lippuB, who was a man of Tiolence, as well as of eloquence, and of the utmost vigour to resist opposition, he could not restrain himself, but burst forth into a furious flame, aud resolved to bind Crasaus to good behaviour, by forfeiting his securities.' On that occaaion, many things are reported to have been uttered by Crassus with a sort of divine sublimity, refusing to acknowledge as a, consul him who would not allow him to possess the senatorial dignity: Bo you, said he, wAo, wlien. you ihavghi the general authority of the whole tenatorial order entrusted to you as a pledge, yet perfidiously annulled it in the view of Ike Soman people, imagine that I can be terrified by tuck petty forfeitures as those f It is not tuck pledges t&at are to be forfeited, if yoi* would bind Lucius Craaus to silence; for that purpose you must cut out ihit tongue; and even if U ' Pignoriina ablatia. The BeDa.tors and othen were oMigei] to attend iiate when the; were sucuiaaned, and to be submissive to tlie >r magistrates, or they might be pmiiehed by fine aad (listraJDt ir praperty. See Livy, iO, 38; xliii IB; Plin. Ep. iv. 28; Cio. S; Suet JuLclT; Aiiatn a Roman Antiquities " ~ ^ C. II.] OS THE CHARACTER OF THE OBATOB. 333 he torn out, the freedom in my very breath mil eonfuund your avdaciti/.
II. It appeared that a multitude of other espresaious were then uttered by him with the moat vehement efforta of mind, thought, and spirits; and that that resolution of hia, which the senate adopted in a full house, waa proposed by hira with the utmost magnificence and dignity of languf^e, Tltat the cotBttsel and fidelity of the senate had never been viaiitinff lo the eommonmealtk, in order to do juttiee to the Roman people; and he was present (aa appears from the names entered in the register) at the recording of the resolution. This however was the loat swan-like note and speech of that divine orator; and, as if expecting to bear it agaio, we used, after hia death, to go into the senate-bouse, that we might contemplate the spot on which he had last stood to apeak; for we heard that he woa seized at the time with a pain in his aide while he waa speaking, and that a copious perspiration foUowed; after which he was struck with a chillness, and, returning home in a fever, died the seventh day after of pleurisy. 0 how fallacious are the hopes of mortals, how frail is our condition, and how inaignifieaat all our ambitious efforta, which are often broken and thrown down in the middle of their course, and over- whelmed as it were in their voyage, even before they gain a sight of the harbour! For as long as the life of Crassua was perplexed with the toils of ambition, so long was he more distinguished for the performance of private duties, and the praises due to hia genius, than for any benefit that he reaped from bis greatness, or for the dignified rank which ha bore in the republic; but the firat year which, after a dis- charge of an the honourable offices of tho state, opened to him the entpanoe to supreme authority by universal consent, overthrew all his hopes, and all bis future schemes of life, by death. This was a melancholy occurrence to his friends, a grievous calamity to hia country, and a heavy afBiction to all the virtuous part of mankind; but such misfortunes after- wards fell upon the commonwealth, that life does not appear to me to have been taken away from Lucius Crasaai by the immortal goda aa a privation, but death to have been bestowed on him as a blessing. He did not live to behold Italy blazing with war, or the senate overwhelmed with popular odium, or the leading men of the atate accused of 334 SE oRATORii; OR, [b. la the most heinous crimes, or the affliction of his daughter, ■ or the baniBhment of his soii-at-law,^ (tr the most calami- touB flight of Caius Marius, or that moat atrocioua of all alaugbtere after hia return, or, finally, that republic in every "Way diegraced, in which, while it continued most flourishing, he had by far the pre-eminence over all other men in glory.
III. But led away as I am by my reflections to touch upon the power and vicisaitudea of fortune, my observations Bhall not expatiate too widely, but sball be confined almost to the very pereonages who are contained in this dialogue, ■which I have begun to detail. For who would not call the death of Lucius OaBsuB, which has been go often lamented by multitudes, a. happy one, when he calls to mind the late of those very persons who were almost the last that held dia- courae with him? For we ourselves remember, that Quintus CatuluB, a man distinguished for almost every species ot merit, when he entreated, not the security of faia fortunea, but retreat into esile, was reduced to deprive himself of life. ' It was then, too, that that illustrioiis head of Harons Antonius, by whom the lives of so maay citizens had been preserved, yraa fixed iipon the very rostra on which he had so strenuously defended the republic when consul, and which he bad adorned with imperial taipiues when censor. Not iar irora his was exposed the head of Caiua Julius, (who was betrayed by hia Tuscan host,) with that of Lucius Julius his brother; so that he who did not behold such atrocities may justly be thou^t to have prolonged hie life during the existence of the constitution, and to have expired together with it. He neither beheld his near relation, Publins Crassus, a man of the greatest diagnanimity, slain by his own hand, nor saw the image of Vesta sprinkled with the blood of the pontifei, his colleague j tmd (such were his feelings towards his countrj-) even the cruel death of Caiua Carbo, hia greatest enemy, that occnrred on the same day, would have caused additional grief to him. He did not behold the horrible and miserable late of tboee young men who had devoted themselves to him; of whom Caius Cotta, whom he had left in a promiaiiig condition, was erpelled, through popular prejudice, from his office of * Hia daughter Licinis. was married to TubliuB Scipto, tlie gnmdaQa of BerapioD, who was iiutrumeatal Id the deeith tif l^braiua Qrscohio. Ci^ Brut 68. Ellmdt.
O. II.] ox THB OHARAOTKR OF THE ORATOE.
he torn out, l/ie freedom in my very hreaili will audacity.
II. It dppeflred that a, multitude of other Qxpresaious were then uttered by him with the most vehement efforts of mind, thought, and spirits; and that that resolution of his, which the eenate adopted in a full house, was proposed by him with the utmost to^nifioenoe and dignity of language, That the counsel and fidelity of the tenaie had never been inajiiinff io the commonwealth, in order to do Justice to the Roman people; and he was present (as appears from the names entered in the register) at the recording of the resolution. Tliis however was the lost swan-like note and speech of that divine orator; and, as if expecting to bear it egaia, we used, after his death, to go into the Benate-house, that we might contemplate the spot on which he had last stood to speak; for we heard that he was seized at the time with a pain in his aide while he was speaking, and that a copious perspiration followed; after which he was struck with a chillness, and, returning home in a fever, died the seventh day after of pleurisy. 0 how fallacious are the liopes of mortals, how frail is our condition, aud how insignificaat all our ambitious efforts, which are often broken and thrown down in the middle of their course, and over- whelmed as it were in their voyage, even before they gain a sight of the harbour! For as long as the life of Crassus was perplexed with the toils of ambition, so long was he more distingniabcd for the performance of private duties, and the praises due to his genius, than for any benefit that he reaped from his greatness, or for the dignified rank which he bore in the republic; but the firat year which, after a dis- charge of all the honourable offices of the state, opened to him. the entrance to supreme authority by universal consent, overthrow all liis hopes, and all his future schemes of life, by death. This was a melancholy occurrence to his friends, a grievous calamity to his country, and a heavy affliction to all the virtuous part of mankind; tut such misfortunes after- "wards fell upon the commonwealth, that life does not appear to me to have been taken away from Lucius Crassus by the immortal gods as a privation, but death to have been bestowed on him as a blessing. He did not live to behold Italy blazing with war, or the senate overwhelmed with popular odium, or the leading men of the state accused of DE OBiTOBE; OK, [b. III.
doea not, though what is written of him is written in a divine spirit, conceive somcthiog still greater of him about whom it is written: and it is also mj request, not iuileed to you, my brother, who attribute to me perfection in all things, but to others who shall take this treatise into their han(£, that they would entertain a nobler conception of Lucius Crassua than any that is expressed by me. For I, who was not present at this dialogue, and to whom Coins Cotta communi- cated only the topics Rud heads of the dissertation, have en- deavoured to shadow forth in the conversation of the speakers those peculiar styles of oratory, in which I knew that each of them was conspicuous. But if any person shall be induced by the common opinion, to think either that Antoniua wm more jejune, or Crassus more eiuberant in style, than they have been respectively described by me, he will be amongtho number of those who either never heard these great men, or who have not abilities to judge; for each of them was (aa I have esplained before) superior to all other speakers, in appli- cation, and genius, and leiiming, as well as excellent in his particular style, so that embellishment in language was not wanting in Antonius, nor redundant in Crassus.
V. As soon therefore as they had withdrawn before noon, and reposed themselves a little, Cotta said that he particularly observed that Crassus employed all the time about the middle of the day in the most earnest and profound meditation; and that he himself, who was well acquainted with the coimte- nance which he assumed whenever he was going to speak in public, and the nature of his looks when he was fixed in con- templation, and had ofteu remarked them in causes of the gre»,teBt importance, came on purpose, while the rest were asleep, into the room in which CrassuB had Iain down on a couch prepared for him, aud that, as soon as he perceived him to be settled in a thoughtful posture, he immediately retired J and that almost two hours passed in that perfect Btillnesa. Afterwards, when they all, as the day was now verging to the afternoon, waited upon Crassus, Ciesar said, ',' Well, Crassus, shall we go and take our seats! though we ouly come to put you in mind of your promise, and not to demand the performance of it." Crassus then replied, "Do you imagine that I have the assurance to think that I can continue longer indebted to such friends as you, especially in i: CHARACTEIt OF THE OBATOl!, an obligation of this nature}'' you?" said Ctesar; "a seat ir that is the most ehady and cool!" "Very well," replied CrassuB, "for there is iu that spot a seat not at all unsuitod for this discourse of oure." This arrangement being agreeable to the rest of the company, they went into the mood, and sat down tixere with the most earnest desire to listen.
Crassua then said, " Not only the influence of your autho- rity and friendship, but also the ready compliance of Antonius, have taken from me all liberty of refUsal, though I had aa excellent pretest for refusing. In the partition, however, of this dissertation between us, Antonius, when he assumed to himself the part of speaking upon those matters which form the subject of the orator's speech, and left to me to explain how they should be embellished, divided things which are in their nature incapable of separation; for as every speech consists of the matter and the language, the language OftQ have no place if you take away the matter, nor the matter receive any illustration if you take away the lan- guage. Indeed, the great men of antic[uity, embracing some- thing of superior magnificence in their ideas, appear to me to have seen further into the nature of things than the visual faculties of our minds can penetrat*; as they said that all these things, above and below, formed one ^stem, and were huked together in strict union by one and the same power, aad one principle of universal harmony in nature; for there is no order of things which can either of itself, if forcibly separated from the rest, preserve a permanent existence, or without which the rest can maintain their power and eternal duration.
VI. " But, if this reasoning appear to be too comprehensive to be embraced by human sense and understanding, yet that saying of Plato is true, and certainly not unknown to you, Catulua, ' that all the learning of these liberal and polite de- partmentsofknowledgeislinked together in one bondof union; for when the power of that reason, by which the causes and events of things are known, is once thoroughly discerned, a cer- tain wonderful agreement and harmony, as it were, in all the sciences is discovered.' But, if this also appear to be too sublime a. thought for us to contemplate who are prostrate on the earth, it, however, certainly is our duty to know and remember tiiat which we have embnioed, which we profess, which we have taken npon ourBelres. Since eloquence, as I observed yesterday, and Antonius signiiied in some pofisagea of his dis- course this morning, is one and the eamo, into whatever tracts or regions of debate it may be carried: for whether it dis- courses cenoemiug the nature of the heavens or of the earth, — whether of divine or human power, — whether it speaks from a lower, or an equal, or a superior place, — whether to impel an audience, or to instruct, or to deter, or to iacite, or to dissuade, or to inflame, or to aoothe, — whether to a email or to a large assembly, — whether to strangers, to friends, or alone, — its language is derived through different channeln not from different sources; and, wherever it directs its courae, it is attended with the same equipment and decoration. Bui since we are overwhelmed by opinions, not only those of the vulgar, but those also of men imperfectly instructed, who treat of those things more easily when divided and torn asunder which they have not capacity to comprehend in a general view, and who sever the language from the thoughto like the body from the sonl, neither of which separations can be made without deetructioa, I will not undertake in this discourse more than that which is imposed upon me; I will only signify briefly, that neither can embelliahmenta irf language be found without arrangement and expression of thoughts, nor can thoughts be made to shine without the light of language. But before I proceed to touch upon those particulars by which I think language is beautified and illumined, I will state briefly what I think concerning elo- quence in general.
VII. "There is no one of the natural senses, in my opinion, which does not include under its general compre- hension many things dissimilar one to another, but which are still thought deserving of similar approbation; for we both perceive many things by the ear, which, although they all charm vs with their sounda, are yet often so various in them- selves, that that which we hear last appears to be the most delightful; and almost innumerable pleasures are received by the eye, which all captivate iis in such a manner as to delight the same sense iu different ways; and pleasures that bear no sort of resemhlance to each other charm the rest of the senses in such a manner that it is difficult taj detemiiiie whicb a&brde the most esquisite enjoymenL But B observation which ia to be made in re^ud to nature may be applied also to the difibreut kinds of art. Sculpture is a. single art, in. 'which Myro, Folycletus, and Lysippus excelled; all of whom differed oce from another, but so that you would not wish any one of them to be unlike himself The art and science of painting is one, yet ZeuiiE, Aglaophou, and Apelles are quite unlike one another in themselveB, thou^ to none of tliem does anything seem wanting in hia peculiar style. And if this be wonderful, and yet true, in these, aa it were, mute arts, how much more wonderful is it ia language and speech t which, though employed about the same thoughts and words, yet admits of the greatest varia- tions; and not so that some speakers are to be censured and others commended, but that those who are allowed to merit praise, merit it for different escoUences. This is fiilly exem- plified in poets, who have the nearest affinity to orators: how distinct from each other are Ennius, Facuvius, and Accius; how distinct, among the Greeks, ^Eschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; though almost equal praise may be attributed to them all in different kinds of writing. Then, behold and contemplate those whose art is the subject of our present inquiry; what a wide distinction there ia between the ao- complishments and natural abilities of orators! Isocratcs possessed swoetness, Lysias delicacy, Hyperides pointedness, jEschiues sound, and Demosthenea energy; and which of them was not escellent 1 yet which of them resembled any one but himself i Atricanus had weight, Lielius smoothness, Galba asperity, Carbo something of fluency and harmony; but whitji of these was not an orator of the first rank in those times i and yet every one attained that rank by a style of oratory peculiar to himself VIII. " But why should I search into antiquity for eiam- plea, when I can point to present and living characters? What was ever more pleasing to the ear than the language of our friend Catiilus f language of such purity, that he appears to be almost the only orator that speaks pure Latin; and of such power, that with its peculiar dignity there is yet blended the utmost politeucss and wit. In a word, when I hear him, I always think that whatever you should add, or alter, or take iy, his language would bo impaired and deteriorated. Has I I I DE ORiTORE J OH, [b. in.
not our friend Caaar here, too, introduced a new kind of oratory, and brougbt before us an almost peculiar atjla of eloquence { Who haa ever, besides him, treated tragical Bubjects in an almost comic manner, setiouB subjects with pleasantly, gravs Bubjecta with gaiety, and autjects suited to the forum with a grace peculiar to the stage J in such a way that neither is the jocular style eicluded by the importance of the subject, nor is the weight of the matter lessened by the humour with which it is treated. Here are present with u3 two young men, almost of equal age, Sulpicius and Cotta; what things were ever ao dissimilar as they are one to another! yet what is BO excellent as they are in their respective styles 1 One is polished and refined, explaining thiugii with the greatest pro- priety and aptitude of expression; he always adheres to his cause, and, when ha has diaoovered, with his keen discem- meot, what he ought to prove to the judge, he directs im whole attention and force of oratory to that point, without regarding other arguments; while Sulpicius has a certain irresistible energy of mind, a most full and powerful voice, a most vigorous action, and consummate dignity of motion, united with such weight and eopiousneas of language, that he appears of all men the beat qualified hy nature for eloquence. IX. "I now return to ourselves; (because there haa ever beea such a comparison made between us, that we are brought, aa it were, into judgment on account of rivalship, in the common conversation of mankind;) what two things caa be more dissimilar than Antonius's manner of speaking and my own 'i though he is such an orator that no one can possibly aurpass him; and I, though I am altogether dissatisfied with myself am yet in preference to others admitted to s parison with him. Do you notice what the manner of nius is! It ia bold, vehement, lull of eneigj and actio!
fortified and guarded on every point of the cause, apirite acute, eiplicit, dwelling upon every circumstance, retiring with honour, pursuing with -eagerness, terrifying, supplicating, eihibiting the greatest variety of language, yet without satiety to the ear; but as to myself, whatever I am as a speaker (since I appear to yoa to hold some place among speakers), I certainly differ very greatly from his style. What my talents are it becomes not me to say, because every one is least n to himself, and it is estremely difficult for any p ON THK OHAKiCTER OF THE OHATOK.
to form a j udgment of his own capacity; but the diaaimili may be easily percaiTed, both from the mediocrity of action, and from the circumBtance that I usually conclude the Bame track in which I first Bet out; and that labour and care in choosing words cauaea me gieater aaiiety than choice of matter, being afraid that if my language ehould ' be a little obeolete, it may appear unworthy of the expecta- tion and silent attention of the audience. But if in us who are present there are such remarkable disEimilitudeB, such decided peculiarities in each of us, and ia all this variety the better is distinguished from, the worse by difference in ability mther than by difference ia kind, and everything is praise- worthy that is perfect in its nature, what do you imagine must be the case if we should take into consideration all the oratore that anywhere exist, or ever existed 1 Would it not happen that almost as many kinds of eloquence as of orators would he found 1 But from this obaervation of mine, it may perhaps occur to jou, that if there be almost innumerahle varieties and characters of eloquence, dissimilar in species, yet laudable in their kind, thiii^ of bo diversiiied a nature can never be formed into an art by the saiae precepts and one single method of instruction. This is not the case- and it is to bo attentively considered by those who have the con- duct and education of others, ia what direction the natural geaius of each seems principally to incline him. For we see that from the same schools of artists and 'masters, eminent in their respective pursuits, there have gone forth pupils very unlike each other, yet al! praiseworthy, because the instruc- tion of the teacher has been adapted to each person's natural geaius; a fact of which the moat remarkable example (to say nothing of other sciences) ia that saying of lacerates, an eminent teacher of eloquence, that he used to apply the spur to Ephorua, but to put the rein on Theopompus; tor the one, who overleaped all bounds in the boldness of his eipressions, he restnuued; the other, who hesitated and was bashful, as it were, he stimulated: nor did he produce ia them any resemblance to each other, but gave to the one such an addi- tion, and retrenched from the other bo much superfluity, as to form in both that eicellence of which tho natural genius of each was susoeptible.