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Institutio Oratoria (Quintilian)
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Institutio Oratoria

Author: Quintilian
Translator: Harold Edgeworth Butler
3649
Quae
omnia
non
dum
fiunt
laudantur
,
sed
cum
facta
sunt
;
unde
etiam
cupidissimis
opinionis
plus
fructus
venit
.
Nam
cum
illa
dicendi
vitiosa
iactatio
inter
plausores
suos
detonuit
,
resurgit
verae
virtutis
fortior
fama
,
nec
iudices
a
quo
sint
moti
,
dissimulant
,
et
doctis
creditur
,
nec
est
orationis
vera
laus
nisi
cum
finita
est
.
None of these methods win applause during their actual execution: the reward comes after they have been carried to a successful termination, when even the most ambitious will reap a richer recompense than they could ever have secured by other means. For so soon as the thunders of applause awakened among their admirers by these affected declamatory displays have died away, the glory of true virtue rises again with renewed splendour, the judges do not conceal who it is has moved them, the well-trained orator wins their belief and oratory receives its only genuine tribute, the praise accorded it when its task is done.
3650
Veteribus
quidem
etiam
dissimulare
eloquentiam
fuit
moris
,
idque
M
.
Antonius
praecipit
,
quo
plus
dicentibus
fidei
minusque
suspectae
advocatorum
insidiae
forent
.
Sed
illa
dissimulari
,
quae
tum
erat
,
potuit
;
nondum
enim
tantum
dicendi
lumen
accesserat
,
ut
etiam
per
obstantia
erumperet
.
Quare
artes
quidem
et
consilia
lateant
et
quidquid
,
si
deprehenditur
,
perit
.
Hactenus
eloquentia
secretum
habet
.
The old orators indeed used to conceal their eloquence, a method which is recommended by Marcus Antonius, as a means of securing that the speaker's words should carry conviction and of masking the advocate's real designs. But the truth is that the eloquence of those days was capable of concealment, for it had not yet attained that splendour of diction which makes it impossible to hide its light under a bushel. Therefore artifice and stratagem should be masked, since detection in such cases spells failure. Thus far, and thus only, may eloquence hope to enjoy the advantages of secrecy.
3651
Verborum
quidem
delectus
,
gravitas
sententiarum
,
figurarum
elegantia
aut
non
sunt
aut
apparent
.
Sed
vel
propter
hoc
ipsum
ostendenda
non
sunt
quod
apparent
;
aut
si
unum
sit
ex
duobus
eligendum
,
causa
potius
laudetur
quam
patronus
.
Finem
tamen
hunc
praestabit
orator
,
ut
videatur
optimam
causam
optime
egisse
.
Illud
certum
erit
neminem
peius
agere
quam
qui
displicente
causa
placet
;
necesse
est
enim
extra
causam
sit
quod
placet
.
But when we come to consider the choice of words, the weight essential to general reflexions and the elegance demanded by figures, we are confronted by elements which must either strike the attention or be condemned to nonexistence. But the very fact that they strike the attention is a reason why they should not flaunt themselves obtrusively. And, if we have to make the choice, I should prefer that it should be the cause, and not the orator, to which we award our praise. Nevertheless, the true orator will achieve the distinction of seeming to speak with all the excellence that an excellent case deserves. One thing may be regarded as certain, that no one can plead worse than he who wins applause despite the disapproval meted out to his case. For the inevitable conclusion is that the applause must have been evoked by something having no connexion with the case.
3652
Nec
illo
fastidio
laborabit
orator
non
agendi
causas
minores
,
tanquam
infra
eum
sint
aut
detractura
sit
opinioni
minus
liberalis
materia
.
Nam
et
suscipiendi
ratio
iustissima
est
officium
,
et
optandum
etiam
ut
amici
quam
minimas
lites
habeant
;
et
abunde
dixit
bene
,
quisquis
rei
satisfecit
.
Further, the true orator will not turn up his nose at cases of minor importance on the ground of their being beneath his dignity or as being likely to detract from his reputation because the subject matter does not allow his genius full scope. For the strongest reason for undertaking a case is to be fund in our duty towards our clients: nay, we should even desire the suits in which our friends are involved to he as unimportant as possible, and remember that the advocate who gives an adequate presentment to his case, has spoken exceeding well.
3653
At
quidam
,
etiamsi
forte
susceperunt
negotia
paulo
ad
dicendum
tenuiora
,
extrinsecus
adductis
ea
rebus
circumlinunt
ac
,
si
defecerint
alia
,
conviciis
implent
vacua
causarum
,
si
contingit
,
veris
,
si
minus
,
fictis
,
modo
sit
materia
ingenii
mereaturque
clamorem
dum
dicitur
.
Quod
ego
adeo
longe
puto
ab
oratore
perfecto
,
ut
eum
ne
vera
quidem
obiecturum
,
nisi
id
causa
exigit
,
credam
.
But there are so he who, even although the cases which they have undertaken give but small scope for eloquence, none the less trick it out with matter drawn from without and, if all else fails, fill up the gaps in their case with abuse of their opponents, true if possible, but false if necessary, the sole consideration that weighs with them being that it affords exercise for their talents and is likely to win applause during its delivery. Such conduct seems to me so unworthy of our perfect orator that, in my opinion, he will not even bring true charges against his opponents unless the case demand.
3654
Ea
est
enim
prorsus
canina
,
ut
ait
Appius
,
eloquentia
,
cognituram
male
dicendi
subire
;
quod
facientibus
etiam
male
audiendi
praesumenda
patientia
est
.
Nam
et
in
ipsos
fit
impetus
frequenter
,
qui
egerunt
,
et
certe
petulantiam
patron
litigator
luit
.
Sed
haec
minora
sunt
ipso
illo
vitio
animi
,
quod
maledicus
a
malefico
non
distat
nisi
occasione
.
For it is a dog's eloquence, as Appius says, to undertake the task of abusing one's opponent, and they who do so should steel themselves in advance to the prospect of being targets for like abuse themselves, since those who adopt this style of pleading are frequently attacked themselves, and there can at any rate be no doubt that the litigant pays dearly for the violence of his advocate. But such faults are less serious than that which lies deep in the soul itself, making the evil speaker to differ from the evil doer only in respect of opportunity.
3655
Turpis
voluptas
et
inhumana
et
nulli
audientium
bona
gratia
a
litigatoribus
quidem
frequenter
exigitur
,
qui
ultionem
malunt
quam
defensionem
.
Sed
neque
alia
multa
ad
arbitrium
eorum
facienda
sunt
.
Hoc
quidem
quis
hominum
liberi
modo
sanguinis
sustineat
petulans
esse
ad
alterius
arbitrium
?
It is not uncommon for the litigant to demand a base and inhuman gratification of his rancour, such as not a single man among the audience will approve, for it is on revenge rather than on protection that his heart is set. But in this, as in a number of other points, it is the duty of the orator to refuse to comply with his clients' desires. For how can a man with the least degree of gentlemanly feeling consent to make a brutal attack merely because another desires it?
3656
Atqui
etiam
in
advocatos
partis
adversae
libenter
nonnulli
invehuntur
;
quod
,
nisi
si
forte
meruerunt
,
et
inhumanum
est
respectu
communium
officiorum
,
et
cum
ipsi
qui
dicit
inutile
(
nam
idem
iuris
responsuris
datur
) ,
tum
causae
contrarium
,
cui
plane
adversarii
fiunt
et
inimici
,
et
quantulumcunque
eis
uirium
est
,
contumelia
augetur
.
And yet there are some who take pleasure in directing their onslaughts against their opponents' counsel as well, a practice which, unless they have deserved such attacks, shows an inhuman disregard of the duties incumbent on the profession, and is not merely useless to the speaker (since he thereby gives his opponent the right to reply in the same strain), but contrary to the interests of his case, since it creates a hosthe and antagonistic disposition in the advocates attacked, whose eloquence, however feeble it may be, will be redoubled by resentment at the insults to which they have been subjected.
3657
Super
omnia
perit
illa
,
quae
plurimum
oratori
et
auctoritatis
et
fidei
adfert
,
modestia
,
si
a
viro
bono
in
rabulam
latratoremque
convertitur
,
compositus
non
ad
animum
iudicis
sed
ad
stomachum
litigatoris
.
Above all, it involves a complete waste of one of the most valuable of an orator's assets, namely that self-restraint which gives weight and credit to his words, if he debases himself from an honest man into a snarling wrangler, directing all his efforts not to win the goodwill of the judge, but to gratify his client's spite.
3658
Frequenter
etiam
species
libertatis
deducere
ad
temeritatem
solet
non
causis
modo
,
sed
ipsis
quoque
,
qui
dixerunt
,
periculosam
.
Nec
immerito
Pericles
solebat
optare
,
ne
quod
sibi
verbum
in
mentem
veniret
,
quo
populus
offenderetur
.
Sed
quod
ille
de
populo
,
id
ego
de
omnibus
sentio
,
qui
tantundem
possunt
nocere
.
Nam
quae
fortia
dum
dicuntur
videbantur
,
stulta
cum
laeserunt
vocantur
.
Often too the attractions of freedom of speech will lure him into a rashness of language perilous not merely to the interests of the case, but to those of the speaker himself. It was not without good reason that Pericles used to pray that no word might occur to his mind that could give offence to the people. But what he felt with regard to the people, I feel with regard to every audience, since they can cause just as much harm to the orator as the people could ever do to Pericles. For utterances which seemed courageous at the moment of speaking, are called foolish when it is found that they have given offence.
3659
Nunc
,
quia
varium
fere
propositum
agentium
fuit
,
et
quorundam
cura
tarditatis
,
quorundam
facilitas
temeritatis
crimine
laboravit
,
quem
credam
fore
in
hoc
oratoris
modum
,
tradere
non
alienum
videtur
.
In view of the tact that there is commonly a great variety in the aims which pleaders set before themselves and that the diligence shown by some is branded as tedious caution, while the readiness of others is criticised as rashness, I think that this will be an appropriate place to set forth my views as to how the orator may strike the happy mean.
3660
Adferet
ad
dicendum
curae
semper
quantum
plurimum
poterit
.
Neque
enim
hoc
solum
negligentis
,
sed
mali
et
in
suscepta
causa
perfidi
ac
proditoris
est
,
peius
agere
quam
possit
.
Ideoque
ne
suscipiendae
quidem
sunt
causae
plures
quam
quibus
suffecturum
se
sciat
.
He will show all the diligence of which he is capable in his pleading. For to plead worse than he might have done, is not merely an indication of negligence, but stamps him as a had man and a traitor, disloyal to the cause which he has undertaken. Consequently he must refuse to undertake more cases than he feels he can manage.
3661
Dicet
scripta
quam
res
patietur
plurima
et
,
ut
Demosthenes
ait
,
si
continget
,
et
sculpta
.
Sed
hoc
aut
primae
actiones
aut
quae
in
publicis
iudiciis
post
interiectos
dies
dantur
permiserint
;
at
cum
protinus
respondendum
est
,
omnia
parari
non
possunt
,
adeo
ut
paulo
minus
promptis
etiam
noceat
scripsisse
,
si
alia
ex
diverso
,
quam
opinati
fuerint
,
occurrerint
.
As far as possible he will deliver only what he has written, and, if circumstances permit, only what he has, as Demosthenes says, carved into shape. Such a practice is possible in first hearings and also in subsequent hearings such as are granted in the public courts after an interval of several days. On the other hand, when we have to reply on the spot, it is impossible to prepare everything: in fact for the less ready type of speaker, it may, in the event of his opponents putting forward arguments quite other than those which they were expected to advance, be a positive drawback to have written anything.
3662
Inviti
enim
recedunt
a
praeparatis
et
tota
actione
respiciunt
requiruntque
,
num
aliquid
ex
illis
intervelli
atque
ex
tempore
dicendis
inseri
possit
;
quod
si
fiat
,
non
cohaeret
nec
commissuris
modo
,
ut
in
opere
male
iuncto
,
hiantibus
sed
ipsa
coloris
inaequalitate
detegitur
.
For it is only with reluctance that such speakers will under such circumstances consent to abandon what they have written, and throughout their pleading keep looking back and trying to discover whether any portion of their manuscript can be saved from the wreck and interpolated into what they have to improvise. And if they do make such interpolations, the result is a lack of' cohesion which is betrayed not merely by the gaping of the seams where the patch has been unskilfully inserted, but by the differences of style.
3663
Ita
nec
liber
est
impetus
nec
cura
contexta
,
et
utrumque
alteri
obstat
;
illa
enim
quae
scripta
sunt
reticent
animum
,
non
sequuntur
.
Itaque
in
his
actionibus
omni
,
ut
agricolae
dicunt
,
pede
standum
est
.
Consequently, the vigour of their eloquence will be hampered and their thought will lack connexion, each of which circumstances reacts unfavourably upon the other, since what is written trammels the mind instead of following its lead. Therefore, in such pleadings we must, as the rustic adage says, "stand on all our feet."
3664
Nam
cum
in
propositione
ac
refutatione
causa
consistat
,
quae
nostrae
partis
sunt
scripta
esse
possunt
,
quae
etiam
responsurum
adversarium
certum
est
(
est
enim
aliquando
certum
)
pari
cura
refelluntur
.
Ad
alia
unum
paratum
adferre
possumus
,
ut
causam
bene
noverimus
,
alterum
ibi
sumere
,
ut
dicentem
adversarium
diligenter
audiamus
.
For since the case turns on the propounding and refutation of arguments, it is always possible to write out what we propose to advance on our own behalf, and similar preparation is also possible with regard to the refutation of such replies as are absolutely certain to be made by our adversary: for there are times when we have this certainty. But with regard to all other portions of our speech, the only preparation that is possible in advance consists in a thorough knowledge of our case, while there is a second precaution which may be taken in court, consisting in giving our best attention to our opponent's speech.
3665
Licet
tamen
praecogitare
plura
et
animum
ad
omnes
casus
componere
,
idque
est
tutius
stilo
,
quo
facilius
et
omittitur
cogitatio
et
transfertur
.
Sed
sive
in
respondendo
fuerit
subito
dicendum
,
sive
quae
alia
ita
exegerit
ratio
,
non
oppressum
se
ac
deprehensum
credet
orator
,
cui
disciplina
et
studium
et
exercitatio
dederit
vires
etiam
facilitatis
;
On the other hand, there is much that may be thought out in advance and we may forearm our mind against all possible emergencies, a course which is far safer than writing, since a train of thought can easily be abandoned or diverted in a new direction. But whether we have to improvise a reply, or are obliged to speak extempore by some other reason, the orator on whom training, study and practice have conferred the gift of facility, will never regard himself as lost or taken at hopeless disadvantage.
3666
quem
armatum
semper
ac
velut
in
procinctu
stantem
non
magis
unquam
in
causis
oratio
quam
in
rebus
cotidianis
ac
domesticis
sermo
deficiet
,
nec
se
unquam
propter
hoc
oneri
subtrahet
,
modo
sit
causae
discendae
tempus
;
nam
cetera
semper
sciet
.
He stands armed for battle, ever ready for the fray, and his eloquence will no more fail him in the courts than speech will fail him in domestic affairs and the daily concerns of life: and he will never shirk his burden for fear of failing to find words, provided he has time to study his case: for all other knowledge will always be his at command.
3667
Superest
ut
dicam
de
genere
orationis
.
Hic
erat
propositus
a
nobis
in
division
prima
locus
tertius
;
nam
ita
promiseram
me
de
arte
,
de
artifice
,
de
opere
dicturum
.
Cum
sit
autem
rhetorices
atque
oratoris
opus
oratio
pluresque
eius
formae
,
sicut
ostendam
,
in
omnibus
his
et
ars
est
et
artifex
.
Plurimum
tamen
invicem
differunt
;
nec
solum
specie
,
ut
signum
signo
et
tabula
tabulae
et
actio
actioni
,
sed
genere
ipso
,
ut
Graecis
Tuscanicae
statuae
,
ut
Asianus
eloquens
Attico
.
The question of the "kind of style" to be adopted remains to be discussed. This was described in my original division of my subject as forming its third portion: for I promised that I would speak of the art, the artist and the work. But since oratory is the work both of rhetoric and of the orator, and since it has many forms, as I shall show, the art and the artist are involved in the consideration of all these forms. But they differ greatly from one another, and not merely in species, as statue differs from statue, picture from picture and speech from speech, but in genus as well, as, for example, Etruscan statues differ from Greek and Asiatic orators from Attic.
3668
Suos
autem
haec
operum
genera
,
quae
dico
,
ut
auctores
,
sic
etiam
amatores
habent
;
atque
ideo
nondum
est
perfectus
orator
ac
nescio
an
ars
ulla
,
non
solum
quia
aliud
in
alio
magis
eminet
,
sed
quod
non
una
omnibus
forma
placuit
,
partim
condicione
vel
temporum
vel
locorum
,
partim
iudicio
cuiusque
atque
proposito
.
But these different kinds of work, of which I speak, are not merely the product of different authors, but have each their own following of admirers, with the result that the perfect orator has not yet been found, a statement which perhaps may be extended to all arts, not merely because some qualities are more evident in some artists than in others, but because one single form will not satisfy all critics, a fact which is due in part to conditions of time or place, in part to the taste and ideals of individuals.
3669
Primi
,
quorum
quidem
opera
non
vetustatis
modo
gratia
visenda
sunt
,
clari
pictores
fuisse
dicuntur
Polygnotus
atque
Aglaophon
,
quorum
simplex
color
tam
sui
studiosos
adhuc
habet
,
ut
illa
prope
rudia
ac
velut
futurae
mox
artis
primordia
maximis
,
qui
post
eos
exstiterunt
,
auctoribus
praeferant
,
proprio
quodam
intelligendi
,
ut
mea
opinio
est
,
ambitu
.
The first great painters, whose works deserve inspection for something more than their mere antiquity, are said to have been Polygnotus and Aglaopllon, whose simple colouring has still such enthusiastic admirers that they prefer these almost primitive works, which may be regarded as the first foundations of the art that was to be, over the works of the greatest of their successors, their motive being, in my opinion, an ostentatious desire to seem persons of superior taste.
3670
Post
Zeuxis
atque
Parrhasius
non
multum
aetate
distantes
,
circa
Peloponnesia
ambo
tempora
(
Nam
cum
Parrhasio
sermo
Socratis
apud
Xenophontem
invenitur
)
plurimum
arti
addiderunt
.
Quorum
prior
luminum
umbrarumque
inuenisse
rationem
,
secundus
examinasse
subtilius
lineas
traditur
.
Later Zeuxis and Parrhasius contributed much to the progress of painting. These artists were separated by no great distance of time, since both flourished about the period of the Peloponnesian war: for example, Xenophon has preserved a conversation between Socrates and Parrhasius. The first-mentioned seems to have discovered the method of representing light and shade, while the latter is said to have devoted special attention to the treatment of line.
3671
Nam
Zeuxis
plus
membris
corporis
dedit
,
id
amplius
atque
augustius
ratus
atque
,
ut
existimant
,
Homerum
secutus
,
cui
validissima
quaeque
forma
etiam
in
feminis
placet
.
Ille
vero
ita
circumscripsit
omnia
,
ut
eum
legum
latorem
vocent
,
quia
deorum
atque
heroum
effigies
,
quales
ab
eo
sunt
traditae
,
ceteri
,
tanquam
ita
necesse
sit
,
sequuntur
.
For Zeuxis emphasised the limbs of the human body, thinking thereby to add dignity and grandeur to his style: it is generally supposed that in this he followed the example of Homer, who likes to represent even his female characters as being of heroic mould. Parrhasius, on the other hand, was so fine a draughtsman that he has been styled the law-giver of his art, on the ground that all other artists take his representations of gods and heroes as models, as though no other course were possible.
3672
Floruit
autem
circa
Philippum
et
usque
ad
successores
Alexandri
pictura
praecipue
,
sed
diversis
virtutibus
.
Nam
cura
Protogenes
,
ratione
Pamphilus
ac
Melanthius
,
facilitate
Antiphilus
,
concipiendis
visionibus
,
quas
φαντασίας
vocant
,
Theon
Samius
,
ingenio
et
gratia
,
quam
in
se
ipse
maxime
iactat
,
Apelles
est
praestantissimus
.
Euphranorem
admirandum
facit
,
quod
et
ceteris
optimis
studiis
inter
praecipuos
et
pingendi
fingendique
idem
mirus
artifex
fuit
.
It was, however, from about the period of the reign of Philip down to that of the successors of Alexander that painting flourished more especially, although the different artists are distinguished for different excellences. Protogenes, for example, was renowned for accuracy, Pamphilus and Melanthius for soundness of taste, Antiphilus for facility, Theon of Samos for his depiction of imaginary scenes, known as φαντασίαι, and Apelles for genius and grace, in the latter of which qualities he took especial pride. Euphranor, on the other hand, was admired on the ground that, while he ranked with the most eminent masters of other arts, he at the same time achieved marvellous skill in the arts of sculpture and painting.
3673
Similis
in
statuariis
differentia
Nam
duriora
et
Tuscanicis
proxima
Callon
atque
Hegesias
,
iam
minus
rigida
Calamis
,
molliora
adhuc
supra
dictis
Myron
fecit
.
Diligentia
ac
decor
in
Polyclito
supra
ceteros
,
cui
quamquam
a
plerisque
tribuitur
palma
,
tamen
,
ne
nihil
detrahatur
,
deesse
pondus
putant
.
The same differences exist between sculptors. The art of Callon and Hegesias is somewhat rude and recalls the Etruscans, but the work of Calamis has already begun to be less stiff, while Myron's statues show a greater softness of form than had been achieved by the artists just mentioned. Polyclitus surpassed all others for care and grace, but although the majority of critics account him as the greatest of sculptors, to avoid making him faultless they express the opinion that his work is lacking in grandeur.
3674
Nam
ut
humane
formae
decorem
addiderit
supra
verum
,
ita
non
explevisse
deorum
auctoritatem
videtur
.
Quin
aetatem
quoque
graviorem
dicitur
refugisse
nihil
ausus
ultra
leves
genas
.
At
quae
Polyclito
defuerunt
,
Phidiae
atque
Alcameni
dantur
.
For while he gave the human form an ideal grace, he is thought to have been less successful in representing the dignity of the gods. he is further alleged to have shrunk from representing persons of maturer years, and to have ventured on nothing more difficult than a smooth and beardless face. But the qualities lacking in Polyclitus are allowed to have been possessed by Phidias and Alcamenes.
3675
Phidias
tamen
diis
quam
hominibus
efficiendis
melior
artifex
creditur
in
ebore
vero
longe
citra
aemulum
,
vel
si
nihil
nisi
Minervam
Athenis
aut
Olympium
in
Elide
Iovem
fecisset
,
cuius
pulchritudo
adiecisse
aliquid
etiam
receptae
religioni
videtur
;
adeo
maiestas
operis
deum
aequavit
.
Ad
veritatem
Lysippum
ac
Praxitelen
accessisse
optime
adfirmant
.
Nam
Demetrius
tanquam
nimius
in
ea
reprehenditur
et
fuit
similitudinis
quam
pulchritudinis
amantior
.
On the other hand, Phidias is regarded as more gifted in his representation of gods than of men, and indeed for chryselephantine statues he is without a peer, as he would in truth be, even if he had produced nothing in this material beyond his Minerva at Athens and his Jupiter at Olympia in Elis, whose beauty is such that it is said to have added something even to the awe with which the god was already regarded: so perfectly did the majesty of the work give the impression of godhead. Lysippus and Praxiteles are asserted to be supreme as regards faithfulness to nature. For Demetrius is blamed for carrying realism too far, and is less concerned about the beauty than the truth of his work.
3676
In
oratione
vero
si
species
intueri
velis
,
totidem
paene
reperias
ingeniorum
quot
corporum
formas
.
Sed
fuere
quaedam
genera
dicendi
condicione
temporum
horridiora
,
alioqui
magnam
iam
ingenii
vim
prae
se
ferentia
.
Hinc
sint
Laelii
,
Africani
,
Catones
etiam
Gracchique
,
quos
tu
licet
Polygnotos
vel
Callonas
appelles
.
Mediam
illam
formam
teneant
L
.
Crassus
,
Q
.
Hortensius
.
Now, if we turn our attention to the various styles of oratory, we shall find almost as great variety of talents as there are of personal appearance. There were certain kinds of oratory which, owing to the circumstances of the age, suffered from lack of polish, although in other respects they displayed remarkable genius. In this class we may place orators such as Laelius, Africanus, Cato, and even the Gracchi, whom we may call the "Polygnoti" and "Callones" of oratory.
3677
Tum
deinde
efflorescat
non
multum
inter
se
distantium
tempore
oratorum
ingens
proventus
.
Hic
vim
Caesaris
,
indolem
Caelii
,
subtilitatem
Calidii
,
diligentiam
Pollionis
,
dignitatem
Messalae
,
sanctitatem
Calvi
,
gravitatem
Bruti
,
acumen
Sulpicii
,
acerbitatem
Cassii
reperiemus
;
in
iis
etiam
,
quos
ipsi
vidimus
,
copiam
Senecae
,
vires
Africani
,
maturitatem
Afri
,
iucunditatem
Crispi
,
sonum
Trachali
,
elegantiam
Secundi
.
Among orators of the intermediate type we may rank Lucius Crassus and Quintus Hortensius. Then let us turn to a vast harvest of orators who flourished much about the same period. It is here that we find the vigour of Caesar, the natural talent of Caelius, the subtlety of Calidius, the accuracy of Pollio, the dignity of Messala, the austerity of Calvus, the gravity of Brutus, the acumen of Sulpicius and the bitterness of Cassius, while among those whom we have seen ourselves we admire the fluency of Seneca, the strength of Africanus, the mellowness of Afer, the charm of Crispus, the sonority of Trachalus and the elegance of Secundus.
3678
At
M
.
Tullium
non
illum
habemus
Euphranorem
circa
plures
artium
species
praestantem
,
sed
in
omnibus
,
quae
in
quoque
laudantur
,
eminentissimum
.
Quem
tamen
et
suorum
homines
temporum
incessere
audebant
ut
tumidiorem
et
Asianum
et
redundantem
et
in
repetitionibus
nimium
et
in
salibus
aliquando
frigidum
et
in
compositione
fractum
,
exultantem
ac
paene
,
quod
procul
absit
,
viro
molliorem
;
But in Cicero we have one who is not, like Euphranor, merely distinguished in a number of different forms of art, but is supreme in all the different qualities which are praised in each individual orator. And yet even his own contemporaries ventured to attack him on the ground that he was bombastic, Asiatic, redundant, given to excessive repetition, liable at times to be pointless in his witticisms, sensuous, extravagant and (an outrageous accusation!) almost effeminate in his rhythm.
3679
postea
vero
quam
triumvirali
proscriptione
consumptus
est
,
passim
qui
oderant
,
qui
invidebant
qui
aemulabantur
,
adulatores
etiam
praesentis
potentiae
non
responsurum
inuaserunt
.
Ille
tamen
,
qui
ieiunus
a
quibusdam
et
aridus
habetur
,
non
aliter
ab
ipsis
inimicis
male
audire
quam
nimiis
floribus
et
ingenii
affluentia
potuit
.
Falsum
utrumque
,
sed
tamen
ilia
mentiendi
propior
occasio
.
And later, after he had fallen a victim to the proscription of the second triumvirate, those who hated and envied him and regarded him as their rival, nay, even those who had flattered him in the days of his power, attacked him now that he could no longer reply. But that very man, who is now regarded by some as being too jejune and dry, was attacked by his personal enemies on no other ground than that his style was too florid and his talents too little under control. Both charges are false, but there is more colour for the he in the latter case than in the former.
3680
Praecipue
vero
presserunt
eum
,
qui
videri
Atticorum
imitatores
concupierant
.
Haec
manus
quasi
quibusdam
sacris
initiata
ut
alienigenam
et
parum
superstitiosum
devinctumque
illis
legibus
insequebatur
;
unde
nunc
quoque
aridi
et
exsuci
et
exangues
.
Those, however, who criticised him most severely were the speakers who desired to be regarded as the imitators of Attic oratory. This coterie, regarding themselves as the sole initiates in the mysteries of their art, assailed him as an alien, indifferent to their superstitions and refusing to be bound by their laws. Their descendants are among us to-day, a withered, sapless and anemic band.
3681
Hi
sunt
enim
,
qui
suae
imbecillitati
sanitatis
appellationem
,
quae
est
maxime
contraria
,
obtendant
;
qui
,
quia
clariorem
vim
eloquentiae
velut
solem
ferre
non
possunt
,
umbra
magni
nominis
delitescunt
.
Quibus
quia
multa
et
pluribus
locis
Cicero
ipse
respondit
,
tutior
mihi
de
hoc
disserendi
brevitas
erit
.
For it is they that flaunt their weakness under the name of health, in defiance of the actual truth, and because they cannot endure the dazzling rays of the sun of eloquence, hide themselves beneath the shadow of a mighty name. However, as Cicero himself answered them at length and in a number of passages, it will be safer for me to be brief in my treatment of this topic.
3682
Et
antiqua
quidem
illa
divisio
inter
Atticos
atque
Asianos
fuit
,
cum
hi
pressi
et
integri
,
contra
inflati
illi
et
inanes
haberentur
,
in
his
nihil
superflueret
,
illis
iudicium
maxime
ac
modus
deesset
.
Quod
quidam
,
quorum
et
Santra
est
,
hoc
putant
accidisse
,
quod
,
paulatim
sermone
Graeco
in
proximas
Asiae
civitates
influente
,
nondum
satis
periti
loquendi
facundiam
concupierint
,
ideoque
ea
,
quae
proprie
signari
poterant
,
circuitu
coeperint
enuntiare
ac
deinde
in
eo
perseverarint
.
The distinction between the Attic and the Asiatic schools takes us back to antiquity. The former were regarded as concise and healthy, the latter as empty and inflated: the former were remarkable for the absence of all superfluity, while the latter were deficient alike in taste and restraint. The reason for this division, according to some authorities, among them Santra, is to be found in the fact that, as Greek gradually extended its range into the neighbouring cities of Asia, there arose a class of men who desired to distinguish themselves as orators before they had acquired sufficient command of the language, and who consequently began to express by periphrases what could have been expressed directly, until finally this practice became an ingrained habit.
3683
Mihi
autem
orationis
differentiam
fecisse
et
dicentium
et
audientium
naturae
videntur
,
quod
Attici
limati
quidam
et
emuncti
nihil
inane
aut
redundans
ferebant
,
Asiana
gens
tumidior
alioqui
atque
iactantior
vaniore
etiam
dicendi
gloria
inflate
est
.
My own view, however, is that the difference between the two styles is attributable to the character both of the orators and the audiences whom they addressed: the Athenians, with their polish and refinement, refused to tolerate emptiness and redundance, while the Asiatics, being naturally given to bombast and ostentation, were puffed up with a passion for a more vainglorious style of eloquence.
3684
Tertium
mox
,
qui
haec
dividebant
,
adiecerunt
genus
Rhodium
,
quod
velut
medium
esse
atque
ex
utroque
mixtum
volunt
;
neque
enim
Attice
pressi
neque
Asiane
sunt
abundantes
,
ut
aliquid
habere
videantur
gentis
,
aliquid
auctoris
.
At a later period, the critics, to whom we owe this classification, added a third style, the Rhodian, which they asserted to he midway between the two and to be a blend of both, since the orators of this school are neither so concise as the Attic nor redundant like the Asiatic school, but appear to derive their style in part from their national characteristics, in part from those of their founder.
3685
Aeschines
enim
,
qui
hunc
exilio
delegerat
locum
,
intulit
eo
studia
Athenarum
,
quae
,
velut
sata
quaedam
caelo
terraque
degenerant
,
saporem
illum
Atticum
peregrino
miscuerunt
.
Lenti
ergo
quidam
ac
remissi
,
non
sine
pondere
tamen
neque
fontibus
puris
neque
torrentibus
turbidis
,
sed
lenibus
stagnis
similes
habentur
.
For it was Aeschines who introduced the culture of Athens at Rhodes, which he had chosen as his place of exile: and just as certain plants degenerate as a result of change of soil and climate, so the fine Attic flavour was marred by the admixture of foreign ingredients. Consequently certain of the orators of this school are regarded as somewhat slow and lacking in energy, though not devoid of a certain weight, and as resembling placid pools rather than the limpid springs of Athens or the turbid torrents of Asia.
3686
Nemo
igitur
dubitaverit
,
longe
esse
optimum
genus
Atticorum
.
In
quo
ut
est
aliquid
inter
ipsos
commune
,
id
est
indicium
acre
tersumque
,
ita
ingeniorum
plurimae
formae
.
No one therefore should have any hesitation in pronouncing Attic oratory to be by far the best. But although all Attic writers have something in comion, namely a keen and exact judgement, their talents manitest themselves in a number of different forms.