§2.18.1cum sint autem artium aliae positae in inspectione, id est cognitione et aestimatione rerum, qualis est astrologia, nullum exigens actum sed ipso rei, cuius studium habet, intellectu contenta, quae θεωρητικὴ vocatur; aliae in agendo, quarum in hoc finis est et ipso actu perficitur nihilque post actum operis relinquit, quae πρακτική dicitur, qualis saltatio est; §2.18.2aliae in effectu, quae operis, quod oculis subiicitur, consummatione finem accipiunt, quam ποητικήν appellamus, qualis est pictura: fere iudicandum est, rhetoricen in actu consistere; hoc enim, quod est officii sui, perficit.
But while some arts consist in contemplation, that is, in the knowledge and estimation of things, such as astronomy, which requires no action but is content with the mere understanding of the subject of its study, and is called θεωρητική; others consist in action, whose end is in this, and is completed by the action itself, leaving no work behind after the action, which is called πρακτική, such as dancing; others consist in effect, which receive their end in the completion of a work that is submitted to the eyes, which we call ποιητική, such as painting: it must be generally judged that rhetoric consists in action; for it performs this, which is of its duty.
§2.18.3atque ita ab omnibus dictum est.
And so it has been said by all.
mihi autem videtur etiam ex illis ceteris artibus multum assumere.
To me, however, it seems to assume much also from those other arts.
nam et potest aliquando ipsa res per se inspectione esse contenta.
For even the thing itself can sometimes by itself be content with contemplation.
erit enim rhetorice in oratore etiam tacente, et si desierit agere vel proposito vel aliquo casu impeditus, non magis desinet esse orator quam medicus, qui curandi fecerit finem.
For rhetoric will exist in an orator even when he is silent; and if he should cease to act, being prevented either by design or by some accident, he will no more cease to be an orator than a physician who has made an end of curing.
§2.18.4nam est aliquis, ac nescio an maximus, etiam ex secretis studiis fructus ac tum pura voluptas litterarum, cum ab actu, id est opera, recesserunt et contemplatione sui fruuntur.
For there is some, and I know not whether the greatest, fruit even from retired studies, and then a pure pleasure of letters, when they have withdrawn from action, that is, from business, and enjoy the contemplation of themselves.
§2.18.5sed effectivae quoque aliquid simile scriptis orationibus vel historiis, quod ipsum opus in parte oratoria merito ponimus, consequetur.
But it will also attain something similar to the productive art through written speeches or histories, which work itself we deservedly place in the oratorical department.
si tamen una ex tribus artibus habenda sit, quia maxime eius usus actu continetur atque est in eo frequentissima, dicatur activa vel administrativa, nam et hoc eiusdem rei nomen est.
If, however, it must be held as one of the three arts, because its use is chiefly contained in action, and is most frequent in that, let it be called active or administrative, for this also is a name for the same thing.