§10.5.13nam quid interest, Cornelius tribunus plebis quod codicem legerit, reus sit, an quaeramus, violeturne maiestas, si magistratus rogationem suam populo ipse recitaverit; Milo Clodium rectene occiderit, veniat in iudicium, an, oporteatne insidiatorem interfici vel perniciosum rei publicae civem, etiamsi non insidietur; Cato Marciam honestene tradiderit Hortensio, an, conveniatne res talis bono viro? de personis iudicatur, sed de rebus contenditur.
For what difference does it make whether Cornelius, because he read the draft of a law as tribune of the plebs, is put on trial, or we ask whether majesty is violated if a magistrate himself recites his own proposal to the people; whether Milo did right in killing Clodius, is brought to trial, or whether an ambusher or a citizen dangerous to the state ought to be killed, even if he does not lie in wait; whether Cato acted honorably in handing over Marcia to Hortensius, or whether such a transaction is fitting for a good man? Judgment is passed on persons, but the dispute is about things.
§10.5.14declamationes vero, quales in scholis rhetorum dicuntur, si modo sunt ad veritatem accommodatae et orationibus similes, non tantum dum adolescit profectus sunt utilissimae, quia inventionem et dispositionem pariter exercent, sed etiam cum est consummatus ac iam in foro clarus.
Indeed, declamations, such as are delivered in the schools of rhetoricians, provided they are adapted to reality and resemble actual speeches, are not only most useful while one's progress is growing, because they exercise invention and arrangement alike, but also when one is accomplished and already famous in the forum.
alitur enim atque enitescit velut pabulo laetiore facundia et adsidua contentionum asperitate fatigata renovatur.
For eloquence is nourished and shines forth as if on richer pasture, and is renewed when exhausted by the constant harshness of disputes.
§10.5.15quapropter historiae nonnunquam ubertas in aliqua exercendi stili parte ponenda et dialogorum libertate gestiendum.
For which reason sometimes the richness of history should be employed in some part of exercising the pen, and we should delight in the freedom of dialogues.
ne carmine quidem ludere contrarium fuerit, sicut athletae, remissa quibusdam temporibus ciborum atque exercitationum certa necessitate, otio et iucundioribus epulis reficiuntur.
Even to play with poetry will not be inappropriate, just as athletes, when the strict necessity of food and exercises is relaxed at certain times, are refreshed by leisure and more pleasant banquets.
§10.5.16ideoque mihi videtur M. Tullius tantum intulisse eloquentiae lumen, quod in hos quoque studiorum secessus excurrit.
And therefore it seems to me that Marcus Tullius brought so much light to eloquence because he also ran out into these retreats of study.
nam si nobis sola materia fuerit ex litibus, necesse est deteratur fulgor et durescat articulus et ipse ille mucro ingenii cotidiana pugna retundatur.
For if we have only materials from lawsuits, it is necessary that our brightness be worn away, our joints grow stiff, and that very edge of genius be blunted by daily fighting.
§10.5.17sed quemadmodum forensibus certaminibus exercitatos et quasi militantes reficit ac reparat haec velut sagina dicendi, sic adolescentes non debent nimium in falsa rerum imagine detineri et inanibus simulacris usque adeo, ut difficilis ab his digressus sit, assuescere, ne ab illa, in qua prope consenuerunt, umbra vera discrimina velut quendam solem reformident.
But just as this rich diet of speaking refreshes and restores those who are trained in forensic contests and, as it were, serving in the military, so young men ought not to be kept too long in the false image of things, nor become so accustomed to empty phantoms that departure from them is difficult, lest they dread real conflicts, as if they were some sun, coming out of that shade in which they have almost grown old.
§10.5.18quod accidisse etiam M. Porcio Latroni, qui primus clari nominis professor fuit, traditur, ut, cum ei summam in scholis opinionem obtinenti causa in foro esset oranda, impense petierit, uti subsellia in basilicam transferrentur.
This is reported to have happened even to Marcus Porcius Latro, who was the first professor of famous name: when, while holding the highest reputation in the schools, he had to plead a case in the forum, he earnestly requested that the benches be moved into the basilica.
ita illi caelum novum fuit, ut omnis eius eloquentia contineri tecto ac parietibus videretur.
Thus the open sky was so new to him that all his eloquence seemed to be confined by a roof and walls.
§10.5.19quare iuvenis, qui rationem inveniendi eloquendique a praeceptoribus diligenter acceperit (quod non est infiniti operis, si docere sciant et velint), exercitationem quoque modicam fuerit consecutus, oratorem sibi aliquem, quod apud maiores fieri solebat, deligat, quem sequatur, quem imitetur; iudiciis intersit quam plurimis et sit certaminis, cui destinatur, frequens spectator.
Therefore, a young man who has diligently received the theory of invention and elocution from his teachers (which is not an endless task, if they know how and are willing to teach) and has also attained moderate practice, should choose some orator for himself, as was customary among our ancestors, whom he may follow and imitate; let him attend as many trials as possible and be a frequent spectator of the conflict for which he is destined.
§10.5.20tum causas vel easdem, quas agi audierit, stilo et ipse componat, vel etiam alias veras modo et utrinque tractet, et, quod in gladiatoribus fieri videmus, decretoriis exerceatur, ut fecisse Brutum diximus pro Milone.
Then let him compose with his pen either the very cases that he has heard argued, or even others, provided they are real, and treat them from both sides; and, as we see done in the case of gladiators, let him practice with decisive weapons, as we said Brutus did for Milo.
melius hoc quam rescribere veteribus orationibus, ut fecit Cestius contra Ciceronis actionem habitam pro eodem, cum alteram partem satis nosse non posset ex sola defensione.
This is better than rewriting against ancient speeches, as Cestius did against Cicero's speech delivered for the same person, when he could not know the other side well enough from the defense alone.
§10.5.21citius autem idoneus erit iuvenis, quem praeceptor coegerit in declamando quam simillimum esse veritati et per totas ire materias, quarum nunc facillima et maxime favorabilia decerpunt.
But a young man will sooner become qualified if his teacher compels him in declaiming to be as similar to truth as possible and to go through whole subjects, of which they now cull only the easiest and most favorable parts.
obstant huic, quod secundo loco posui, fere turba discipulorum et consuetudo classium certis diebus audiendarum, nonnihil etiam persuasio patrum numerantium potius declamationes quam aestimantium.
Obstacles to this, which I placed in the second position, are generally the crowd of pupils and the custom of classes being heard on certain days, and not a little also the persuasion of fathers who count declamations rather than evaluate them.
§10.5.22sed, quod dixi primo, ut arbitror, libro, nec ille se bonus praeceptor maiore numero quam sustinere possit onerabit et inanem loquacitatem recidet, ut omnia quae sunt in controversia, non, ut quidem volunt, quae in rerum natura, dicantur; et vel longiore potius dierum spatio laxabit dicendi necessitatem vel materias dividere permittet.
But, as I think I said in the first book, a good teacher will not burden himself with a greater number than he can support, and will cut back empty loquacity, so that all things that are in controversy may be spoken, not, as some indeed wish, all things that are in the nature of things; and he will either relax the necessity of speaking by a longer space of days, or permit the dividing of materials.
§10.5.23una enim diligenter effecta plus proderit quam plures inchoatae et quasi degustatae.
For one thing diligently completed will profit more than many begun and, as it were, tasted.
propter quod accidit, ut nec suo loco quidque ponatur, nec illa quae prima sunt servent suam legem, iuvenibus flosculos omnium partium in ea quae sunt dicturi congerentibus; quo fit, ut timentes, ne sequentia perdant, priora confundant.
Because of this, it happens that neither is each thing placed in its own position, nor do those things which are first keep their own law, while young men heap up the flowery ornaments of all parts into what they are about to say; whence it happens that, fearing lest they lose subsequent points, they confuse the former.