§7.pr.1de inventione, ut arbitror, satis dictum est.
Concerning invention, as I think, enough has been said.
neque enim ea demum, quae ad docendum pertinent, exsecuti sumus, verum etiam motus animorum tractavimus.
For we have not only pursued those things which pertain to instruction, but we have also treated of the movements of the mind.
sed ut opera exstruentibus satis non est saxa atque materiam et cetera aedificanti utilia congerere, nisi disponendis eis collocandisque artificium manus adhibeatur, sic in dicendo quamlibet abundans rerum copia cumulum tantum habeat atque congestum, nisi illas eadem dispositio in ordinem digestas atque inter se commissas devinxerit.
But just as for those who construct buildings it is not enough to heap up stones and timber and other things useful for building, unless the hand of craftsmanship is applied to arranging and allocating them, so in speaking, however abundant a supply of matter there may be, it would have only a heap and a collection, unless the same arrangement binds them together, digested into order and joined to one another.
§7.pr.2nec immerito secunda quinque partium posita est, cum sine ea prior nihil valeat.
And not without reason is this placed second of the five parts, since without it the first is of no value.
neque enim quanquam fusis omnibus membris statua sit, nisi collocetur, et si quam in corporibus nostris aliorumve animalium partem permutes et transferas, licet habeat eadem omnia, prodigium sit tamen.
For even though all the limbs are cast, there would be no statue unless they are put together, and if you should change and transfer any part in our bodies or those of other animals, although it might have all the same parts, yet it would be a monster.
et artus etiam leviter loco moti perdunt quo viguerunt usum, et turbati exercitus sibi ipsi sunt impedimento.
And limbs even slightly moved from their place lose the use in which they were strong, and confused armies are a hindrance to themselves.
§7.pr.3nec mihi videntur errare qui ipsam rerum naturam stare ordine putant, quo confuso peritura sint omnia.
Nor do they seem to me to err who think that the very nature of things stands by order, which being confused, all things would perish.
sic oratio carens hac virtute tumultuetur necesse est et sine rectore fluitet nec cohaereat sibi, multa repetat, multa transeat, velut nocte in ignotis locis errans, nec initio nec fine proposito casum potius quam consilium sequatur.
In like manner, an oration lacking this virtue must of necessity be in confusion, and float without a pilot, nor cohere with itself, repeat many things, pass over many things, wandering as if by night in unknown places, and, with neither beginning nor end proposed, follow chance rather than counsel.
quapropter totus hic liber serviat dispositioni, §7.pr.4quae quidem, si certa aliqua via tradi in omnes materias ullo modo posset, non tam paucis contigisset.
Wherefore let this whole book be devoted to arrangement, which indeed, if it could in any way be transmitted by any certain method for all subjects, would not have fallen to the lot of so few.
sed cum infinitae litium formae fuerint futuraeque sint et tot saeculis nulla reperta sit causa, quae esset tota alteri similis, sapiat oportet actor et vigilet et inveniat et iudicet et consilium a se ipso petat.
But since the forms of lawsuits have been and will be infinite, and in so many ages no cause has been found which was entirely similar to another, the pleader must be wise, and watch, and invent, and judge, and seek counsel from himself.
neque infitias eo quaedam esse quae demonstrari possint, eaque non omittam.
Nor do I deny that there are some things which can be demonstrated, and those I will not omit.