On Oratory and Orators Author:Marcus Tullius Cicero Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. II. And here I must recal to my memory sa conversation that passed many years ago, which I do not, I own, recollect with sufficient distinctness ; but w... more »hich, in my opinion, is directly calculated to answer what you want to be informed of, respecting the sentiments which the greatest and most eminent orators entertained of eloquence in general. For you have often expressed a wish that 1 should furnish you with a treatise somewhat more polished and complete on that subject, corresponding to the improvement I have acquired, by pleading in causes so numerous and important; because the undigested observations which I collected and published when a young man, appear unworthy of the experience and character I have since attained. Aud you often differed from me in our conversation upon those points, as I maintained that eloquence comprehends the acquirements of the ablest men, while you imagined that it ought to be considered as quite distinct from the refinements of science, and as founded solely in Qiatural capacity,) improved by practice. I own, indeed, I have been frequently at a loss to account, when contemplating t A conversation.] So much has been said by our best writers in commendation of the manner of treating a subject by dialogue, that it is needless to insist upon its uses here, any farther than to observe, that this subject particularly required to be treated in this manner; since Cicero thereby avoided that dog. matical air, which his treating this subject must otherwise have given him. chapter{Section 4contemplating the greatest and ablest men, hwhy fewer have excelled in eloquence than in any other attainment. For to whatever science you direct your attention, you shall find that many have distinguished themselves, not only in the ordinary arts, but in t...« less