In the time of the republic,
oratorical
talents were necessary
qualifications, and without them no man was deemed worthy of being
advanced to the magistracy.
qualifications, and without them no man was deemed worthy of being
advanced to the magistracy.
Tacitus
This was the bane of all true
oratory, and, for that reason, Maternus was right in renouncing the
forum altogether.
10. Maternus acknowledges that he was disgusted by the shameful
practices that prevailed at the bar, and therefore resolved to devote
the rest of his time to poetry and the muses.
11. An apology for the rhetoricians. The praise of Quintilian. True
eloquence died with Cicero.
13. The loss of liberty was the ruin of genuine oratory. Demosthenes
flourished under a free government. The original goes on from this
place to the end of the dialogue.
XXXVI. Eloquence flourishes most in times of public tumult. The crimes
of turbulent citizens supply the orator with his best materials.
XXXVII.
In the time of the republic, oratorical talents were necessary
qualifications, and without them no man was deemed worthy of being
advanced to the magistracy.
XXXVIII. The Roman orators were not confined in point of time; they
might extend their speeches to what length they thought proper, and
could even adjourn. Pompey abridged the liberty of speech, and limited
the time.
XXXIX. The very dress of the advocates under the emperors was
prejudicial to eloquence.
XL. True eloquence springs from the vices of men, and never was known
to exist under a calm and settled government.
XLI. Eloquence changes with the times. Every age has its own peculiar
advantages, and invidious comparisons are unnecessary.
XLII. Conclusion of the dialogue.
The time of this dialogue was the sixth of Vespasian's reign.
Year of Rome--Of Christ Consuls.
828 75 Vespasian, 6th time; Titus his son,
4th time.
oratory, and, for that reason, Maternus was right in renouncing the
forum altogether.
10. Maternus acknowledges that he was disgusted by the shameful
practices that prevailed at the bar, and therefore resolved to devote
the rest of his time to poetry and the muses.
11. An apology for the rhetoricians. The praise of Quintilian. True
eloquence died with Cicero.
13. The loss of liberty was the ruin of genuine oratory. Demosthenes
flourished under a free government. The original goes on from this
place to the end of the dialogue.
XXXVI. Eloquence flourishes most in times of public tumult. The crimes
of turbulent citizens supply the orator with his best materials.
XXXVII.
In the time of the republic, oratorical talents were necessary
qualifications, and without them no man was deemed worthy of being
advanced to the magistracy.
XXXVIII. The Roman orators were not confined in point of time; they
might extend their speeches to what length they thought proper, and
could even adjourn. Pompey abridged the liberty of speech, and limited
the time.
XXXIX. The very dress of the advocates under the emperors was
prejudicial to eloquence.
XL. True eloquence springs from the vices of men, and never was known
to exist under a calm and settled government.
XLI. Eloquence changes with the times. Every age has its own peculiar
advantages, and invidious comparisons are unnecessary.
XLII. Conclusion of the dialogue.
The time of this dialogue was the sixth of Vespasian's reign.
Year of Rome--Of Christ Consuls.
828 75 Vespasian, 6th time; Titus his son,
4th time.
