Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/140

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Chap. 20.
of Conſtancy.
119

what means the subtile thread of distinctions? What captious snares of questions are these? Believe me, I was in fear of some stratagem; and began to be as suspitious of these your weigh'd and wary words, as of so many Enemies. Langius smiling; you may be confident (said he) no Hanibal is here, nor are you fallen into an Ambush, but into a safe place of retreat. I shall very willingly enlighten you; declare only where and in what part it is you desire a further satisfaction. There Langius (said I) where you speak of force and necessity. For I am not able to apprehend, which way you dissever this Fate of yours, from that of the Stoicks. For howsoever you have excluded it in words, and (as they say) at the Portall; yet in reality and at the Postern, you seem to me to readmit it. Langius readily, farr, farr be it from me Lipsius said he; I would not so much as in my dreams intro-

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