This by consequence did draw on a necessity of a more exquisite travail in the languages original, wherein those writers did write, for the better understanding of those authors and the better advantage of pressing and applying their words. And thereof grew again great delight in their manner of style and phrase and an admiration of that kind of writing.

So that these four causes concurring, the admiration of ancient authors, the hate of the schoolmen, the exact study of languages, and the efficacy of preaching, did bring in an affectionate study of eloquence and copie of speech, which then began to flourish. This grew speedily to an excess; for men began to hunt more after words than matter; and more after the choiceness of the phrase, and the round and clean composition of the sentence, and the sweet falling of the clauses, and the varying and illustration of their works with tropes and figures than after the weight of matter, worth of subject, soundness of argument, life of invention or depth of judgement.