§11.3.23ne ciborum quidem est eadem observatio.
Nor indeed is there the same observation of food.
non enim tam molli teneraque voce quam forti ac durabili opus est, cum illi omnes etiam altissimos sonos leniant cantu oris, nobis pleraque aspere sint concitateque dicenda et vigilandae noctes et fuligo lucubrationum bibenda et in sudata veste durandum.
For we do not need a voice so soft and tender as one strong and durable, since those trainers soften even the highest sounds with the chant of the mouth, whereas we must speak most things harshly and excitedly, and keep vigil at night, and drink the soot of night studies, and endure in a sweated garment.
§11.3.24quare vocem deliciis non molliamus, nec imbuatur ea consuetudine, quam desideratura sit; sed exercitatio eius talis sit qualis usus, ne silentio subsidat, sed firmetur consuetudine, qua difficultas omnis levatur.
Therefore, let us not soften the voice with luxuries, nor let it be imbued with that habit which it will later miss; but let its exercise be such as its use, lest it sink in silence, but let it be strengthened by habit, by which all difficulty is lightened.
§11.3.25ediscere autem, quo exercearis, erit optimum (nam ex tempore dicentes avocat a cura vocis ille, qui ex rebus ipsis concipitur, adfectus) et ediscere quam maxime varia, quae et clamorem et disputationem et sermonem et flexus habeant, ut simul in omnia paremur.
Moreover, to memorize something by which you may exercise will be best (for that emotion which is conceived from the things themselves distracts those who speak extempore from care for the voice), and to memorize as varied things as possible, which have both clamor and dispute and conversation and inflections, so that we may be prepared for all things at once.
hoc satis est; §11.3.26alioqui nitida illa et curata vox insolitum laborem recusabit, ut assueta gymnasiis et oleo corpora, quamlibet sint in suis certaminibus speciosa atque robusta, si militare iter fascemque et vigilias imperes, deficiant et quaerant unctores suos nudumque sudorem.
This is enough; otherwise that polished and cared-for voice will refuse unusual labor, just as bodies accustomed to gymnasiums and oil, however beautiful and robust they may be in their own contests, if you command a military march, baggage, and vigils, would fail and seek their anointers and bare sweat.
§11.3.27illa quidem in hoc opere praecipi quis ferat vitandos soles atque ventos et nubila etiam ac siccitates? ita, si dicendum in sole aut ventoso, humido, calido die fuerit, reos deseremus? nam crudum quidem aut saturum aut ebrium aut eiecto modo vomitu, quae cavenda quidam monent, declamare neminem, qui sit mentis compos, puto.
Who indeed could endure that in this work it should be taught that we must avoid suns and winds and even clouds and droughts? Thus, if we must speak in the sun or on a windy, wet, or hot day, shall we desert our clients? For indeed, that no one who is of sound mind declaims when suffering from indigestion, or full, or drunk, or just after vomiting—which things some warn us to avoid—I think is certain.
§11.3.28illud non sine causa est ab omnibus praeceptum, ut parcatur maxime voci in illo a pueritia in adolescentiam transitu, quia naturaliter impeditur, non, ut arbitror, propter calorem, quod quidam putaverunt (nam est maior alias), sed propter humorem potius;
That which is taught by all not without cause is that the voice should be spared especially in that passage from boyhood to youth, because it is naturally impeded, not, as I think, because of heat, which some have believed (for heat is greater at other times), but rather because of moisture; for by this that age swells.
nam hoc aetas illa turgescit. §11.3.29itaque nares etiam ac pectus eo tempore tument, atque omnia velut germinant eoque sunt tenera et iniuriae obnoxia.
Therefore the nostrils and the chest also swell at that time, and all things as it were sprout and are therefore tender and liable to injury.
sed, ut ad propositum redeam, iam confirmatae constitutaeque voci genus exercitationis optimum duco, quod est operi simillimum, dicere cotidie sicut agimus.
But, to return to my purpose, for a voice already strengthened and established, I consider the best kind of exercise to be that which is most similar to our work, to speak daily just as we plead.
namque hoc modo non vox tantum confirmatur et latus, sed etiam corporis decens et accommodatus orationi motus componitur.
For in this way not only the voice and the side are strengthened, but also a decent movement of the body, suited to the speech, is composed.
§11.3.30non alia est autem ratio pronuntiationis quam ipsius orationis.
Moreover, the method of delivery is no other than that of speech itself.
nam ut illa emendata, dilucida, ornata, apta esse debet, ita haec quoque emendata erit, id est, vitio carebit, si fuerit os facile, explanatum, iucundum, urbanum, id est, in quo nulla neque rusticitas neque peregrinitas resonet.
For as that must be correct, clear, ornate, and appropriate, so this also will be correct, that is, free from fault, if the mouth is easy, clear, pleasant, and polite, that is, in which no rusticity or foreignness resounds.
§11.3.31non enim sine causa dicitur barbarum Graecumve.
For not without cause is one said to speak barbarously or Greek-like.
nam sonis homines ut aera tinnitu dinoscimus.
For we distinguish men by sounds as we do bronze coins by their ring.
ita fiet illud, quod Ennius probat, cum dicit suaviloquenti ore Cethegum fuisse, non quod Cicero in his reprehendit, quos ait latrare non agere.
Thus will happen that which Ennius approves, when he says that Cethegus was of a sweet-speaking mouth, and not what Cicero reprehends in those whom he says bark rather than plead.
sunt enim multa vitia, de quibus dixi, cum in quadam primi libri parte puerorum ora formarem, opportunius ratus, in ea aetate facere illorum mentionem, in qua emendari possunt.
For there are many faults, of which I spoke when, in a certain part of the first book, I was shaping the mouths of boys, thinking it more opportune to make mention of them at that age in which they can be corrected.
§11.3.32itemque si ipsa vox primum fuerit, ut sic dicam, sana, id est, nullum eorum, de quibus modo rettuli, patietur incommodum; deinde non subsurda, rudis, immanis, dura, rigida, rava, praepinguis, aut tenuis, inanis, acerba, pusilla, mollis, effeminata, spiritus nec brevis nec parum durabilis nec in receptu difficilis.
And likewise if the voice itself first be, so to speak, sound, that is, suffers none of those inconveniences which I just reported; then not somewhat deaf, rude, monstrous, hard, rigid, hoarse, over-fat, or thin, empty, harsh, small, soft, effeminate; and the breath neither short nor lacking durability nor difficult in recovery.
§11.3.33dilucida vero erit pronuntiatio prinum, si verba tota exierint, quorum pars devorari, pars destitui solet, plerisque extremas syllabas non perferentibus, dum priorum sono indulgent.
Delivery indeed will be clear first if words come out whole, of which part is accustomed to be swallowed, part to be left behind, most people not carrying through the last syllables while they indulge in the sound of the prior ones.
ut est autem necessaria uerborum explanatio, ita omnes imputare et velut adnumerare litteras molestum et odiosum.
But as the clear explanation of words is necessary, so to count and as it were number all letters is troublesome and offensive.