§11.3.98binos interim digitos distinguimus, sed non inserto pollice, paulum tamen inferioribus intra spectantibus, sed ne illis quidem tensis, qui supra sunt.
Sometimes we separate the fingers by pairs, but without inserting the thumb, the lower ones however pointing slightly inward, and not even those being tense which are above.
§11.3.99interim extremi palmam circa ima pollicis premunt, ipse prioribus ad medios articulos iungitur; interim quartus oblique reponitur; interim quattuor remissis magis quam tensis, pollice intus inclinato, habilem demonstrando in latus aut distinguendis, quae dicimus, manum facimus, cum supina in sinistrum latus, prona in alterum fertur.
Sometimes the extreme fingers press the palm around the base of the thumb, and the thumb itself is joined to the first fingers at their middle joints; sometimes the fourth finger is replaced obliquely; sometimes with the four fingers relaxed rather than tense, and the thumb inclined inward, we make the hand handy for pointing to the side or for distinguishing what we say, when it is carried palm up to the left side and palm down to the other.
§11.3.100sunt et illi breves gestus, cum manus leviter pandata, qualis voventium est, parvis intervallis et subadsentientibus humeris movetur, maxime apta parce et quasi timide loquentibus.
There are also those short gestures, when the hand is lightly expanded, such as is used by those making vows, and is moved at small intervals with slightly assenting shoulders, especially suited to those speaking sparingly and as if timidly.
est admirationi conveniens ille gestus, quo manus modice supinata ac per singulos a minimo collecta digitos redeunte flexu simul explicatur atque convertitur.
There is that gesture suitable for admiration, in which the hand, moderately turned palm up, and gathered finger by finger from the little finger, is at once unfolded and turned over with a returning curve.
§11.3.101nec uno modo interrogantes gestum componimus, plerumque tamen vertentes manum, utcunque composita est.
Nor do we compose our gesture in only one way when asking questions, but usually we turn the hand, however it has been composed.
pollici proximus digitus mediumque, qua dexter est, unguem pollicis summo suo iungens, remissis ceteris, est et adprobantibus et narrantibus et distinguentibus decorus.
The finger next to the thumb and the middle finger, where it is favorable, joining its tip to the nail of the thumb, while the others are relaxed, is graceful for those approving, narrating, and distinguishing.
§11.3.102cui non dissimilis, sed complicitis tribus digitis, quo nunc Graeci plurimum utuntur, etiam utraque manu, quotiens enthymemata sua gestu corrotundant velut caesim.
Not dissimilar to this, but with three fingers folded, is the gesture which the Greeks now use very much, even with both hands, whenever they round off their enthymemes with a gesture as if in short cuts.
manus lenior promittit et adsentatur, citatior hortatur, interim laudat.
A gentler hand promises and assents, a quicker one encourages, and sometimes praises.
est et ille urgentis orationem gestus vulgaris magis quam ex arte, qui contrahit alterno celerique motu et explicat manum.
There is also that common gesture, rather than one of art, of one urging on the speech, which contracts and unfolds the hand with an alternating and rapid movement.
§11.3.103est et illa cava et rara et supra humeri altitudinem elata cum quodam motu velut hortatrix manus; a peregrinis scholis tamen prope recepta tremula scenica est.
There is also that hollow and open hand, raised above the height of the shoulder with a certain movement, as if encouraging; however, the trembling, theatrical hand is almost received from foreign schools.
digitos, cum summi coierunt, ad os referre, cur quibusdam displicuerit, nescio.
Why it has displeased some to bring the fingers to the mouth when their tips have met, I do not know.
nam id et leviter admirantes et interim subita indignatione velut pavescentes et deprecantes facimus.
For we do this when lightly admiring, and sometimes when as it were trembling with sudden indignation and deprecating.
§11.3.104quin compressam etiam manum in paenitentia vel ira pectori admouemus, ubi vox vel inter dentes expressa non dedecet: quid nunc agant? quid facias? Averso pollice demonstrare aliquid, receptum magis puto quam oratori decorum.
Indeed, we even move the clenched hand to the breast in repentance or anger, where a voice wrung out even between the teeth is not unbecoming: 'What are they doing now?' 'What would you do?' To point out something with the thumb turned back is, I think, more accepted than graceful for an orator.
§11.3.105sed cum omnis motus sex partes habeat, septimus sit ille, qui in se redit, orbis. vitiosa est una circumversio: reliqui ante nos et dextra laevaque et sursum et deorsum aliquid ostendunt; in posteriora gestus non dirigitur.
But since every movement has six parts, and the seventh is that circle which returns into itself, a single complete revolution is faulty; the rest show something before us, to the right and left, and upward and downward; gesture is not directed backward.
§11.3.106interim tamen velut reici solet.
Sometimes, however, it is accustomed as it were to be cast back.
optime autem manus a sinistra parte incipit, in dextra deponitur, sed ut ponere non ut ferire videatur; quanquam et in fine interim cadit, ut cito tamen redeat, et nonnunquam resilit vel negantibus nobis vel admirantibus.
But the hand best begins from the left side and is set down on the right, yet so that it seems to be placed, not to strike; although sometimes it also falls at the end, so that it may however quickly return, and sometimes leaps back when we are denying or admiring.
hic veteres artifices illud recte adiecerunt, ut manus cum sensu et inciperet et deponeretur.
Here the old masters rightly added this, that the hand should both begin and be set down with the sense.
alioqui enim aut ante vocem erit gestus aut post vocem, quod est utrumque deforme.
For otherwise the gesture will be either before the voice or after the voice, both of which are unbecoming.
§11.3.107in illo lapsi nimia subtilitate sunt, quod intervallum motus tria verba esse voluerunt; quod neque observatur neque fieri potest, sed illi quasi mensuram tarditatis celeritatisque aliquam esse voluerunt, neque immerito, ne aut diu otiosa esset manus aut, quod multi faciunt, actionem continue motu concideret.
In that matter they fell through excessive subtlety, because they wished the interval of movement to be three words; which is neither observed nor can be done, but they wished there to be some measure of slowness and speed, and not without reason, lest either the hand should be idle for a long time or, as many do, should cut up the delivery by continuous movement.
§11.3.108aliud est, quod et fit frequentius et magis fallit.
There is another thing which both happens more frequently and deceives more.
sunt quaedam latentes sermonis percussiones et quasi aliqui pedes, ad quos plurimorum gestus cadit, ut sit unus motus novum crimen, alter C. Caesar, tertius et ante hanc diem, quartus non auditum, deinde propinquus meus, et ad te, et Quintus Tubero, et detulit.
There are certain latent beats of speech and as it were some feet, to which the gesture of most people falls, so that there is one movement for 'a new crime', another for 'Gaius Caesar', a third for 'and before this day', a fourth for 'unheard of', then 'my kinsman', and 'to you', and 'Quintus Tubero', and 'brought'.