§11.2.23equidem haec ad quaedam prodesse non negaverim, ut si rerum nomina multa per ordinem audita reddenda sint.
For my part, I would not deny that these things are useful for certain purposes, as for instance if many names of things, heard in order, must be reproduced.
namque in iis quae didicerunt locis ponunt res illas: mensam, ut hoc utar, in vestibulo et pulpitum in atrio et sic cetera, deinde relegentes inveniunt, ubi posuerunt.
For in those places which they have learned by heart they place those things: a table, to use this example, in the vestibule, and a lectern in the atrium, and so with the rest, and then, reading them over again, they find where they have placed them.
§11.2.24et forsitan hoc sunt adiuti qui, auctione dimissa, quid cuique vendidissent testibus argentariorum tabulis reddiderunt; quod praestitisse Hortensium dicunt.
And perhaps those who, after an auction was over, reproduced what they had sold to each person, with the ledgers of the money-changers as witnesses, were assisted by this; which they say Hortensius performed.
minus idem proderit in ediscendis, quae orationis perpetuae erunt.
But the same method will be of less use in learning by heart what will belong to a continuous speech.
nam et sensus non eandem imaginem quam res habent, cum alterum fingendum sit, et horum tamen utcunque commonet locus, sicut sermonis alicuius habiti.
For thoughts do not have the same image as things, since the former must be fashioned, and yet the place reminds us of these in some way, like some speech that has been delivered.
at verborum contextus eadem arte quomodo comprehendetur?
But how will the connection of words be grasped by the same art?
§11.2.25mitto quod quaedam nullis simulacris significari possunt, ut certe coniunctiones.
I pass over the fact that some things can be signified by no likenesses, as certainly conjunctions.
habeamus enim sane, ut qui notis scribunt, certas imagines omnium et loca scilicet infinita, per quae verba, quot sunt in quinque contra Verrem secundae actionis libris, explicentur, meminerimus etiam omnium quasi depositorum: nonne impediri quoque dicendi cursum necesse est duplici memoriae cura?
For let us grant indeed that we have, like those who write in shorthand, certain images for all things and, of course, infinite places through which words, as many as there are in the five books of the second action against Verres, may be set forth, and that we also remember all of them as if they were deposited: must not the flow of speech also be hindered by a double anxiety for memory?
§11.2.26nam quomodo poterunt copulata fluere, si propter singula verba ad singulas formas respiciendum erit? quare et Charmadas et Scepsius, de quo modo dixi, Metrodorus, quos Cicero dicit usos hac exercitatione, sibi habeant sua; nos simpliciora tradamus.
For how will connected words be able to flow, if for individual words we must look back to individual shapes? Therefore, let both Charmadas and Metrodorus of Scepsis, whom I mentioned just now and whom Cicero says used this training, keep their own methods to themselves; let us hand down simpler things.
§11.2.27si longior complectenda memoria fuerit oratio, proderit per partes ediscere; laborat enim maxime onere; et hae partes non sint perexiguae, alioqui rursus multae erunt et eam distinguent atque concident.
If a rather long speech is to be embraced by memory, it will be useful to learn it by heart in parts; for it suffers most from weight; and let these parts not be extremely small, otherwise they will again be numerous and will distract and chop up the memory.
nec utique certum imperaverim modum, sed maxime ut quisque finietur locus, ni forte tam numerosus, ut ipse quoque dividi debeat.
Nor would I prescribe a fixed limit, but especially that each section should end where the topic ends, unless perhaps it is so full of words that it too ought to be divided.
§11.2.28dandi sunt certi quidam termini, ut contextum verborum, qui est difficillimus, continua et crebra meditatio, partes deinceps ipsas repetitus ordo coniungat.
Certain definite boundaries must be given, so that continuous and frequent practice may connect the sequence of words, which is most difficult, and repeated order may connect the parts themselves in succession.
non est inutile, iis quae difficillimus haereant aliquas apponere notas, quarum recordatio commoneat et quasi excitet memoriam; §11.2.29nemo etiam fere tam infelix, ut, quod cuique loco signum destinaverit, nesciat.
It is not useless to apply some marks to those things which stick with the greatest difficulty, the recollection of which may remind and, as it were, rouse the memory; Nor indeed is almost anyone so unfortunate as not to know what sign he has assigned to each place.
at, si tardus ad hoc, eo quoque adhuc remedio utetur ut ipsae notae (hoc enim est ex illa arte non inutile) aptentur ad eos qui excidunt sensus: ancora ut supra pro posui, si de nave dicendum est, spiculum, si de proelio.
But if he is slow at this, he will also use this further remedy, that the marks themselves (for this is a not useless element from that art) be adapted to those senses which slip away: an anchor, as I proposed above, if one has to speak of a ship; a javelin, if of a battle.
§11.2.30multum enim signa faciunt, et ex alia memoria venit alia: ut cum translatus anulus vel alligatus commoneat nos, cur id fecerimus.
For signs effect much, and one memory comes from another: just as when a ring transferred or bound reminds us why we did it.
haec magis adhuc adstringunt, qui memoriam ab aliquo simili transferunt ad id quod continendum est: ut in nominibus, si Fabius forte sit tenendus, referamus ad illum Cunctatorem, qui excidere non potest, aut ad aliquem amicum, qui idem vocetur.
These things bind even more closely those who transfer memory from something similar to that which is to be retained: as in names, if "Fabius" by chance is to be kept in mind, we may refer it to that famous "Cunctator" (the Delayer) who cannot be forgotten, or to some friend who is called by the same name.
§11.2.31quod est facilius in Apris et in Ursis et Nasone aut Crispo, ut id memoriae adfigatur unde sunt nomina.
This is easier in the case of "Aper" (Wild Boar), "Ursus" (Bear), "Naso" (Large-nosed), or "Crispus" (Curly-haired), so that that from which the names are derived is fixed in the memory.
origo quoque aliquando declinatorum tenendi magis causa est, ut in Cicerone, Verrio, Aurelio.
Sometimes also the origin of derivative names is a greater cause for retaining them, as in "Cicero" (Chickpea), "Verrius", and "Aurelius".
sed hoc miserim.
But let this pass.
§11.2.32illud neminem non iuvabit, iisdem quibus scripserit ceris ediscere.
This will help everyone without exception: to learn by heart from the very wax tablets on which they have written.
sequitur enim vestigiis quibusdam memoriam, et velut oculis intuetur non paginas modo, sed versus prope ipsos, estque cum dicit similis legenti.
For the memory follows certain tracks, and, as it were, gazes with eyes not only at the pages, but almost at the very lines, and when one speaks, one is like a person reading.
iam vero si litura aut adiectio aliqua atque mutatio interveniat, signa sunt quaedam, quae intuentes deerrare non possumus.
Indeed, if some erasure or addition and change should intervene, they are certain signs, looking at which we cannot go astray.