COMMON PLACES OR PRINCIPLES CONCERNING WHAT MAY BE DONE, WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE, AND WHAT SHALL BE DONE; OR OF FACT POSSIBLE, PAST AND FUTURE.
ALSO OF GREAT AND LITTLE.
We have hitherto set down such _principles_ as are peculiar to several
kinds of orations. Now we are to speak of such _places_ as are _common_
to them all; as these: _possible_, _done_, or _past_, _future_, _great_,
_small_.
_Possible_ is that: the contrary whereof is possible. And the like
whereof is possible. And than which some harder thing is possible. And
the beginning whereof is possible. And the end whereof is possible. And
the usual consequent whereof is possible. And whatsoever we desire. And
the beginning whereof is in the power of those whom we can either compel
or persuade. And part whereof is possible. And part of the whole that is
possible. And the general, if a particular. And a particular, if the
general. And of relatives, if one, the other. And that which without art
and industry is possible, is much more so with art and industry. And
that which is possible to worse, weaker, and more unskilful men, is much
more so to better, stronger, and more skilful.
The principles concerning _impossible_ are the contraries of these.
That _has been done_: than which a harder thing has been done. And the
consequent whereof has been done. And that which being possible, he had
a will to do, and nothing hindered. And that which was possible to him
in his anger. And that which he longed to do. And that which was before
upon the point of doing. And whose antecedent has been done; or that for
which it uses to be done. And if that for whose cause we do this, then
this.
The principles concerning _not done_ are the contraries of these.
That _shall be done_: which some man can, and means to do. And which
some man can, and desires to do. And which is in the way, and upon the
point to be done. And the antecedents whereof are past. And the motive
whereof is past.
Of _great_ and _small_, _more_ and _less_, see Chapter VII. of Book I.
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