluntatem meam dici. R. Num forte propterea quod argentum melius est, et quasi in contumeliam ejus dicitur; plumbi autem quidam velut honor est, si falsum argentum vocetur? A. Prorsus explicasti quod volebam. Et ideo credo jure infames intestabilesque haberi, qui muliebri habitu se ostentant, quos nescio utrum falsas mulieres, an falsos viros melius vocem. Veros tamen histriones, verosque infames sine dubitatione possumus vocare; aut, si latent nec infame quidquam nisi a turpi fama nominatur, veros nequam non sine veritate dicimus, ut opinor. R. Alius locus nobis erit de istis rebus disserendi: multa enim fiunt, quae quasi facie populari turpia videntur, aliquo tamen fine laudabili honesta monstrantur. Et magna quaestio est utrum patriae liberandae causa muliebri tunica indutus, debeat hostem decipere, hoc ipso quo mulier falsa sit, fortasse verior vir futurus: et utrum sapiens qui aliquo modo certum habeat necessariam fore vitam suam rebus humanis, malit emori frigore, quam femineis 0900 vestibus, si aliud non sit, amiciri. Sed de hoc, ut dictum est, alias videbimus. Profecto enim cernis quantae inquisitionis indigeat, quatenus ista progredi debeant, ne in quasdam inexcusabiles turpitudines decidatur. Nunc autem quod praesenti quaestioni satis est, jam puto apparere, neque dubitari non esse falsum quidquam nisi veri aliqua imitatione.