§11.3.45sedendi, iacendi vices sunt, nihilque eorum pati unum diu possumus.
There is an alternation of standing, walking, sitting, and lying, and we can endure none of these single states for long.
illud vero maximum (sed id paulo post tractabimus), quod secundum rationem rerum, de quibus dicimus, animorumque habitus conformanda vox est, ne ab oratione discordet.
But the most important point (though we shall treat it a little later) is that the voice must be formed according to the nature of the things we speak of and the state of our minds, lest it discord with the speech.
vitemus igitur illam, quae Graece μονοτονία vocatur, una quaedam spiritus ac soni intentio; non solum ne dicamus omnia clamose, quod insanum est, aut intra loquendi modum, quod motu caret, aut summisso murmure, quo etiam debilitatur omnis intentio; §11.3.46sed ut in iisdem partibus iisdemque adfectibus sint tamen quaedam non ita magnae vocis declinationes, prout aut verborum dignitas aut sententiarum natura aut depositio aut inceptio aut transitus postulabit: ut, qui singulis pinxerunt coloribus, alia tamen eminentiora alia reductiora fecerunt, sine quo ne membris quidem suas lineas dedissent.
Let us therefore avoid that which is called in Greek "monotonia", a certain single tension of breath and sound; not only lest we say everything clamorously, which is insane, or within the limit of ordinary speech, which lacks movement, or in a low murmur, by which indeed all tension is weakened, but so that in the same parts and the same emotions there may still be certain not so great inflections of the voice, according as either the dignity of the words or the nature of the thoughts or the dropping or the beginning or the transition shall require: just as those who painted with single colors nevertheless made some parts more prominent and others more retired, without which they would not have given even to the limbs their proper lines.
§11.3.47proponamus enim nobis illud Ciceronis in oratione nobilissima pro Milone principium; nonne ad singulas paene distinctiones quamvis in eadem facie tamen quasi vultus mutandus est? etsi vereor, iudices, ne turpe sit, pro fortissimo viro dicere incipientem timere. §11.3.48etiamsi est toto proposito contractum atque summissum, quia et exordium est et solliciti exordium, tamen fuerit necesse est aliquid plenius et erectius, dum dicit pro fortissimo viro, quam cum etsi vereor et turpe sit et timere.
For let us set before ourselves that beginning of Cicero's most noble speech for Milo; must not, as it were, the countenance be changed at almost every single division, although under the same aspect? "Although I fear, judges, lest it be shameful, when beginning to speak for a most brave man, to be afraid." Even though it is, in its whole purpose, contracted and subdued, because it is both an exordium and the exordium of an anxious person, yet there must be something fuller and more elevated while he says "pro fortissimo viro" than when "etsi vereor" and "turpe sit" and "timere".
§11.3.49iam secunda respiratio increscat oportet et naturali quodam conatu, quo minus pavide dicimus quae sequuntur, et quod magnitudo animi Milonis ostenditur: minimeque deceat, cum T. Annius ipse magis de rei publicae salute quam de sua perturbetur. deinde quasi obiurgatio sui est: me ad eius causam parem animi magnitudinem ut ferre non posse. §11.3.50tum invidiosiora: tamen haec novi iudicii nova forma terret oculos. illa vero iam paene apertis, ut aiunt, tibiis: qui, quocunque inciderunt, consuetudinem fori et pristinum morem iudiciorum requirunt. nam sequens latum etiam atque fusum est: non enim corona consessus vester cinctus est, ut solebat. §11.3.51quod notavi, ut appareret, non solum in membris causae, sed etiam in articulis esse aliquam pronuntiandi uarietatem, sine qua nihil neque maius neque minus est.
Now the second respiration ought to increase both by a certain natural effort, by which we speak what follows with less fear, and because the greatness of Milo's mind is shown: "And it would be least becoming, since Titus Annius himself is more disturbed for the safety of the state than for his own." Then comes as it were a self-reproach: "That I should not be able to bring an equal greatness of mind to his cause!" Then things more likely to excite ill-feeling: "Yet this new form of a new trial terrifies the eyes." But that other passage is indeed now almost, as they say, with open pipes (tibiis): "which, wherever they have fallen, look for the custom of the forum and the ancient manner of trials." For what follows is even broad and diffused: "For your assembly is not encircled by a crowd, as it was wont to be." Which I have noted, so that it might appear that not only in the members of a cause, but even in the articulations there is some variety of delivery, without which nothing is made either greater or less.
vox autem ultra vires urgenda non est.
But the voice must not be urged beyond its powers.
nam et suffocatur saepe et maiore nisu minus clara est et interim elisa in illum sonum erumpit, cui Graeci nomen a gallorum immaturo cantu dederunt.
For it is both often choked, and is less clear with greater effort, and sometimes being squeezed out, it bursts into that sound to which the Greeks have given a name from the immature crowing of cocks.
§11.3.52nec volubilitate nimia confundenda quae dicimus, qua et distinctio perit et adfectus, et nonnunquam etiam verba aliqua sui parte fraudantur.
Nor must we confuse what we say with excessive rapid utterance, by which both division and emotion perish, and sometimes even some words are defrauded of some part of themselves.
cui contrarium est vitium nimiae tarditatis; nam et difficultatem inveniendi fatetur et segnitia solvit animos et, in quo est aliquid, temporibus praefinitis aquam perdit.
The contrary to this is the vice of excessive slowness; for it both confesses difficulty of invention and relaxes the minds by sluggishness, and, where there is some talent, it loses the water within the prescribed limits.
promptum sit os, non praeceps, moderatum, non lentum;
Let the mouth be ready, not headlong; moderate, not slow.
§11.3.53spiritus quoque nec crebro receptus concidat sententiam, nec eo usque trahatur, donec deficiat.
The breath also must neither, by being frequently taken, hack the sentence, nor be drawn out so far until it fails.
nam et deformis est consumpti illius sonus et respiratio sub aqua diu pressi similis et receptus longior et non opportunus, ut qui fiat non ubi volumus, sed ubi necesse est.
For both the sound of it when exhausted is ugly, and the respiration is like that of one long pressed under water, and the taking of it is longer and not seasonable, as being done not where we wish, but where it is necessary.
quare longiorem dicturis periodum colligendus est spiritus, ita tamen, ut id neque diu neque cum sono faciamus, neque omnino ut manifestum sit; reliquis partibus optime inter iuncturas sermonis revocabitur.
Wherefore, those who are about to speak a longer period must gather their breath, yet in such a way that we do it neither slowly nor with a sound, nor indeed so that it is manifest at all; in the remaining parts it will be most excellently recovered between the joints of the speech.
§11.3.54exercendus autem est, ut sit quam longissimus; quod Demosthenes ut efficeret, scandens in adversum continuabat quam posset plurimos versus.
But it must be exercised so that it may be as long as possible; to effect which, Demosthenes, climbing up against a steep place, used to continue as many verses as he could.
idem, quo facilius verba ore libero exprimeret, calculos lingua volvens dicere domi solebat.
The same, that he might more easily pronounce words with a free mouth, used to practice speaking at home with pebbles rolled under his tongue.