CHAPTER XIV.

PLACES OF CRIMINATION AND PURGATION.

One, from the _removal of ill opinion_ in the hearer, imprinted in him by the adversary or otherwise.

Another from this: that the thing done is _not hurtful_, or _not to him_, or _not so much_, or _not unjust_, or _not great_, or _not dishonourable_.

A third from the _recompense_: as, _I did him harm, but withal I did him honour_.

A fourth from the _excuse_; as, _It was error_, _mischance_, or _constraint_.

A fifth from the _intention_; as, _One thing was done, another meant_.

A sixth from the _comprehension_ of the accuser; as, _What I have done, the accuser has done the same_, or _his father_, _kinsman_, or _friend_.

A seventh from the _comprehension_ of those that are in reputation; as, _What I did, such and such have done the same, who nevertheless are good men_.

An eighth from _comparison_ with such as have been falsely accused or wrongfully suspected, and nevertheless found upright.

A ninth from _recrimination_; as, _The accuser is a man of ill life, and therefore not to be believed_.

A tenth from that the _judgment_ belongs to another place, or time; as, _I have already answered_, or _am to answer elsewhere to this matter_.

An eleventh from _crimination_ of the crimination: as, _It serves only to pervert judgment_.

A twelfth, which is common both to crimination and purgation, and is taken from _some sign_; as, _Teucer is not to be believed, because his mother was Priam’s sister_. On the other side, _Teucer is to be believed, because his father was Priam’s enemy_.

A thirteenth, proper to crimination only, from _praise and dispraise mixed_; as, to praise small things, and blame great ones; or to praise in many words, and blame with effectual ones; or to praise many things that are good, and then add one evil, but a great one.

A fourteenth, common both to _crimination_ and _purgation_, is taken from the _interpretation of the fact_. For he that _purgeth_ himself, _interpreteth the fact_ always in the best sense; and he that _criminates_, always in the worst; as when Ulysses said, _Diomedes chose him for his companion, as the most able of the Grecians, to aid him in his exploit_: but his adversary said, _he chose him for his cowardice, as the most unlikely to share with him in the honour_.

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