Institutio Oratoria |
Translator: Harold Edgeworth Butler
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| 2965 |
Nec multo aliud de novis sentio . Quotus enim quisque inveniri tam demens potest , qui ne minima quidem alicuius certe fiducia partis memoriam posteritatis speraverit ? Qui si quis est , intra primos statim versus deprehendetur et citius nos dimittet , quam ut eius nobis magno temporis detrimento constet experimentum .
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And my opinion about the moderns is much the same. For how few of them are so utterly crazy as not to have the least shadow of hope that some portion or other of their work may have claims upon the memory of posterity? If there is such an one, he will be detected before we have perused many lines of his writings, and we shall escape from him before the experiment of reading him has cost us any serious loss of time. |
| 2966 |
Sed non quidquid ad aliquam partem scientiae pertinet , protinus ad phrasin , de qua loquimur , accommodatum . Verum antequam de singulis , pauca in universum de varietate opinionum dicenda sunt .
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On the other hand, not everything that has some bearing on some department of knowledge will necessarily be of service for the formation of style, with which we are for the moment concerned. Before, however, I begin to speak of individual authors, I must make a few general remarks about the variety of judgments which have been passed upon them. |
| 2967 |
Nam quidam solos veteres legendos putant neque in ullis aliis esse naturalem eloquentiam et robur viris dignum arbitrantur ; alios recens haec lascivia deliciaeque et omnia ad voluptatem multitudinis imperitae composita delectant .
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For there are some who think that only the ancients should be read and hold that they are the sole possessors of natural eloquence and manly vigour; while others revel in the voluptuous and affected style of to-day, in which everything is designed to charm the ears of the uneducated majority. |
| 2968 |
Ipsorum etiam qui rectum dicendi genus sequi volunt , alii pressa demum et tenuia et quae minimum ab usu cotidiano recedant , sana et vere Attica putant ; quosdam elatior ingenii vis et magis concitata et plena spiritus capit ; sunt etiam lenis et nitidi et compositi generis non pauci amatores . De qua differentia disseram diligentius , cum de genere dicendi quaerendum erit . Interim summatim , quid et a qua lectione petere possint , qui confirmare facultatem dicendi volent , attingam . Paucos enim qui sunt eminentissimi excerpere in animo est .
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And even if we turn to those who desire to follow the correct methods of style, we shall find that some think that the only healthy and genuinely Attic style is to be found in language which is restrained and simple and as little removed as possible from the speech of every day, while others are attracted by a style which is more elevated and full of energy and animation. There are, too, not a few who are devoted to a gentle, elegant and harmonious style. Of these different ideals I shall speak in greater detail, when I come to discuss the question of the particular styles best suited to oratory. For the moment I shall restrict myself to touching briefly on what the student who desires to consolidate his powers of speaking should seek in his reading and to what kind of reading he should devote his attention. My design is merely to select a few of the most eminent authors for consideration. |
| 2969 |
Facile est autem studiosis , qui sint his simillimi , iudicare ; ne quisquam queratur omissos forte quos ipse valde probet . Fateor enim plures legendos esse quam qui a me nominabuntur . Sed nunc genera ipsa lectionum , quae praecipue convenire intendentibus ut oratores fiant , existimem , persequar .
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It will be easy for the student to decide for himself what authors most nearly resemble these: consequently, no one will have any right to complain if I pass over some of his favourites. For I will readily admit that there are more authors worth reading than those whom I propose to mention. But I will now proceed to deal with the various classes of reading which I consider most suitable for those who are ambitious of becoming orators. |
| 2970 |
Igitur , ut Aratus ab Iove incipiendum putat , ita nos rite coepturi ab Homero uidemur . Hic enim , quemadmodum ex Oceano dicit ipse omnium amnium fontiumque cursus initium capere , omnibus eloquentiae partibus exemplum et ortum dedit . Hunc nemo in magnis rebus sublimitate , in parvis proprietate superaverit . Idem laetus ac pressus , iucundus et gravis , tum copia tum brevitate mirabilis , nec poetica modo sed oratoria virtute eminentissimus .
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I shall, I think, be right in following the principle laid down by Aratus in the line, "With Jove let us begin," and in beginning with Homer. He is like his own conception of Ocean, which he describes as the source of every stream and river; for he has given us a model and an inspiration for every department of eloquence. It will be generally admitted that no one has ever surpassed him in the sublimity with which he invests great themes or the propriety with which he handles small. He is at once luxuriant and concise, sprightly and serious, remarkable at once for his fullness and his brevity, and supreme not merely for poetic, but for oratorical power as well. |
| 2971 |
Nam ut de laudibus , exhortationibus , consolationibus taceam , nonne vel nonus liber , quo missa ad Achillem legatio continetur , vel in primo inter duces illa contentio vel dictae in secundo sententiae omnes litium ac consiliorum explicant artes ?
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For, to say nothing of his eloquence, which he shows in praise, exhortation and consolation, do not the ninth book containing the embassy to Achilles, the first describing the quarrel between the chiefs, or the speeches delivered by the counsellors in the second, display all the rules of art to be followed in forensic or deliberative oratory? |
| 2972 |
Adfectus quidem vel illos mites vel hos concitatos , nemo erit tam indoctus , qui non in sua potestate hunc auctorem habuisse fateatur . Age vero , non utriusque operis sui ingressu in paucissimis versibus legem prooemiorum non dico servavit sed constituit ? Nam benevolum auditorem invocatione dearum , quas praesidere vatibus creditum est , et intentum proposita rerum magnitudine et docilem summa celeriter comprehensa facit .
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As regards the emotions, there can be no one so illeducated as to deny that the poet was the master of all, tender and vehement alike. Again, in the few lines with which he introduces both of his epics, has he not, I will not say observed, but actually established the law which should govern the composition of the exordium? For, by his invocation of the goddesses believed to preside over poetry he wins the goodwill of his audience, by his statement of the greatness of his themes he excites their attention and renders them receptive by the briefness of his summary. |
| 2973 |
Narrare vero quis brevius quam qui mortem nuntiat Patrocli , quis significantius potest quam qui Curetum Aetolorumque proelium exponit ? iam similitudines , amplificationes , exempla , digressus , signa rerum et argumenta ceteraque genera probandi ac refutandi sunt ita multa , ut etiam qui de artibus scripserunt plurimi harum rerum testimonium ab hoc poeta petant .
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Who can narrate more briefly than the hero who brings the news of Patroclus' death, or more vividly than he who describes the battle between the Curetes and the Aetolians? Then consider his similes, his amplifications, his illustrations, digressions, indications of fact, inferences, and all the other methods of proof and refutation which he employs. They are so numerous that the majority of writers on the principles of rhetoric have gone to his works for examples of all these things. |
| 2974 |
Nam epilogus quidem quis unquam poterit illis Priami rogantis Achillem precibus aequari ? Quid ? in verbis , sententiis , figuris , dispositione totius operis nonne humani ingenii modum excedit ? ut magni sit virtutes eius non aemulatione , quod fieri non potest , sed intellectu sequi .
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And as for perorations, what can ever be equal to the prayers which Priam addresses to Achilles when he comes to beg for the body of his son? Again, does he not transcend the limits of human genius in his choice of words, his reflexions, figures, and the arrangement of his whole work, with the result that it requires a powerful mind, I will not say to imitate, for that is impossible, but even to appreciate his excellences? |
| 2975 |
Verum hic omnes sine dubio et in omni genere eloquentiae procul a se reliquit , epicos tamen praecipue , videlicet quia clarissima in materia simili comparatio est .
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But he has in truth outdistanced all that have come after him in every department of eloquence, above all, he has outstripped all other writers of epic, the contrast in their case being especially striking owing to the similarity of the material with which they deal. |
| 2976 |
Raro assurgit Hesiodus , magnaque pars eius in nominibus est occupata ; tamen utiles circa praecepta sententiae levitasque verborum et compositionis probabilis , daturque ei palma in illo medio genere dicendi .
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Hesiod rarely rises to any height, while a great part of his works is filled almost entirely with names : none the less, his maxims of moral wisdom provide a useful model, the smooth flow of his words and structure merit our approval, and he is assigned the first place among writers of the intermediate style. |
| 2977 |
Contra in Antimacho vis et gravitas et minime vulgare eloquendi genus habet laudem . Sed quamvis ei secundas fere grammaticorum consensus deferat , et adfectibus et iucunditate et dispositione et omnino arte deficitur , ut plane manifesto appareat , quanto sit aliud proximum esse aliud secundum .
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On the other hand, Antimachus deserves praise for the vigour, dignity and elevation of his language. But although practically all teachers of literature rank him second among epic poets, he is deficient in emotional power, charm, and arrangement of matter, and totally devoid of real art. No better example can be found to show what a vast difference there is to being near another writer and being second to him. |
| 2978 |
Panyasin ex utroque mixtum putant in eloquendo neutriusque aequare virtutes , alterum tamen ab eo materia alterum disponendi ratione superari . Apollonius in ordinem a grammaticis datum non venit , quia Aristarchus atque Aristophanes , poetarum iudices , neminem sui temporis in numerum redegerunt ; non tamen contemnendum reddidit opus aequali quadam mediocritate .
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Panyasis is regarded as combining the qualities of the last two poets, being their inferior in point of style, but surpassing Hesiod in the choice of his subject and Antimachus in its arrangement. Apollonius is not admitted to the lists drawn up by the professors of literature, because the critics, Aristarchus and Aristophanes, included no contemporary poets. None the less, his work is by no means to be despised, being distinguished by the consistency with which he maintains his level as a representative of the intermediate type. |
| 2979 |
Arati materia motu caret , ut in qua nulla varietas , nullus adfectus , nulla persona , nulla cuiusquam sit oratio ; sufficit tamen operi , cui se parent credidit . Admirabilis in suo genere Theocritus , sed musa illa rustica et pastoralis non forum modo , verum ipsam etiam urbem reformidat .
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The subject chosen by Aratus is lifeless and monotonous, affording no scope for pathos, description of character, or eloquent speeches. However, he is adequate for the task to which he felt himself equal. Theocritus is admirable in his own way, but the rustic and pastoral muse shrinks not merely from the forum, but from town-life of every kind. |
| 2980 |
Audire videor undique congerentes nomina plurimorum poetarum . Quid ? Herculis acta non bene Pisandros ? Nicandrum frustra secuti Macer atque Vergilius ? Quid ? Euphorionem transibimus ? quem nisi probasset Vergilius , idem nunquam certe conditorum Chalcidico versu carminum fecisset in Bucolicis mentionem . Quid ? Horatius frustra Tyrtaeum Homero subiungit ?
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I think I hear my readers on all sides suggesting the names of hosts of other poets. What? Did not Pisandros tell the story of Hercules in admirable style? Were there not good reasons for Virgil and Macer taking Nicander as a model? Are we to ignore Euphorion? Unless Virgil had admired him, he would never have mentioned "verses written in Chalcidic strain" in the Eclogues. Again, had Horace no justification for coupling the name of Tyrtacus with that of Homer? |
| 2981 |
Nec sane quisquam est tam procul a cognitione eorum remotus , ut non indicem certe ex bibliotheca sumptum transferre in libros suos possit . Nec ignoro igitur quos transeo nec utique damno , ut qui dixerim esse in omnibus utilitatis aliquid .
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To which I reply, that there is no one so ignorant of poetic literature that he could not, if he chose, copy a catalogue of such poets from some library for insertion in his own treatises. I can therefore assure my readers that I am well aware of the existence of the poets whom I pass over in silence, and am far from condemning them, since I have already said that some profit may be derived from every author. |
| 2982 |
Sed ad illos iam perfectis constitutisque viribus revertemur ; quod in cenis grandibus saepe facimus ut , cum optimis satiati sumus , varietas tamen nobis ex vilioribus grata sit . Tunc et elegiam vacabit in manus sumere , cuius princeps habetur Callimachus , secundas confessione plurimorum Philetas occupavit .
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But we must wait till our powers have been developed and established to the full before we turn to these poets, just as at banquets we take our fill of the best fare and then turn to other food which, in spite of its comparative inferiority, is still attractive owing to its variety. Not until our taste is formed shall we have leisure to study the elegiac poets as well. Of these, Callimachus is regarded as the best, the second place being, according to the verdict of most critics, occupied by Philetas. |
| 2983 |
Sed dum adsequamur illam firmam , ut dixi , facilitatem , optimis adsuescendum est et multa magis quam multorum lectione formanda mens et ducendus color . Itaque ex tribus receptis Aristarchi iudicio scriptoribus iamborum ad ἕξιν maxime pertinebit unus Archilochus .
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But until we have acquired that assured facility of which I spoke, we must familiarise ourselves with the best writers only and must form our minds and develop an appropriate tone by reading that is deep rather than wide. Consequently, of the three writers of iambics approved by the judgment of Aristarchus, Archilochus will be far the most useful for the formation of the facility in question. |
| 2984 |
Summa in hoc vis elocutionis , cum validae tum breves vibrantesque sententiae , plurimum sanguinis atque nervorum , adeo ut videatur quibusdam , quod quoquam minor est , materiae esse non ingenii vitium .
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For he has a most forcible style, is full of vigorous, terse and pungent reflexions, and overflowing with life and energy: indeed, some critics think that it is due solely to the nature of his subjects, and not to his genius, that any poets are to be ranked above him. |
| 2985 |
Novem vero Lyricorum longe Pindarus princeps spiritus magnificentia , sententiis , figuris , beatissima rerum verborumque copia et velut quodam eloquentiae flumine ; propter quae Horatius eum merito credidit nemini imitabilem .
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Of the nine lyric poets Pindar is by far the greatest, in virtue of his inspired magnificence, the beauty of his thoughts and figures, the rich exuberance of his language and matter, and his rolling flood of eloquence, characteristics which, as Horace rightly held, make him inimitable. |
| 2986 |
Stesichorus quam sit ingenio validus , materiae quoque ostendunt , maxima bella et clarissimos canentem duces et epici carminis onera lyra sustinentem . Reddit enim personis in agendo simul loquendoque debitam dignitatem , ac si tenuisset modum , videtur aemulari proximus Homerum potuisse ; sed redundat atque effunditur , quod ut est reprehendendum , ita copiae vitium est .
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The greatness of the genius of Stesichorus is shown by his choice of subject: for he sings of the greatest wars and the most glorious of chieftains, and the music of his lyre is equal to the weighty themes of epic poetry. For both in speech and action he invests his characters with the dignity which is their due, and if he had only been capable of exercising a little more restraint, he might, perhaps, have proved a serious rival to Homer. But he is redundant and diffuse, a fault which, while deserving of censure, is nevertheless a defect springing from the very fullness of his genius. |
| 2987 |
Alcaeus in parte operis aureo plectro merito donatur , qua tyrannos insectatus multum etiam moribus confert in eloquendo quoque brevis et magnificus et dicendi vi plerumque oratori similis ; sed et lusit et in amores descendit , maioribus tamen aptior .
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Alcaeus has deserved the compliment of being said to make music with quill of gold in that portion of his works in which he attacks the tyrants of his day and shows himself a real moral force. He is, moreover, terse and magnificent in style, while the vigour of his diction resembles that of oratory. But he also wrote poetry of a more sportive nature and stooped to erotic poetry, despite his aptitude for loftier themes. |
| 2988 |
Simonides , tenuis alioqui , sermone proprio et iucunditate quadam commendari potest ; praecipua tamen eius in commovenda miseratione virtus , ut quidam in hac eum parte omnibus eius operis auctoribus praeferant .
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Simonides wrote in a simple style, but may be recommended for the propriety and charm of his language. His chief merit, however, lies in his power to excite pity, so much so, in fact, that some rank him in this respect above all writers of this class of poetry. |
| 2989 |
Antiqua comoedia cum sinceram illam sermonis Attici gratiam prope sola retinet , tum facundissimae libertatis est et in insectandis vitiis praecipua , plurimum tamen virium etiam in ceteris partibus habet . Nam et grandis et elegans et venusta , et nescio an ulla , post Homerum tamen , quem ut Achillem semper excipi par est , aut similior sit oratoribus aut ad oratores faciendos aptior .
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The old comedy is almost the only form of poetry which preserves intact the true grace of Attic diction, while it is characterized by the most eloquent freedom of speech, and shows especial power in the denunciation of vice; but it reveals great force in other departments as well. For its style is at once lofty, elegant and graceful, and if we except Homer, who, like Achilles among warriors, is beyond all comparison, I am not sure that there is any style which bears a closer resemblance to oratory or is better adapted for forming the orator. |
| 2990 |
Plures eius auctores ; Aristophanes tamen et Eupolis Cratinusque praecipui . Tragoedias primus in lucem Aeschylus protulit , sublimis et gravis et grandiloquus saepe usque ad vitium , sed rudis in plerisque et incompositus ; propter quod correctas eius fabulas in certamen deferre posterioribus poetis Athenienses permiserunt , suntque eo modo multi coronati .
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There are a number of writers of the old comedy, but the best are Aristophanes, Eupolis and Cratinus. Aeschylus was the first to bring tragedy into prominence: he is lofty, dignified, grandiloquent often to a fault, but frequently uncouth and inharmonious. Consequently, the Athenians allowed later poets to revise his tragedies and to produce them in the dramatic contests, and many succeeded in winning the prize by such means. |
| 2991 |
Sed longe clarius illustraverunt hoc opus Sophocles atque Euripides , quorum in dispari dicendi via uter sit poeta melior , inter plurimos quaeritur ; idque ego sane , quoniam ad praesentem materiam nihil pertinet , iniudicatum relinquo . Illud quidem nemo non fateatur necesse est , iis qui se ad agendum comparant utiliorem longe fore Euripiden .
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Sophocles and Euripides, however, brought tragedy to far greater perfection: they differ in style, but it is much disputed as to which should be awarded the supremacy, a question which, as it has no bearing on my present theme, I shall make no attempt to decide. But this much is certain and incontrovertible, that Euripides will be found of far greater service to those who are training themselves for pleading in court. |
| 2992 |
Namque is et sermone ( quod ipsum reprehendunt , quibus gravitas et cothurnus et sonus Sophocli videtur esse sublimior ) magis accedit oratorio generi et sententiis densus et in iis quae a sapientibus tradita sunt paene ipsis par , et dicendo ac respondendo cuilibet eorum qui fuerunt in foro diserti comparandus ; in adfectibus vero cum omnibus mirus tum in iis qui miseratione constant facile praecipuus .
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For his language, although actually censured by those who regard the dignity, the stately stride and sonorous utterance of Sophocles as being more sublime, has a closer affinity to that of oratory, while he is full of striking reflexions, in which, indeed, in their special sphere, he rivals the philosophers themselves, and for defence and attack may be compared with any orator that has won renown in the courts. Finally, although admirable in every kind of emotional appeal, he is easily supreme in the power to excite pity. |
| 2993 |
Hunc admiratus maxime est , ut saepe testatur , et secutus , quanquam in opere diverso , Menander , qui vel unus , meo quidem iudicio , diligenter lectus ad cuncta , quae praecipimus , effingenda sufficiat ; ita omnem vitae imagine expressit , tanta in eo inveniendi copia et eloquendi facultas , ita est omnibus rebus , personis , adfectibus accommodatus .
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Menander, as he often testifies in his works, had a profound admiration for Euripides, and imitated him, although in a different type of work. Now, the careful study of Menander alone would, in my opinion, be sufficient to develop all those qualities with the production of which my present work is concerned; so perfect is his representation of actual life, so rich is his power of invention and his gift of style, so perfectly does he adapt himself to every kind of circumstance, character and emotion. |
| 2994 |
Nec nihil profecto viderunt , qui orationes , quae Charisii nomini addicuntur , a Menandro scriptas putant . Sed mihi longe magis orator probari in opere suo videtur , nisi forte aut illa iudicia , quae Epitrepontes , Epicleros , Locroe habent , aut meditationes in Psophodee , Nomothete , Hypobolimaeo non omnibus oratoriis numeris sunt absolutae .
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Indeed, those critics are no fools who think the speeches attributed to Charisius were in reality written by Menander. But I consider that he shows his power as an orator far more clearly in his comedies; since assuredly we can find no more perfect models of every oratorical quality than the judicial pleadings of his Epitrepontes, Epicleros and Locri, or the declamatory speeches in the Psophodes, Nomothetes. and Hypobolimaeus. |
| 2995 |
Ego tamen plus adhuc quiddam collaturum eum declamatoribus puto , quoniam his necesse est secundum condicionem controversiarum plures subire personas , patrum , filiorum , militum , rusticorum , divitum , pauperum , irascentium , deprecantium , mitium , asperorum . In quibus omnibus mire custoditur ab hoc poeta decor .
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Still, for my own part, I think that he will be found even more useful by declaimers, in view of the fact that they have, according to the nature of the various controversial themes, to undertake a number of different roles and to impersonate fathers, sons, soldiers, peasants, rich men and poor, the angry man and the suppliant, the gentle and the harsh. And all these characters are treated by this poet with consummate appropriateness. |
| 2996 |
Atque ille quidem omnibus eiusdem operis auctoribus abstulit nomen et fulgore quodam suae claritatis tenebras obduxit . Tamen habent alii quoque Comici , si cum venia leguntur , quaedam quae possis decerpere ; et praecipue Philemon , qui ut prave sui temporis iudiciis Menandro saepe praelatus est , ita consensu tamen omnium meruit credi secundus .
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Indeed, such is his supremacy that he has scarce left a name to other writers of the new comedy, and has cast them into darkness by the splendour of his own renown. Still, you will find something of value in the other comic poets as well, if you read them in not too critical a spirit; above all, profit may be derived from the study of Philemon, who, although it was a depraved taste which caused his contemporaries often to prefer him to Menander, has none the less deserved the second place which posterity has been unanimous in awarding him. |
| 2997 |
Historiam multi scripsere praeclare , sed nemo dubitat longe duos ceteris praeferendos , quorum diversa virtus laudem paene est parem consecuta . Densus et brevis et semper instans sibi Thucydides , dulcis et candidus et fusus Herodotus ; ille concitatis hic remissis adfectibus melior , ille contionibus hic sermonibus , ille vi hic voluptate .
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If we turn to history, we shall find a number of distinguished writers; but there are two who must undoubtedly be set far above all their rivals: their excellences are different in kind, but have won almost equal praise. Thucydides is compact in texture, terse and ever eager to press forward: Herodotus is pleasant, lucid and diffuse: the former excels in vigour, speeches and the expression of the stronger passions; the latter in charm, conversations and the delineation of the gentler emotions. |
| 2998 |
Theopompus his proximus ut in historia praedictis minor , ita oratori magis similis , ut qui , antequam est ad hoc opus sollicitatus , diu fuerit orator . Philistus quoque meretur , qui turbae quamvis bonorum post eos auctorum eximatur , imitator Thucydidis et ut multo infirmior ita aliquatenus lucidior . Ephorus , ut Isocrati uisum , calcaribus eget .
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Theopompus comes next, and though as a historian he is inferior to the authors just mentioned, his style has a greater resemblance to oratory, which is not surprising, as he was an orator before he was urged to turn to history. Philistus also deserves special distinction among the crowd of later historians, good though they may have been: he was an imitator of Thucydides, and though far his inferior, was somewhat more lucid. Ephorus, according to Isocrates, needed the spur. |
| 2999 |
Clitarchi probatur ingenium , fides infamatur . Longo post intervallo temporis natus Timagenes vel hoc est ipso probabilis , quod intermissam historias scribendi industriam nova laude reparavit . Xenophon non excidit mihi , sed inter philosophos reddendus est .
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Clitarchus has won approval by his talent, but his accuracy has been impugned. Timagenes was born long after these authors, but deserves our praise for the very fact that he revived the credit of history, the writing of which had fallen into neglect. I have not forgotten Xenophon, but he will find his place among the philosophers. |
| 3000 |
Sequitur oratorum ingens manus , ut cum decem simul Athenis aetas una tulerit . Quorum longe princeps Demosthenes ac paene lex orandi fuit ; tanta vis in eo , tam densa omnia , ita quibusdam nervis intenta sunt , tam nihil otiosum , is dicendi modus , ut nec quod desit in eo nec quod redundet invenias .
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There follows a vast army of orators, Athens alone having produced ten remarkable orators in the same generation. Of these Dermosthenes is far the greatest: indeed he came to be regarded almost as the sole pattern of oratory. Such is the force and compactness of his language, so muscular his style, so free from tameness and so self-controlled, that you will find nothing in him that is either too much or too little. |
| 3001 |
Plenior Aeschines et magis fusus et grandiori similis , quo minus strictus est ; carnis tamen plus habet , minus lacertorum . Dulcis in primis et acutus Hyperides , sed minoribus causis , ut non dixerim utilior , magis par .
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The style of Aesehines is fuller and more diffuse, while his lack of restraint gives an appearance of grandeur. But he has more flesh and less muscle. Hyperides has extraordinary charm and point, but is better qualified, not to say more useful, for cases of minor importance. |
| 3002 |
His aetate Lysias maior , subtilis atque elegans et quo nihil , si oratori satis est docere , quaeras perfectius . Nihil enim est inane , nihil arcessitum ; puro tamen fonti quam magno flumini propior .
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Lysias belongs to an earlier generation than those whom I have just mentioned. He has subtlety and elegance and, if the orator's sole duty were merely to instruct, it would be impossible to conceive greater perfection. For there is nothing irrelevant or far-fetched in his speeches. None the less I would compare him to a clear spring rather than to a mighty river. |