OF THE PLACES OF ENTHYMEMES THAT LEAD TO
IMPOSSIBILITY.
Let the first place be from inspection of _times_, _actions_, or
_words_, either of the adversary, or of the speaker, or both. Of the
adversary: as, _He says he loves the people, and yet he was in the
conspiracy of the Thirty_. Of the speaker; as, _He says I am
contentious, and yet I never began suit_. Of both; as, _He never
conferred any thing to the benefit of the commonwealth; whereas I have
ransomed divers citizens with mine own money_.
A second is from _shewing the cause which seemed amiss_, and serves for
men of good reputation that are accused; as, The mother that was accused
of incest for being seen embracing her son, was absolved as soon as she
made appear that she embraced him upon his arrival from far by way of
salutation.
A third, from _rendering of the cause_; as, Leodamas, to whom it was
objected, that he had, under the thirty tyrants, defaced the
inscription, which the people had set up in a pillar, of his ignominy;
answered, _He had not done it; because it would have been more to his
commodity to let it stand; thereby to endear himself to the tyrants by
the testimony of the people’s hatred_.
A fourth from _better counsel_; as _He might have done better for
himself, therefore he did not this_. But this place deceives, when the
_better counsel_ comes to mind after the fact.
A fifth from _the incompatibility of the things to be done_; as, They
that did deliberate whether they should both mourn and sacrifice at the
funeral of Leucothea, were told that, _if they thought her a goddess,
they ought not to mourn; and if they thought her a mortal, they ought
not to sacrifice_.
A sixth (which is proper to judicial orations) from an _inference of
error_; as, _If he did it not, he was not wise; therefore he did it_.
Enthymemes that lead to _impossibility_, please more than _ostensive_.
For they compare and put contraries together, whereby they are the
better set off and more conspicuous to the auditor.
Of all enthymemes, they be best which we assent to as soon as hear. For
such consent pleaseth us, and makes us favourable to the speaker.
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