§2.5.1sed de ratione declamandi post paulum.
But concerning the method of declaiming, a little later.
interim, quia prima rhetorices rudimenta tractamus, non omittendum videtur id quoque, ut moneam, quantum sit collaturus ad profectum discentium rhetor, si, quemadmodum a grammaticis exigitur poetarum enarratio, ita ipse quoque historiae atque etiam magis orationum lectione susceptos a se discipulos instruxerit; quod nos in paucis, quorum id aetas exigebat et parentes utile esse crediderant, servavimus.
In the meantime, since we are treating the first rudiments of rhetoric, it seems that we must not omit this point either: to advise how much a rhetorician will contribute to the progress of his pupils if, just as the explanation of poets is required from grammarians, so he himself also instructs the disciples received by him through the reading of history and even more of speeches; which we maintained in the case of a few whose age required it and whose parents believed it to be useful.
§2.5.2ceterum sentientibus iam tum optima duae res impedimento fuerunt, quod et longa consuetudo aliter docendi fecerat legem, et robusti fere iuvenes nec hunc laborem desiderantes exemplum nostrum sequebantur.
But to us who even then perceived what was best, two things were a hindrance: because both a long custom of teaching otherwise had made a law, and almost grown-up youths, not desiring this labor, followed our precedent.
§2.5.3nec tamen, etiamsi quid novi vel sero invenissem, praecipere in posterum puderet.
Nor yet, even if I had found out anything new, even though late, would I be ashamed to prescribe it for the future.
nunc vero scio id fieri apud Graecos sed magis per adiutores, quia non videntur tempora suffectura, si legentibus singulis praeire semper ipsi velint.
But now indeed I know that this is done among the Greeks, but rather through assistants, because it does not seem that time will suffice if they themselves always wish to go before each pupil as they read.
§2.5.4et hercule praelectio, quae in hoc adhibetur, ut facile atque distincte pueri scripta oculis sequantur, etiam illa, quae vim cuiusque verbi, si quod minus usitatum incidat, docet, multum infra rhetoris officium existimanda est.
And indeed, the pre-reading which is applied to this end, that boys may easily and distinctly follow the written words with their eyes, and even that which teaches the force of each word, if any less common one should occur, must be estimated as far below the duty of a rhetorician.
§2.5.5at demonstrare virtutes vel, si quando ita incidat, vitia, id professionis eius atque promissi, quo se magistrum eloquentiae pollicetur, maxime proprium est, eo quidem validius, quod non utique hunc laborem docentium postulo, ut ad gremium revocatis cuius quisque eorum velit libri lectione deserviant.
But to point out merits or, if ever it should so happen, defects, is most proper to that profession and promise by which he promises himself to be a master of eloquence, and that indeed all the more strongly because I do not by any means demand this labor from teachers, that they should serve the reading of whatever book each of their pupils wishes, after having recalled them to their bosom.
§2.5.6nam mihi cum facilius tum etiam multo videtur magis utile, facto silentio unum aliquem (quod ipsum imperari per vices optimum est) constituere lectorem, ut protinus pronuntiationi quoque assuescant; tum exposita causa, in quam scripta legetur oratio, §2.5.7(nam sic clarius quae dicentur intelligi poterunt) nihil otiosum pati, quodque in inventione quodque in elocutione adnotandum erit, quae in prooemio conciliandi iudicis ratio, quae narrandi lux, brevitas, fides, quod aliquando consilium et quam occulta calliditas (namque ea sola in hoc ars est, §2.5.8quae intelligi nisi ab artifice non possit); quanta deinceps in dividendo prudentia, quam subtilis et crebra argumentatio, quibus viribus inspiret, qua iucunditate permulceat, quanta in maledictis asperitas, in iocis urbanitas, ut denique dominetur in adfectibus atque in pectora irrumpat animumque iudicum similem iis, quae dicit, efficiat.
For it seems to me both easier and also much more useful, having made silence, to appoint some one person as reader (which itself is best commanded by turns), so that they may immediately become accustomed also to pronunciation; then, having explained the cause on which the written speech is to be read, (for thus what will be said can be understood more clearly) to permit nothing to be passed over in idleness, and to point out whatever will have to be noted both in invention and in elocution: what method of winning the judge there is in the proem, what light, brevity, and credibility in the narrative, what plan sometimes, and how concealed a craftiness (for that alone is art in this, which cannot be understood except by an artist); how great a prudence next in dividing, how subtle and frequent the argumentation, with what forces he inspires, with what sweetness he soothes, how great an asperity in insults, urbanity in jests, and how finally he rules over the emotions and breaks into the breasts and makes the mind of the judges similar to those things which he speaks.
§2.5.9tum in ratione eloquendi, quod verbum proprium, ornatum, sublime; ubi amplificatio laudanda, quae virtus ei contraria, quid speciose translatum, quae figura verborum, quae levis et quadrata sed virilis tamen compositio.
Then in the method of speaking, what word is proper, ornate, sublime; where amplification is to be praised, what virtue is contrary to it, what is beautifully translated, what figure of words, what smooth and structured but yet manly composition.
§2.5.10ne id quidem inutile, etiam corruptas aliquando et vitiosas orationes, quas tamen plerique iudiciorum pravitate mirantur, legi palam ostendique in his, quam multa impropria, obscura, tumida, humilia, sordida, lasciva, effeminata sint; quae non laudantur modo a plerisque, sed, quod est peius, propter hoc ipsum, quod sunt prava, laudantur.
Nor is that indeed useless, that even corrupt and faulty speeches sometimes, which yet most people admire through depravity of judgment, should be read in public and shown in them how many improper, obscure, turgid, humble, mean, lascivious, and effeminate things there are; which are not only praised by most, but, what is worse, are praised on account of this very fact, that they are corrupt.
§2.5.11nam sermo rectus et secundum naturam enuntiatus nihil habere ex ingenio videtur; illa vero, quae utcunque deflexa sunt, tanquam exquisitiora miramur; non aliter quam distortis et quocunque modo prodigiosis corporibus apud quosdam maius est pretium quam iis, quae nihil ex communi habitu boni perdiderunt.
For straight speech and that which is pronounced according to nature seems to have nothing of genius; but those things indeed which are in any way deflected, we admire as if more exquisite; not otherwise than among some people there is a higher price for distorted and in any way monstrous bodies than for those which have lost nothing of the good of common appearance.
§2.5.12atque etiam qui specie capiuntur, vulsis levatisque et inustas comas acu comentibus et non suo colore nitidis plus esse formae putant, quam possit tribuere incorrupta natura, ut pulchritudo corporis venire videatur ex malis morum.
And even those who are captured by appearance think that there is more beauty in those who are plucked and smoothed, and who comb their burnt hair with a hairpin, and are shiny with a color not their own, than uncorrupted nature can bestow, so that the beauty of the body seems to come from bad morals.