§9.si modo id ipsum adsequemur; est enim permagnum— imitemur, si potuerimus, Lysiam et eius quidem tenuitatem potissimum; est enim multis locis grandior, sed quia et privatas ille plerasque et eas ipsas aliis et parvarum rerum causulas scripsit, videtur esse ieiunior, cum se ipse consulto ad minutarum causarum genera limaverit.
If only we achieve this very thing; for it is a very great task. Let us imitate, if we can, Lysias, and especially his simplicity; for he is grander in many places, but because he wrote mostly private speeches, and those very ones for others, and on matters of small importance, he seems rather dry, since he deliberately refined himself for the types of minor cases.
quod qui ita faciet, ut, si cupiat uberior esse, non possit, habeatur sane orator, sed de minoribus; magno autem oratori etiam illo modo saepe dicendum est in tali genere causarum.
Anyone who does this in such a way that, even if he should desire to be more copious, he could not, may indeed be considered an orator, but one of the lesser rank; yet a great orator must also often speak in that manner in such a class of cases.
§10.ita fit ut Demosthenes certe possit sum misse dicere, elate Lysias fortasse non possit.
Thus it happens that Demosthenes is certainly able to speak in a low style, whereas Lysias is perhaps unable to speak in an elevated one.
Sed si eodem modo putant exercitu in foro et in omnibus templis, quae circum forum sunt, conlocato dici pro Milone decuisse, ut si de re privata ad unum iudicem diceremus, vim eloquentiae sua facultate, non rei natura metiuntur.
But if they think that when the army was stationed in the forum and in all the temples which are around the forum, the speech for Milo should have been delivered in the same manner as if we were speaking about a private matter before a single judge, they measure the power of eloquence by their own capacity, and not by the nature of the case.
§11.qua re quoniam non nullorum sermo iam increbruit, partim se ipsos Attice dicere, partim neminem nostrum dicere, alteros neglegamus; satis enim eis res ipsa respondet, cum aut non adhibeantur ad causas aut adhibiti derideantur; nam si riderentur, esset id ipsum Atticorum.
Therefore, since the talk of some has now grown frequent, partly that they themselves speak in the Attic manner, partly that none of us does, let us disregard the former; for the matter itself responds to them sufficiently, since they are either not employed in cases, or when employed they are laughed at; for if they provoked laughter, that would be the very thing of the Attics.
Sed qui dici a nobis Attico more volunt, ipsi autem se non oratores esse profitentur, si teretes auris habent intellegensque iudicium, tamquam ad picturam probandam adhibentur etiam inscii faciendi cum aliqua sollertia iudicandi;
But as for those who wish us to speak in the Attic fashion, but themselves profess not to be orators, if they have refined ears and intelligent judgment, they are employed like those called to judge a painting, even though they themselves are ignorant of how to paint, yet possess some skill in judging;
§12.sin autem intellegentiam ponunt in audiendi fastidio neque eos quicquam excelsum magnificumque delectat, dicant se quiddam subtile et politum velle, grande ornatumque contemnere; id vero desinant dicere, qui subtiliter dicant, eos solos Attice dicere, id est quasi sicce et integre.
But if they place intelligence in a squeamishness of hearing, and nothing lofty and magnificent delights them, let them say that they desire something subtle and polished, and despise the grand and ornate; but let them cease to say that those who speak subtly are the only ones who speak in the Attic manner, that is, as it were, drily and purely.
Et ample et ornate et copiose cum eadem integritate Atticorum est.
For to speak grandly, ornately, and copiously with that same purity is also characteristic of the Attics.
Quid? dubium est utrum orationem nostram tolerabilem tantum an etiam admirabilem esse cupiamus? Non enim iam quaerimus quid sit Attice, sed quid sit optime dicere.
What? Is there any doubt whether we desire our oratory to be merely tolerable or also admirable? For we are no longer asking what it is to speak in the Attic manner, but what it is to speak in the best manner.
§13.ex quo intellegitur, quoniam Graecorum oratorum praestantissimi sint ei qui fuerint Athenis, eorum autem princeps facile Demosthenes, hunc si qui imitetur, cum et Attice dicturum et optime, ut, quoniam Attici nobis propositi sunt ad imitandum, bene dicere id sit Attice dicere.
From which it is understood that, since the most excellent of the Greek orators were those who were at Athens, and of these Demosthenes was easily the chief, if anyone imitates him, he will speak both in the Attic manner and in the best manner, so that, since the Attics are set before us for imitation, to speak well is to speak in the Attic manner.
Sed cum in eo magnus error esset, quale esset id dicendi genus, putavi mihi suscipiendum laborem utilem studiosis, mihi quidem ipsi non necessarium.
But since there was a great error in regard to what that kind of speaking was, I thought I ought to undertake a labor useful to students, though not necessary indeed for myself.
§14.converti enim ex Atticis duorum eloquentissimorum nobilissimas orationes inter seque contrarias, Aeschini et Demostheni; nec converti ut interpres, sed ut orator, sententiis isdem et earum formis tamquam figuris, verbis ad nostram consuetudinem aptis.
For I have translated the most famous and mutually opposing speeches of the two most eloquent Attic orators, Aeschines and Demosthenes; and I translated them not as a mere translator, but as an orator, with the same thoughts and their forms, as it were, their figures, and with words adapted to our own usage.
In quibus non verbum pro verbo necesse habui reddere, sed genus omne verborum vimque servavi.
In these, I did not deem it necessary to render word for word, but I preserved the character and force of all the words.
Non enim ea me adnumerare lectori putavi oportere, sed tamquam appendere.
For I did not think I ought to count them out to the reader, but, as it were, to weigh them out.
§15.hic labor meus hoc adsequetur, ut nostri homines quid ab illis exigant, qui se Atticos volunt, et ad quam eos quasi formulam dicendi revocent intellegant.
This labor of mine will achieve this result, that our countrymen may understand what they should demand of those who wish to be called Attics, and to what formula, as it were, of speaking they should recall them.
'Sed exorietur Thucydides; eius enim quidam eloquentiam admirantur. ' Id quidem recte; sed nihil ad eum oratorem quem quaerimus.
"But Thucydides will arise; for some admire his eloquence." That indeed is right; but it has nothing to do with that orator whom we are seeking.
Aliud est enim explicare res gestas narrando, aliud argumentando criminari crimenve dissolvere; aliud narrantem tenere auditorem, aliud concitare.
For it is one thing to unfold historical events by narrating, another to accuse or to refute an accusation by arguing; it is one thing to keep the hearer's attention while narrating, another to excite him.
'At loquitur pulchre. '
"But he speaks beautifully."
§16.num melius quam Plato? Necesse est tamen oratori quem quaerimus controversias explicare forensis dicendi genere apto ad docendum, ad delectandum, ad permovendum.
Is it better than Plato? Nevertheless, it is necessary for the orator whom we are seeking to unfold forensic controversies in a style of speaking adapted to teaching, to delighting, and to moving.
qua re si quis erit qui se Thucydideo genere causas in foro dicturum esse profiteatur, is abhorrebit etiam a suspicione eius quod versatur in re civili et forensi; sin Thucydidem laudabit, ascribat suae nostram sententiam.
Therefore, if there is anyone who professes that he will plead cases in the forum in the style of Thucydides, he will be far removed even from any suspicion of that which is concerned with civil and forensic affairs; but if he merely praises Thucydides, let him register our opinion as supporting his own.