Institutio Oratoria

He, however, who follows the guidance of nature will assuredly reflect as follows: the first argument of the uneducated son will be,

My father died intestate and left two sons, my brother and myself; I claim a share in his estate by the law of nations.

Who is so ignorant or so lacking in education as not to make this his opening, even though he does not know what is meant by a proposition? [*](See IV. iv.)

He will then proceed to extol, though with due moderation, the justice of this common law of nations. The next point for our consideration is what reply can be made to so equitable a demand? The answer is clear:—

There is a law which disinherits the man who fails to appear in his father's defence when the latter is accused of treason, and you failed to appear.

This statement will be followed by the necessary praise of the law and denunciation of the man who failed to appear.