§6.4.11sunt enim quidam praeduri in hoc oris, ut obstrepant ingenti clamore et medios sermones intercipiant et omnia tumultu confundant, quos ut non imitari sic acriter propulsare oportebit, et ipsorum improbitatem retundendo, et iudices vel praesidentes magistratus appellando frequentius, ut loquendi vices serventur.
For there are some who are so extremely shameless in face as to make a noise with a huge clamor and interrupt speeches in the middle and throw everything into confusion with a tumult; whom it will be necessary not to imitate, but to repel sharply, both by blunting their impudence and by appealing more frequently to the judges or presiding magistrates, so that the turns of speaking may be preserved.
non est res animi iacentis et mollis supra modum frontis, fallitque plerumque, quod probitas vocatur, quae est imbecillitas.
It is not a matter for a dejected mind and a brow that is excessively soft; and that which is called honesty, but is in fact weakness, usually deceives us.
§6.4.12valet autem in altercatione plurimum acumen, quod sine dubio ex arte non venit (natura enim non docetur), arte tamen adiuvatur.
But in altercation, acumen has the greatest power, which without doubt does not come from art (for nature is not taught), yet is aided by art.
§6.4.13in qua praecipuum est, semper id in oculis habere, de quo quaeritur et quod volumus efficere; quod propositum tenentes nec in rixam ibimus nec causae debita tempora conviciando conteremus gaudebimusque, si hoc adversarius facit.
In which the chief thing is always to have in sight that which is being questioned and what we wish to effect; holding to which purpose we shall neither enter into a wrangle nor waste the time due to the cause by exchanging insults, and we shall rejoice if our adversary does this.
§6.4.14omni tempore fere parata sunt meditatis diligenter, quae aut ex adverse dici aut responderi a nobis possunt.
Almost at all times, for those who have meditated diligently, what can either be said by the adversary or answered by us is ready.
nonnunquam tamen solet hoc quoque esse artis genus, ut quaedam in actione dissimulata subito in altercando proferantur; est inopinatis eruptionibus aut incursioni ex insidiis factae simillimum.
Yet sometimes it is also a kind of art for certain things dissembled in the speech to be suddenly brought forward in the altercation; it is very similar to unexpected sallies or an attack made from ambush.
id autem tum faciendum, cum est aliquid, cui responderi non statim possit, potuerit autem, si tempus ad disponendum fuisset.
This, however, should be done when there is something to which an answer cannot be given immediately, but could have been given if there had been time to arrange it.
nam quod fideliter firmum est a primis statim actionibus arripere optimum est, quo saepius diutiusque dicatur.
For that which is faithfully strong is best to be seized upon immediately from the very first speeches, so that it may be spoken more frequently and longer.
§6.4.15illud vix saltem praecipiendum videtur, ne turbidus et clamosus tantum sit altercator, et quales faceti sunt, qui litteras nesciunt.
The following seems scarcely even necessary to be taught: that the altercator should not be merely turbulent and clamorous, and such as those unlettered men think witty.
nam improbitas, licet adversario molesta sit, iudici invisa est.
For impudence, although troublesome to the adversary, is hateful to the judge.
nocet etiam diu pugnare in iis quae obtinere non possis.
It is also harmful to fight long in those matters which you cannot maintain.
§6.4.16nam, ubi vinci necesse est, expedit cedere; quia, sive plura sunt de quibus quaeritur, facilior erit in ceteris fides, sive unum, mitior solet poena irrogari verecundiae.
For where it is necessary to be defeated, it is expedient to yield; because, whether there are several things about which inquiry is made, credit will be easier in the rest, or if there is only one, a milder penalty is usually imposed upon modesty.
nam culpam praesertim deprehensam pertinaciter tueri culpa altera est.
For to defend obstinately a fault, especially one that has been detected, is another fault.
§6.4.17dum stat acies, multi res consilii atque artis est, ut errantem adversarium trahas et ire quam longissime cogas, ut vana interim spe exultet.
While the battle line stands, it is a matter of much counsel and art to draw the wandering adversary and force him to go as far as possible, so that he may exult in the meantime with vain hope.
ideo quaedam bene dissimulantur instrumenta.
For this reason, certain documents are well dissembled.
instant enim et saepe discrimen omne committunt, quod deesse nobis putant, et faciunt probationibus nostris auctoritatem postulando.
For they press on and often commit the whole issue, because they think it is lacking to us, and they give authority to our proofs by demanding them.
§6.4.18expedit etiam dare aliquid adversario quod pro se putet, quod apprehendens maius aliquid cogatur dimittere; duas interim res proponere quarum utramlibet male sit electurus; quod in altercatione fit potentius quam in actione, quia in illa nobis ipsi respondemus, in hac adversarium quasi confessum tenemus.
It is also expedient to give something to the adversary which he thinks is in his favor, so that by grasping it he may be forced to let go of something larger; and sometimes to propose two things of which he is bound to choose either to his disadvantage; which is done more powerfully in altercation than in a continuous speech, because in the latter we answer ourselves, in the former we hold the adversary as if he had confessed.
§6.4.19est inprimis acuti videre, quo iudex dicto moveatur, quid respuat; quod et vultu saepissime et aliquando etiam dicto aliquo factove eius deprehenditur.
It is especially the part of a sharp mind to see by what word the judge is moved, and what he rejects; which is very often detected by his face, and sometimes even by some word or act of his.
et instare proficientibus et ab iis, quae non adiuvent, quam mollissime pedem oportet referre.
And we must press hard upon what is succeeding, and retreat as gently as possible from those things which do not help.
faciunt hoc medici quoque, ut remedia proinde perseverent adhibere vel desinant, ut illa recipi vel respui vident.
Physicians also do this, continuing to apply remedies or ceasing, according as they see them received or rejected.
§6.4.20nonnunquam, si rem evolvere propositam facile non sit, inferenda est alia quaestio, atque in eam iudex, si fieri potest, avocandus.
Sometimes, if it is not easy to unfold the matter proposed, another question must be introduced, and the judge, if possible, must be drawn away to it.
quid enim, cum respondere non possis, agendum est, nisi ut aliud invenias, cui adversarius respondere non possit?
For what else is to be done when you cannot answer, except to find something else to which the adversary cannot answer?
§6.4.21in plerisque idem est, ut dixi, qui circa testes locus et personis modo distat, quod hic patronorum inter se certamen, illic pugna inter testem et patronum.
In most respects, as I have said, the topic is the same as that concerning witnesses, and differs only in the persons, because here is a contest between advocates, there a battle between witness and advocate.
exercitatio vero huius rei longe facilior.
But the practice of this matter is far easier.
nam est utilissimum, frequenter cum aliquo, qui sit studiorum eorundem, sumere materiam vel verae vel etiam fictae controversiae, et diversas partes altercationis modo tueri; quod idem etiam in simplici genere quaestionum fieri potest.
For it is most useful to frequently take up, with someone of the same studies, the matter of either a real or even a fictitious controversy, and to defend opposite sides in the manner of an altercation; which same thing can also be done in a simple kind of questions.
§6.4.22ne illud quidem ignorare advocatum volo, quo quaeque ordine probatio sit apud iudicem proferenda; cuius rei eadem quae in argumentis ratio est, ut potentissima prima et summa ponantur.
Nor indeed do I wish the advocate to be ignorant of this: in what order each proof should be brought forward before the judge; of which matter the method is the same as in arguments, namely, that the most powerful be placed first and last.
illa enim ad credendum praeparant iudicem, haec ad pronuntiandum.
For the former prepare the judge to believe, the latter to pronounce judgment.