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Institutio Oratoria (Quintilian)
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Institutio Oratoria

Author: Quintilian
Translator: Harold Edgeworth Butler
1179
Erunt
quaedam
causae
(
neque
id
raro
)
crimine
quidem
,
de
quo
cognitio
est
,
faciles
ad
diluendum
sed
multis
anteactae
vitae
flagitiis
et
gravibus
oneratae
;
quae
prius
amovenda
sunt
,
ut
propitius
iudex
defensionem
ipsius
negotii
,
cuius
propria
quaestio
est
,
audiat
:
ut
,
si
defendendus
sit
M
.
Caelius
,
nonne
optime
patronus
occurrat
prius
conviciis
luxuriae
,
petulantiae
,
impudicitiae
quam
veneficii
,
in
quibus
solis
omnis
Ciceronis
versatur
oratio
;
tum
deinde
narret
de
bonis
Pallae
totamque
de
vi
explicet
causam
,
quae
est
ipsius
actione
defensa
?
There will also not infrequently be certain cases, in which it is easy to rebut the charge that is under trial, but the conduct of which is hampered by the past life of our client and the many and serious crimes which he has committed. We must dispose of these first, in order that the judge may give a favourable hearing to our defence of the actual facts which form the question at issue. For example, if we have to defend Marcus Caelius, the best course for his advocate to adopt will be to meet the imputations of luxury, wantonness and immorality which are made against him before we proceed to the actual charge of poisoning. It is with these points that the speech of Cicero in his defence is entirely concerned. Is he then to go on to make a statement about the property of Palla and explain the whole question of rioting, a charge against which Caelius has already defended himself in the speech which he delivered on his own behalf?
1180
Sed
nos
ducit
scholarum
consuetudo
,
in
quibus
certa
quaedam
ponuntur
,
quae
themata
dicimus
,
praeter
quae
nihil
est
diluendum
,
ideoque
prooemio
narratio
semper
subiungitur
.
Inde
libertas
declamatoribus
,
ut
etiam
secundo
partis
suae
loco
narrare
videantur
.
We however are the victims of the practice of the schools in accordance with which certain points or themes as we call them are put forward for discussion, outside which our refutation must not go, and consequently a statement of facts always follows the exordium. It is this too that leads declaimers to take the liberty of inserting a statement of facts even when they speak second for their side.
1181
Nam
cum
pro
petitore
dicunt
et
expositione
,
tanquam
priores
agant
,
uti
solent
et
contradictione
,
tanquam
respondeant
,
idque
fit
recte
.
Nam
cum
sit
declamatio
forensium
actionum
meditatio
,
cur
non
in
utrumque
protinus
locum
se
exerceat
?
Cuius
rationis
ignari
ex
more
,
cui
adsueverunt
,
nihil
in
foro
putant
esse
mutandum
.
For when they speak for the prosecution they introduce both a statement of facts, as if they were speaking first, and a refutation of the arguments for the defence, as if they were replying: and they are right in so doing. For since declamation is merely an exercise in forensic pleading, why should they not qualify themselves to speak either first or second ? Those however who do not understand the reason for such a practice, think that when they appear in the courts they should stick to the custom of the schools with which they have become familiar.
1182
Sed
in
scholasticis
quoque
nonnunquam
evenit
,
ut
pro
narratione
sit
propositio
.
Nam
quid
exponet
,
quae
zelotypum
malae
tractationis
accusat
,
aut
qui
Cynicum
apud
censores
reum
de
moribus
facit
?
cum
totum
crimen
uno
verbo
in
qualibet
actionis
parte
posito
satis
indicetur
.
Sed
haec
hactenus
.
But even scholastic rhetoricians occasionally substitute a brief summary for the full statement of the facts. For what statement of the case can be made when a wife is accusing a jealous husband of maltreating her, or a father is indicting his son turned Cynic before the censors for indecent behaviour ? In both cases the charge can be sufficiently indicated by one word placed in any part of the speech. But enough of these points.
1183
Nunc
,
quae
sit
narrandi
ratio
,
subiungam
.
Narratio
est
rei
factae
aut
ut
factae
utilis
ad
persuadendum
expositio
,
vel
(
ut
Apollodorus
finit
)
oratio
docens
auditorem
,
quid
in
controversia
sit
.
Eam
plerique
scriptores
,
maxime
qui
sunt
ab
Isocrate
,
volunt
esse
lucidam
,
brevem
,
verisimilem
.
Neque
enim
refert
,
an
pro
lucida
perspicuam
,
pro
verisimili
probabilem
credibilemve
dicamus
.
I will now proceed to the method to be adopted in making our statement of facts. The statement of facts consists in the persuasive exposition of that which either has been done, or is supposed to have been done, or, to quote the definition given by Apollodorus, is a speech instructing the audience as to the nature of the case in dispute. Most writers, more especially those of the Isocratean school, hold that it should be lucid, brief and plausible (for it is of no importance if we substitute clear for lucid, or credible or probable for plausible).
1184
Eadem
nobis
placet
divisio
;
quanquam
et
Aristoteles
ab
Isocrate
parte
in
una
dissenserit
praeceptum
brevitatis
irridens
,
tanquam
necesse
sit
longam
esse
aut
brevem
expositionem
nec
liceat
ire
per
medium
,
Theodorei
quoque
solam
relinquant
ultimam
partem
,
quia
nec
breviter
utique
nec
dilucide
semper
sit
utile
exponere
.
I agree with this classification of its qualities, although Aristotle disagrees with Isocrates on one point, and pours scorn on his injunction to be brief, as though it were necessary that a statement should be either long or short and it were impossible to hit the happy mean. The followers of Theodorus on the other hand recognise only plausibility on the ground that it is not always expedient that our exposition should be either short or clear.
1185
Quo
diligentius
distinguenda
sunt
singula
,
ut
quid
quoque
loco
prosit
ostendam
.
Narratio
est
aut
tota
pro
nobis
aut
tota
pro
adversariis
aut
mixta
ex
utrisque
.
Si
erit
tota
pro
nobis
,
contenti
sumus
his
tribus
partibus
per
quas
efficitur
,
quo
facilius
iudex
intelligat
,
meminerit
,
credat
.
It will be necessary therefore for me to devote some care to the differentiation of the various features of this portion of a speech, in order that I may show under what circumstances each is specially useful. The statement will be either wholly in our favour or wholly in that of our opponent or a mixture of both. If it is entirely in our own favour, we may rest content with the three qualities just mentioned, the result of which is to make it easier for the judge to understand, remember and believe what we say.
1186
Nec
quisquam
reprehensione
dignum
putet
,
quod
proposuerim
eam
,
quae
sit
tota
pro
nobis
,
debere
esse
verisimilem
,
cum
vera
sit
.
Sunt
enim
plurima
uera
quidem
,
sed
parum
credibilia
,
sicut
falsa
quoque
frequenter
verisimilia
.
Quare
non
minus
laborandum
est
,
ut
iudex
,
quae
vere
dicimus
quam
quae
fingimus
,
credat
.
Now I should regret that anyone should censure my conduct in suggesting that a statement which is wholly in our favour should be plausible, when as a matter of fact it is true. There are many things which are true, but scarcely credible, just as there are many things which are plausible though false. It will therefore require just as much exertion on our part to make the judge believe what we say when it is true as it will when it is fictitious.
1187
Sunt
quidem
hae
,
quas
supra
retuli
,
virtutes
aliarum
quoque
partium
.
Nam
et
per
totam
actionem
vitanda
est
obscuritas
et
modus
ubique
custodiendus
,
et
credibilia
esse
omnia
oportet
quae
dicuntur
.
Maxime
tamen
haec
in
ea
parte
custodienda
sunt
,
quae
prima
iudicem
docet
;
in
qua
si
acciderit
,
ut
aut
non
intelligat
aut
non
meminerit
aut
non
credat
,
frustra
in
reliquis
laborabimus
.
These good qualities, which I have mentioned above, do not indeed cease to be virtues in other portions of the speech; for it is our duty to avoid obscurity in every part of our pleading, to preserve due proportion throughout and to say nothing save what is likely to win belief. But they require special observance in that portion of the speech which is the first from which the judge can learn the nature of the case: if at this stage of the proceedings he fails to understand, remember or believe what we say, our labour is but lost in the remainder of the speech.
1188
Erit
autem
narratio
aperta
atque
dilucida
,
si
fuerit
primum
exposita
verbis
propriis
et
significantibus
et
non
sordidis
quidem
,
non
tamen
exquisitis
et
ab
usu
remotis
,
tum
distincta
rebus
,
personis
,
temporibus
,
locis
,
causis
,
ipsa
etiam
pronuntiatione
in
hoc
accommodata
,
ut
iudex
quae
dicentur
quam
facillime
accipiat
.
We shall achieve lucidity and clearness in our statement of facts, first by setting forth our story in words which are appropriate, significant and free from any taint of meanness, but not on the other hand farfetched or unusual, and secondly by giving a distinct account of facts, persons, times, places and causes, while our delivery must be adapted to our matter, so that the judge will take in what we say with the utmost readiness.
1189
Quae
quidem
virtus
negligitur
a
plurimis
,
qui
ad
clamorem
dispositae
vel
etiam
forte
circumfusae
multitudinis
compositi
non
ferunt
illud
intentionis
silentium
nec
sibi
diserti
videntur
,
nisi
omnia
tumultu
et
vociferatione
concusserint
;
rem
indicate
sermonis
cotidiani
et
in
quemcumque
etiam
indoctorum
cadentis
existimant
,
cum
interim
,
quod
tanquam
facile
contemnunt
,
nescias
,
praestare
minus
velint
an
possint
.
This latter virtue is disregarded by the majority of speakers who are used to the noisy applause of a large audience, whether it be a chance gathering or an assembly of claqueurs, and consequently are unnerved by the attentive silence of the courts. They feel that they have fallen short of eloquence, if they do not make everything echo with noise and clamour; they think that to state a matter simply is suited only to everyday speech such as falls within the capacity of any uneducated man, while all the time it is hard to say whether they are less willing or less capable of performing a task which they despise on account of its supposed easiness.
1190
Neque
enim
aliud
in
eloquentia
,
cuncta
experti
,
difficilius
reperient
quam
id
,
quod
se
fuisse
dicturos
omnes
putant
,
postquam
audierunt
,
quia
non
bona
iudicant
esse
illa
,
sed
vera
.
Tum
autem
optime
dicit
orator
,
cum
videtur
vera
dicere
.
At
nunc
,
For even when they have tried everything, they will never find anything more difficult in the whole range of oratory than that which, once heard, all think they would have said,— a delusion due to the fact that they regard what has been said as having no merit save that of truth. But it is just when an orator gives the impression of absolute truth that he is speaking best.
1191
velut
campum
nacti
expositionis
,
hic
potissimum
et
vocem
flectunt
et
cervicem
reponunt
et
brachium
in
latus
iactant
totoque
et
rerum
et
verborum
et
compositionis
genere
lasciviunt
;
deinde
,
quod
sit
monstro
simile
,
placet
actio
,
causa
non
intelligitur
.
Verum
haec
omittamus
,
ne
minus
gratiae
praecipiendo
recta
quam
offensae
reprehendendo
prava
mereamur
.
As it is, when such persons as these get a fair field for stating their case, they select this as the precise occasion for affected modulations of the voice, throwing back their heads, thumping their sides and indulging in every kind of extravagance of statement, language and style. As a result, while the speech, from its very monstrosity, meets with applause, the case remains unintelligible. However, let us pass to another subject; my aim is to win favour for pointing out the right road rather than to give offence by rebuking such perversity.
1192
Brevis
erit
narratio
ante
omnia
,
si
inde
coeperimus
rem
exponere
,
unde
ad
iudicem
pertinet
;
deinde
,
si
nihil
extra
causam
dixerimus
;
tum
etiam
,
si
reciderimus
omnia
,
quibus
sublatis
neque
cognitioni
quidquam
neque
utilitati
detrahatur
.
The statement of facts will be brief, if in the first place we start at that point of the case at which it begins to concern the judge, secondly avoid irrelevance, and finally cut out everything the removal of which neither hampers the activities of the judge nor harms our own case.
1193
Solet
enim
quaedam
esse
partium
brevitas
,
quae
longam
tamen
efficit
summam
.
In
portum
veni
,
navem
prospexi
,
quanti
veheret
interrogavi
,
de
pretio
convenit
,
conscendi
,
sublatae
sunt
ancorae
,
solvimus
oram
,
profecti
sumus
.
Nihil
horum
dici
celerius
potest
,
sed
sufficit
dicere
e
portu
navigavi
.
Et
quotiens
exitus
rei
satis
ostendit
priora
,
debemus
hoc
esse
contenti
,
quo
reliqua
intelliguntur
.
Quare
,
For frequently conciseness of detail is not inconsistent with length in the whole. Take for instance such a statement as the following: " I came to the harbour, I saw a ship, I asked the cost of a passage, the price was agreed, I went on board, the anchor was weighed, we loosed our cable and set out. " Nothing could be terser than these assertions, but it would have been quite sufficient to say "I sailed from the harbour." And whenever the conclusion gives a sufficiently clear idea of the premisses, we must be content with having given a hint which will enable our audience to understand what we have left unsaid.
1194
cum
dicere
liceat
,
Est
mihi
filius
iuvenis
,
omnia
illa
supervacua
:
Cupidus
ego
liberorum
uxorem
duxi
,
natum
filium
sustuli
,
educavi
,
in
adolescentiam
perduxi
.
Ideoque
Graecorum
aliqui
aliud
circumcisam
expositionem
,
id
est
σύντομον
,
aliud
brevem
putaverunt
,
quod
illa
supervacuis
careret
,
haec
posset
aliquid
ex
necessariis
desiderare
.
Consequently when it is possible to say "I have a young son," it is quite superfluous to say, " Being desirous of children I took a wife, a son was born whom I acknowledged and reared and brought up to manhood. " For this reason some of the Greeks draw a distinction between a concise statement (the word they use is σύντομος ) and a brief statement, the former being free from all superfluous matter, while the latter may conceivably omit something that requires to be stated.
1195
Nos
autem
brevitatem
in
hoc
ponimus
,
non
ut
minus
,
sed
ne
plus
dicatur
quam
oporteat
.
Nam
iterationes
quidem
et
ταυτολογίας
et
περισσολογίας
,
quas
in
narratione
vitandas
quidam
scriptores
artium
tradiderunt
,
transeo
;
sunt
enim
haec
vitia
non
tantum
brevitatis
gratia
refugienda
.
Personally, when I use the word brevity, I mean not saying less, but not saying more than occasion demands. As for repetitions and tautologies and diffuseness, which some writers of textbooks tell us we must avoid, I pass them by; they are faults which we should shun for other reasons beside our desire for brevity.
1196
Non
minus
autem
cavenda
erit
,
quae
nimium
corripientes
omnia
sequitur
,
obscuritas
,
satiusque
est
aliquid
narrationi
superesse
quam
deesse
.
Nam
supervacua
cum
taedio
dicuntur
,
necessaria
cum
periculo
subtrahuntur
.
But we must be equally on our guard against the obscurity which results from excessive abridgment, and it is better to say a little more than is necessary than a little less. For though a diffuse irrelevance is tedious, the omission of what is necessary is positively dangerous.
1197
Quare
vitanda
est
etiam
illa
Sallustiana
,
quanquam
in
ipso
virtutis
obtinet
locum
,
brevitas
et
abruptum
sermonis
genus
,
quod
otiosum
fortasse
lectorem
minus
fallat
,
audientem
transvolat
nec
dum
repetatur
exspectat
,
cum
praesertim
lector
non
fere
sit
nisi
eruditus
,
iudicem
rura
plerumque
in
decurias
mittant
de
eo
pronuntiaturum
quod
intellexerit
;
ut
fortasse
ubicunque
,
in
narratione
tamen
praecipue
,
media
haec
tenenda
sit
via
dicendi
quantum
opus
est
et
quantum
satis
est
.
We must therefore avoid even tile famous terseness of Sallust (though in his case of course it is a merit), and shun all abruptness of speech, since a style which presents no difficulty to a leisurely reader, flies past a hearer and will not stay to be looked at again; and whereas the reader is almost always a man of learning, the judge often comes to his panel from the country side and is expected to give a decision on what he can understand. Consequently we must aim, perhaps everywhere, but above all in our statement of facts, at striking the happy mean in our language, and the happy mean may be defined as saving just what is necessary and just what is sufficient.
1198
Quantum
opus
est
autem
non
ita
solum
accipi
volo
,
quantum
ad
indicandum
sufficit
,
quia
non
inornata
debet
esse
brevitas
,
alioqui
sit
indocta
;
nam
et
fallit
voluptas
et
minus
longa
quae
delectant
videntur
,
ut
amoenum
ac
molle
iter
,
etiamsi
est
spatii
amplioris
,
minus
fatigat
quam
durum
aridumque
compendium
.
By "just what is necessary" I mean not the bare minimum necessary to convey our meaning; for our brevity must not be devoid of elegance, without which it would be merely uncouth: pleasure beguiles the attention, and that which delights us ever seems less long, just as a picturesque and easy journey tires us less for all its length than a difficult short cut through an arid waste.
1199
Neque
mihi
unquam
tanta
fuerit
cura
brevitatis
,
ut
non
ea
,
quae
credibilem
faciunt
expositionem
,
inseri
velim
.
Simplex
enim
et
undique
praecisa
non
tam
narratio
vocari
potest
quam
confessio
.
Sunt
porro
multae
condicione
ipsa
rei
longae
narrationes
,
quibus
extrema
(
ut
praecepi
)
prooemii
parte
ad
intentionem
praeparandus
est
iudex
;
deinde
curandum
,
ut
omni
arte
vel
ex
spatio
eius
detrahamus
aliquid
vel
ex
taedio
.
And I would never carry my desire for brevity so far as to refuse admission to details which may contribute to the plausibility of our narrative. Simplify and curtail your statement of facts in every direction and you will turn it into something more like a confession. Moreover, the circumstances of the case will often necessitate a long statement of facts, in which case, as I have already enjoined, the judge should be prepared for it at the conclusion of the exordium. Next we must put forth all our art either to shorten it or to render it less tedious.
1200
Ut
minus
longa
sit
,
efficiemus
quae
poterimus
differendo
,
non
tamen
sine
mentione
eorum
,
quae
differemus
:
Quas
causas
occidendi
habuerit
,
quos
adsumpserit
conscios
,
quemadmodum
disposuerit
insidias
,
probationis
loco
dicam
.
We must do what we can to make it less long by postponing some points, taking care however to mention what it is that we propose to postpone. Take the following as an example. " As regards his motives for killing him, his accomplices and the manner in which he disposed his ambush, I will speak when I come to the proof.
1201
Quaedam
vero
ex
ordine
praetermittenda
,
quale
est
apud
Ciceronem
:
Moritur
Fulcinius
;
multa
enim
,
quae
sunt
in
re
,
quia
remota
sunt
a
causa
,
praetermittam
.
Et
partitio
taedium
levat
:
Dicam
quae
acta
sint
ante
ipsum
rei
contractum
,
dicam
quae
in
re
ipsa
,
dicam
quae
postea
.
" Some things indeed may be omitted altogether from our marshalling of the facts, witness the following example from Cicero, " Fulcinius died; there are many circumstances which attended that event, but as they have little bearing on this case, I shall pass them by. " Division of our statement into its various heads is another method of avoiding tedium: for example, " I will tell you first what preceded this affair, then what occurred in its actual development, and finally you shall hear its sequel. "
1202
Ita
tres
potius
modicae
narrationes
videbuntur
quam
una
longa
.
Interim
expediet
expositiones
brevi
interfatione
distinguere
:
Audistis
quae
ante
acta
sunt
,
accipite
nunc
quae
insequuntur
.
Reficietur
enim
iudex
priorum
fine
et
se
velut
ad
novum
rursus
initium
praeparabit
.
Such a division will give the impression of three short statements rather than of one long one. At times it will be well to interrupt our narrative by interjecting some brief remark like the following: "You have heard what happened before: now learn what follows." The judge will be refreshed by the fact that we have brought our previous remarks to a close and will prepare himself for what may be regarded as a fresh start.
1203
Si
tamen
adhibitis
quoque
his
artibus
in
longum
exierit
ordo
rerum
,
erit
non
inutilis
in
extrema
parte
commonitio
;
quod
Cicero
etiam
in
brevi
narratione
fecit
:
Adhuc
,
Caesar
,
Q
.
Ligarius
omni
culpa
caret
;
domo
est
egressus
non
modo
nullum
ad
bellum
sed
ne
ad
minimum
i
quidem
belli
suspicionem
et
cetera
.
If however after employing all these artifices our array of facts is still long, it will not be without advantage to append a summary at the end of it as a reminder: Cicero does this even at the close of a brief statement of facts in the pro Ligario: " To this day, Caesar, Quintus Ligarius is free from all blame: he left his home not merely without the least intention of joining in any war, but when there was not the least suspicion of any war etc. "
1204
Credibilis
autem
erit
narratio
ante
omnia
,
si
prius
consuluerimus
nostrum
animum
,
ne
quid
naturae
dicamus
adversum
,
deinde
si
causas
ac
rationes
factis
praeposuerimus
,
non
omnibus
sed
de
quibus
quaeritur
,
si
personas
convenientes
iis
,
quae
facta
credi
volemus
,
constituerimus
,
ut
furti
reum
cupidum
,
adulterii
libidinosum
,
homicidii
temerarium
,
vel
his
contraria
,
si
defendemus
;
praeterea
loca
,
tempora
et
similia
.
The statement of fact will be credible, if in the first place we take care to say nothing contrary to nature, secondly if we assign reasons and motives for the facts on which the inquiry turns (it is unnecessary to do so with the subsidiary facts as well), and if we make the characters of the actors in keeping with the facts we desire to be believed: we shall for instance represent a person accused of theft as covetous, accused of adultery as lustful, accused of homicide as rash, or attribute the opposite qualities to these persons if we are defending them: further we must do the same with place, time and the like.
1205
Est
autem
quidam
et
ductus
rei
credibilis
,
qualis
in
comoediis
etiam
et
in
minis
.
Aliqua
enim
naturaliter
sequuntur
et
cohaerent
ut
,
si
priora
bene
narraveris
,
iudex
ipse
quod
postea
sis
narraturus
exspectet
.
It is also possible to treat the subject in such a way as to give it an air of credibility, as is done in comedy and farce. For some things have such natural sequence and coherence that, if only the first portion of your statement is satisfactory, the judge will himself anticipate what you have got to say in the later part.
1206
Ne
illud
quidem
fuerit
inutile
,
semina
quaedam
probationum
spargere
,
verum
sic
ut
narrationem
esse
meminerimus
non
probationem
.
Nonnunquam
tamen
etiam
argumento
aliquo
confirmabimus
,
quod
proposuerimus
,
sed
simplici
et
brevi
,
ut
in
veneficiis
:
Sanus
bibit
,
statim
concidit
,
livor
ac
tumor
confestim
est
insecutus
.
It will also be useful to scatter some hints of our proofs here and there, but in such a way that it is never forgotten that we are making a statement of facts and not a proof. Sometimes, however, we must also support our assertions by a certain amount of argument, though this must be short and simple: for instance in a case of poisoning we shall say, " He was perfectly well when he drank, he fell suddenly to the ground, and blackness and swelling of the body immediately supervened. "
1207
Hoc
faciunt
et
illae
praeparationes
,
cum
reus
dicitur
robustus
,
armatus
contra
infirmos
,
inermes
,
securos
.
Omnia
denique
,
quae
probation
tractaturi
sumus
,
personam
,
causam
,
locum
,
tempus
,
instrumentum
,
occasionem
,
narratione
delibabimus
.
The same result is produced by preparatory remarks such as the following: " The accused is a strong man and was fully armed, while his opponents were weak, unarmed and suspecting no evil. " We may in fact touch on everything that we propose to produce in our proof; while making our statement of facts, as for instance points connected with persons, cause, place, time, the instrument and occasion employed.
1208
Aliquando
,
si
destituti
fuerimus
his
,
etiam
fatebimur
vix
esse
credibile
,
sed
verum
et
hoc
maius
habendum
scelus
;
nescire
nos
quomodo
factum
sit
aut
quare
,
mirari
sed
probaturos
.
Sometimes, when this resource is unavailable, we may even confess that the charge, though true, is scarcely credible, and that therefore it must be regarded as all the more atrocious; that we do not know how the deed was done or why, that we are filled with amazement, but will prove our case.
1209
Optimae
vero
praeparationes
erunt
quae
latuerint
,
it
a
Cicerone
sunt
quidem
utilissime
praedicta
omnia
,
per
quae
Miloni
Clodius
non
Clodio
Milo
insidiatus
esse
videatur
;
plurimum
tamen
facit
illa
callidissima
simplicitatis
imitatio
:
Milo
autem
,
cum
in
senate
fuisset
eo
die
, (
quoad
senatus
est
dimissus
,
domum
venit
,
calceos
et
vestimenta
mutauit
,
paulisper
,
dum
se
uxor
,
ut
fit
,
comparat
,
commoratus
est
.
The best kind of preparatory remarks are those which cannot be recognised as such: Cicero, for instance, is extraordinarily happy in the way he mentions in advance everything that shows that Clodius lay in wait for Milo and not Milo for Clodius. The most effective stroke of all is his cunning feint of simplicity: " Milo, on the other hand, having been in the senate all day till the house rose, went home, changed his shoes and clothes, and waited for a short time, while his wife was getting ready, as is the way with women. "
1210
Quam
nihil
festinato
,
nihil
praeparato
fecisse
videtur
Milo
!
Quod
non
solum
rebus
ipsis
vir
eloquentissimus
,
quibus
moras
et
lentum
profectionis
ordinem
ducit
,
sed
verbis
etiam
vulgaribus
et
cotidianis
et
arte
occulta
consecutus
est
;
quae
si
aliter
dicta
essent
,
strepitu
ipso
iudicem
ad
custodiendum
patronum
excitassent
.
What an absence of haste and premeditation this gives to Milo's proceedings. And the great orator secures this effect not merely by producing facts which indicate the slow and tardy nature of Milo's departure, but by the use of the ordinary language of everyday speech and a careful concealment of his art. Had he spoken otherwise, his words would by their very sound have warned the judge to keep an eye on the advocate.
1211
Frigere
videntur
ista
plerisque
,
sed
hoc
ipso
manifestum
est
,
quomodo
iudicem
fefellerit
,
quod
vix
a
lectore
deprehenditur
.
Haec
sunt
quae
credibilem
faciant
expositionem
.
The majority of readers regard this passage as lacking in distinction, but this very fact merely serves to show how the art which is scarce detected by a reader succeeded in hoodwinking the judge. It is qualities of this kind that make the statement of facts credible.
1212
Nam
id
quidem
,
ne
qua
contraria
aut
sibi
repugnantia
in
narratione
dicamus
,
si
cui
praecipiendum
est
,
is
reliqua
frustra
docetur
,
etiamsi
quidam
scriptores
artium
hoc
quoque
tanquam
occultum
et
a
se
prudenter
erutum
tradunt
.
If a student requires to be told that we must avoid contradiction and inconsistency in our statement of facts, it will be vain to attempt to instruct him on the remaining points, although some writers of text-books produce this precept as if it were a mystery only discovered by their own personal penetration.
1213
His
tribus
narrandi
virtutibus
adiiciunt
quidam
magnificentiam
,
quam
μεγαλοπρέπειαν
vocant
,
quae
neque
in
omnes
causas
cadit
(
nam
quid
in
plerisque
iudiciis
privatis
,
de
certa
credita
,
locato
et
conducto
,
interdictis
habere
loci
potest
supra
modum
se
tollens
oratio
? )
neque
semper
est
utilis
,
velut
proximo
exemplo
Miloniano
patet
.
To these three qualities some add magnificence of diction or μεγαλοπρέπεια as they call it this quality is not, however, suitable to all cases. For what place has language that rises above the ordinary level in the majority of private suits dealing with loans, letting and hiring and interdicts? Nor yet is it always expedient, as may be inferred from the passage just cited from the pro Milone.
1214
Et
meminerimus
multas
esse
causas
,
in
quibus
confitendum
,
excusandum
,
summittendum
sit
quod
exponimus
;
quibus
omnibus
aliena
est
illa
magnificentiae
virtus
.
Quare
non
magis
proprium
narrationis
est
magnifice
dicere
quam
miserabiliter
,
invidiose
,
graviter
,
dulciter
,
urbane
;
quae
,
cum
suo
quoque
loco
sint
laudabilia
,
non
sunt
huic
parti
proprie
adsignata
et
velut
dedita
.
We must remember, too, that there are many cases in which confession, excuse or modification are necessary with regard to our statements: and magnificence is a quality wholly out of keeping with such procedure. Magnificence of diction is therefore no more specially appropriate to the statement of facts than language calculated to excite pity or hatred, or characterised by dignity, charm or wit. Each of these qualities is admirable in its proper place, but none can be regarded as the peculiar and inalienable property of this portion of the speech.
1215
Illa
quoque
ut
narrationi
apta
,
ita
ceteris
quoque
partibus
communis
est
virtus
,
quam
Theodectes
huic
uni
proprie
dedit
;
non
enim
magnificam
modo
vult
esse
,
verum
etiam
iucundam
expositionem
.
Sunt
qui
adiiciant
his
evidentiam
,
quae
ἐνάργεια
Graece
vocatur
.
Theodectes asserts that the statement of facts should not merely be magnificent, but attractive in style. But this quality again though suitable enough to the statement of facts, is equally so in other portions of the speech. There are others who add palpability, which the Greeks call ἐνάργεια.
1216
Neque
ego
quemquam
deceperim
,
ut
dissimulem
Ciceroni
quoque
plures
partes
placere
.
Nam
praeterquam
planam
et
brevem
et
credibilem
vult
esse
evidentem
,
moratam
cum
dignitate
.
Sed
in
oratione
morata
debent
esse
omnia
cum
dignitate
,
quae
poterunt
.
Evidentia
in
narratione
,
quantum
ego
intelligo
,
est
quidem
magna
virtus
,
cum
quid
veri
non
dicendum
,
sed
quodammodo
etiam
ostendendum
est
;
sed
subiici
perspicuitati
potest
,
quam
quidam
etiam
contrariam
interim
putaverunt
,
quia
in
quibusdam
causis
obscuranda
veritas
esset
;
quod
est
ridiculum
.
And I will not conceal the fact that Cicero himself holds that more qualities are required. For in addition to demanding that it should be plain, brief and credible, he would have it clear, characteristic and worthy of the occasion. But everything in a speech should be characteristic and worthy of the occasion as far as possible. Palpalility, as far as I understand the term, is no doubt a great virtue, when a truth requires not merely to be told, but to some extent obtruded, still it may be included under lucidity. Some, however, regard this quality as actually being injurious at times, on the ground that in certain cases it is desirable to obscure the truth. This contention is, however, absurd.