_Proper_, I call those things which are least common to others: as, he that will praise Achilles, is not to declare such things as are common both to him and Diomedes; as that he was a prince, and warred against the Trojans: but such things as are proper only to Achilles; as that he killed Hector and Cygnus; went to the war young and voluntary. Let this therefore be one general _place; from that which is proper_. ========== CHAPTER XXIV. OF THE PLACES OF ENTHYMEMES OSTENSIVE. Forasmuch as enthymemes either infer truly, or seem only so to do; and they which do infer indeed, be either _ostensive_, or such as bring a man to some _impossibility_; we will first set down the places of enthymemes _ostensive_. An _ostensive_ enthymeme is, wherein a man concludes the question from somewhat granted. That enthymeme which brings a man to an _impossibility_, is an enthymeme wherein from that which the adversary maintaineth, we conclude that which is manifestly _impossible_. All _places_ have been already set down in a manner in the precedent propositions of _good_, _evil_, _just_, _unjust_, _honourable_, and _dishonourable_: namely, they have been set down as applied to _particular_ subjects, or in _concrete_. Here they are to be set down in another manner; namely in the _abstract_ or _universal_. The first _place_, then, let be from _contraries_; which in the _concrete_ or particulars is exemplified thus. _If intemperance be hurtful, temperance is profitable: and if intemperance be not hurtful, neither is temperance profitable._ Another _place_ may be from _cognomination_, or affinity of words: as in this particular. _If what is just, be good; then what is justly, is well: but justly to die, is not well: therefore not all that is just, is good._ A third from _relatives_; as, _This man has justly done, therefore the other has justly suffered._ But this _place_ sometimes deceives; for a man may suffer _justly_, yet not from _him_. A fourth from _comparison_, three ways. From the _great to the less_; as, _He has stricken his father; and therefore this man._ From the _less to the greater_: as, _The Gods know not all things; much less man._ From _equality_: as, _If captains be not always the worse esteemed for losing a victory; why should sophisters?_ Another from the time: as Philip to the Thebans: _If I had required to pass through your country with my army, before I had aided you against the Phocæans, there is no doubt but you would have promised it me. It is absurd therefore to deny it me now, after I have trusted you._ A sixth from _what the adversary says of himself_: as, _Iphicrates asked Aristophon, whether he would take a bribe to betray the army; and he answering no; What, says he, is it likely that Iphicrates would betray the army, and Aristophon not?_