§10.3.1et haec quidem auxilia extrinsecus adhibentur; in iis autem quae nobis ipsis paranda sunt, ut laboris sic utilitatis etiam longe plurimum adfert stilus.
And these aids indeed are applied from without; but in those things which must be prepared by ourselves, the pen (stilus) brings by far the most, as of labor, so also of utility.
nec immerito M. Tullius hunc optimum effectorem ac magistrum dicendi vocat;
And not without reason does M.
cui sententiae personam L. Crassi in disputationibus quae sunt de oratore adsignando, iudicium suum cum illius auctoritate coniunxit.
Tullius call this the best effector and teacher of speaking; to which opinion, by assigning the person of L. Crassus in the discussions which are about the orator, he joined his own judgment with that man's authority.
§10.3.2scribendum ergo quam diligentissime et quam plurimum.
Therefore, we must write as diligently as possible and as much as possible.
nam ut terra alte refossa generandis alendisque seminibus fecundior fit, sic profectus non a summo petitus studiorum fructus effundit uberius et fidelius continet.
For just as land dug deep becomes more fertile for producing and nourishing seeds, so progress sought not from the surface pours forth the fruit of studies more abundantly and retains it more faithfully.
nam sine hac quidem conscientia ipsa illa ex tempore dicendi facultas inanem modo loquacitatem dabit et verba in labris nascentia.
For indeed, without this consciousness, that very faculty of speaking extempore will produce only empty loquacity and words born on the lips.
§10.3.3illic radices, illic fundamenta sunt, illic opes velut sanctiore quodam aerario conditae, unde ad subitos quoque casus, cum res exiget, proferantur.
There are the roots, there the foundations, there the riches stored up as if in a more sacred treasury, whence they may be brought forth also for sudden emergencies when the matter demands.
vires faciamus ante omnia, quae sufficiant labori certaminum et usu non exhauriantur.
Before all things, let us create strength which may suffice for the labor of contests and not be exhausted by use.
§10.3.4nihil enim rerum ipsa natura voluit magnum effici cito praeposuitque pulcherrimo cuique operi difficultatem; quae nascendi quoque hanc fecerit legem, ut maiora animalia diutius visceribus parentis continerentur.
For nature herself has willed nothing great to be accomplished quickly, and has placed difficulty before every most beautiful work; which has made this law also for birth, that larger animals should be contained longer in the womb of the parent.
sed cum sit duplex quaestio, quomodo et quae maxime scribi oporteat, iam hinc ordinem sequar.
But since the question is twofold, how and what things chiefly ought to be written, I shall follow the order from here.
§10.3.5sit primo vel tardus dum diligens stilus, quaeramus optima nec protinus offerentibus se gaudeamus, adhibeatur iudicium inventis, dispositio probatis.
At first, let the pen be even slow, provided it is diligent; let us seek the best things and not rejoice immediately in those that offer themselves; let judgment be applied to what is found, and arrangement to what is approved.
delectus enim rerum uerborumque agendus est et pondera singulorum examinanda.
For a choice of things and words must be made, and the weights of each must be examined.
post subeat ratio collocandi versenturque omni modo numeri, non ut quodque se proferet verbum occupet locum.
Afterward, the method of collocation should follow, and let rhythm be turned in every way, not so that whatever word presents itself should occupy the place.
§10.3.6quae quidem ut diligentius exsequamur, repetenda saepius erunt scriptorum proxima.
Indeed, that we may execute these things more diligently, the immediate parts of what has been written must be repeated more often.
nam praeter id quod sic melius iunguntur prioribus sequentia, calor quoque ille cogitationis, qui scribendi mora refrixit, recipit ex integro vires et velut repetito spatio sumit impetum; quod in certamine saliendi fieri videmus, ut conatum longius petant et ad illud, quo contenditur, spatium cursu ferantur; utque in iaculando brachia reducimus et expulsuri tela nervos retro tendimus.
For besides the fact that thus the following things are better joined to the preceding, that heat also of thought, which has cooled by the delay of writing, recovers its strength anew and, as if by repeating the space, takes an impetus; which we see happen in the contest of jumping, so that they seek their attempt from further back and are carried by a run to that space which is aimed at; and as in throwing a javelin we draw back our arms and, when about to discharge the weapons, stretch the sinews backward.
§10.3.7interim tamen, si feret flatus, danda sunt vela, dum nos indulgentia illa non fallat.
Meanwhile, however, if a breeze blows, we must set sail, provided that that indulgence does not deceive us.
omnia enim nostra, dum nascuntur, placent; alioqui nec scriberentur.
For all our own things, while they are being born, please us; otherwise they would not even be written.
sed redeamus ad iudicium et retractemus suspectam facilitate.
But let us return to judgment, and let us re-examine what is suspect because of its facility.
§10.3.8sic scripsisse Sallustium accepimus, et sane manifestus est etiam ex opere ipso labor.
We have received that Sallust wrote in this way, and indeed the labor is manifest even from the work itself.
Vergilium quoque paucissimos die composuisse versus auctor est Varius.
Virgil also composed very few verses in a day, of which Varius is the authority.
oratoris quidem alia condicio est; §10.3.9itaque hanc moram et sollicitudinem initiis impero.
Indeed, the condition of an orator is different; therefore, I command this delay and solicitude to the beginnings.
nam primum hoc constituendum, hoc obtinendum est, ut quam optime scribamus; celeritatem dabit consuetudo.
For first this must be established, this must be maintained, that we write as well as possible; practice will give speed.
paulatim res facilius se ostendent, verba respondebunt, compositio sequetur, cuncta denique ut in familia bene instituta in officio erunt.
Gradually, matters will show themselves more easily, words will respond, composition will follow, and finally all things, as in a well-ordered household, will be at their duty.
summa haec est rei: §10.3.10cito scribendo non fit, ut bene scribatur; bene scribendo fit, ut cito.
This is the sum of the matter: by writing quickly it does not come about that one writes well; by writing well it comes about that one writes quickly.
sed tum maxime, cum facultas illa contigerit, resistamus ut provideamus et efferentes equos frenis quibusdam coerceamus; quod non tam moram faciet quam novos impetus dabit.
But then especially, when that faculty has been attained, let us resist so that we may look ahead, and let us restrain the runaway horses with certain reins; which will not so much make a delay as give new impulses.
neque enim rursus eos, qui robur aliquod in stilo fecerint, ad infelicem calumniandi se poenam alligandos puto.
Nor indeed, on the other hand, do I think that those who have made some strength in the pen should be bound to the unhappy punishment of self-criticism.
§10.3.11nam quomodo sufficere officiis civilibus possit, qui singulis actionum partibus insenescat? sunt autem quibus nihil sit satis;
For how can he suffice for civil duties, who grows old over individual parts of actions?
omnia mutare, omnia aliter dicere quam occurrit velint; increduli quidam et de ingenio suo pessime meriti, qui diligentiam putant facere sibi scribendi difficultatem.
But there are those to whom nothing is enough; who wish to change all things, to say all things otherwise than they occur; certain distrustful men and most ill-deserving of their own talent, who think that diligence makes for them the difficulty of writing.