§5.14.1igitur enthymema et argumentum ipsum, id est rem, quae probationi alterius adhibetur, appellant et argumenti elocutionem, eam vero, ut dixi, duplicem: ex consequentibus, quod habet propositionem coniunctamque ei protinus probationem, quale pro Ligario, causa tum dubia, quod erat aliquid in utraque parte, quod probari posset; nunc melior ea iudicanda est, quam etiam dii adiuverunt; habet enim rationem et propositionem, non habet conclusionem.
Therefore they call 'enthymeme' both the argument itself, that is, the matter which is applied for the proof of another thing, and the expression of the argument, and this expression, as I have said, is of two kinds: first, from consequences, which has a proposition and immediately connected with it a proof, such as in the speech Pro Ligario, since the cause was then doubtful because there was something on both sides that could be proved: "now that party must be judged the better which even the gods have assisted"; for it has a reason and a proposition, but does not have a conclusion.
§5.14.2ita est ille imperfectus syllogismus.
Thus it is that imperfect syllogism.
ex pugnantibus vero, quod etiam solum enthymema quidam vocant, fortior multo probatio est.
But from opposites, which indeed some call the only enthymeme, the proof is much stronger.
tale est Ciceronis pro Milone: eius igitur mortis sedetis ultores, cuius vitam si pletis per vos restitui posse, nolitis. §5.14.3quod quidem etiam aliquando multiplicari solet, ut est ab eodem et pro endem reo factum: quem igitur cum omnium gratia noluit, hunc voluit cum aliquorum querela? quem iure, quem loco, quem tempore, quem impune non est ausus, hunc iniuria, iniquo loco, alieno tempore, cum periculo capitis non dubitavit occidere? §5.14.4optimum autem videtur enthymematis genus, cum propositio dissimili vel contraria ratio subiungitur, quale est Demosthenis: non enim, si quid unquam contra leges actum est, idque tu es imitatus, idcirco te convenit poena liberari;
Such is that of Cicero in Pro Milone: "therefore you sit as avengers of the death of him whose life, if you thought it could be restored by your means, you would not wish to be so." This indeed is also sometimes accustomed to be multiplied, as was done by the same author and for the same defendant: "him, therefore, whom he would not kill to the satisfaction of everyone, did he wish to kill to the dissatisfaction of some? Him whom he did not dare to kill lawfully, in a favorable place, at a convenient time, with impunity, did he not hesitate to kill unlawfully, in an unfavorable place, at an unsuitable time, with danger to his life?" But the best kind of enthymeme seems to be when a dissimilar or contrary reason is subjoined to the proposition, such as that of Demosthenes: "for if any action has ever been done contrary to the laws, and you have imitated it, it is not therefore proper that you should be freed from punishment; on the contrary, you ought much more to be condemned.
quin e contrario damnari multo magis. nam ut, si quis eorum damnatus esse, tu haec non scripsisses, ita, damnatus tu si fueris, non scribet alius. §5.14.5epichirematos et quattuor et quinque et sex etiam factae sunt partes a quibusdam.
For as, if any of them had been condemned, you would not have proposed these things, so, if you should be condemned, no other will propose them." As to the epichireme, both four, five, and even six parts have been made by some.
Cicero maxime quinque defendit, ut sit propositio, deinde ratio eius, tum adsumptio et eius probatio, quinta complexio; quia vero interim et propositio non egeat rationis et adsumptio probationis, nonnunquam etiam complexione opus non sit, et quadripertitam et tripertitam et bipertitam quoque fieri posse ratiocinationem.
Cicero especially defends five, so that there is the proposition, then its reason, next the assumption and its proof, and fifth the conclusion; but because sometimes both the proposition does not need a reason and the assumption does not need a proof, and sometimes also there is no need of a conclusion, a reasoning can also be made consisting of four, three, and even two parts.
§5.14.6mihi et pluribus nihilominus auctoribus tres summum videntur.
To me, and nevertheless to several authors, three parts seem to be the maximum.
nam ita se habet ipsa natura, ut sit, de quo quaeratur et per quod probetur; tertium adiici potest velut ex consensu duorum antecedentium.
For nature itself is so constituted that there is that about which it is asked, and that by which it is proved; a third can be added as if from the agreement of the two antecedents.
ita erit prima intentio, secunda adsumptio, tertia connexio.
Thus there will be first the intention, second the assumption, and third the connection.
nam confirmatio primae ac secundae partis et exornatio eisdem cedere possunt, §5.14.7quibus subiiciuntur.
For the confirmation of the first and second parts, and their embellishment, can yield to those very parts to which they are subjoined.
sumamus enim ex Cicerone quinque partium exemplum: melius gubernantur ea, quae consilio reguntur quam quae sine consilio administrantur. hanc primam partem numerant; eam deinceps rationibus variis et quam copiosissimis verbis approbari putant oportere.
For let us take from Cicero an example of five parts: "those things which are governed by design are better managed than those which are administered without design." This they count as the first part; and they think that this ought next to be approved by various reasons and in as copious words as possible.
hoc ego totum cum sua ratione unum puto; alioqui si ratio pars est, est autem varia ratio, plures partes esse dicantur.
I consider this whole thing with its reason as one part; otherwise, if the reason is a part, and the reason is varied, more parts would be said to exist.
§5.14.8adsumptionem deinde ponit: nihil autem omnium rerum melius quam omnis mundus administratur. huius adsumptionis quarto in loco iam porro inducunt approbationem; de quo idem quod supra dico.
Then he places the assumption: "but nothing of all things is managed better than the whole universe." To this assumption they further introduce a proof in the fourth place; about which I say the same as above.
§5.14.9quinto inducunt loco complexionem, quae aut id infert solum quod ex omnibus partibus cogitur, hoc modo, consilio igitur mundus administratur; aut, unum in locum cum conduxit breviter propositionem et adsumptionem, adiungit quid ex his conficiatur, ad hunc modum: quodsi melius geruntur, quae consilio quam quae sine consilio administrantur, nihil autem omnium rerum melius quam omnis mundus administratur, consilio igitur mundus administratur. cui parti consentio.
In the fifth place they introduce the conclusion, which either infers only that which is compelled from all the parts, in this manner: "therefore the universe is managed by design"; or, having briefly brought the proposition and the assumption into one place, adds what is made up from them, in this manner: "but if those things which are governed by design are better managed than those which are administered without design, and nothing of all things is managed better than the whole universe, therefore the universe is managed by design." To which part I agree.