§2.7.1illud ex consuetudine mutandum prorsus existimo in iis, de quibus nunc disserimus, aetatibus, ne omnia quae scripserint ediscant et certa, ut moris est, die dicant; quod quidem maxime patres exigunt atque ita demum studere liberos suos, si quam frequentissime declamaverint, credunt, cum profectus praecipue diligentia constet.
I think that custom should be entirely changed in those ages of which we are now speaking, so that they do not memorize everything they have written and, as is the custom, deliver it on a certain day; which indeed fathers especially demand, believing that their children are studying only when they have declaimed as frequently as possible, although progress depends chiefly on diligence.
§2.7.2nam ut scribere pueros plurimumque esse in hoc opere plane velim, sic ediscere electos ex orationibus vel historiis aliove quo genere dignorum ea cura voluminum locos, multo magis suadeam.
For while I would certainly wish boys to write and to be very much occupied in this work, I would much more strongly recommend them to memorize selected passages from speeches, histories, or other genres of volumes worthy of such care.
§2.7.3nam et exercebitur acrius memoria aliena complectendo quam sua; et qui erunt in difficiliore huius laboris genere versati, sine molestia quae ipsi composuerint iam familiaria animo suo adfigent, et adsuescent optimis semperque habebunt intra se, quod imitentur;
For memory will be trained more vigorously by grasping another's words than one's own; and those who have been practiced in this more difficult kind of labor will, without difficulty, imprint what they themselves have composed upon their minds, as something already familiar.
et iam non sentientes formam orationis illam, quam mente penitus acceperint, expriment.
They will also accustom themselves to the best models and always have within themselves something to imitate; and without even realizing it, they will express that form of speech which they have deeply received into their minds.
§2.7.4abundabunt autem copia verborum optimorum et compositione et figuris iam non quaesitis sed sponte et ex reposito velut thesauro se offerentibus.
Furthermore, they will abound in a wealth of the best words, arrangement, and figures, which are no longer sought after, but offer themselves spontaneously and as if from a stored treasure-house.
accedit his et iucunda in sermone bene a quoque dictorum relatio et in causis utilis.
To this is added both the pleasant citation in conversation of what has been well said by anyone, and its usefulness in lawsuits.
nam et plus auctoritatis adferunt ea, quae non praesentis gratia litis sunt comparata, et laudem saepe maiorem quam si nostra sint conciliant.
For those things which have not been prepared for the sake of the present case bring more authority, and often win greater praise than if they were our own.
§2.7.5aliquando tamen permittendum quae ipsi scripserint dicere, ut laboris sui fructum etiam ex illa quae maxime petitur laude plurium capiant.
Sometimes, however, they must be permitted to deliver what they themselves have written, so that they may receive the fruit of their labor also from that praise of the crowd which is most sought after.
verum id quoque tum fieri oportebit, cum aliquid commodius elimaverint, ut eo velut praemio studii sui donentur ac se meruisse ut dicerent gaudeant.
But this too ought to happen only when they have polished something more successfully, so that they may be rewarded with this as a prize for their study and rejoice that they have deserved to deliver it.