§12.10.70nam ut non eodem modo pro reo capitis et in certamine hereditatis et de interdictis ac sponsionibus et de certa credita dicet, sententiarum quoque in senatu et contionum et privatorum consiliorum servabit discrimina, multa ex differentia personarum, locorum temporumque mutabit, ita in eadem oratione aliter concitabit, aliter conciliabit, non ex iisdem haustibus iram et misericordiam petet, alias ad docendum alias ad movendum adhibebit artes.
For just as he will not speak in the same way for a defendant on a capital charge, in a dispute over an inheritance, and concerning interdicts and sponsions, or concerning a specific loan, but will observe the differences between expressions of opinion in the senate, public assemblies, and private councils, altering many things according to the difference of persons, places, and times; so in the same speech he will stir the emotions in one place and conciliate in another, not seeking anger and pity from the same sources, but employing different arts at one time to instruct and at another to move.
§12.10.71non unus color prooemii, narrationis, argumentorum, egressionis, perorationis servabitur.
No single color will be preserved for the introduction, the narrative, the arguments, the digression, and the peroration.
dicet idem graviter, severe, acriter, vehementer, concitate, copiose, amare, comiter, remisse, subtiliter, blande, leniter, dulciter, breviter, urbane, non ubique similis, sed ubique par sibi.
The same man will speak with gravity, severity, sharpness, vehemence, excitement, copiousness, bitterness, affability, ease, subtlety, blandishment, gentleness, sweetness, brevity, and wit, not alike everywhere, but everywhere equal to himself.
§12.10.72sic fiet cum id, propter quod maxime repertus est usus orationis, ut dicat utiliter et ad efficiendum quod intendit potenter, tum laudem quoque nec doctorum modo sed etiam vulgi consequatur.
In this way it will happen that, when he attains that very thing for which the use of speech was chiefly devised—namely, to speak usefully and with power to effect what he intends—he will at the same time also obtain the praise not only of the learned but also of the common people.
§12.10.73falluntur enim plurimum, qui vitiosum et corruptum dicendi genus, quod aut verborum licentia exultat aut puerilibus sententiolis lascivit aut immodico tumore turgescit aut inanibus locis bacchatur aut casuris, si leviter excutiantur, flosculis nitet aut praecipitia pro sublimibus habet aut specie libertatis insanit, magis existimant populare atque plausibile.
For those are greatly mistaken who think that a faulty and corrupt style of speaking—which either runs wild with license of words, or dallying with childish epigrams, or swells with immoderate puffiness, or raves with empty commonplaces, or shines with cheap flowery phrases that are bound to fall if they are lightly shaken, or takes precipices for sublimities, or goes mad under the appearance of freedom—is more popular and praiseworthy.
quod quidem placere multis nec infitior nec miror.
That this is pleasing to many, I neither deny nor wonder at.
§12.10.74Est enim iucunda auribus ac favorabilis qualiscunque eloquentia et ducit animos naturali voluptate vox omnis, neque aliunde illi per fora atque aggerem circuli;
For indeed, eloquence of whatever kind is pleasing to the ears and wins favor, and every voice attracts minds with a natural pleasure; nor do the crowds around the forums and the embankments arise from any other source.
quo minus mirum est, quod nulli non agentium parata vulgi corona est.
Therefore, it is the less surprising that a ready circle of the populace is never lacking for any speaker.
§12.10.75ubi vero quid exquisitius dictum accidit auribus imperitorum, qualecunque id est, quod modo se ipsi posse desperent, habet admirationem, neque immerito; nam ne illud quidem facile est.
But when something a little more exquisite reaches the ears of the unlearned, whatever its quality may be, provided only they despair of being able to do it themselves, it wins admiration, and not without reason; for even that is not easy.
sed evanescunt hac atque emoriuntur comparatione meliorum, ut lana tincta fuco citra purpuras placet; at si contuleris Tyriae eam lacernae, conspectu melioris obruatur, ut Ovidius ait.
But these things fade and die away in comparison with better things, just as wool dyed with counterfeit color pleases in the absence of real purple; but if you compare it with a Tyrian cloak, it is overwhelmed by the sight of the better, as Ovid says.
§12.10.76si vero iudicium his corruptis acrius adhibeas ut fucinis sulfura, iam illum, quo fefellerant, exuant mentitum colorem et quadam vix enarrabili foeditate pallescant.
But if you apply a sharper judgment to these corrupt things, as sulfur is applied to counterfeit dyes, they will immediately shed that false color with which they had deceived, and grow pale with a certain indescribable foulness.
lucent igitur haec citra solem, ut quaedam exigua animalia igniculi videntur in tenebris.
Therefore, these things shine in the absence of the sun, just as certain tiny insects seem like little fires in the dark.
denique mala multi probant, nemo improbat bona.
In short, many approve of bad things, but no one disapproves of good things.
§12.10.77neque vero omnia ista, de quibus locuti sumus, orator optime tantum sed etiam facillime faciet.
Nor indeed will the excellent orator do all those things of which we have spoken only in the best manner, but also with the greatest ease.
neque enim vim summam dicendi et os admiratione dignum infelix usque ad ultimum sollicitudo persequitur, quae oratorem macerat et coquit aegre verba vertentem et perpendendis coagmentandisque eis intabescentem.
For a miserable anxiety does not pursue the highest power of speaking and an eloquence worthy of admiration to the very end—an anxiety which torments and consumes the orator who turns his words with difficulty and wastes away in weighing and putting them together.
§12.10.78nitidus ille et sublimis et locuples circumfluentibus undique eloquentiae copiis imperat.
That brilliant, sublime, and wealthy orator commands the resources of eloquence flowing around him from all sides.
desinit enim in adversa niti, qui pervenit in summum.
For he who has reached the summit ceases to struggle against obstacles.
scandenti circa ima labor est; ceterum quantum processeris, mollior clivus ac laetius solum.
For him who climbs around the bottom there is labor; but the further you advance, the gentler the slope and the more fertile the soil.
§12.10.79et si haec quoque iam lenius supina perseverantibus studiis evaseris, inde fructus illaborati offerunt sese et omnia sponte proveniunt; quae tamen cotidie nisi decerpantur, arescunt.
And if, by persevering study, you surmount even these places, which are now more gently sloping, from there effortless fruits offer themselves and all things grow of their own accord; which, however, unless they are gathered daily, wither away.
sed et copia habeat modum, sine quo nihil nec laudabile nec salutare est, et nitor ille cultum virilem et inventio iudicium.
But let even abundance have its limit, without which nothing is either praiseworthy or beneficial, and let that brilliance have a manly cultivation, and invention have judgment.
§12.10.80sic erunt magna non nimia, sublimia non abrupta, fortia non temeraria, severa non tristia, gravia non tarda, laeta non luxuriosa, iucunda non dissoluta, grandia non tumida.
Thus, great things will be not excessive, sublime things not abrupt, strong things not rash, severe things not gloomy, grave things not slow, joyous things not luxurious, pleasing things not loose, grand things not bloated.
similis in ceteris ratio est ac tutissima fere per medium via, quia utriusque ultimum vitium est.
The same principle applies in other matters, and the safest path is generally through the middle, because the extreme on either side is a vice.