Diognetus gave me the Hint not to keep Quails for the Pit,⁴ or bestow my Pains and Inclination upon Trifles : Not to be led away with the Impostures of Wizards and Figure-flingers, who pretend they can discharge Evil Spirits, and do strange Feats by the strength of a Charm. This Diognetus help'd me to the Faculty of bearing Freedom and Plain-dealing in others ; brought me to Relish Philosophy, and apply my self to't ; and procured me the Instruction of those celebrated Men, Bacchius, Tandacides, and Marcianus. He likewise put me upon improving my self by writing Dialogues when I was a Boy, prevail'd with me to prefer a Couch covered with Hides, to a Bed of State ; and reconcil'd me to other resembling Rigors of the Stoick Discipline.