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§112. Campis ... exsultare ... oratio: expressions like this are common in Cic., e.g. D.F. I. 54, De
Off. I. 61, Orat. 26; cf. also Aug. Cont. Ac. III. 5 ne in quaestionis campis tua eqitaret oratio.
Cum Peripatetico: nothing that Cic. states here is at discord with what is known of the tenets of
the later Peripatetics; cf. esp. Sext. A.M. VII. 216—226. All that Cic. says is that he could accept
the Peripatetic formula, putting upon it his own meaning of course. Doubtless a Peripatetic would
have wondered how a sceptic could accept his formulae; but the spectacle of men of the most
irreconcilable opinions clinging on to the same formulae is common enough to prevent us from
being surprised at Cicero's acceptance. I have already suggested (n. on 18) that we have here a
trace of Philo's teaching, as distinct from that of Carneades. I see absolutely no reason for the
very severe remarks of Madvig on D.F. V. 76, a passage which very closely resembles ours.
Dumeta: same use in N.D. I. 68, Aug. Cont. Ac. II. 6; the spinae of the Stoics are often
mentioned, e.g. D.F. IV. 6. E vero ... a falso: note the change of prep. Adhiberet: the MSS. are
confused here, and go Halm reads adderet, and Bait. follows, while Kayser proposes adhaereret,
which is indeed nearer the MSS.; cf. however I. 39 adhiberet. Accessionem: for this cf. 18 and
77. Simpliciter: the opposite of subtiliter; cf. simpliciter—subtilitas in I. 6. Ne Carneade quidem:
cf. 59, 67, 78, 148.
§113. Sed qui his minor est: given by Halm as the em. of Io. Clericus for MSS. sed mihi minores.
Guietus gave sed his minores, Durand sed minutior, while Halm suggests sed minutiores. I conj.
nimio minares, which would be much nearer the MSS.; cf. Lucr. I. 734 inferiores partibus
egregie multis multoque minores. Tale verum: visum omitted as in D.F. V. 76. Incognito: cf. 133.
Amavi hominem: cf. Introd. p. 6. Ita iudico, politissimum; it is a mistake to suppose this sentence
incomplete, like Halm, who wishes to add eum esse, or like Bait., who with Kayser prints esse
after politissimum. Cf. 108 ita scribenti, exanclatum, and the examples given from Cic. by Madv.
on D.F. II. 13. Horum neutrum: cf. 77 nemo. Utrumque verum: Cic. of course only accepts the
propositions as Arcesilas did; see 77.
§114. Illud ferre: cf. 136. Constituas: this verb is often used in connection with the ethical finis;
cf. 129 and I. 19. Idemque etiam: Krebs and Allgayer (Antibarbarus, ed. 4) deny that the
expression idem etiam is Latin. One good MS. here has atque etiam, which Dav. reads; cf.
however Orat. 117. Artificium: = ars, as in 30. Nusquam labar: cf. 138 ne labar. Subadroganter:
cf. 126.
§115. Qui sibi cum oratoribus ... rexisse: so Cic. vary often speaks of the Peripatetics, as in D.F.
IV. 5, V. 7. Sustinuero: cf. 70. Tam bonos: Cic. often speaks of them and of Epicurus in this
patronising way; see e.g. T.D. II. 44, III. 50, D.F. I. 25, II. 81. For the Epicurean friendships cf.
esp. D.F. I. 65. Diodoto: cf. Introd. p. 2. Nolumus: Halm and Bait., give nolimus; so fine a line
divides the subjunctive from the indicative in clauses like these that the choice often depends on
mere individual taste. De sapiente loquamur: n. on 66.
§§116—128. Summary. Of the three parts of philosophy take Physics first. Would
your sapiens swear to the truth of any geometrical result whatever? (116) Let us see
which one of actual physical systems the sapiens we are seeking will select (117).
He must choose one teacher from among the conflicting schools of Thales,
Anaximander, Anaximenos, Anaxagoras, Xenophanes, Leucippus, Democritus,
Empedocles, Heraclitus, Melissus, Plato and Pythagoras. The remaining teachers,
great men though they be, he must reject (118). Whatever system he selects he must
know absolutely; if the Stoic, he must believe as strongly in the Stoic theology as he
does in the sunlight. If he holds this, Aristotle will pronounce him mad; you,
however, Lucullus, must defend the Stoics and spurn Aristotle from you, while you
will not allow me even to doubt (119). How much better to be free, as I am and not
compelled to find an answer to all the riddles of the universe! (120) Nothing can
exist, say you, apart from the deity. Strato, however, says he does not need the deity
to construct the universe. His mode of construction again differs from that of
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