Thus, in a book of his, in which he introduces himself as eiitering into conversation with our friend Pansn, and bis son Curio, when he was walking home from the senat-e-house; the senate is supposed to have been summoned by Csesar in his first ifonaulship; and the whole conversatioa arises from tile son's inquiry, what the house had resolved upon. Curio launches out into a long invective against the conduct of Caasar, and as is generally the custom in dialogues, the parties are eng^ed in a close dispute on the subject; but very mihappily, though the conversation oommencea at the breaking up of the senate which Caaaar held wheu he was iirst consul, the author censures those very actions of the same Ctesar, which did not happen till the nest, and several other succeeding years of bis government in Gaul."
LXl. " Is it possible then," said Bmtus, with an air of surprise, "that any man (and especially in a written performance) could be so forgetful as not to discover, upon a snbsequent perusal of his own work, what an e^'regious _ ider he bad committed?" " Very true," Baid I; " for if vrote '!>ith a deaign to dlEcredit the measures which he ireeeatfl in such an odious light, nothing could be more stupid tbau not to commence his dialogue at a period which WHS subeequeut to those measures. But he so entirely foigete himself, as to tell us, that he did not choose to attend a seimte which was held in one of Ctesar's future consulshipE, in the very same dialogue in which he introduces himself as returning home from a. senate which was held in his firal ooitsulsbip. It cauuot, therefore, be wondered at, that he who was so remarkably defective in a &culty which is the handmaid of our other intellectual powers, as to forget, ereu Id h written treatise, a roaterial circumstanco which he had mentioned ))ut a little before, should find his memory fail him, as it generally did, in a sudden and unpremedita-ted harangue; It accordingly happened, though he had many connesionf^ aud was fond of speaking in public, that few causes were intrusted to his management, But, among his contemporaries, he was esteemed next in merit to the first oratonoF the age; and that merely, as I said before, for. his good choice of words, aad his uncommon readinesa, and great fluency of expression. His orations, therefore, may deserve a uursory perusal. It is true, indeed, they are much too languid and spiiitleas; but they may yet be of service to enhu^ and improve an accomplishment, of which he oertainly had a moderate share; and which has so much force and efficai^r that it gave Curio the appeiinmco and reputation of au orator without the nasiatance of auy other good quality.
LXII. "But to return to our subject; Caius Carho, of the same age, was likewise reckoned au orator of the Mcond class; he was the sou, indeed, of the truly eloquent nan before mentioned, but was for ii'om being an acute rjimtrf himself; he was, however, esteemed an orator. His hnguoge was tolerably nervous, he spoke with ease; and timo was an air of authority in his address that was perfec^y natural. But Quintus Varius was a man of quicker inveDtion, and, at the eame time, had an equal freedom of eiprwsion; besides which, he had a. bold and spirited delivery, and a vein of elocution which was neither poor, nor coarse and Tu^ar J in short, you need uot hesitate to pronounce him an crator. Cnfous Pomponius was a vehement, a rouaing, and ^fieIce and eager speaker, aad more inoUned to act the put of jUARES ON EMINENT OltATORB.
a proEeciitoT, than of OD advocate. Sut tarinferiorto tiieee was Jjucius FufiuB; though hie application was, in eoric measure, rewarded bj tie euccess of bis proBecution against Maniua Aquiiiua. For as to Marcus DruBug, jour great unole, who spoke likean orator only upon matters of govemmeat; Luciiw Lucullus, who was indeed an artful speaker, and your father, my BrutUH, who was well acquainted with the conunon and civil lav; Harcua Lucullus, and Marcus Octaviua, the eon of Cnseus, -vrho was a man of so much authority and address, as to procure tho repeal of Semprouius's corn-act, by the siifirageB of a full asBembly of the people; Cuseus Octavius, the son of Motcub; and Marcus Cato, the father, and Quiatus Catixlus, the son; we niuBt eieuse iAeie ^if I may so express mjaelf) from the fatigues and dangers of the field, — that is, from the management of judicial causes, and place them in garrisou over the general interests of the republic, a duty to which they seem to have been sufficiently adequate. 1 should have assigned the same poBt to Quintus Ccepio, if he had not beeu BO violently attached to the equeBtriau ordei', as to set himself at variance with the senate. I have also remarked, that Cnseus Carbo, Marcus Marius, and several others of the same stamp, who would not have merited the attention of an audience that had any taste for elegance, were extremely well suited to address a tmnultuoua crowd. In tho some class (if I may be allowed to inteiTupt the series of my narrative) Lucius Quintius lately made his appearance; though PalicanuB, it must be owned, was still better adapted to please the ears of the populace. Bat, as I have mentioned this inferior kind of speakers, I must be so just to Lucius Apuleiua Satumians, as to observe that, of all the factious declaimere HJocB the time of the Gracchi, he was generally esteemed the ablest; and yet he caught the attention of the public more by his appearance, his gestm-e, and his drees, than by any real fluency of expression, or even a tolerable share of good seneo. But Caius Servihits Glaucia, though the most abandoned wretch that ever existed, was very keen and artfiil, and excessively humorous; and notwithstanding tlie meanness of his birth, and the depravity of his life, he would have been advanced to the dignity of a consul in his pnetorship, if it had been judged lawful to admit his suit; for the populace ■were entirely at his devotion, and he had secured the interest of the knights by an act he had procured in their iavour.
I intr £ 3=.-r^ Ejfum, whOe lie was pnetor, on ;a s:^>=i* S.iturninu8, in the consulsLip ^-n. ^ b>ire (i neai' resemblance to Hjpecj^HO. Kxee (jrafiigacy was bo severely stigiw ^ isx comwies. These wei'e succeeded || ^^ ^ ^. fl^pieaaon; but he was ao looee and «._ l^v^—jBi^ji I* furnish room for the inventions ^^ ^^^ rfri tiie Ttiiafijig; bo careful ahoi^ «r»lw»i««?P«*'^'*y '" "^ manner of apeaki ,,^ jm^ii be eiposed to ridicule by a ludicr uSa *8«C*« ^" rambled back insenBibly to a peri*.^,^|L tea ^f^J wamiued: let us, therefore, reti^J "J* ^^^,^«rie»iDgalittlefaefi}re. Contemporsiy *- iiliiiojt «■• P*^"* Antistiua, a plausible deekimBr, ■*^T^ a)Mt (m Bereral jeara, and espoaed (as he \^tia)j»'^ oontempt, but the derision of hia ** fe« »ii« '"'^ ^plause in his tribuueBhip, in a rejj *** ^,«^ pw"*' against the illegal application li ''*^;^u6iilship; and that so Diuch t' ^ natnj'ai tion, and, at \ aion; besides V— Tein of elooudfl vulgar; in ehort, Cnfeua r, iniiii cmbelhsned, it was very ft., uu™ "" 1,: WOE easy and flowing, and hn /limn otherwise; but his actiic^ ■■Lrough the disagreeable tone (^ .;,\ ridiculona gesturea, of whiol ^y'-JV^mk himself He flouriahed in t' **^',Bd the return of Sylla, when tui Jf^ji^olaradininiBtration of justio^ '^^^lendour. But tho i-eceptior ([( mora &vouvable, as tlie fnnin B <t good orators. For Sulpiciml era abroad; and no pleadei^B [» and Pompouiiis, from t hepfdm.
KEMABKS ON EMINmrT ORATORS. 4G9 LXIV. " His nearest successor in the following age waa Lucius Sisenna, who was a man of learning, had a taste for the liberal sciences, epoke the Roman language with accuracy, was well acquainted with the laws and ccnstitution cf his oonntry, and had a tolerable share of wit; but he waa not a speaker of any great application, or extensive practice; and as he happened to live in the intermediate time between the appearanceof Sulpicius and Hortensiua, he was unable to equal the former, and forced to yield to the superior talents of the latter. We may easily foim a judgment of his abilities from the historical works he has left behind him; which, though evidently preferable to anything of the kind which had appeared before, may serve as a proof that he was far below the standard of perfection, and that thia species of composition had not then been improved to any great degree of escelience among the Romans. But the genius of Quintna Hortensiua, even in hia early youth, like one of Phidiaa's statues, was no sooner beheld than it was universally admired!
He spoke his first oration in the forum in the consulship of Lu-<auB Crassus and Quintus Sc^vola, to whom it was personally ftddressed; and though he was then only niueteen years old, he descended from the rostra with the hearty approbation not only of the audience in general, but of the two consuls themselves, who were the most intelligent judges in the whole city. He died in the consulship of Lucius Paulua and Caius Marcellus: from which it appears that he was fourand-forty years a pleader. We shall review his character more at large in the sequel'; but in this port of my history, I chose to include him in the number of orators who were rather of an earlier date. This indeed must necessarily happen to all whose lives are of any considerable length; for they are equally liable to a comparison with their eldere and their jnniors; as in the case of the poet Attius, who says that both he and PacuvLus applied themselves to the cultivation of the drama under the same eediles; though, at the time, the one was eighty, and the other only thirty years old. Thus Hortenaius may bo compared not only with those who were properly his contemporaries, but with me, and you, my Bratns, and with others of a prior date. For he began to speak in public while Crassus was living; but hia iaaxe increased he appeared as a joint advocate with Antonius and >pu8 (at that time in the decline of life) in defence of BUOTua; OR, Cukub PompeiuB, — a cause in which {though a mere youtb) he diatinguish^id himself aboYC the rest. Me may therefore be incladed in the het of those whom I have placed in the time of Sulpicius; but among his proper coevals, such aa Marcos PiBO, Marcus Crassus, Cmeus Lentulns, and Pnblius LeDtolia Sura, he excelled beyond the reach of competition; ami after these he happened upon me, in the early part of my life (for I was eiglit years youuger than himself), and speut a number of years with me in pursiiit of the same forensic glory; and at last, (a little before his death,) he once pleaded with yott, in defence of Appius Clauditia, as I have frequently done for othera.
LXV. " Thus you see, my Brutns, I am come insensibly to yourself, though there was undoubtedly a great variety <s" orators between my first appearaace in the forum, and yOBl| But as I determined, when we began the converaatio^^'a make no mention of tbose among them who are still livi to prevent your inquiriag too minutely what is my opiit ooncemiug each; I shall confine myself to such as ai*e nt more." " That ia not the true reason," said Brutus, " you chooHQ to be silent about the living." " What then d you suppose it to be?" said I. " You are only fearfulj replied ho, '■ that your remarks should afterwards be mentioned by us in other company, and that, by this means, yon should expose yourself to the resentment of those whom you may not think it worth your while to notice." " Indeed," answered I, " I have not tha least doubt of your secrecy." " Neither have you any reason," said be; " but after all, 1 suppose, you had rather be silent yoitnelf, than rely upon our taciturnity." " To confess the troth," replied I, " wb^ I first entered upon the subject, I never imagined that I ahonld have extended it to the age now before us; whereas I have been drawn by a continued aeries of history amoi^ 1 moderns of latest date." " Introduoa, then," said ho, '' " intermediate oratora yo\i may think worthy of o and afterwards let ua return to yourself, and Hortene " To Hortensius," replied I, " with all my heart; but ai my own character, I shall leave it to other people to e^cam if they choose to take the trouble." "I can by no ineant agree to that^ said he; " for though every part of the account yon have favoured us with, has entertained me -w begins to seem tedious, because I j notdH tenehi^^l )ut asT^* KElliKK3 ON EMINBST OUAIORB. 471 mpatient to hear something of yaursdf; I do not mean the wonderful qualities, but the proffrtsiive atepi, and the advances of your eloquence; for the foriner are sufficiently known already both to me, and the whole world," " As you do not require me," eaid I, " to sound the praises of my own genius, but only to describe my labour and application to improve it, yoar request shall be complied with. But to preserve the order of my narrative, I shall first introduoe anch other speakers as I think ought to be previouBly noticed.
" And I shall begin with Marcus Crassus, who was contemporary with Hortensiua. LXVI, With a tolerable share of learning, and a very moderate capacity, his application, assiduity, ajid interest, procured him a place among the ablest pleaders of the time for several years, His language was pure, his espressioti neither low nor vulgar, and hb ideas well digested; but he had nothing iu him that was florid and omameu^; and the real ardour of his mind was not supported by any vigorous exertion of his voice, so that he prooouueed almost everythiug in the same uniform tone.
His equal, and professed antagonist, Caius Fimbria, was not able to maintain his character so long; and though he always spoke with a strong and elevated voice, and poured forth a rapid torrent of well-choaen espressions, he was bo immoderately vehement that you might justly be surprised that the people should have been so absent and inattentive us to admit a madman, like him, into the list of orators. As to Cneeus Lentulus, his action acquired him a reputation for his eloquence very far beyond his real abilities; for though he was not a man of any grra-t penetration (notwithstanding he carried the appearance of it in hia countenanoe), nor possessed any real fluency of expression {though he was equally specious in this respect as in the former), yet by his sudden breaks, and exclamations, he aSected such an ironical air of surprise, with a sweat and sonorous tone of voice, and his whole action was so warm and lively, that his defecte were scarcely noticed. For as Curio acquired the reputation of an orator with no other quality than a tolerable freedom of elocution, BO Odebus Lentulus concealed the mediocrity of his other accompli shmonts by his action, which was really eicellent Much the same might be said of Puhlius Lentulus, whose poverty of invention and eipreBsion was secured from notice by the mere dignity of his presence, his correct and graceful BE¥ica; OK, re, and tlie Rtrenglh and sweetness of hia voice; and Me merit depended so entirely upon his action, tha.t be was more deficient in. every other quality than hia namesake.
LXVII. " But Marcus Pieo derived ali his talents from hia erudition; for he was much better versed in Ureoian. literature than any of his predecessors. He had, liowever, a. natm^il keenness of disoeniment, which he greatly improved, by art, and eieited with great address and "dexterity, thoiij^ in very icdifFerent language; but he was frequently wnrm and choleric, sometimes cold and insipid, and now and then rather smart and humorous. He did not long support the fatigue and emulous contention of the forum; partly on account of the weakness of his constitution; and partly. because he could not submit to the follies and impertinences of the common people (which we orators are forced to swallow), either, as it was generally supposed, from a peculiar moroseness of temper, or fi'om a liberal and ingenuous pride of heart. After acquiring, therefore, in his youth, a tolerable degree of reputation, liis character began to sink; but in Ihe trial of the Vestals, ho again recovered it with some additional lustre, and being thus recalled to the theatre of eloquence, be kept his rank, as loug as he was able to support tlio fatigne of it; alter which his credit declined, in proportion as he remitted his application. Fublius Murena had a moderate genius, but was passionately fond of the study of antiquity; he applied himself with equal diligence to the belles lettre% in which he was tolerably versed; in short, he wna a man of great industry, and took the utmost pains to distinguislL himself. Caius Cei^orinus had a good stock of Grecian literature, explained whatever he advanced with great neatness and perspicuity, and had a graceful action, but was too cold and inanimate for the forum. Lucius Turius, with a very indifferent genius, but the most indefatigable application, spoke in public very often, iu the best manner be was able; and, accordingly, he only wauted the votes of a few centuries to promote him to the consulship. Caiua Maoer was sever a man of much interest or authority, but was one of the most active pleaders of his time; and if his liie, his manners, and his very looks, had not ruined the credit of his genius, he would have ranked higher in the list of orators. He was neither copious, nor dry and barren; neither n and embellished, nor wholly inelegant; and his voice, I REMARKS ON BMISENT ORATORS.
gesture, and every part of bis action, was withont any grace; but in inventing and digesting his ideas, he had a wonderful accuracy, such as no man. I over saw either poaaeased or exerted in a more eminent degree; and yet, somehow, he displayed it" rather with the air of a qnibhier, than of au orator. Though he had acquired some reputation in public causes, he appeared to most advantage and was most courted and employed in private ones, LXVIII. " CaiuB Piso, who comes next in order, bad scarcely any esertion, but he was a speaker who adopted a very familiar style; and though, in feet, he was far from being slow of invention, he had more penetratiun in his look and appearance than he really possessed. His contemporary, Marcus Glabrio, though carefiilly instructed by his grandfather Sosevola, was prevented from distinguishing himself by his natural indolence and want of attention. Lucius Torquatus, on the contrary, had an elegant turn of espression, and a dear comprehension, and was perfectly polite and well-bred in his whole manner. But Cnajus Pompeiua, my coeval, a man who was bom to excel ia everything, would have acquired a more distinguished reputation for his eloquence, if he had not been diverted from the pursuit of it by the more daazling charms of military feme. His language was naturally bold and elevated, and he was always master of his subject; and as to his powers of enunciation, his voice was sonorous and manly, and his geatm-e noble and full of dignity, Decimua Silanua, another of my contemporaries, and your father-inlaw, waa not a man of much application, but he bad a very oompetent share of discernment and elocution. Quintus Poaipeius, the aoa of Aulus, who had the title of BiHiynicui, and was about two years older than myself, was, to my own knowledge, remarkably fond of tbe study of eloquence, had an uncommon atock of learning, and waa a man of indefatigable industry and perseverance; for he waa connected with Marcus Piso and me, not only as an intimate acquaintance, but as an asaooiate in our studies and private exercises. His elocution was but ill recommended by his action; for though the former was sufGciently copious and difiiisive, there was nothing graceful in the latter. His contemporary, Publiua Autronius, had a veiy clear and strong voice; but he waa diatingtUBhed by no other accomplishment. Ludua Ootavius Beatinus died in his youth, while he waa in full practice; but BRCTD3; OR, mded tlie rostra with more nsstinuice than abjJiljr. s Staienus, who chftnged his name into ^lius by a tdnil I of self-adoption, nas a warm, an abusive, and indeed a furiooB qieaker; which was so agreeable to the taste of niauj, that he would hare risen to some rank in tlie state, if it had not been for a crime of which he was clearly convicted, and &r which he afterwards Buffered.
LXIX. " At the same time were the two brothers Cains and Luciua Csepaatus, who, though men of an obscure tinuil; and little previous consequence, were yet, by mere dint U application, suddenly promoted to the qutestorBhip, with no othea- recommendation than a provincial and unpolished kind of oratory. That I may not Reem wilfully to omit any dftdaimer, 1 must also notice Caius CoBOonius Calidianus, wbti without any disoerament, amused the people with a rapicU^ of language (if such It might be called) which be attended with a perpetual hurry of action, and a most violent exertioD of his voice. Of much the same cast ivas Quintus Amus, who may be considered as a second-hand MarcuB Cranne. He is a striking proof of what couaequence it is in such a city as ours to devote oneself to the interests of the maajT; and to be aa active as possible in promoting their Ktfety, w their honour. For by these means, though of the lowest parentage, having raised himself to oifioes of rank, and to ooneiderable wealth and inSuence, he likewise acquired tlw reputaUon of a tolerable patron, without either learning or abilities. But as inexperienced champions, who, &om a passionate desire to distinguish themselves in the circus, can bear the blows of their opponents vrithout shrinking, are often overpowered by the heat of the sun, when it is increased by the reflection of the sand; so A<, who had hitherto supported even the sharpest encounters with good success, could not stand the severity of that year of judicial eonteet, wliiull blazed upon bim like a summer's sun," ^ " Upon my word," cried Atticus, "you are now treatii _ with the vety dregs of oratory, and you have entertainB4j| in this manner for some time; but I did not offer to iatas TUpt yon. because I never dreamed you would have descended 80 low aa to mention the Staieni and AtUronii /" " As I have been speaking of the dead, you will not imagine, I suppose," _ jaid I, " that I have dono it to court their fiivonr; bub)^ reuing the order of histoiy, I was necessarily led by d to a period of time which iaila wi thin the compass of ^onledge. But I wish it to be noticed, tliat after ing all who ever ventured to speak in public, wo find biit few (very few iudeeii!) whose names are worth recording; and not many who had even the repute of being oratoi's. Lot UB, howerer, return to our subjeot.
LXX. " Titus Torquatua, theu, the son of Titus, was a TTian of learning, (which he first acquired in the school of Molo in Rhodes,) and of a tree and easy elocution which he received from nature. If ho had lived to a proper age, he ■would havo been chosen consul, without any solicitation; but he had more ability for speaking, than inclination; so that, in fact, he did not do justice to the aj-t he professed; and yet he was never wanting to his duty, either in the private causes of bis friends and dexKudents, or in his senatorial capacity.- My townsmau, too, Marcus Pontidius, pleaded a number of private causes. He hod a rapidity of expression, and a tolerable quickness of comprehension; but he was very warm, and indeed rather too choleric and irascible; so that lie often wrangled, not only with his antagonist, but {vihax.
appears very strange) with the judge himaeif, whom it was rather his business to sooth and gratify. Marcus Messala, who waa something younger than myself, was far fioni being a poor and abject pleader, and yet he was not a very elegant one. He was judicious, penetrating, and wary, very exact in digesting and methodizing his subject, and a man of uncommon diligence and application, and of very extensive practice. As to the two Metelli, (Celer and Nopos,) these also had a moderate share of employment at the bar; but being destitute neither of learning nor abilities, they chiefly applied themselves (and with some sut^cess) to debates of a more popular kind. But Cufeus Lentulus Marcellinus, who was never reckoned a bad speaker, was esteemed a very eloquent one in his consulship. He wanted neither sentiment nor expression; his voice was sweet and sonorous; and he had a sufficient stock of humour. Caius Memniius, the son of Lucius, was a perfect adept in the learning of the Greeks; for he had an insuperable disgust to the literature of the Bomans. He was a neat and pobshed speaker, and had a sweet and harmonious turn of expression; but as he was equally averse to every laborious effort either of the mind or the tongue, his eloquence declined in proportion as he lessened his application.''