§1.oratorvm genera esse dicuntur tamquam poetarum; id secus est, nam alterum est multiplex.
There are said to be genres of orators, just as of poets; but this is otherwise, for the latter is manifold.
Poematis enim tragici comici epici melici etiam ac dithyrambici, quo magis est tractatum, suum cuiusque est, diversum a reliquis.
For in the case of tragedy, comedy, epic, lyric, and even dithyrambic poetry—the more it is practiced—each has its own style, distinct from the rest.
Itaque et in tragoedia comicum vitiosum est et in comoedia turpe tragicum; et in ceteris suus est cuique certus sonus et quaedam intellegentibus nota vox.
Therefore, in tragedy a comic element is a defect, and in comedy a tragic element is unseemly; and in the other genres, each has its own certain sound and a kind of voice known to those who understand.
§2.oratorum autem si quis ita numerat plura genera, ut alios grandis aut gravis aut copiosos, alios tenuis aut subtilis aut brevis, alios eis interiectos et tamquam medios putet, de hominibus dicit aliquid, de re parum.
But if anyone counts multiple genres of orators in such a way as to think some are grand or weighty or copious, others thin or refined or brief, and others intermediate between these and, as it were, temperate, he is saying something about men, but too little about the matter.
In re enim quid optimum sit quaeritur, in homine dicitur quod est.
For in the matter, what is best is sought; in man, what exists is described.
Itaque licet dicere et Ennium summum epicum poetam, si cui ita videtur, et Pacuvium tragicum et Caecilium fortasse comicum.
Therefore, one may call Ennius the greatest epic poet, if anyone thinks so, and Pacuvius a tragic poet, and Caecilius perhaps a comic one.
§3.oratorem genere non divido;
perfectum enim quaero.
I do not divide the orator by genre; for I am seeking the perfect one.
Vnum est autem genus perfecti, a quo qui absunt, non genere differunt, ut Terentius ab Accio, sed in eodem genere non sunt pares.
Now there is but one genre of the perfect, from which those who fall short do not differ in genre, as Terence does from Accius, but are not equal in the same genre.
Optimus est enim orator, qui dicendo animos audientium et docet et delectat et permovet.
For the best orator is he who by speaking teaches, delights, and deeply moves the minds of his hearers.
Docere debitum est, delectare honorarium, permovere necessarium.
To teach is a duty, to delight is a gratification, to deeply move is a necessity.
§4.haec ut alius melius quam alius, concedendum est; verum id fit non genere sed gradu.
That one person does these things better than another must be conceded; but this happens not by genre but by degree.
Optimum quidem unum est et proximum quod ei simillimum.
Indeed, the best is one, and nearest to it is that which is most similar to it.
Ex quo perspicuum est, quod optimo dissimillimum sit, id esse deterrimum.
From which it is clear that what is most dissimilar to the best is the worst.
nam quoniam eloquentia constat ex verbis et ex sententiis, perficiendum est, ut pure et emendate loquentes, quod est Latine, verborum praeterea et propriorum et translatorum elegantiam persequamur: in propriis ut lautissima eligamus, in translatis ut similitudinem secuti verecunde utamur alienis.
For since eloquence consists of words and of thoughts, we must bring it about that, while speaking purely and correctly (which is speaking in Latin), we also pursue the elegance of words, both proper and metaphorical: in proper words, that we choose the most refined; in metaphorical ones, that, following similarity, we use foreign words with restraint.
§5.sententiarum autem toti dem genera sunt quot dixi esse laudum.
Now of thoughts there are just as many kinds as I said there are merits.
Sunt enim docendi acutae, delectandi quasi argutae, commovendi graves.
For there are sharp thoughts for teaching, witty ones as it were for delighting, and grave ones for moving.
Sed et verborum est structura quaedam duas res efficiens, numerum et levitatem, et sententiae suam compositionem habent, et ad probandam rem accommodatum ordinem.
But there is also a certain structure of words producing two things, rhythm and smoothness, and thoughts have their own composition, and an order adapted to proving the matter.
Sed earum omnium rerum memoria est quasi fundamentum, lumen actio.
But of all these things memory is, as it were, the foundation, and delivery is the light.
§6.ea igitur omnia in quo summa erunt, erit perfectissimus orator; in quo media, mediocris; in quo minima, deterrimus.
Therefore, the orator in whom all these things are in the highest degree will be the most perfect; he in whom they are moderate, mediocre; he in whom they are minimal, the worst.
Et appellabuntur omnes oratores, ut pictores appellantur etiam mali, nec generibus inter sese, sed facultatibus different.
And they will all be called orators, just as even bad painters are called painters, and they will differ among themselves not in genres, but in capacities.
Itaque nemo est orator qui Demostheni se similem nolit esse; at Menander Homeri noluit; genus enim erat aliud.
Thus, there is no orator who would not want to be like Demosthenes; but Menander did not want to be like Homer; for his genre was different.
Id non est in oratoribus aut, etiam si est ut alius gravitatem sequens subtilitatem fugiat, contra alius acutiorem se quam ornatio rem velit, etiam si est in genere tolerabili, certe non est in optimo, si quidem, quod omnis laudes habet, id est optimum.
This is not the case among orators, or, even if it is so that one person pursuing gravity avoids refinement, while on the contrary another wishes to be more acute than ornate, even if he is in a tolerable genre, he is certainly not in the best, if indeed that which possesses all merits is the best.
§7.haec autem dixi brevius quidem quam res petebat, sed ad id quod agimus non fuit dicendum pluribus; unum enim cum sit genus, id quale sit quaerimus.
Now I have said these things more briefly than the matter demanded, but for our present purpose it was not necessary to speak at greater length; for since there is but one genre, we are seeking what kind of genre it is.
Est autem tale quale floruit Athenis; ex quo Atticorum oratorum ipsa vis ignota est, nota gloria.
Now it is such as flourished at Athens; wherefore the very power of the Attic orators is unknown, though their glory is known.
Nam alterum multi viderunt, vitiosi nihil apud eos esse, alterum pauci, laudabilia esse multa.
For many have seen the one thing, that there is nothing faulty in them; few have seen the other, that there are many things worthy of praise.
Est enim vitiosum in sententia, si quid absurdum aut alienum aut non acutum aut subinsulsum est; in verbis si inquinatum, si abiectum, si non aptum, si durum, si longe petitum.
For there is a defect in thought if anything is absurd or foreign or not acute or somewhat dull; in words if defiled, low, inappropriate, harsh, or far-fetched.
§8.haec vitaverunt fere omnes qui aut Attici numerantur aut dicunt Attice.
Nearly all who are either counted as Attic or speak in the Attic manner avoided these things.
Sed qui eatenus valuerunt, sani et sicci dumtaxat habeantur, sed ita ut palaestritae; spatiari in xysto ut liceat, non ab Olympiis coronam petant.
But let those who succeeded only to this extent be regarded at least as healthy and dry, but in the manner of wrestlers: let them be allowed to stroll in the colonnade, but let them not seek a crown from the Olympic games.
Qui cum careant omni vitio, non sunt contenti quasi bona valetudine, sed viris lacertos sanguinem quaerunt, quandam etiam suavitatem coloris.
Since they are free from all defect, they are not content with what is, as it were, good health, but they seek muscles, sinews, blood, and even a certain freshness of complexion.
Eos imitemur, si possumus; si minus, illos potius qui incorrupta sanitate sunt, quod est proprium Atticorum, quam eos quorum vitiosa abundantia est, qualis Asia multos tulit.
Let us imitate them, if we can; if not, let us imitate those who are of unimpaired health, which is characteristic of the Attics, rather than those whose abundance is faulty, such as Asia produced in great numbers.
Quod cum faciemus—
When we do this—