Institutio Oratoria (Quintilian)

[Close]

	Institutio Oratoria Author: Quintilian	Translator: Harold Edgeworth Butler
3421	At cum tres contracti pollice premuntur , tum digitus ille , quo usum optime Crassum Cicero dicit , explicari solet . Is in exprobrando et indicando , unde ei nomen est , valet , et adlevata ac spectante humerum manu paulum inclinatus adfirmat , versus in terram et quasi pronus urget ; et aliquando pro numero est .	But when three fingers are doubled under the thumb, the finger, which Cicero says that Crassus used to such effect, is extended. It is used in denunciation and in indication (whence its name of index finger), while if it be slightly dropped after the hand has been raised toward the shoulder, it signifies affirmation, and if pointed as it were face downwards toward the ground, it expresses insistence. It is sometimes also used to indicate number.
3422	Idem summo articulo utrinque leviter apprehenso , duobus modice curvatis , minus tamen minimo , aptus ad disputandum est . Acrius tamen argumentari videntur , qui medium articulum potius tenent , tanto contractioribus ultimis digitis , quanto priores descenderunt .	Again, if its top joint is lightly gripped on either side, with the two outer fingers slightly curved, the little finger rather less than the third, we shall have a gesture well suited for argument. But for this purpose the same gesture is rendered more emphatic by holding the middle joint of the finger and contracting the last two fingers still further to match the lower position of the middle finger and thumb.
3423	Est et ille verecundae orationi aptissimus , quo , quattuor primis leviter in summum coeuntibus digitis , non procul ab ore aut pectore fertur ad nos manus et deinde prona ac paulum prolata laxatur .	The following gesture is admirably adapted to accompany modest language: the thumb and the next three fingers are gently converged to a point and the hand is carried to the neighbourhood of the month or chest, then relaxed palm downwards and slightly advanced.
3424	Hoc modo coepisse Demosthenen credo in illo pro Ctesiphonte timido summissoque principio , sic formatam Ciceronis manum , cum diceret : Si quid est ingenii in me , quod senior quam sit exiguum . Eadem aliquatenus liberius deorsum spectantibus digitis colligitur in nos et fusius paulo in diversum resolvitur , ut quodammodo sermonem ipsum proferre videatur .	It was with this gesture that I believe Demosthenes to have commenced the timid and subdued exordium of his speech in defence of Ctesiphon, and it was, I think, in such a position that Cicero held his land, when he said, "If I have any talent, though I am conscious how little it is." Slightly greater freedom may be given to the gesture by pointing the fingers down and drawing the hand in towards the body and then opening it somewhat more rapidly in the opposite direction, so that it seems as though it were delivering our words to the audience.
3425	Binos interim digitos distinguimus , sed non inserto pollice , paulum tamen inferioribus intra spectantibus , sed ne illis quidem tensis , qui supra sunt .	Sometimes we may hold the first two fingers apart without, however, inserting the thumb between them, the remaining two pointing inwards, while even the two former must not be fully extended.
3426	Interim extremi palmam circa ima pollicis premunt , ipse prioribus ad medios articulos iungitur ; interim quartus oblique reponitur ; interim quattuor remissis magis quam tensis , pollice intus inclinato , habilem demonstrando in latus aut distinguendis , quae dicimus , manum facimus , cum supina in sinistrum latus , prona in alterum fertur .	Sometimes, again, the third and little finger may be pressed in to the palm near the base of the thumb, which in its turn is pressed against the middle joints of the first and middle fingers; at others the little finger is sometimes drooped obliquely, or the four fingers may be relaxed rather than extended and the thumb slanted inwards: this last gesture is well adapted to pointing to one side or marking the different points which we are making, the had being carried palmupwards to the left and swept back to the right face-downwards.
3427	Sunt et illi breves gestus , cum manus leviter pandata , qualis voventium est , parvis intervallis et subadsentientibus humeris movetur , maxime apta parce et quasi timide loquentibus . Est admirationi conveniens ille gestus , quo manus modice supinata ac per singulos a minimo collecta digitos redeunte flexu simul explicatur atque convertitur .	The following short gestures are also employed: the hand may be slightly hollowed as it is when persons are making a vow, and then moved slightly to and fro, the shoulders swaying gently in unison: this is adapted to passages where we speak with restraint and almost with timidity. Wonder is best expressed as follows: the hand turns slightly upwards and the fingers are brought in to the palm, one after the other, beginning with the little finger; the hand is then opened and turned round by a reversal of this motion.
3428	Nec uno modo interrogantes gestum componimus , plerumque tamen vertentes manum , utcunque composita est . Pollici proximus digitus mediumque , qua dexter est , unguem pollicis summo suo iungens , remissis ceteris , est et adprobantibus et narrantibus et distinguentibus decorus .	There are various methods of expressing interrogation; but, as a rule, we do so by a turn of the hand, the arrangement of the fingers being indifferent. If the first finger touch the middle of the right-hand edge of the thumb-nail with its extremity, the other fingers being relaxed, we shall have a graceful gesture well suited to express approval or to accompany statements of facts, and to mark the distinction between our different points.
3429	Cui non dissimilis , sed complicitis tribus digitis , quo nunc Graeci plurimum utuntur , etiam utraque manu , quotiens enthymemata sua gestu corrotundant velut caesim . Manus lenior promittit et adsentatur , citatior hortatur , interim laudat . Est et ille urgentis orationem gestus vulgaris magis quam ex arte , qui contrahit alterno celerique motu et explicat manum .	There is another gesture not unlike the preceding, in which the remaining three fingers are folded: it is much employed by the Greeks both for the left hand and the right, in rounding off their enthymemes, detail by detail. A gentle movement of the hand expresses promise or assent, a more violent movement suggests exhortation or sometimes praise. There is also that familiar gesture by which we drive home our words, consisting in the rapid opening and shutting of the hand: but this is a common rather than an artistic gesture.
3430	Est et illa cava et rara et supra humeri altitudinem elata cum quodam motu velut hortatrix manus ; a peregrinis scholis tamen prope recepta tremula scenica est . Digitos , cum summi coierunt , ad os referre , cur quibusdam displicuerit , nescio . Nam id et leviter admirantes et interim subita indignatione velut pavescentes et deprecantes facimus .	Again, there is the somewhat unusual gesture in which the hand is hollowed and raised well above the shoulder with a motion suggestive of exhortation. The tremulous motion now generally adopted by foreign schools is, however, fit only for the stage. I do not know why some persons disapprove of the movement of the fingers, with their tops converging, towards the mouth. For we do this when we are slightly surprised, and at times also employ it to express fear or entreaty when we are seized with sudden indignation.
3431	Quin compressam etiam manum in paenitentia vel ira pectori admouemus , ubi vox vel inter dentes expressa non dedecet : Quid nunc agant ? Quid facias ? Averso pollice demonstrare aliquid , receptum magis puto quam oratori decorum .	Further, we sometimes clench the hand and press it to our breast when we are expressing regret or anger, an occasion when it is not unbecoming even to force the voice through the teeth in phrases such as "What shall I do now? "What would you do?" To point at something with the thumb turned back is a gesture which is in general just, but is not, in my opinion, becoming to an orator.
3432	Sed cum omnis motus sex partes habeat , septimus sit ille , qui in se redit , orbis . Vitiosa est una circumversio : reliqui ante nos et dextra laevaque et sursum et deorsum aliquid ostendunt ; in posteriora gestus non dirigitur .	Motion is generally divided into six kinds, but circular motion must be regarded as a seventh. The latter alone is faulty when applied to gesture. The remaining motions— that is, forward, to right or left and up or down—all have their significance, but the gesture is never directed to what lies behind us, though we do at times throw the hand back.
3433	Interim tamen velut reici solet . Optime autem manus a sinistra parte incipit , in dextra deponitur , sed ut ponere non ut ferire videatur ; quanquam et in fine interim cadit , ut cito tamen redeat , et nonnunquam resilit vel negantibus nobis vel admirantibus . Hic veteres artifices illud recte adiecerunt , ut manus cum sensu et inciperet et deponeretur . Alioqui enim aut ante vocem erit gestus aut post vocem , quod est utrumque deforme .	The best effect is produced by letting the motion of the hand start from the left and end on the right, but this must be done gently, the hand sinking to rest and avoiding all appearance of giving a blow, although at the end of a sentence it may sometimes be allowed to drop, but must quickly be raised again: or it may occasionally, when we desire to express wonder or dissent, spring back with a rapid motion. In this connexion the earlier instructors in the art of gesture rightly added that the movement of the hand should begin: and end with the thought that is expressed. Otherwise the gesture will anticipate or lag behind the voice, both of which produce an unpleasing effect.
3434	In illo lapsi nimia subtilitate sunt , quod intervallum motus tria verba esse voluerunt ; quod neque observatur neque fieri potest , sed illi quasi mensuram tarditatis celeritatisque aliquam esse voluerunt , neque immerito , ne aut diu otiosa esset manus aut , quod multi faciunt , actionem continue motu concideret .	Some, through excess of subtlety, have erroneously prescribed that there should be an interval of three words between each movement; but this rule is never observed, nor can it be. These persons, however, were desirous that there should be some standard of speed or slowness (a most rational desire), with a view to avoid prolonged inactivity on the part of the hands as well as the opposite fault, into which so many fall, of breaking up the natural flow of their delivery by continual motion.
3435	Aliud est , quod et fit frequentius et magis fallit . Sunt quaedam latentes sermonis percussiones et quasi aliqui pedes , ad quos plurimorum gestus cadit , ut sit unus motus Novum crimen , alter C . Caesar , tertius et ante hanc diem , quartus non auditum , deinde propinquus meus , et ad te , et Quintus Tubero , et detulit .	There is another still more common error, which is less easy of detection. Language possesses certain imperceptible stresses, indeed we might almost call them feet, to which the gesture of most speakers conforms. Thus there will he one movement at novum crimen, another at Giai Caesar, a third at et ante diem, a fourth at non auditum, a fifth at propinquus meus, a sixth at ad te and others at Quintus Tubero and detulit.
3436	Unde id quoque fluit vitium , ut iuvenes , cum scribunt , gestum praemodulati cogitatione sic componant , quomodo casura manus est . Inde et illud vitium , ut gestus , qui in fine dexter esse debet , in sinistrum frequenter desinat .	From this springs a further error, namely, that young men, when writing out their speeches, devise all their gestures in advance and consider as they compose how the hand is to fall at each particular point. A further unfortunate result is that the movement of the hand, which should end on the right, frequently finishes on the left.
3437	Melius illud , cum sint in sermone omni brevia quaedam membra , ad quae , si necesse sit , recipere spiritum liceat , ad haec gestum disponere : ut puta Novum crimen , C . Caesar , habet per se fine quendam suum , quia sequitur coniunctio ; deinde et ante hanc diem non auditum satis circumscriptum est . Ad haec commodanda manus est , idque dum erit prima et composita actio .	It is therefore better, in view of the fact that all speech falls into a number of brief clauses, at the end of which we can take breath, if necessary, to arrange our gesture to suit these sections. For example, the words novum crimes, Gai Caesar, in a sense form a phrase complete in itself, since they are followed by a conjunction, while the next words, et ante hanc diem non auditum, are also sufficiently self-contained. To these phrases the motions of the hand must be conformed, before the speech has passed beyond the calmness of tone on which it opens.
3438	At ubi eam calor concitaverit ; etiam gestus cum ipsa orationis celeritate crebrescet . Aliis locis citata , aliis pressa conveniet pronuntiatio . Illa transcurrimus , congerimus , festinamus ; hac instamus , inculcamus , infigimus . Plus autem adfectus habent lentiora ; ideoque Roscius citatior , Aesopus gravior fuit , quod ille comoedias , hic tragoedias egit .	But when increasing warmth of feeling has fired the orator, the gesture will become more frequent, in keeping with the impetus of the speech. Some places are best suited by a rapid, and others by a restrained delivery. In the one case we pass rapidly on, fire a volley of arguments and hurry upon our way; in the other, we drive home our points, force them on the hearer and implant them in his mind. But the slower the delivery, the greater its emotional power: thus, Rosins was rapid and ESOPs weighty in his delivery, because the former was a comic and the latter a tragic actor.
3439	Eadem motus quoque observatio est . Itaque in fabulis iuvenum , senum , militum , matronarum gravior ingressus est ; servi , ancillulae , parasiti , piscatores citatius moventur . Tolli autem manum artifices supra oculos , demitti infra pectus vetant ; adeo a capite eum petere aut ad imum ventrem deducere , vitiosum habetur .	The same rule applies to the movemints. Consequently on the stage young men and old, soldiers and married women all walk sedately, while slaves, maidservants, parasites and fishermen are more lively in their movements. But instructors in the art of gesture will not permit the hand to be raised above the level of the eyes or lowered beneath that of the breast; since it is thought a grave blemish to lift it to the top of the head or lower it to the lower portions of the belly.
3440	In sinistrum intra humerum promovetur ; ultra non decet . Sed cum aversantes in laevam partem velut propellemus manum , sinister humerus proferendus , ut cum capite ad dextram ferente consentiat .	It may be moved to the left within the limits of the shoulder, but no further without loss of decorum. On the other hand, when, to express our aversion, we thrust our hand out to the left, the left shoulder must be brought forward in unison with the head, which will incline to the right.
3441	Mantis sinistra numquam sola gestum recte facit ; dextrae se frequenter accommodat , sive in digitos argumenta digerimus sive aversas in sinistrum palmis abominamur sive obicimus adversas sive in latus utramque distendimus ,	It is never correct to employ the left hand alone in gesture, though it will often conform its motion to that of the right, as, for example, when we are counting our arguments on the fingers, or turn the palms of the hands to the left to express our horror of something,
3442	sive satisfacientes aut supplicantes ( diversi autem sunt hi gestus ) summittimus sive adorantes attollimus sive aliqua demonstratione aut invocatione protendimus : Vos Albani tumuli atque luci , aut Gracchanum illud : Quo me miser conferam ? in Capitolium ? ad fratris sanguine madet : an domum ?	or thrust them out in front or spread them out to right and left, or lower them in apology or supplication (though the gesture is not the same in these two cases), or raise them in adoration, or stretch them out in demonstration or invocation, as in the passage, " Ye hills and groves of Alba, " or in the passage from Gracchus : " Whither, alas! shall I turn me? To the Capitol? Nay, it is wet with my brother's blood. To my home? " etc.
3443	Plus enim adfectus in his iunctae exhibent manus ; in rebus parvis , mitibus , tristibus breves ; magnis , laetis , atrocibus exertiores . Vitia quoque earum subiicienda sunt ,	For in such passages greater emotional effect is produced if both hands co-operate, short gestures being best adapted to matters of small importance and themes of a gentle or melancholy character, and longer gestures to subjects of importance or themes calling for joy or horror.
3444	quae quidem accidere etiam exercitatis actoribus solent . Nam gestum poculum poscentis aut verbera minantis aut numerum quingentorum flexo pollice efficientis , quae sunt a quibusdam scriptoribus notata , ne in rusticis quidem vidi .	It is desirable also that I should mention the faults in the use of the hands, into which even experienced pleaders are liable to fall. As for the gesture of demanding a cup, threatening a flogging, or indicating the number 500 by crooking the thumb, all of which are recorded by writers on the subject, I have never seen them employed even by uneducated rustics.
3445	At ut brachio exerto introspiciatur latus , ut manum alius ultra sinum proferre non audeat , alius , in quantum patet longitudo , protendat aut ad tectum erigat aut repetito ultra laevum humerum gestu ita in tergum flagellet , ut consistere post eum parum tutum sit , aut sinistrum ducat orbem aut temere sparsa manu in proximos offendat aut cubitum utrumque in diversum latus uentilet , saepe scio evenire .	But I know that it is of frequent occurrence for a speaker to expose his side by stretching his arm too far, to be afraid in one case of extending his hand beyond the folds of his cloak, and in another to stretch it as far as it will go, to raise it to the roof, or by swinging it repeatedly over his left shoulder to deliver such a rain of blows to the rear that it is scarcely safe to stand behind him, or to make a circular sweep to the left, or by casting out his hand at random to strike the standers-by or to flap both elbows against his sides.
3446	Solet esse et pigra et trepida et secanti similis ; interim etiam uncis digitis , ut aut a capite deiciatur aut eadem manu supinata in superiora iactetur . Fit et ille gestus , qui , inclinato in humerum dextrum capite , brachio ab aure protenso , manum infesto pollice extendit ; qui quidem maxime place iis , qui se dicere sublata manu iactant .	There are others, again, whose hands are sluggish or tremulous or inclined to saw the air; sometimes, too, the fingers are crooked and brought down with a run from the top of the head, or tossed up into the air with the hand turned palm upwards. There is also a gesture, which consists in inclining the head to the right shoulder, stretching out the arm from the ear and extending the hand with the thumb turned down. This is a special favourite with those who boast that they speak "with uplifted hand."
3447	Adiicias licet eos , qui sententias vibrantes digitis iaculantur aut manu sublata denuntiant aut , quod per se interim recipiendum est , quotiens aliquid ipsis placuit , in ungues eriguntur ; sed vitiosum id faciunt , aut digito , quantum plurimum possunt , erecto aut etiam duobus , aut utraque manu ad modum aliquid portantium composita .	To these latter we may add those speakers who hurl quivering epigrams with their fingers or denounce with the hand upraised, or rise on tiptoe, whenever they say something of which they are specially proud. This last proceeding may at times be adopted by itself; but they convert it into a blemish by simultaneously raising one or even two fingers as high as they can reach, or heaving up both hands as if they were carrying something.
3448	His accedunt vitia non naturae sed trepidationis , cum ore concurrente rixari , si memoria fefellerit aut cogitatio non suffragetur , quasi faucibus aliquid obstiterit , insonare , in adversum tergere nares , obambulare sermone inperfecto , resistere subito et laudem silentio poscere ; quae omnia persequi prope infinitum est ; sua enim cuique sunt vitia .	In addition to these faults, there are those which spring not from nature, but from nervousness, such as struggling desperately with our lips when they refuse to open, making inarticulate sounds, as though something were sticking in our throat, when our memory fails us, or our thoughts will not come at our call; rubbing the end of our nose, walking up and down in the midst of an unfinished sentence, stopping suddenly and courting applause by silence, with many other tricks which it would take too long to detail, since everybody has his own particular faults.
3449	Pectus ac venter ne proiciantur , observandum ; pandant enim posteriora , et est odiosa omnis supinitas . Latera cum gestu consentiant . Facit enim aliquid et totius corporis motus , adeo ut Cicero plus illo agi quam manibus ipsis putet . Ita enim dicit in Oratore : Nullae argutiae digitorum , non ad numerum articulus cadens , trunco magis toto se ipse moderans et virili laterum flexione .	We must take care not to protrude the chest or stomach, since such an altitude arches the back, and all bending backwards is unsightly. The flanks must conform to the gesture; for the motion of the entire body contributes to the effect: indeed, Cicero holds that the body is more expressive than even the hands. For in the de Orator he says, " There must be no quick movements of the fingers, no marking time with the finger-tips, but the orator should control himself by the poise of the whole trunk and by a manly inclination of the side. "
3450	Femur ferire , quod Athenis primus fecisse creditur Cleon , et usitatum est et indignantes decet et excitat auditorem . Idque in Calidio Cicero desiderat ; Non , frons , inquit , percussa , non femur . Quanquam , si licet , de fronte dissentio . Nam etiam complodere manus scenicum est pectus caedere .	Slapping the thigh, which Clean is said to have been the first to introduce at Athens, is in general use and is becoming as a mark of indignation, while it also excites the audience. Cicero regrets its absence in Calidius, "There was no striking of the forehead," he complains, "nor of the thigh." With regard to the forehead I must beg leave to differ from him: for it is a purely theatrical trick even to clap the hands or beat the breast.
3451	Illud quoque raro decebit cava manu summis digitis pectus appetere , si quando nosmet ipsos alloquimur , cohortantes , obiurgantes , miserantes ; quod si quando fiet , togam quoque inde removeri non dedecebit . In pedibus observantur status et incessus . Prolato dextro stare et eandem manum ac pedem proferre , deforme est .	it is only on rare occasions, too, that it is becoming to touch the breast with the finger-tips of the hollowed hand, when, for example, we address ourselves or speak words of exhortation, reproach or commiseration. But if ever we do employ this gesture, it will not be unbecoming to pull back the toga at the same time. As regards the feet, we need to be careful about our gait and the attitudes in which we stand. To stand with the right foot advanced or to thrust forward the same foot and hand are alike unsightly.
3452	In dextrum incumbere interim datur sed aequo pectore , qui tamen comicus magis quam oratorius gestus est . Male etiam in sinistrum pedem insistentium dexter aut tollitur aut summis digitis suspenditur . Varicare supra modum et in stando deforme est et , accedente motu , prope obscenum . Procursio opportuna brevis , moderata , rara .	At times we may rest our weight on the right foot, but without any corresponding inclination of the chest, while, in any case, the gesture is better suited to the comic actor than to the orator. It is also a mistake, when resting on the left foot, to lift the right or poise it on tiptoe. To straddle the feet is ugly if we are standing still, and almost indecent if we are actually moving. To start forward may be effective, provided that we move but a short distance and do so but rarely and without violence.
3453	Conveniet etiam ambulatio quaedam propter immodicas laudationum moras , quanquam Cicero rarum incessum neque ita longum probat . Discursare vero et , quod Domitius Afer de Sura Manlio dixit , satagere , ineptissimum , urbaneque Flavus Verginius interrogavit de quodam suo antisophiste , quot milia passuum declamasset .	It will also at times be found convenient to walk to and fro, owing to the extravagant pauses imposed by the plaudits of the audience; Cicero, however, says that this should be done only on rare occasions, and that we should take not more than a few steps. On the other hand, to run up and down, which, in the ease of Manlius Sure, Domitius Afer called overdoing it, is sheer folly, and there was no little wit in the question put by Virginias Flatus to a rival professor, when he asked how many miles he had declaimed.
3454	Praecipi et illud scio , ne ambulantes avertamur a iudicibus , sed sint obliqui pedes ad consilium nobis respicientibus . Id fieri iudiciis privatis non potest . Verum et breviora sunt spatia , nec aversi diu sumus . Interim tamen recedere sensim datur . Quidam et resiliunt , quod est plane ridiculum .	I know, too, that some authorities warn us not to walk with our backs turned to the judges, but to move diagonally and keep our eyes fixed on the panel. This cannot be done in private trials, but in such cases the space available is small and the time during which our backs are turned is of the briefest. On the other hand, we are permitted at times to walk backwards gradually. Some even jump backwards, which is merely ludicrous.
3455	Pedis supplosio ut loco est opportuna , ut ait Cicero , in contentionibus aut incipiendis aut finiendis , ita crebra et inepti est hominis et desinit ; iudicem in se convertere . Est et illa indecora in dextrum ac laevum latus vacillatio alternis pedibus insistentium . Longissime fugienda mollis actio , qualem in Titio Cicero dicit fuisse , unde etiam saltationis quoddam genus Titius sit appellatum .	Stamping the foot is, as Cicero says, effective when done on suitable occasions, that is to say, at the commence meant or close of a lively argument, but if it be frequently indulged in, it brands the speaker as a fool and ceases to attract the attention of the judge. There is also the unsightly habit of swaying to right and left, and shifting the weight from one foot to the other. Above all, we must avoid effeminate movements, such as Cicero ascribes to Titus, a circumstance which led to a certain kind of dance being nicknamed Titus.
3456	Reprehendenda et illa frequens et concitata in utramque partem nutatio , quam in Curione patre irrisit et Iulius , quaerens , quis in lintre loqueretur , et Sicinius ; nam cum , adsidente collega , qui erat propter valetudinem et deligatus et plurimis medicamentis delibutus , multum se Curio ex more iactasset , Nunquam , inquit , Octavi , collegae tuo gratiam referes , qui nisi fuisset , hodie te istic muscae comedissent .	Another reprehensible practice is that of nodding frequently and rapidly to either side, a mannerism for which the elder Curio was derided by Julius, who asked who it was who was speaking in a boat, while on another occasion, when Curio had been tossing himself about in his usual manner, while Octaves, his colleague, was sitting beside him bandaged and reeking with medicaments on account of ill-health, Spiciness remarked, " Octaves, you can never be sufficiently grateful to your colleague: for if he wasn't there, the flies would have devoured you this very day where you sit.
3457	iactantur et humeri ; quod uitium Demosthenes ita dicitur emendasse ut , cum in angusto quodam pulpito stans diceret , hasta humero dependens immineret , ut , si calore dicendi vitare id excidisset , offensatione illa commoneretur . Ambulantem loqui ita demum oportet , si in causis publicis , in quibus multi sunt indices , quod dicimus quasi singulis inculcare peculiariter velimus .	" The shoulders also are apt to be jerked to and fro, a fault of which Demosthenes is said to have cured himself by speaking on a narrow platform with a spear hanging immediately above his shoulder, in order that, if in the heat of his eloquence he failed to avoid this fault, he might have his attention called to the fact by a prick from the spear. The only condition that justifies our walking about while speaking is if we are pleading in a public trial before a large number of judges and desire specially to impress our arguments upon them individually.
3458	Illud non ferendum , quod quidam , reiecta in humerum toga , cum dextra sinum usque ad lumbos reduxerunt , sinistra gestum facientes spatiantur et fabulantur , cum etiam laevam restringere prolata longius dextra sit odiosum . Under moneor , ( ut ne id quidem transeam ) ineptissime fieri , cum inter moras laudationum aut in aurem alicuius loquuntur aut cum sodalibus iocantur aut nonnunquam ad librarios suos ita respiciunt , ut sportulam dictare videantur .	The practice adopted by some of throwing the toga back over the shoulder, while they draw up the fold to their waist with the right hand, and use the left for gesticulation as they walk up and down and discourse, is not to be tolerated; for even to draw back the left hand while extending the right is an objectionable habit. This reminds me of an extremely foolish trick, which I think I ought to mention, that some speakers have of employing the intervals when the audience are applauding by whispering in someone's ear or jesting with their friends or looking back at their clerks, as if telling them to make a note of some gratuity to be dispensed to their supporters.