§5.11.1tertium genus ex iis, quae extrinsecus adducuntur in causam, Graeci vacant παράδειγμα, quo nomine et generaliter usi sunt in omni similium adpositione et specialiter in iis, quae rerum gestarum auctoritate nituntur.
The third kind of those things which are brought into a cause from without is called by the Greeks "paradeigma", which name they used both generally for every comparison of similar things, and specially for those which rest on the authority of historical facts.
nostri fere similitudinem vocari maluerunt, quod ab illis παραβολὴ dicitur, alterum exemplum, quanquam et hoc simile est et illud exemplum.
Our writers have generally preferred to call the former "similitudo", which is called "parabole" by them, and the latter "exemplum", although indeed the former is also a simile and the latter an exemplum.
§5.11.2nos, quo facilius propositum explicemus, utrumque παράδειγμα esse credamus, et ipsi appellemus exemplum.
Let us, in order to explain our purpose more easily, believe both to be "paradeigma", and let us ourselves call it "exemplum".
nec vereor, ne videar repugnare Ciceroni, quanquam collationem separat ab exemplo.
Nor do I fear that I may seem to oppose Cicero, although he separates comparison from exemplum.
nam idem omnem argumentationem dividit in duas partes, inductionem et ratiocinationem, ut plerique Graecorum in παραδείγματα et ἐπιχειρήματα dixeruntque παράδειγμα ῥητορικὴν ἐπαγωγήν.
For the same writer divides all argumentation into two parts, induction and ratiocination, just as most of the Greeks divided it into "paradeigmata" and "epicheiremata", and called "paradeigma" a rhetorical induction.
§5.11.3nam illa, qua plurimum est Socrates usus, hanc habuit viam, ut cum plura interrogasset, quae fateri adversario necesse esset, novissime id, de quo quaerebatur, inferret, ut simile concessis.
For that induction which Socrates used most of all took this path: when he had asked several things which the adversary was forced to admit, he finally introduced the matter under inquiry as similar to what had been granted.
Id est inductio.
That is induction.
hoc in oratione fieri non potest; sed, quod illic interrogatur, hic fere sumitur.
This cannot be done in a continuous speech; but what is asked there is generally assumed here.
§5.11.4sit igitur illa interrogatio talis: quod est pomum generosissimum? nonne quod optimum? concedetur.
Let that interrogation, then, be of this kind: "What is the most noble fruit? Is it not the best?" It will be granted.
quid equus? qui generosissimus? nonne qui optimus? et plura in eundem modum.
"What of a horse? Which is the most noble? Is it not the best?" And more in the same manner.
deinde, cuius rei gratia rogatum est, quid homo? nonne is generosissimus, qui optimus? fatendum erit.
Then, for the sake of which the question was asked: "What of man? Is not he the most noble who is the best?" It must be admitted.
§5.11.5hoc in testium interrogatione valet plurimum, in oratione perpetua dissimile est; aut enim sibi ipse respondet orator aut quod illic interrogatur, hic fere sumitur.
This is most powerful in the interrogation of witnesses, but in a continuous speech it is different; for either the orator answers himself, or what is asked there is generally assumed here.
quod pomum generosissimum? puto, quod optimum;
What fruit is the most noble? I think, the best.
et equus? qui velocissimus: ita hominum, non qui claritate nascendi sed qui uirtute maxime excellet.
And a horse? The swiftest. So of men, not he who excels in the nobility of birth, but he who excels most in virtue.
omnia igitur ex hoc genere sumpta necesse est aut similia esse aut dissimilia aut contraria.
All things, therefore, taken from this kind must be either similar, or dissimilar, or contrary.
similitudo adsumitur interim et ad orationis ornatum; sed illa, cum res exiget, nunc ea, quae ad probationem pertinent, exsequar.
Similitude is sometimes assumed also for the ornament of speech; but I shall deal with those when the occasion demands, and now I will pursue those things which belong to proof.
§5.11.6potentissimum autem est inter ea quae sunt huius generis, quod proprie vocamus exemplum, id est rei gestae aut ut gestae utilis ad persuadendum id quod intenderis commemoratio.
But the most powerful among those of this kind is what we properly call "exemplum", that is, the commemoration of a past action or as if past, useful for persuading what you intend.
intuendum igitur est, totum simile sit an ex parte, ut aut omnia ex eo sumamus aut quae utilia sunt.
We must observe, therefore, whether it is similar as a whole or in part, so that we may either take all things from it or only those which are useful.
simile est, iure occisus est Saturninus sicut Gracchi. dissimile, §5.11.7Brutus occidit liberos proditionem molientes; Manlius virtutem filii morte multavit. contrarium, Marcellus ornamenta Syracusanis hostibus restituit; Verres eadem sociis abstulit. et probandorum et culpandorum ex iis confirmatio eosdem gradus habet.
It is a similar case: "Saturninus was justly killed just as the Gracchi." Dissimilar: "Brutus killed his children who were plotting treason; Manlius punished the virtue of his son with death." Contrary: "Marcellus restored ornaments to the Syracusan enemies; Verres took the same from the allies." The confirmation of both things to be praised and blamed from these has the same steps.
§5.11.8etiam in iis, quae futura dicemus, utilis similium admonitio est, ut si quis dicens, Dionysium idcirco petere custodes salutis suae, ut eorum adiutus armis tyrannidem occupet, hoc referat exemplum, eadem ratione Pisistratum ad dominationem pervenisse.
Also in those things which we shall say are to come, the reminder of similar things is useful, as if someone, saying that Dionysius is seeking guards for his safety for this reason, that aided by their arms he may seize the tyranny, should bring forward this exemplum: that by the same method Pisistratus arrived at domination.
§5.11.9sed ut sunt exempla interim tota similia ut hoc proximum, sic interim ex maioribus ad minora, ex minoribus ad maiora ducuntur.
But as examples are sometimes entirely similar, like this next one, so sometimes they are drawn from the greater to the less, and from the less to the greater.
urbes violata propter matrimonia eversae sunt; quid fieri adultero par est? tibicines, cum ab urbe discessissent, publice revocati sunt; quanto magis principes civitatis viri et bene de republica meriti, cum invidiae cesserint, ab exilio reducendi?
"Cities were destroyed because of violated marriages; what is fit to be done to an adulterer?" "Flute-players, when they had departed from the city, were recalled publicly; how much more ought the leading men of the state and those who have deserved well of the republic, when they have yielded to envy, to be brought back from exile?" But unequal examples are especially powerful for exhortation.
§5.11.10ad exhortationem vero praecipue valent imparia. admirabilior in femina quam in viro virtus.
Virtue is more admirable in a woman than in a man.
quare, si ad fortiter faciendum accendatur aliquis, non tantum adferent momenti Horatius et Torquatus quantum illa mulier cuius manu Pyrrhus est interfectus, et ad moriendum non tam Cato et Scipio quam Lucretia; quod ipsum est ex maioribus ad minora.
Therefore, if anyone is kindled to act bravely, Horatius and Torquatus will not bring as much weight as that woman by whose hand Pyrrhus was killed, and for dying, not so much Cato and Scipio as Lucretia; which very thing is from the greater to the less.
§5.11.11singula igitur horum generum ex Cicerone (nam unde potius?) exempla ponamus.
Let us therefore place individual examples of these kinds from Cicero (for from whom rather?).
simile est hoc pro Murena, etenim mihi ipsi accidit, it cum duobus patriciis, altero improbissimo et audacissimo altero modestissimo atque optimo viro, peterem; superavi tamen dignitate Catilinam, gratia Galbam.
A similar one is this from the speech for Murena: "For indeed it happened to myself, that I was seeking office with two patricians, the one most wicked and audacious, the other most modest and excellent; yet I surpassed Catiline in dignity, and Galba in influence."