2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,



Ver. 2. Tertullus began to accuse him] Prosperior Afro Oratori eloquentia quam morum fama, saith Tacitus. (Tacit. Annal.) Ciceronis linguam omnes fere mirantur, pectus non ita, Almost all marvelled at the tongue of Cicero, but not so his heart, saith Augustine (Confess. iv. 3). The Duke of Buckingham, speaking to the Londoners for Richard III, gained the commendation, that no man could deliver so much bad matter in so good words and quaint phrases. Such another was Tertullus, wittily wicked, et malo publico facundus, eloquent for mischief to other men. There is a story of a poor man who complained to his king that a man (naming a lawyer) had taken away his cow from him. I will hear, said the king, what he will say to the matter. Nay, saith the poor man, if you hear him speak, then have I surely lost my cow indeed.