PREFACE.

FROM THE EDITION OF DR. ZACHARY PEARCE, BISHOP OF ROCHESTER.

"THAT I may enable the reader the better to understand the precepts laid down in this treatise, and to derive more advantage from the perusal of it, I shall exhibit a plan or outline of the whole work. Cicero, the most eloquent of the Romans, here delivers his opinions upon Eloquence; not, as rhetoricians frequently do, in the form of inelegant and naked precepts, but in a style so polished, and with so rich a fund of learning, as to shew himself a master in the art.

The office of an instructor is necessarily in some degree invidious; as he who undertakes to teach, tacitly at least, implies a superiority to those whom he professes to instruct. This disadvantage Cicero removes with great art. He exhibits his opinions, not in his own character, but by introducing the two most distinguished orators of the preceding age, Lucius Licinius Crassus and Marcus Antonius Nepos. To the conversation of these venerable masters of elo

quence he introduces Cotta and Sulpicius, two young men of rank and talents, just commencing their public life, and recently initiated in the business of the Forum. In this arrangement Cicero shews great art. Unless his precepts were delivered by men of age and experience, they would have less of authority and weight: on the other hand, but for the presence of younger associates, ardent in the pursuit of eloquence, and still needing instruction in forensic business, these old statesmen, such was the gravity and even severity of Roman manners, could hardly discuss those subjects, without some violation of character, and would be liable to the imputation of levity.

Observe the elegance of Cicero's exordium. Grecian Rhetoricians, sophistical and talkative, destitute alike of solid learning and dignity of character, were wont to profess themselves the teachers of Eloquence. To divest his subject entirely of all the contempt attached to these trifling pedants, was absolutely necessary. The old men therefore whom he introduces as the speakers in his dialogue, are of the first rank, long occupied in the most important affairs of the Commonwealth, and of the greatest eminence and authority. In the next place, they fall into the discussion incidentally, without premeditation, and enter by a natural association of ideas, or rather by accident, upon the field of Eloquence. Nor does Cicero exhabit his skill merely in the character of the

speakers whom he brings forward, but observes decorum and consistency in the choice of place for the discussion. They meet, not at Rome, but in the country; not in the noisy metropolis, ill suited to these elegant studies, but in the leisure and retirement of Tusculanum, where they may reasonably be supposed to have left behind them the pressure and severity of public business.

In the first Book, the question arises: What kinds of knowledge are proper to the Orator; what the sources from which must be derived the materials of his art? Crassus, in whose character Cicero produces his own opinions, contends that every species of knowledge, every art and science, must contribute to form the perfect orator. He discusses the merit of various studies, and shews, both by reasoning and examples, how each may become serviceable to his art. But Antonius, in whose name are insinuated the opinions of Quintus Cicero, and who was esteemed less learned, and indebted rather to nature than to study for his eminence as a public speaker, differs from Crassus. He maintains that wide and various knowledge contributes but little to Eloquence, and confines it to excellence in the art of speaking. Antonius considers the various arguments of Crassus, and seems to refute them, but does this rather in appearance than in reality. Cicero introduces Scævola into the dialogue, but dismisses him at the end of the first book. His presence during

the first part of the discussion is natural and in character, as being eminently distinguished in the civil law, which here forms part of the subject; but the gravity and severity of Roman manners rendered it less proper at those sallies of wit and pleasantry which mark the conversation of the succeeding day

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In the second Book, the discourse on Invention is attributed to Antonius, who excelled in this quality of eloquence, rather than in that which belongs to style and ornament. He alludes to all the topics from which arguments may be derived, to convince the understanding and to win the affections of an audience. He treats of Eloquence under its three divisions of Judicial, Deliberative and Demonstrative; points out the course of the arguments which belong to each, and in what manner they may be brought to bear upon the cause in hand. To Invention belong Jests and Pleasantry. Cæsar therefore, who excelled all in wit and humour, here takes up the subject, and agreeably diversifies the conversation by relating many witty turns which had been used with good effect. Antonius then discourses upon the advantage of memory, and especially of that artificial system which belongs to Invention; for the acquisition of which he gives short, but sufficient precepts.

In the third Book, Crassus resumes the lead in conversation, and discourses upon Elocution, or Expression in style and manner, upon which

he lays the greatest stress.

The four chief

points of Elocution, according to him, are Purity, Perspicuity, Grace and Propriety. Each of these he illustrates, but dilates most largely upon Grace of language and delivery. He touches upon the selection of proper words, the tropes and figures of speech which are proper to be introduced, and the modulation and harmony of language. At the conclusion he treats of Action, and teaches how the voice, the gesture, and the countenance, should be adapted to the subject of the discourse. All these subjects are treated with so much elegance and grace, that these Books abound not merely in the best precepts for the attainment of the art, but exhibit also the finest specimens of Eloquence."