Institutio Oratoria |
Translator: Harold Edgeworth Butler
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| 1825 |
Habet enim , ut Cicero dicit , sedem in deformitate aliqua et turpitudine , quae cum in aliis demonstrantur , urbanitas , cum in ipsos dicentes recidunt , stultitia vocatur . Cum videatur autem res levis et quae ab scurris , mimis , insipientibus denique saepe moveatur , tamen habet vim nescio an imperiosissimam et cui repugnari minime potest .
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For, as Cicero says, "Laughter has its basis in some kind or other of deformity or ugliness," and whereas, when we point to such a blemish in others, the result is known as wit, it is called folly when the same jest is turned against ourselves. Now, though laughter may be regarded as a trivial matter, and an emotion frequently awakened by buffoons, actors or fools, it has a certain imperious force of its own which it is very hard to resist. |
| 1826 |
Erumpit etiam invitis saepe , nec vultus modo ac vocis exprimit confessionem , sed totum corpus vi sua concutit . Rerum autem saepe ( ut dixi ) maximarum momenta vertit , ut cum odium iramque frequentissime frangat .
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It often breaks out against our will and extorts confession of its power, not merely from our face and voice, but convulses the whole body as well. Again, it frequently turns the scale in matters of great importance, as I have already observed: for instance, it often dispels hatred or anger. |
| 1827 |
Documento sunt iuvenes Tarentini , qui multa de rege Pyrrho sequius inter cenam locuti , cum rationem facti reposcerentur et neque negari res neque defendi posset , risu sunt et opportune ioco elapsi . Namque unus ex iis , Immo , inquit , nisi lagona defecisset , occidissemus te ; eaque urbanitate tota est invidia criminis dissoluta .
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A proof of this is given by the story of the young men of Tarentum, who had made a number of scurrilous criticisms of Pyrrhus over the dinner table: they were called upon to answer for their statements, and, since the charge was one that admitted neither of denial nor of excuse, they succeeded in escaping, thanks to a happy jest which made the king laugh: for one of the accused said, "Yes, and if the bottle hadn't been empty, we should have killed you!" a jest which succeeded in dissipating the animosity which the charge had aroused. |
| 1828 |
Verum hoc , quidquid est , ut non ausim dicere carere omnino arte , quia nonnullam observationem habet , suntque ad id pertinentia et a Graecis et a Latinis composita praecepta , ita plane adfirmo , praecipue positum esse in natura et in occasione .
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Still, whatever the essence of humour may be, and although I would not venture to assert that it is altogether independent of art (for it involves a certain power of observation, and rules for its employment have been laid down by writers both of Greece and Rome), I will insist on this much, that it depends mainly on nature and opportunity. |
| 1829 |
Porro natura non tantum in hoc valet , ut acutior quis atque habilior sit ad inveniendum ( nam id sane doctrina possit augeri ) , sed inest proprius quibusdam decor in habitu ac vultu , ut eadem illa minus alio dicente urbana esse videantur .
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The influence of nature consists not merely in the fact that one man is quicker or cleverer than another in the invention of jests (for such a power can be increased by teaching), but also in the possession of some peculiar charm of look or manner, the effect of which is such that the same remarks would be less entertaining if uttered by another. |
| 1830 |
Occasio vero et in rebus est cuius est tanta vis , ut saepe adiuti ea non indocti modo , sed etiam rustici salse dicant , et in eo cum quis aliquid dixerit prior . Sunt enim longe venustiora omnia in respondendo quam in provocando .
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Opportunity, on the other hand, is dependent on circumstances, and is of such importance that with its assistance not merely the unlearned, but even mere country bumpkins are capable of producing effective witticisms: while much again may depend on some previous remark made by another which will provide opportunity for repartee. For wit always appears to greater advantage in reply than in attack. |
| 1831 |
Accedit difficultati , quod eius rei nulla exercitatio est , nulli praeceptores . Itaque in conviviis et sermonibus multi dicaces , quia in hoc usu cotidiano proficimus . Oratoria urbanitas rara nec ex arte propria sed ad hanc consuetudinem commodata .
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We are also confronted by the additional difficulty that there are no specific exercises for the development of humour nor professors to teach it. Consequently, while convivial gatherings and conversation give rise to frequent displays of wit, since daily practice develops the faculty, oratorical wit is rare, for it has no fixed rules to guide it, but must adapt itself to the ways of the world. |
| 1832 |
Nihil autem vetabat et componi materias in hoc idoneas , ut controversiae permixtis salibus fingerentur , vel res proponi singulas ad iuvenum talem exercitationem . Quin illae ipsae ( dicta sunt ac vocantur ) ,
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There has, however, never been anything to prevent the composition of themes such as will afford scope for humour, so that our controversial declamations may have an admixture of jests, while special topics may be set which will give the young student practice in the play of wit. |
| 1833 |
quas certis diebus festae licentiae dicere solebamus , si paulum adhibita ratione fingerentur , aut aliquid in his serium quoque esset admixtum , plurimum poterant utilitatis adferre ; quae nunc iuvenum vel sibi ludentium exercitatio est .
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Nay, even those pleasantries in which we indulge on certain occasions of festive licence (and to which we give the name of mots, as, indeed, they are), if only a little more good sense were employed in their invention, and they were seasoned by a slight admixture of seriousness, might afford a most useful training. As it is, they serve merely to divert the young and merrymakers. |
| 1834 |
Pluribus autem nominibus in eadem re vulgo utimur ; quae tamen si diducas , suam quandam propriam vim ostendent . Nam et urbanitas dicitur , qua quidem significari video sermonem praeferentem in verbis et sono et usu proprium quendam gustum urbis et sumptam ex conversatione doctorum tacitam eruditionem , denique cui contraria sit rusticitas . Venustum esse ,
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There are various names by which we describe wit, but we have only to consider them separately to perceive their specific meaning. First, there is urbanitas, which I observe denotes language with a smack of the city in its words, accent and idiom, and further suggests a certain tincture of learning derived from associating with well-educated men; in a word, it represents the opposite of rusticity. The meaning of venustus is obvious; |
| 1835 |
quod cum gratia quadam et venere dicatur , apparet . Salsum in consuetudine pro ridiculo tantum accipimus ; natura non utique hoc est , quanquam et ridicula oporteat esse salsa . Nam et Cicero omne , quod salsum sit , ait esse Atticorum , non quia sunt maxime ad risum compositi ; et Catullus , cum dicit , Nulla est in corpore mica salis , non hoc dicit , nihil in corpore eius esse ridiculum .
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it means that which is said with grace and charm. Salsus is, as a rule, applied only to what is laughable: but this is not its natural application, although whatever is laughable should have the salt of wit in it. For Cicero, when he says that whatever has the salt of wit is Attic, does not say this because persons of the Attic school are specially given to laughter; and again when Catullus says— "In all her body not a grain of salt!" he does not mean that there is nothing in her body to give cause for laughter. |
| 1836 |
Salsum igitur erit , quod non erit insulsum , velut quoddam simplex orationis condimentum , quod sentitur latente iudicio velut palato , excitatque et a taedio defendit orationem . Sales enim , ut ille in cibis paulo liberalius aspersus , si tamen non sit immodicus , adfert aliquid propriae voluptatis , ita hi quoque in dicendo habent quiddam , quod nobis faciat audiendi sitim . Facetum quoque non tantum circa ridicula opinor consistere .
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When, therefore, we speak of the salt of wit, we refer to wit about which there is nothing insipid, wit, that is to say, which serves as a simple seasoning of language, a condiment which is silently appreciated by our judgment, as food is appreciated by the palate, with the result that it stimulates our taste and saves a speech from becoming tedious. But just as salt, if sprinkled freely over food, gives a special relish of its own, so long as it is not used to excess, so in the case of those who have the salt of wit there is something about their language which arouses in us a thirst to hear. Again, I do not regard the epithet facelus as applicable solely to that which raises a laugh. |
| 1837 |
Neque enim diceret Horatius , facetum carminis genus natura concessum esse Vergilio . Decoris hanc magis et excultae cuiusdam elegantiae appellationem puto . Ideoque in epistolis Cicero haec Bruti refert verba : Ne illi sunt pedes faceti ac delicatius ingredienti molles . Quod convenit cum illo Horatiano , molle atque facetum Vergilio locum vero accipimus , quod est contrarium serio .
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If that were so Horace would never have said that nature had granted Vergil the gift of being facetus in song. I think that the term is rather applied to a certain grace and polished elegance. This is the meaning which it bears in Cicero's letters, where he quotes the words of Brutus, "In truth her feet are graceful and soft as she goes delicately on her way." This meaning suits the passage in Horace, to which I have already made reference, "To Vergil gave a soft and graceful wit." |
| 1838 |
sed hoc nimis angustum , nam et fingere et terrere et promittere interim iocus est . Dicacitas sine dubio a dicendo , quod est omni generi commune , ducta est , proprie tamen significat sermonem cum risu aliquos incessentem . Ideo Demosthenen urbanum fuisse dicunt , dicacem negant .
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locus is usually taken to mean the opposite of seriousness. This view is, however, somewhat too narrow. For to feign, to terrify, or to promise, are all at times forms of jesting. Dicacitas is no doubt derived from dico, and is therefore common to all forms of wit, but is specially applied to the language of banter, which is a humorous form of attack. Therefore, while the critics allow that Demosthenes was urbanus, they deny that he was dicax. |
| 1839 |
Proprium autem materiae , de qua nunc loquimur , est ridiculum , ideoque haec tota disputatio a Graecis περὶ γελοίου inscribitur . Eius prima divisio traditur eadem , quae est omnis orationis , ut sit positum in rebus aut in verbis .
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The essence, however, of the subject which we are now discussing is the excitement of laughter, and consequently the whole of this topic is entitled περὶ γελοίου by the Greeks. It has the same primary division as other departments of oratory, that is to say, it is concerned with things and words. |
| 1840 |
Usus autem maxime triplex ; aut enim ex aliis risum petimus aut ex nobis aut ex rebus mediis . Aliena aut reprehendimus aut refutamus aut elevamus aut repercutimus aut eludimus . Nostra ridicule indicamus et , ut verbo Ciceronis utar , dicimus aliqua subabsurda . Namque quaedam , quae , si imprudentibus excidant , stulta sunt , si simulamus ,
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The application of humour to oratory may be divided into three heads: for there are three things out of which we may seek to raise a laugh, to wit, others, ourselves, or things intermediate. In the first case we either reprove or refute or make light of or retort or deride the arguments of others. In the second we speak of things which concern ourselves in a humorous manner and, to quote the words of Cicero, say things which have a suggestion of absurdity. For there are certain sayings which are regarded as folly if they slip from us unawares, but as witty if uttered ironically. |
| 1841 |
venusta creduntur . Tertium est genus , ut idem dicit , in decipiendis exspectationibus , dictis aliter accipiendis ceterisque , quae neutram personam contingunt ideoque a me media dicuntur .
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The third kind consists, as Cicero also tells us, in cheating expectations, in taking words in a different sense from what was intended, and in other things which affect neither party to the suit, and which I have, therefore, styled intermediate. |
| 1842 |
Item ridicula aut facimus aut dicimus . Facto risus conciliatur interim admixta gravitate : ut M . Caelius praetor , cum sellam eius curulem consul Isauricus fregisset , alteram posuit loris intentam ; dicebatur autem consul a patre flagris aliquando caesus ; interim sine respectu pudoris , ut in illa pyxide Caeliana , quod neque oratori neque ulli viro gravi conveniat .
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Further, things designed to raise a laugh may either be said or done. In the latter case laughter is sometimes caused by an act possessing a certain element of seriousness as well, as in the case of Marcus Caelius the praetor, who, when the consul Isauricus broke his curule chair, had another put in its place, the seat of which was made of leather thongs, by way of allusion to the story that the consul had once been scourged by his father: sometimes, again, it is aroused by an act which passes the grounds of decency, as in the case of Caelius' box, a jest which was not fit for an orator or any respectable man to make. |
| 1843 |
Idem autem de vultu gestuque ridiculo dictum sit ; in quibus est quidem summa gratia , sed maior , cum captare risum non videntur ; nihil enim est iis , quae sicut salsa dicuntur , insulsius . Quanquam autem gratiae plurimum dicentis severitas adfert , fitque ridiculum id ipsum , quod qui dicit illa non ridet , est tamen interim et aspectus et habitus oris et gestus non inurbanus ,
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On the other hand the joke may lie in some remark about a ridiculous look or gesture; such jests are very attractive, more especially when delivered with every appearance of seriousness; for there are no jests so insipid as those which parade the fact that they are intended to be witty. Still, although the gravity with which a jest is uttered increases its attraction, and the mere fact that the speaker does not laugh himself makes his words laughable, there is also such a thing as a humorous look, manner or gesture, |
| 1844 |
cum iis modus contingit . Id porro , quod dicitur , aut est lascivum et hilare , qualia A . Galbae pleraque , aut contumeliosum , qualia nuper Iuni Bassi , aut asperum , qualia Cassii Severi , aut lene , qualia Domitii Afri .
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provided always that they observe the happy mean. Further, a jest will either be free and lively, like the majority of those uttered by Aulus Galba, or abusive, like those with which Junius Bassus recently made us familiar, or bitter, like those of Cassius Severus, or gentle, like those of Domitius Afer. |
| 1845 |
Refert , his ubi quis utatur . Nam in convictibus et cotidiano sermone lasciva humilibus , hilaria omnibus convenient . Laedere nunquam velimus , longeque absit propositum illud potius amicum quam dictum perdendi . In hac quidem pugna forensi malim mihi lenibus uti licere ; quanquam et contumeliose et aspere dicere in adversarios permissum est , cum accusare etiam palam et caput alterius iuste petere concessum sit . Sed hic quoque tamen inhumana videri solet fortunae insectatio , vel quod culpa caret vel quod recidere etiam in ipsos , qui obiecerunt , potest . Primum itaque considerandum est , et quis et in qua causa et apud quem et in quem et quid dicat .
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Much depends on the occasion on which a jest is uttered. For in social gatherings and the intercourse of every day a certain freedom is not unseemly in persons of humble rank, while liveliness is becoming to all. Our jests should never be designed to wound, and we should never make it our ideal to lose a friend sooner than lose a jest. Where the battles of the courts are concerned I am always better pleased when it is possible to indulge in gentle raillery, although it is, of course, permissible to be abusive or bitter in the words we use against our opponents, just as it is permissible to accuse them openly of crime, and to demand the last penalty of the law. But in the courts as elsewhere it is regarded as inhuman to hit a man when he is down, either because he is the innocent victim of misfortune or because such attacks may recoil on those who make them. Consequently, the first points to be taken into consideration are who the speaker is, what is the nature of the case, who is the judge, who is the victim, and what is the character of the remarks that are made. |
| 1846 |
Oratori minime convenit distortus vultus gestusque , quae in mimis rideri solent . Dicacitas etiam scurrilis et scenica huic personae alienissima est . Obscenitas vero non a verbis tantum abesse debet , sed etiam a significatione . Nam si quando obiici potest , non in ioco exprobranda est .
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It is most unbecoming for an orator to distort his features or use uncouth gestures, tricks that arouse such merriment in farce. No less unbecoming are ribald jests, and such as are employed upon the stage. As for obscenity, it should not merely be banished from his language, but should not even be suggested. For even if our opponent has rendered himself liable to such a charge, our denunciation should not take the form of a jest. |
| 1847 |
Oratorem praeterea ut dicere urbane volo , ita videri adfectare id plane nolo . Quapropter ne dicet quidem salse , quotiens poterit , et dictum potius aliquando perdet quam minuet auctoritatem .
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Further, although I want my orator to speak with wit, he must not give the impression of striving after it. Consequently lie must not display his wit on every possible occasion, but must sacrifice a jest sooner than sacrifice his dignity. |
| 1848 |
Nec accusatorem autem atroci in causa nec patronum in miserabili iocantem feret quisquam . Sunt etiam iudices quidam tristiores quam ut risum libenter patiantur .
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Again, no one will endure an accuser who employs jests to season a really horrible case, nor an advocate for the defence who makes merry over one that calls for pity. Moreover, there is a type of judge whose temperament is too serious to allow him to tolerate laughter. |
| 1849 |
Solet interim accidere , ut id quod in adversarium dicimus aut in iudicem conveniat aut in nostrum quoque litigatorem ; quanquam aliqui reperiuntur , qui ne id quidem , quod in ipsos recidere possit , evitent . Quod fecit Longus Sulpicius , qui , cum ipse foedissimus esset , ait eum , contra quem iudicio liberali aderat , ne faciem quidem habere liberi hominis ; cui respondens Domitius Afer , Ex tui , inquit , animi sententia , Longe ,
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It may also happen that a jest directed against an opponent may apply to the judge or to our own client, although there are some orators who do not refrain even from jests that may recoil upon themselves. This was the case with Sulpicius Longus, who, despite the fact that he was himself surpassingly hideous, asserted of a man against whom he was appearing in a case involving his status as a free man, that even his face was the face of a slave. To this Domitius Afer replied, "Is it your profound conviction, Longus, that an ugly man must be a slave?" |
| 1850 |
qui malam faciem habet , liber non est ? Vitandum etiam , ne petulans , ne superbum , ne loco , ne tempore alienum , ne praeparatum et domo adlatum videatur quod dicimus . Nam adversus miseros , sicut supra dixeram , inhumanus est iocus . Sed quidam ita sunt receptae auctoritatis ac notae verecundiae , ut nocitura sit in eos dicendi petulantia . Nam de amicis iam praeceptum est .
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Insolence and arrogance are likewise to be avoided, nor must our jests seem unsuitable to the time or place, or give the appearance of studied premeditation, or smell of the lamp, while those directed against the unfortunate are, as I have already said, inhuman. Again, some advocates are men of such established authority and such known respectability, that any insolence shown them would only hurt the assailant. As regards the way in which we should deal with friends I have already given instructions. |
| 1851 |
Illud non ad oratoris consilium sed ad hominis pertinet ; lacessat hoc modo quem laedere sit periculosum , ne aut inimicitiae graves insequantur aut turpis satisfactio . Male etiam dicitur , quod in plures conuenit , si aut nationes totae incessantur aut ordines aut condicio aut studia multorum .
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It is the duty not merely of an orator, but of any reasonable human being, when attacking one whom it is dangerous to offend to take care that his remarks do not end in exciting serious enmity, or the necessity for a grovelling apology. Sarcasm that applies to a number of persons is injudicious: I refer to cases where it is directed against whole nations or classes of society, or against rank and pursuits which are common to many. |
| 1852 |
Ea quae dicet vir bonus omnia salva dignitate ac verecundia dicet . Nimium enim risus pretium est , si probitatis impendio constat . Unde autem concilietur risus et quibus ex locis peti soleat , difficillimum dicere . Nam si species omnes persequi velimus , nec modum reperiemus et frustra laborabimus .
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A good man will see that everything he says is consistent with his dignity and the respectability of his character; for we pay too dear for the laugh we raise if it is at the cost of our own integrity. It is, however, a difficult task to indicate the sources from which laughter may be legitimately derived or the topics where it may be naturally employed. To attempt to deal exhaustively with the subject would be an interminable task and a waste of labour. |
| 1853 |
Neque enim minus numerosi sunt loci , ex quibus haec dicta , quam illi , ex quibus eae , quas sententias vocamus , ducuntur , neque alii . Nam hic quoque est inventio et elocutio , atque ipsius elocutionis vis alia in verbis , alia in figuris .
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For the topics suitable to jests are no less numerous than those from which we may derive reflexions, as they are called, and are, moreover, identical with the latter. The powers of invention and expression come into play no less where jests are concerned, while as regards expression its force will depend in part on the choice of words, in part on the figures employed. |
| 1854 |
Risus igitur oriuntur aut ex corpore eius , in quem dicimus , aut ex animo , qui factis ab eo dictisque colligitur , aut ex iis , quae sunt extra posita . Intra haec enim est omnis vituperatio ; quae si gravius posita sit , severa est , si levius , ridicula . Haec aut ostenduntur aut narrantur aut dicto notantur .
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Laughter then will be derived either from the physical appearance of our opponent or from his character as revealed in his words and actions, or from external sources; for all forms of raillery come under one or other of these heads; if the raillery is serious, we style it as severe; if, on the other hand, it is of a lighter character, we regard it as humorous. These themes for jest may be pointed out to the eye or described in words or indicated by some mot. |
| 1855 |
Rarum est , ut oculis subiicere contingat , ut fecit C . Iulius ; qui , cum Helvio Manciae saepius obstrepenti sibi diceret , Etiam ostendam , qualis sis . isque plane instaret interrogatione , qualem se ostensurus esset , digito demonstravit imaginem Galli in scuto Cimbrico pictam , cui Mancia tum simillimus est visus . Tabernae autem erant circa forum , ac scutum illud signi gratia positum . Narrare ,
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It is only on rare occasions that it is possible to make them visible to the eye, as Gaius Julius did when Helvius Mancia kept clamouring against him. "I will show you what you're like!" he cried, and then, as Mancia persisted in asking him to do so, pointed with his finger at the picture of a Gaul painted on a Cimbric shield, a figure to which Mancia bore a striking resemblance. There were shops round the forum and the shield had been hung up over one of them by way of a sign. |
| 1856 |
quae salsa sint , inprimis est subtile et oratorium , ut Cicero pro Cluentio narrat de Caepasio atque Fabricio aut M . Caelius de illa D . Laelii collegaeque eius in provinciam festinantium contentione . Sed in his omnibus cum elegans et venusta exigitur tota expositio , tum id festivissimum est quod adiicit orator . Nam et a Cicerone sic est Fabricii fuga illa condita :
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The narration of a humorous story may often be used with clever effect and is a device eminently becoming to an orator. Good examples are the story told of Caepasius and Fabricius, which Cicero tells in the pro Cluentio, or the story told by Caelius of the dispute between Decimus Laelius and his colleague when they were both in a hurry to reach their province first. But in all such cases the whole narrative must possess elegance and charm, while the orator's own contribution to the story should be the most humorous element. Take for instance the way in which Cicero gives a special relish to the flight of Fabricius. |
| 1857 |
Itaque cum callidissime se putaret dicere , et cum illa vera gravissima ex intimo artificio deprompsisset , Respicite , iudices , hominum fortunas , respicite C . Fabricii senectutem , cum hoc , Respicite , ornandae orationis causa saepe dixisset , respexit ipse ; at Fabricius a subselliis demisso capite discesserat , et cetera , quae adiecit ( nam est notus locus ) , cum in re hoc solum esset , Fabricium a iudicio recessisse .
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" And so, just at the moment when he thought his speech was showing him at his best and he had uttered the following solemn words, words designed to prove a master-stroke of art, 'Look at the fortunes of mankind, gentlemen, look at the aged form of Gaius Fabricius,' just at that very moment, I say, when he had repeated the word 'look' several times by way of making his words all the more impressive, he looked himself, and found that Fabricius had slunk out of court with his head hanging down. " I will not quote the rest of the passage, for it is well known. But he develops the theme still further although the plain facts amount simply to this, that Fabricius had left the court. |
| 1858 |
Et Caelius cum omnia venustissime finxit , tum illud ultimum , Hic subsecutus quomodo transient , utrum rate an piscatorio navigio , nemo sciebat , Siculi quidem , ut sunt lascivi et dicaces , aiebant in delphino sedisse et sic tanquam Ariona transvectum .
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The whole of the story told by Caelius is full of wit and invention, but the gem of the passage is its conclusion. " He followed him, but how he crossed the straits, whether it was in a ship or a fisherman's boat, no one knew; but the Sicilians, being of a lively turn of wit, said that he rode on a dolphin and effected his crossing like a second Arion. " Cicero |
| 1859 |
In narrando autem Cicero consistere facetias putat , dicacitatem in iaciendo . Mire fuit in hoc genere venustus Afer Domitius , cuius orationibus complures huiusmodi narrationes insertae reperiuntur , sed dictorum quoque ab eodem urbane sunt editi libri .
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thinks that humour belongs to narrative and wit to sallies against the speaker's antagonist. Domitius Afer showed remarkable finish in this department; for, while narratives of the kind I have described are frequent in his speeches, several books have been published of his witticisms as well. |
| 1860 |
Illud quoque genus est positum non in hac veluti iaculatione dictorum et inclusa breviter urbanitate sed in quodam longiore actu , quod de L . Crasso contra Brutum Cicero in secundo de Oratore libro et allis quibusdam locis narrat .
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This latter form of wit lies not merely in sallies and brief displays of wit, but may be developed at greater length, witness the story told by Cicero in the second book of his de Oratore, in which Lucius Crassus dealt with Brutus, against whom he was appearing in court. |
| 1861 |
Nam , cum Brutus in accusatione C . Planci ex duobus lectoribus ostendisset , contraria L . Crassum patronum eius in oratione , quam de Colonia Narbonensi habuerat , suasisse iis , quae de lege Servilia dixerat , tris excitavit et ipse lectores , hisque patris eius dialogos dedit legendos ; quorum cum in Privernati unus , alter in Albano , tertius in Tiburti sermonem habitum complecteretur , requirebat , ubi essent eae possessiones . Omnes autem illas Brutus vendiderat ; et tum paterna emancupare praedia turpius habebatur . Similis in apologis quoque et quibusdam interim etiam historiis exponendi gratia consequi solet .
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Brutus was prosecuting Cnaeus Plancus and had produced two readers to show that Lucius Crassus, who was counsel for the defence, in the speech which he delivered on the subject of the colony of Narbo had advocated measures contrary to those which he recommended in speaking of the Servilian law. Crassus, in reply, called for three readers and gave them the dialogues of Brutus' father to read out. One of these dialogues was represented as taking place on his estate at Privernum, the second on his estate at Alba, and the third on his estate at Tibur. Crassus then asked where these estates were. Now Brutus had sold them all, and in those days it was considered somewhat discreditable to sell one's paternal acres. Similar attractive effects of narrative may be produced by the narration of fables or at times even of historical anecdotes. |
| 1862 |
Sed acutior est illa atque velocior in urbanitate brevitas . Cuius quidem duplex forma est dicendi ac respondendi , sed ratio communis in partem ; nihil enim quod in lacessendo dici potest , non etiam in repercutiendo .
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On the other hand brevity in wit gives greater point and speed. It may be employed in two ways, according as we are the aggressors, or are replying to our opponents; the method, however, in both cases is to some extent the same. For there is nothing that can be said in attack that cannot be used in riposte. |