cero himself; whose name alone sug- exceedingly cogent and vehement. gests every thing that is splendid in This is the case in his orations oratory. With the history of his against Anthony, and in those too life and with his character, as a man against Verres and Catiline. Blair. $57. Defects of CICERO. He and a politician, we have not at present any direct concern. We consider him only as an eloquent speaker; and, in this view, it is our business to remark both his virtues, and his defects, if he has any. His Together with those high qualities virtues are, beyond controversy, emi-which Cicero possesses, he is not exnently great. In all his orations empt from certain defects, of which there is high art. He begins, gene- it is necessary to take notice. For rally, with a regular exordium; and the Ciceronian Eloquence is a patwith much preparation and insinua- tern so dazzling by its beauties, that, tion prepossesses the hearers, and if not examined with accuracy and studies to gain their affections. His judgment, it is apt to betray the unmethod is clear, and his arguments wary into a faulty imitation; and I are arranged with great propriety. am of opinion, that it has sometimes His method is indeed more clear produced this effect. In most of his than that of Demosthenes; and this orations, especially those composed is one advantage which he has over in the earlier part of his life, there him. We find every thing in its is too much art; even carried the proper place; he never attempts to length of ostentation. There is too move till he has endeavoured to con- visible a parade of eloquence. vince and in moving, especially the seems often to aim at obtaining adsofter passions, he is very successful. miration, rather than at operating No man, that ever wrote, knew the conviction, by what he says. Hence, power and force of words better than on some occasions, he is showy, raCicero. He rolls them along with ther than solid; and diffuse, where the greatest beauty and pomp; and he ought to have been pressing. His in the structure of his sentences, is sentences are at all times round and curious and exact to the highest de- sonorous; they cannot be accused of gree. He is always full and flowing, monotony, for they possess variety never abrupt. He is a great ampli- of cadence; but, from too great a fier of every subject; magnificent, study of magnificence, he is someand in his sentiments highly moral. times deficient in strength. On all His manner is on the whole diffuse, occasions, where there is the least yet it is often happily varied, and room for it, he is full of himself. suited to the subject. In his four His great actions, and the real serorations, for instance, against Cati-vices which he had performed to his line, the tone and style of each of country, apologize for this in part; them, particularly the first and last, ancient manners, too, imposed fewer is very different, and accommodated restraints from the side of decorum; with a great deal of judgment to the but, even after these allowances are occasion, and the situation in which made, Cicero's ostentation of himself they were spoken. When a great cannot be wholly palliated; and his public object roused his mind, and orations, indeed all his works, leave demanded indignation and force, he on our minds the impression of a departs considerably from that loose good man, but, withal, of a vain and declamatory manner to which he man. inclines at other times, and becomes Ibid 58. Comparison of CICERO and unite together all the qualities, withDEMOSTHENES. out the least exception, that form a perfect orator, and to excel equally On the subject of comparing Cice- in each of those qualities, is not to ro and Demosthenes, much has been be expected from the limited powers said by critical writers. The differ- of human genius. The highest deent manners of these two princes of gree of strength is, I suspect, never eloquence, and the distinguishing found united with the highest degree characters of each, are so strongly of smoothness and ornament: equal marked in their writings, that the attentions to both are incompatible; comparison is, in many respects, ob- and the genius that carries ornament vious and easy. The character of to its utmost length, is not of such a Demosthenes is vigour and austeri- kind, as can excel as much in vigour. ty; that of Cicero is gentleness and For there plainly lies the characteinsinuation. In the one, you find ristical difference between these two more manliness; in the other, more celebrated orators. ornament. The one is more harsh, It is a disadvantage to Demosthebut more spirited and cogent; the nes, that, besides his conciseness, other more agreeable, but, withal, which sometimes produces obscurity, looser and weaker. the language, in which he writes, is To account for this difference, less familiar to most of us than the without any prejudice to Cicero, it Latin, and that we are less acquainthas been said, that we must look to ed with the Greek antiquities than the nature of their different audito- we are with the Roman. We read ries; that the refined Athenians fol- Cicero with more ease, and of course lowed with ease the concise and with more pleasure. Independent convincing eloquence of Demos- of this circumstance too, he is no thenes; but that a manner more doubt, in himself, a more agreeable popular, more flowery, and declama- writer than the other. But notwithtory, was requisite in speaking to standing this advantage, I am of opithe Romans, a people less acute, and nion, that were the state in danger, less acquainted with the arts of or some great public interest at speech. But this is not satisfactory. stake, which drew the serious attenFor we must observe, that the Greek tion of men, an oration in the spirit orator spoke much oftener before a and strain of Demosthenes would mixed multitude, than the Roman. have more weight, and produce greatAlmost all the public business of er effects, than one in the Ciceronian Athens was transacted in popular as- manner. Were Demosthenes's Phisemblies. The common people were lippics spoken in a British assembly, his hearers and his judges. Whereas in a similar conjuncture of affairs, Cicero generally addressed himself they would convince and persuade at to the "Patres Conscripti," or, in this day. The rapid style, the vehecriminal trials, to the Prætor, and ment reasoning, the disdain, anger, the Select Judges; and it cannot be boldness, freedom, which perpetuimagined, that the persons of highest ally animate them, would render their rank and best education in Rome, success infallible over any modern required a more diffuse manner of assembly. I question whether the pleading than the common citizens same can be said of Cicero's orations; of Athens, in order to make them whose eloquence, however beautiful, understand the cause, or relish the and however well suited to the Rospeaker. Perhaps we shall come man taste, yet borders oftener on nearer the truth by observing, that to declamation, and is more remote from the manner in which we now | himself closely to the study of diviexpect to hear real business and nity, of practical religion, of morals, causes of importance treated.* of human nature; that he may be Blair. rich in all the topics both of instruction and of persuasion. He who 59. On the Means of improving would fit himself for being a member in ELOQUENCE. Next to moral qualifications, what, in the second place, is most necessary to an orator, is a fund of knowledge. Much is this inculcated by Cicero and Quinctilian : "Quod of the supreme council of the nation, thoroughly acquainted with the busior of any public assembly, must be ness that belongs to such assembly; he must study the forms of court, the course of procedure; and must at deliberation. omnibus disciplinis et artibus debet tend minutely to all the facts that esse instructus Orator." By which may be the subject of question or they mean, that he ought to have Besides the knowledge that prowhat we call a Liberal Education; perly belongs to that profession to and to be formed by a regular study which he addicts himself, a public of philosophy, and the polite arts. speaker, if ever he expects to be We must never forget that, eminent, must make himself acScribendi rectè, sapere est et principium et fons. quainted, as far as his necessary ocGood sense and knowledge are the cupations allow, with the general foundation of all good speaking. circle of polite literature. The study There is no art that can teach one to of poetry may be useful to him on be eloquent, in any sphere, without many occasions, for embellishing his a sufficient acquaintance with what style, for suggesting lively images, belongs to that sphere; or if there or agreeable allusions. The study were an art that made such preten- of history may be still more useful to sions, it would be mere quackery, him; as the knowledge of facts, of like the pretensions of the sophists of eminent characters, and of the course old, to teach their disciples to speak of human affairs, finds place on many for and against every subject; and occasions. There are few great ocwould be deservedly exploded by all casions of public speaking, in which Attention to style, to one will not derive assistance from composition, and all the arts of cultivated taste, and extensive knowspeech, can only assist an orator in ledge. They will often yield him setting off, to advantage, the stock of materials for proper ornament; somematerials which he possesses; but times, for argument and real use. A the stock, the materials themselves, deficiency of knowledge, even in must be brought from other quarters subjects that belong not directly to than from rhetoric. He who is to his own profession, will expose him plead at the bar, must make himself to many disadvantages, and give bet thoroughly master of the knowledge ter qualified rivals a great superiority of the law; of all the learning and over him. experience that can be useful in his profession, for supporting a cause, or convincing a judge. He who is to speak from the pulpit, must apply wise men. Ibid. 60. A Habit of Industry recommended to the intended Speaker. Allow me to recommend, in the In this judgment I concur with Mr. David Hume in his Essay upon Eloquence. He gives third place, not only the attainment it as his opinion, that, of all human productions, of useful knowledge, but a habit of the Orations of Demosthenes present to us the models which approach the nearest to perfection. application and industry. Without $62. Caution necessary in choos ing Models. this, it is impossible to excel in any ment. Every one who speaks or thing. We must not imagine that writes should, indeed, endeavour to it is by a sort of mushroom growth, have somewhat that is his own, that that one can rise to be a distinguish- is peculiar to himself, and that chaed pleader, or preacher, or speaker in racterizes his composition and style. any assembly. It is not by starts of Slavish imitation depresses genius, application, or by a few years' pre- or rather betrays the want of it. But paration of study afterwards discon- withal, there is no genius so original, tinued, that eminence can be attained. but may be profited and assisted by No; it can be attained only by means the aid of proper examples, in style, of regular industry, grown up into a composition, and delivery. They habit, and ready to be exerted on always open some new ideas; they every occasion that calls for indus- serve to enlarge and correct our own. try. This is the fixed law of our They quicken the current of thought, nature; and he must have a very and excite emulation. Ibid. high opinion of his own genius indeed, that can believe himself an exception to it. A very wise law of our nature it is; for industry is, in truth, the great "Condimentum," Much, indeed, will depend upon the seasoning of every pleasure; the right choice of models which we without which life is doomed to lan-purpose to imitate; and supposing guish. Nothing is so great an ene- them rightly chosen, a farther care my both to honourable attainments, is requisite, of not being seduced by and to the real, to the brisk, and a blind universal admiration. For, spirited enjoyment of life, as that re-" decipit exemplar, vitiis imitabile." laxed state of mind which raises from Even in the most finished models we indolence and dissipation. One that can select, it must not be forgotten, is destined to excel in any art, espe- that there are always some things cially in the arts of speaking and improper for imitation. We should writing, will be known by this more study to acquire a just conception of than by any other mark whatever, an the peculiar characteristic beauties enthusiasm for that art; an enthusi- of any writer, or public speaker, and asm, which, firing his mind with the imitate these only. One ought never object he has in view, will dispose to attach himself too closely to any him to relish every labour which the single model; for he who does so, is means require. It was this that almost sure of being seduced into a characterized the great men of anti- faulty and affected imitation. His quity; it is this, which must distin- business should be, to draw from guish the moderns who would tread several the proper ideas of perfection. their steps. This honourable enthuIbid. siasm, it is highly necessary for such, as are studying oratory to cultivate. If youth wants it, manhood will flag miserably. Blair. 61. Attention to the best Models recommended to the Student in Eloquence. $ 63. On the Style of BOLING- Some authors there are, whose manner of writing approaches nearer to the style of speaking than others; and who, therefore, can be imitated with more safety. In this class, Attention to the best models will among the English authors, are Dean contribute greatly towards improve- Swift and Lord Bolingbroke. The Dean, throughout all his writings, in not at all mean, that he is never to the midst of much correctness, main- write or to speak a word, but in tains the easy natural manner of an elaborate and artificial language. unaffected speaker; and this is one This would form him to a stiffness of his chief excellencies. Lord Bo- and affectation, worse, by ten thoulingbroke's style is more splendid, sand degrees, than the greatest negand more declamatory than Dean ligence. But it is to be observed, Swift's; but still it is the style of that there is, in every thing, a manone who speaks, or rather who ha- ner which is becoming, and has prorangues. Indeed, all his political priety; and opposite to it, there is a writings (for it is to them only, and clumsy and faulty performance of not to his philosophical ones, that this the same thing. The becoming observation can be applied) carry manner is very often the most light, much more the appearance of one and seemingly careless manner; but declaiming with warmth in a great it requires taste and attention to assembly, than of one writing in a seize the just idea of it. That idea, closet, in order to be read by others. when acquired, we should keep in They have all the copiousness, the our eye, and form upon it whatever fervour, the inculcating method, that we write or say. is allowable and graceful in an ora tor perhaps too much of it for a writer and it is to be regretted, as Ibid. I have formerly observed, that the 65. On the Necessity of a Classi matter contained in them should have been so trivial or so false; for, from cal Education. The fairest diamonds are rough the manner and style, considerable till they are polished, and the purest advantage might be reaped. gold must be run and washed, and Blair. sifted in the ore. We are untaught by nature; and the finest qualities will grow mild and degenerate, if $ 64. Frequent exercise in composing the mind is not formed by discipline, and speaking, necessary for Imand cultivated with an early care. provement in Eloquence. In some persons who have run up to Besides attention to the best mo- men without a liberal education, we dels, frequent exercise, both in com- may observe many great qualities posing and speaking, will be admit- darkened and eclipsed; their minds ted to be a necessary mean of im- are crusted over like diamonds in provement. That sort of composi- the rock, they flash out sometimes tion is, doubtless, most useful, which into an irregular greatness of thought, relates to the profession, or kind of and betray in their actions an unpublic speaking, to which persons guided force, and unmanaged virtue; addict themselves. This they should something very great and very nokeep ever in their eye, and be gra- ble may be discerned, but it looks dually inuring themselves to it. But cumbersome and awkward, and is let me also advise them not to allow alone of all things the worse for bethemselves in negligent composition ing natural. Nature is undoubtedly of any kind. He who has it for his the best mistress and aptest scholar; aim to write, or to speak correctly, but nature herself must be civilized, should, in the most trivial kind of or she will look savage, as she apcomposition, in writing a letter, nay, pears in the Indian princes, who are even in common discourse, study to vested with a native majesty, a suracquit himself with propriety. I do prising greatness and generosity of |