1. SYLLA. Those painters, O Fundanus, in my opinion do very wisely, who
never finish any piece at the first sitting, but take a review of it
at some convenient distance of time; because the eye, being relieved
for a time, renews its power by making frequent and fresh judgments,
and becomes able to observe many small and critical differences which
continual poring and familiarity would prevent it from noticing. Now,
because it cannot be that a man should stand off from himself and
interrupt his consciousness, and then after some interval return to
accost himself again (which is one principal reason why a man is a
worse judge of himself than of other men), the next best course that a
man can take will be to inspect his friends after some time of absence,
and also to offer himself to their examination, not to see whether he
be grown old on the sudden, or whether the habit of his body be become
better or worse than it was before, but that they may take notice of
his manner and behavior, whether in that time he hath made any advance
in goodness, or gained ground of his vices. Wherefore, being after
two years’ absence returned to Rome, and having since conversed with
thee here again for these five months, I think it no great matter of
wonder that those good qualities which, by the advantage of a good
natural disposition, you were formerly possessed of, have in this time
received so considerable an increase. But truly, when I behold how that
vehement and fiery disposition which you had to anger is now through
the conduct of reason become so gentle and tractable, my mind prompts
me to say, with Homer,—