§8.3.1venio nunc ad ornatum, in quo sine dubio plus quam in ceteris dicendi partibus sibi indulget orator.
I come now to ornament, in which without doubt the orator indulges himself more than in the other parts of speaking.
nam emendate quidem ac lucide dicentium tenue praemium est, magisque ut vitiis carere quam ut aliquam magnam virtutem adeptus esse videaris.
For the reward of those who speak faultlessly and lucidly is but small, and it is more that you seem to be free from vices than to have attained some great virtue.
inventio cum imperitis saepe communis, §8.3.2dispositio modicae doctrinae credi potest; si quae sunt artes altiores, plerumque occultantur, ut artes sint; denique omnia haec ad utilitatem causarum solam referenda sunt.
Invention is often common even to the unlearned, arrangement can be believed to belong to moderate learning; if there are any higher arts, they are usually concealed so that they may be arts; finally, all these things are to be referred to the utility of cases alone.
cultu vero atque ornatu se quoque commendat ipse qui dicit et in ceteris iudicium doctorum, in hoc vero etiam popularem laudem petit, nec fortibus modo, sed etiam fulgentibus armis proeliatur.
But by cultivation and ornament, the speaker himself also commends himself, and while in other matters he seeks the judgment of the learned, in this indeed he also seeks popular praise, and he fights not only with strong, but also with glittering weapons.
§8.3.3an in causa Cicero Cornelii consecutus esset docendo iudicem tantum et utiliter demum ac Latine perspicueque dicendo, ut populus Romanus admirationem suam non acclamatione tantum, sed etiam plausu confiteretur? sublimitas profecto et magnificentia et nitor et auctoritas expressit illum fragorem.
Would Cicero in the case of Cornelius have achieved so much, merely by teaching the judge and by speaking finally usefully, Latinly, and perspicuously, that the Roman people confessed their admiration not only with acclamation but also with applause? Indeed, sublimity, magnificence, brilliance, and authority wrung out that thunderous applause.
§8.3.4nec tam insolita laus esset prosecuta dicentem, si usitata et ceteris similis fuisset oratio.
Nor would such unusual praise have followed the speaker, if his speech had been ordinary and similar to others.
atque ego illos credo, qui aderant, nec sensisse quid facerent nec sponte iudicioque plausisse, sed velut mente captos et quo essent in loco ignaros erupisse in hunc voluptatis adfectum.
And I believe that those who were present neither felt what they were doing nor applauded by voluntary choice and judgment, but as if captured in mind and ignorant of where they were, they burst out into this affection of pleasure.
§8.3.5sed ne causae quidem parum confert idem hic orationis ornatus.
But this same ornament of speech contributes not a little even to the case.
nam, qui libenter audiunt, et magis attendunt et facilius credunt, plerumque ipsa delectatione capiuntur, nonnunquam admiratione auferuntur.
For those who listen with pleasure both attend more and believe more easily, are usually captured by the delight itself, and sometimes carried away by admiration.
nam et ferrum ipsum adfert oculis terroris aliquid, et fulmina ipsa non tam nos confunderent, si vis eorum tantum, non etiam ipse fulgor timeretur.
For even iron itself brings something of terror to the eyes, and thunderbolts themselves would not so much confound us, if their force alone, and not also their very flash, were feared.
§8.3.6recteque Cicero his ipsis ad Brutum verbis quadam in epistola scribit, nam eloquentiam, quae admirationem non habet, nullam iudico. eandem Aristoteles quoque petendam maxime putat.
And Cicero writes correctly to Brutus in these very words in a certain epistle: "For eloquence which does not have admiration, I judge to be none." Aristotle also thinks that this same thing is to be sought above all.
sed hic ornatus (repetam enim) virilis et fortis et sanctus sit nec effeminatam levitatem et fuco ementitum colorem amet, sanguine et viribus niteat.
But let this ornament (for I will repeat it) be manly, strong, and chaste, nor let it love effeminate levity and color falsified with makeup, but let it shine with blood and strength.
§8.3.7hoc autem adeo verum est ut, cum in hac maxime parte sint vicina virtutibus vitia, etiam, qui vitiis utuntur, virtutum tamen iis nomen imponant.
This indeed is so true that, since in this part especially vices are near to virtues, even those who use vices nevertheless impose on them the name of virtues.
quare nemo ex corruptis dicat me inimicum esse culte dicentibus.
Therefore, let no one of the corrupt say that I am an enemy to those who speak elegantly.
non hanc esse virtutem nego, sed illis eam non tribuo.
I do not deny that this is a virtue, but I do not attribute it to them.
§8.3.8an ego fundum cultiorem putem, in quo mihi quis ostenderit lilia et violas et anemonas, fontes surgentes, quam ubi plena messis aut graves fructu vites erunt? sterilem platanum tonsasque myrtos quam maritam ulmum et uberes oleas praeoptaverim? habeant illa divites licet, quid essent, si aliud nihil haberent?
Should I think a field more cultivated in which someone has shown me lilies, violets, and anemones, and rising springs, than where there is a full harvest or vines heavy with fruit? Should I prefer a sterile plane tree and clipped myrtles to a wedded elm and rich olives? Granted that the rich may have those things, what would they be if they had nothing else?
§8.3.9nullusne ergo etiam frugiferis adhibendus est decor? quis negat? nam et in ordinem certaque intervalla redigam meas arbores.
Is no beauty, therefore, to be applied even to fruitful things? Who denies it? For I too will bring my trees into order and fixed intervals.
quid illo quincunce speciosius qui, in quamcunque partem spectaveris, rectus est? sed protinus in id quoque prodest, ut terrae sucum aequaliter trahat.
What is more beautiful than that quincunx which, in whichever direction you look, is straight? But it is immediately useful also for this, that it draws the moisture of the earth equally.
surgentia in altum cacumina oleae ferro coercebo; §8.3.10in orbem se formosius fundet et protinus fructum ramis pluribus feret.
I will coerce with iron the branches of the olive tree rising high; it will spread itself more beautifully into a circle and immediately bear fruit on more branches.
decentior equus, cuius adstricta ilia, sed idem velocior.
A horse whose flanks are tight is more comely, but the same is also swifter.
Pulcher aspectu est athleta, cuius lacertos exercitatio expressit, idem certamini paratior.
An athlete whose muscles exercise has brought out is beautiful to look at, and the same is more ready for the contest.
§8.3.11nunquam vera species ab utilitate dividitur.
True beauty is never divided from utility.
sed hoc quidem discernere modici iudicii est.
But to discern this indeed belongs to moderate judgment.
illud observatione dignius, quod hic ipse honestus ornatus materiae genere esse debebit variatus.
That is more worthy of observation, that this very honest ornament will have to be varied by the kind of material.
atque, ut a prima divisione ordiar, non idem demonstrativis et deliberativis et iudicialibus causis conveniet.
And, to begin from the first division, the same will not suit demonstrative, deliberative, and judicial cases.
namque illud genus ostentationi compositum solam petit audientium voluptatem, ideoque omnes dicendi artes aperit ornatumque orationis exponit, ut quod non insidietur nec ad victoriam sed ad solum finem laudis et gloriae tendat.
For that genus, composed for ostentation, seeks the pleasure of the hearers alone, and therefore opens all the arts of speaking and displays the ornament of speech, since it does not lay snares, nor tend to victory, but to the sole end of praise and glory.