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poffeffion of my whole heart. I have heard him in the unpremeditated, as well as ftudied fpeech, plead with no lefs v.armth and energy, than grace and eloquence. He abounds with just reflections; his periods are graceful and majestic his words harmonious, and ftamped with the authority of genuine antiquity. There united qualities infinitely delight you, not only when you are carried along, if I may fo fay, with the refifflefs flow of his charming and emphatical elocution; but when confidered diflinct and apart from that advantage. I am perfuaded you will be of this opinion when you perufe his orations, and will not hesitate to place him in the fame rank with the ancients, whom he fo happily imitates. But you will view him with fill higher pleafure in the character of an hiftorian, where his ftyle is at once concife and clear, smooth and fublime; and the fame energy of expreffion, though with more clofenefs, runs through his harangues, which foeminently distinguishes and adorns his pleadings. But thefe are not all his excellencies; he has compofed feveral poetical. pieces in the manner of my favourite Calvus and Catullus. What ftrokes of wit, what sweetness of numbers, what pointed fatire, and what touches of the tender paflion appear in his verfes in the midst of which he fometimes defignedly falls into an agreeable negligence in his metre, in imitation too of thofe admired poets. He read to me, the other day, fome letters which he affured me were wrote by his wife. I fancied I was hearing Plautus or Terence in profe. If they are that lady's (as he politively affirms), or his own (which he abfolutely denies), either way he deferves equal applaufe; whether for writing fo politely himself, or for having fo highly improved and refined the genius of his wife, whom he married young and uninftructed. His works are never out of my hands; and whether I fit down to write any thing myself, or to revife what I have already wrote, or am in a difpofition to amufe myfelf, I conftantly take up this agree able author and as often as I do fo, he is ftill new. Let me strongly recommend him to the fame degree of intimacy with you; nor be it any prejudice to his merit that he is a cotemporary writer. Had he flourished in fome diilant age, not only his works, but the very pictures and

ftatues of him, would have been paffionately enquired after; and fhall we then, from a fort of fatiety, and merely because he is prefent among us, fuffer his talents to languish and fade away unhonoured and unadmired? It is furely a very perverie and envious difpofition, to lock with indifference upon a man worthy of the higher approbation, for no other reafon bat because we have it in our power to fee him and to converfe with him, and not only to give him our ap plaute, but to receive him into our friendflip. Farewel.

LETTER X.

To Cornelius Tacitus.

In aufwer

HAVE frequent debates with a learned and judicious perfon of my acquaintance, who admires nothing to much in the eloquence of the bar as concifenels. I agree with him, where the cause will admit of this manner, it may be properly enough purfued; but infift, that to omit what is material to be mentioned, or only flightly to touch upon thofe points which fhould be ftrongly inculcated, and urged home to the minds of the audience, is in effect to defert the cause one has undertaken. In many cafes a copious manner of expreflion gives ftrength and weight to our ideas, which frequently make impreffions upon the mind, as iron does upon folid bodies, rather by repeated frokes than a fingle blow. to this be ufall has recourfe to authorities; and produces Lyfias amongst the Grecians, and Cato and the two Gracchi among our own countrymen, as inftances in favour of the concife flyle. In return, I tame Demofthenes, Lichynes, Hitperides, and many others, in oppofition to Lyfias; while I confront Cato and the Gracchi, with Cafar, Pollio, Celius, and above all Cicero, whofe longeft oration is generally flecined the beit. It is in good compofitions, as in every thing elfe that is valuable; the more there is of them, the better. You may obferve in flatues, baflo-relievos, pictures, and the bodies of men, and even in animals and trees, that nothing is more graceful than magnitude, if it is accompanied wita proportion. The fame holds true in pleading; and even in books, a large volume carries fomething of beauty and

authority

time; for if he be abridged of that, no imputation can juftly be fixed upon the advocate, though certainly a very great one is chargeable upon the judge. The fenfe of the laws is, I am fure, on my fide, which are by no means fparing of the orator's time: it is not brevity, but an enlarged fcope, a full attention to every thing material, which they recommend. And how is it poffible for an advocate to acquit himself of that duty, unless in the most infignificant causes, if he affects to be concife? Let me add what experience, that unerring guide, has taught me : it has frequently been my province to act both as an advocate and a judge, as I have often affifted as an affeffor *, where I have ever found the judgments of mankind are to be influenced by different applications; and that the flightest circumftances often produce the most important confequences. There is fo vaft a variety in the difpofitions and understandings of men, that they feldom agree in their opinions about any one point in debate before them; or if they do, it is generally from the movement of different paffions. Befides, as every man naturally favours his own discoveries, and when he hears an argument made ufe of which had before occurred to himself, will certainly embrace it as extremely convincing, the orator therefore fhould fo adapt himself to his audience as to throw out fomething to every one of them, that he may receive and approve as his own peculiar thought. I remember when Regulus and I were concerned together in a caufe, he faid to me, You seem to think it neceffary to infift upon every point; whereas I always take aim at my adverfary's throat, and there I closely prefs him. ('Tis true, he tenaciously holds whatever part he has once fixed upon; but the misfortune is, he is extremely apt to mistake the right place.) I anfwered, It might poffibly happen that what he took for what he called the throat, was in reality fome other part. As for me, faid I, who do not pretend to direct my aim with so much certainty, I attack every part, and push at every opening; in fhort, to use a vulgar pro

authority in its very fize. My antagonist who is extremely dexterous at evading an argument, eludes all this, and much more which I ufually urge to the fame purpose, by infifting that thofe very perfons, upon whofe works I found my opi. tion, made confiderable additions to their orations when they published them. This I deny: and appeal to the harangues of numberless orators; particularly to thofe of Cicero for Murena and Varenus, where he feems to have given us little more than the general charge. Whence it appears, that many things which he enlarged upon at the time he delivered thole orations, were retrenched when he gave them to the public. The fame excellent orator informs us, that, agreeably to the ancient custom which allowed only one counsel on a fide, Cluentius had no other advocate but himself; and tells us farther, that he employed four whole days in defence of Cornelius: by which a plainly appears that those orations which, when delivered at their full length, had necessarily taken up fo much time at the bar, were greatly altered and abridged when he afterwards comprised them in a fingle volume, though I must confefs indeed, a large one. But it is objected, there is a great difference between good pleading and just compofiton. This opinion, I acknowledge, has fome favourers, and it may be true; nevertheless I am perfuaded (though I may perhaps be mistaken) that, as it is poffibe a pleading may be well received by the audience, which has not merit enough recommend it to the reader; fo a good tration cannot be a bad pleading for the oration upon paper is, in truth, the ginal and model of the fpeech that is to be pronounced. It is for this reafon we find in many of the beft orations exat, numberless expreffions which have the air of unpremeditated discourse; and this even where we are fure they were wever fpoken at all: as for inftance in following paffage from the oration againft Verres, A certain mechanic what's his name? Oh, I'm obliged you for helping me to it: yes, I Polycletus. It cannot then be denied, that the nearer approach a fpeaker makes to the rules of just compo

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The Prætor was affifted by 'en affeffors, five With these he was obliged to confult before h= pronounced fentence.

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poffeffion of my whole heart. I have heard him in the unpremeditated, as well as ftudied fpeech, plead with no lefs warmth and energy, than grace and eloquence. He abounds with just reflections; his periods are graceful and majestic his words harmonious, and ftariped with the authority of genuine antiquity. Thete united qualities infinitely delight you, not only when you are carried along, if I may fo fay, with the refiftlefs flow of his charming and emphatical elocution; but when confidered diflinct and apart from that advantage. I am perfuaded you will be of this opinion when you perufe his orations, and will not hesitate to place him in the fame rank with the ancient, whom he fo happily imitates. But you will view him with ftill higher pleasure in the character of an hiftorian, where his ftyle is at once concife and clear, smooth and fublime; and the fame energy of expreffion, though with more clef nefs, runs through his harangues, which foeminently distinguithes and adorns his pleadings. But thefe are not all his excellencies; he has compofed feveral poetical. pieces in the manner of my favourite Calvus and Catullus. What ftrokes of wit, what fweetnefs of numbers, what pointed fatire, and what touches of the tender paflion appear in his verfes! in the midst of which he fometimes defignedly falls into an agreeable negligence in his metre, in imitation too of thofe admired poets. He read to me, the other day, fome letters which he affured me were wrote by his wife. I fancied I was hearing Plautus or Terence in profe. If they are that lady's (as he politively affirms), or his own (which he abfolutely denies), either way he deferves equal anplaufe; whether for writing fo politely himfelf, or for having fo highly improved and refined the genius of his wife, whom he married young and uninftructed. His works are never out of my hands; and whether I fit down to write any thing myself, or to revife what I have already wrote, or am in a difpofition to amufe myself, I conftantly take up this agree able author and as often as I do fo, he is ftill new. Let me ftrongly recommend him to the fame degree of intimacy with you; nor be it any prejudice to his merit that he is a cotemporary writer. Had he flourished in fome distant age, not only his works, but the very pictures and

ftatues of him, would have been paffionately enquired after; and fhall we then, from a fort of fatiety, and merely becaufe he is prefent among us, fuffer his talents to languish and fade away unhonoured and unadmired? It is furely a very perverio and envious difpofition, to lock with indifference upon a man worthy of the highen approbation, for no other reafon bat because we have it in our power to fee him and to converfe with him, and not only to give him our ap plaufe, but to receive hiin into our friend. flip. Farewel.

LETTER X.

To Cornelius Tacitus.

HAVE frequent debates with a learne and judicious perfon of my acquaint ance, who admires nothing fo much i the eloquence of the bar as concifenes I agree with him, where the caufe wi admit of this manner, it may be proper enough purfued; but infift, that to om what is material to be mentioned, or onl flightly to touch upon those points whic fhould be ftrongly inculcated, and urge home to the minds of the audience, is effect to defert the caufe one has unde taken. In many cafes a copious mann of expreflion gives ftrength and weig to our ideas, which frequently make in preffions upon the mind, as iron do upon folid bodies, rather by repeat frokes than a fingle blow. In anfw to this be ufually has recourfe to auth rities; and produces Lyfias amongitu Grecians, and Cato and the two Grace among our own countrymen, as initand in favour of the concife flyle. In retur I name Demofthenes, fchynes, Hit rides, and many others, in oppofition Lyfias; while I confront Cato and t Gracchi, with Cæfar, Pollio, Celi and above all Cicero, whofe longeft or tion is generally cftecmed the beit. 1t in good compofitions, as in every thi elfe that is valuable; the more there of them, the better. You may oble: in flatues, baffo-relievos, pictures, = the bodies of men, and even in anim and trees, that nothing is more grace than magnitude, if it is accompanied w proportion. The fame holds true pleading; and even in books, a la volume carries fomething of beauty

author

authority in its very fize. My antagonist who is extremely dexterous at evading an argument, eludes all this, and much more which I ufually urge to the fame purpofe, by infifting that thofe very perons, upon whofe works I found my opi. non, made confiderable additions to their orations when they published them. This I deny: and appeal to the harangues of amberlefs orators; particularly to thofe of Cicero for Murena and Varenus, where he seems to have given us little more than the general charge. Whence appears, that many things which he arged upon at the time he delivered the orations, were retrenched when he gave them to the public. The fame excellent orator informs us, that, agreeably to the ancient custom which allowed only er counsel on a fide, Cluentius had no mer advocate but himself; and tells us her, that he employed four whole days in defence of Cornelius: by which A planly appears that thofe orations v1.co, when delivered at their full rigth, had neceffarily taken up fo much tae at the bar, were greatly altered and sridged when he afterwards comprifed de in a fagle volame, though I must confeis indeed, a large one. But it is thefted, there is a great difference bewees good picating and jut compofi1. The option, I acknowledge, has ime favourers, and it may be true; neverticles I ars pericades though I may peraaps be made the, as it is poffiWe a pleading mow be well received by the artience, nach has not merit enough a recommend of the reader; fo a good Isten caroot be a bad pleading: for & ention upon paper us, in trus, the apital and modes of the speech that is akprosced. I for this reason le and in many of the bet orations examber's extreñions which have dear of uncemented aboarie; and the even where we are fure they were me buen a al: a fie mice in *ilvery page from the cration A cernant mechanic start to same? Oh, I'm colliged * 10 you for neong meti: y, I it cannot then be dened, for the sZE GYM & baser maces is the rues of jut com por fore, the more practi

t; Large, a be the sey in gente in poat

time; for if he be abridged of that, no imputation can juftly be fixed upon the advocate, though certainly a very great one is chargeable upon the judge. The fenfe of the laws is, I am fure, on my fide, which are by no means fparing of the orator's time it is not brevity, but an enlarged fcope, a full attention to every thing material, which they recommend. And how is it poffible for an advocate to acquit himself of that duty, unless in the moft infignificant caufes, if he affects to be concife? Let me add what experience, that unerring guide, has taught me it has frequently been my province to act both as an advocate and a judge, as I have often affifted as an affeffor, where I have ever found the judgments of mankind are to be influenced by different applications; and that the flightest circumftances often produce the most important confequences. There is fo vaft a variety in the difpofitions and understandings of men, that they feldom agree in their opinions about any one point in debate before them; or if they do, it is generally from the movement of different paffions. Bendes, as every man naturally favours his own difcoveries, and when he hears an argument made ufe of which had before occurred to himself, will certainly embrace it as extremely con vincing, the orator therefore fhould fo adapt himself to his audience as to throw out fomething to every one of them, that he may receive and approve as his own peculiar thought. I remember when Regelas and I were concerned together in a cante, ne faid to me, You feem to think it seculary to infit upon every point; whereas I always take aim at my adver fary's throat, and there I cloftly preís him. ('Tis true, he tenaciously holds whatever part he has once fxed upon; but the misfortune is, he is extremely apt to make the right place.) I anfered, it migat poñory happen that what he took for what be called the throat, was in reality fome other part, As for me, faid I, who do not présend to direct my aim with so much certainty, lanack every part, and path at every opening; or, to me a ragar pro

The Prator war afified by a affion, fre of whom were four, and the ré kagum. Wrn the be washes comínt, bzíme az

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verb, I leave no stone unturned. As in agriculture, it is not my vineyards, or my woods alone, but my fields alfo that I cultivate; and (to purfue the allufion) as I do not content myself with fowing thofe fields with only one kind of grain, but employ feveral different forts: fo in my pleadings at the bar, I fpread at large a variety of matter like fo many different feeds, in order to reap from thence whatever may happen to hit for the difpofition of your judges is as precarious and as little to be ascertained, as that of foils

and feafons. I remember the comic writer Eupolis mentions it in praise of that excellent orator Pericles, that

On his lips perfuafion hung,.
And powerful reafon rul'd his tongue:
Thus he, alone, could boaft the ar,
To charm at once and fting the heart.

But could Pericles, without the richest
variety of expreffion, and merely by force
of the concife or the rapid ftyle, or both to-
gether (for they are extremely different),
have exerted that charm and that fting
of which the poet here fpeaks? To de-
light and to perfuade requires time and
a great compafs of language; and to
leave a fling in the minds of his audience,
is an effect not to be expected from an
orator who flightly pushes, but from him,
and him only, who thrufts home and
deep. Another comic poet*, speaking
of the fame orator, fays,

His mighty words like Jove's own thunder roll;

Greece hears, and trembles to her inmoft foul.

But it is not the concife and the referved, it is the copious, the majestic, and the fublime orator, who with the blaze and thunder of his eloquence hurries impetuoufly along, and bears down all before him. There is a juft mean, I own, in every thing; but he equally deviates from that true mark, who falls fhort of it, as he who goes beyond it; he who confines himfelf in too narrow a compafs, as he who launches out with too great a latitude. Hence it is as common to hear our orators condemned for being too barren, as too luxuriant; for not reaching, as well as for overflowing the bounds of their fubject. Both, no doubt, are equally diftant from the proper medium; but with this difference, however, that in the

* Ariftophanes.

one the fault arifes from an excefs, in the
other from a deficiency; an error which
if it be not a sign of a more correct, yet
is certainly of a more exalted genius.
When I fay this, I would not be under-
ftood to approve that everlasting talker +
mentioned in Homer, but that other
defcribed in the following lines :

Frequent and foft as falls the winter fnow,
Thus from his lips the copious periods flow.
Not but I extremely admire him too §, of
whom the poet fays,

Few were his words, but wonderfully ftrong.

Yet if I were to choose, I fhould clearly
give the preference to the ftyle resembling
winter fnow, that is, to the full and dif-
fufive; in short, to that pomp of elo-
quence which feems all heavenly and di-
vine. But ('tis urged) the harangue of
a more moderate length is most ge-
nerally admired. It is fo, I confefs:
but by whom? By the indolent only;
and to fix the ftandard by the laziness
and falfe delicacy of thefe, would furely
be the higheft abfurdity. Were you to
confult perfons of this caft, they would
tell you, not only that it is best to say
little, but that it is best to say nothing.-
Thus, my friend, I have laid before you
my fentiments upon this fubject, which
I fhall readily abandon, if I find they are
not agreeable to yours. But if you should
diffent from me, I beg you would com-
municate to me your reafons. For though
I ought to yield in this cafe to your more
enlightened judgment, yet in a point of
fuch confequence, I had rather receive
my conviction from the force of argu-
ment than authority. If you should be
of my opinion in this matter, a line or
two from you in return, intimating your
concurrence, will be fufficient to confirm
me in the juftnefs of my fentiments. On
the contrary, if you think me mistaken,
I beg you would give me your objections
at large. Yet has it not, think you,
fomething of the air of bribery, to al
only a thort letter if you agree with me ;
but enjoin you the trouble of a very long
one, if you are of a contrary opinion?

Farewel.

Therfites, Iliad ii. v. 212.
Ulyffes, Iliad iii. v. 222.
Menelaus, ibid.

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