May we not from this circumstance infer, that, as is the case in all vernacular tongues, the vulgar dialect of the Romans, the sermo usualis, rusticus, pedestris,[AG] of which there are no monuments extant, differed very widely both in pronunciation and construction from that which has at any time been used either in writing or in the senate?

Therefore, at most, 'tis but a Poetic Prose, a sermo pedestris; and, as such, most fit for Comedies: where I acknowledge Rhyme to be improper.

In eo pleraque pernitiosa, saith the same Fabius, many childish tracts and sentences he hath, sermo illaboratus, too negligent often and remiss, as Agellius observes, oratio vulgaris et protrita, dicaces et ineptae, sententiae, eruditio plebeia, an homely shallow writer as he is.

What braggadocios are they and we then? quam brevis hic de nobis sermo, as he said, pudebit aucti nominis, how short a time, how little a while doth this fame of ours continue?

In a word, [3504] "Amor, voluptas, Venus, gaudium, Jocus, ludus, sermo suavis, suaviatio.

Non meus hic sermo, 'tis not my speech this, but of Seneca, Plutarch, Epictetus, Austin, Bernard, Christ and his Apostles.

According to Thucydides, she is commonly the best, de quo minimus foras habetur sermo, that is least talked of abroad.

Ensis sauciat corpus, mentem sermo.

Lectio jucunda, aut sermo, ad quem attentior animus convertitur, aut aqua ab alto in subjectam pelvim delabatur, &c. Ovid.

c. 7. Optimum est amicum fidelem nancisci in quem secreta nostra infundamus; nihil aeque oblectat animum, quam ubi sint praeparata pectora, in quae tuto secreta descendant, quorum conscientia aeque ac tua: quorum sermo solitudinem leniat, sententia consilium expediat, hilaritas tristitiam dissipet, conspectusque ipse delectet.

Si quis sapienter et suo tempore adhibeat, Remedia morbis diversis diversa sunt; dolentem sermo benignus sublevat.

Amatorius sermo vehemens vehementis cupiditatis incitatio est, Tatius l. 1. 5091.

Signa sunt cessatio ab omni opere insueto, privatio somni, suspiria crebra, rubor cum sit sermo de re amata, et commotio pulsus.

vitentur oscula, tactus sermo, et scripta impudica, literae, &c. 5640.

412. 'Et nos etiam Sermoni atque Rationi, itemque Virtuti, per quæ omnia molitum Deum ediximus, propriam substantiam Spiritum inscribimus; cui et Sermo insit prænuntianti, et

[p] Ingenium velox, audacia perdita, sermo Promptus [q] Augur, schoenobates, medicus, magus: omnia novit.

Penes E. de Ely; Quartus liber sententiarum cum sermo...; Liber Reymundi; Liber de vitiis et virtutibus et pastorale.

Sermo linguâ concinnus utrâque Suavior: ut Chio nota si commista