more correct, and less verbose; and even his body was grown more robust. [u] He found two orators. at Rome, who had gained great reputation, and whom he much desired to equal; these were Cotta and Hortensius, but especially the latter, who was very near of the same age with himself, and whose manner of writing bore a near resemblance to his own. It is not an idle curiosity in young men designed for the Bar, to see those two great orators contending for prizes, like two wrestlers, and disputing for victory with one another during several years, through a noble emulation. I shall here relate a part of what Cicero tells us on that subject. [] Hortensius wanted none of those qualifications, either natural or acquired, which form the great orator. He had a lively genius, an inconceivable passion for study, a large extent of knowledge, a prodigious memory, and so perfect a manner of pronunciation, that the most celebrated actors of his time went on purpose to hear him, in order to form themselves by his example for gesture and declamation. Thus he made a shining figure at the Bar, and acquired great reputation. [y] But there being nothing further to animate his ambition, after he was raised to the consulship, and desirous of a more happy way of life, as he imagined, or at least a more easy one, with the great possessions he had acquired, he began to grow indolent, and abated very much of the warmth he had always entertained for study from his childhood. There was [z] Duo tum excellebant oratores, qui me imitandi cupiditate incitarent, Cotta & Hortensius. ... Cum Hortensio mihi magis arbitra. bar rem esse; quòd & dicendi ardore eram propior, & ætate conjunctior. Brut. n. 317. [x] Nihil isti, neque à naturâ, neque à doctrinâ defuit.... Erat ingenio peracri, & studio flagranti, & doctrinâ eximiâ & memoriâ singulari. 3. de Orat. n. 229, 230. [y] Post consulatum. . summum lud suum studium remisit, quo à puero fuerat incensus: atque in omnium rerum abundantia voluit beatiùs, ut ipse putabat, remissiùs certè, vivere. Primus, & secundus annus, & tertius tantum quasi de picturæ veteris colore detraxerat, quantum non quivis unus ex populo, sed existimator doctus & intelligens posset cognoscere. Longiùs autem procedens, & in cæteris eloquentiæ partibus, tum maximè in celeritate & continuatione verborum adhæres cens; sui dissimilior videbatur fieri quotidie. Brut. n. 320. some some difference in his manner of pleading, the first, second, and third years after his consulship; but this was scarce perceivable; and none but the learned could observe it: as happens to pictures, the brightness of whose colours decay insensibly. This declension increased with his years, and, when his fire and vivacity left him, he grew every day more unlike himself. [] Cicero, however, redoubling his efforts, made a very great progress, endeavouring to come up with his rival, and even outstrip him, if possible, in that noble career of glory, where pleaders are allowed to dispute the palm with their best friends. A new species of Eloquence, beautiful as well as energetic, which he introduced in the Bar, drew people's eyes upon him, and made him the object of public admiration. He himself gives an excellent picture of this, but in a curious and delicate manner; by observing what was wanting in others, and shewing by that means what was admired in himself. I shall transcribe the whole passage, because youth may therein see all the parts which form this great orator. [a] No person at that time, says Cicero, made polite literature his particular study, without which "there is no perfect Eloquence: no one studied phi moriam rerum Romanarum teneret, ex qua, si quando opus esset, ab inferis locupletissimos testes excitaret: nemo, qui breviter argutèque incluso adversario, laxaret judicum animos, atque à severitate paulisper ad hilaritatem risumque traduceret: nemo, qui dilatare posset, atque à propriâ ac definitâ disputatione hominis ac temporis ad communem quæstionem universi generis orationem traduceret: nemo, qui delectandi gratiâ digredi parumper â causâ: nemo, qui ad iracundiam magnoperè judicem, nemo, qui ad fletum posset adducere: nemo qui animum ejus (quod unum est oratoris maximè proprium) quocumque res postularet, impelleret. Brut. n. 322. "losophy 66 66 losophy thoroughly, which alone teaches us at one and the same time, to live and speak well: no one "learned the civil law, which is absolutely necessary "for an orator, to enable him to plead well in private causes, and form a true judgment of public "affairs: there was no person well skilled in the Ro"man history, or able to make a proper use of it in pleading: no one could raise a cheerfulness in the judges, and unruffle them, as it were, by season"able railleries, after having vigorously pushed his adversary, by the strength and solidity of his argu66 ments; no one had the art of transferring or con"verting the circumstance of a private affair into a common or general one: no person could some"times depart from his subject by prudent digres"sions, to throw in the agreeable into his discourse: "in fine, no person could incline the judges some"times to anger, sometimes to compassion; and in'spire them with whatever sentiments he pleased, "wherein, however, the principal merit of an ora"tor consists." 66 [b] Cicero's great success roused Hortensius from his lethargy, especially when he saw him promoted to the consulate: fearing, no doubt, that now he was equal to him in dignity, he would surpass him in merit. They afterwards pleaded together for twelve years, lived in great unity, and had an esteem for one another, each exalting the other much above himself. But the public gave the preference to Cicero without - hesitation. [c] The latter orator tells us the reason why Hortensius was more agreeable to the public in his youth, than in his advanced years. He gave into a florid kind [b] Itaque, cùm jam penè evanuisset Hortensius, & ego consul factus essem, revocare se ad industriam cœpit: ne, cùm pares honore essemus, aliquâ re superior viderer. Sic duodecim post meum consulatum annos in maximis causis cùm ego mihi illum, sibi me ille anteferretconVOL. II. H junctissimè versati sumus. Brut. n. 313. [] Si quærimus cur adolescens magis floruerit dicendo, quàm senior Hortensius: causas reperiemus verissimas duas. Primùm, quòd genus erat orationis Asiaticum,adolescentiæ magis concessum, quàm senectuti. kind of Eloquence, enriched with happy expressions; a great beauty and delicacy of thought, which was often more shining than solid; an uncommon correctness, justness and elegance. His discourses thus, laboured with infinite care and art, supported by a musical voice, an agreeable action, and an exquisite utterance, were extremely pleasing in a young man, and at first engrossed the applause of all men. But afterwards this kind of gay Eloquence became unseasonable, because the weight of the public employments he had passed through, and the maturity of his years, required something more grave and serious. He was always the same orator, had always the same style, but not the same success. Besides, as his ardor for study was very much abated, and he did not take so much pains as formerly, the thoughts, which till then had brightened his pieces, having no longer their former embellishment, but appearing with a negligent air, lost most of their splendor, and by that means made the orator sink very much in his reputation. REFLECTIONS UPON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ON THIS SUBJECT. The bare relation I have made of the conduct of the great orators of antiquity, will sufficiently point out to youth designed for the Bar, the path they are to follow, if they propose to attain the same end. 1. The first and principal thing they must do, is to form a grand idea of their profession. For, though it does not now lead to the chief employments in the state, as formerly at Athens and at Rome; yet what esteem does it not gain those who distinguish themselves in it, either in pleading or giving counsel? [d] Can any thing delight a private man more, than to see his house frequented by persons of the greatest rank, and even by princes, who in all their doubts and necessities resort to him as to an oracle, to pay homage to his profession and extraordinary abilities, and to acknowledge a superiority of learning and prudence, which riches and grandeur cannot bestow? Is there any finer sight, than to see a numerous auditory attentive, immoveable, and, as it were, hanging on the lips of a pleader, who manages speech, seemingly common to all, with so much art, that he charms and ravishes the minds of his hearers, and makes himself absolute master over them? But besides this glory, which would be trifling enough were there no other motive; what solid joy is it for a virtuous man to think he has received a talent from God, which makes him the sanctuary of the unfortunate, the protector of justice; and enables him to defend the lives, fortunes, and honours of his brethren? 2. A natural consequence of this first reflection, is, that those designed for the Bar should prepare themselves for a profession of such great importance, and imitate, at least at a distance, the passion and indefa [d] Quid est præclarius, quàm honoribus & reipublicæ muneribus perfunctum senem, posse suo jure dicere idem, quod apud Ennium dicat ille Pythius Apollo, se eum esse, UNDE sibi non POPULI ET REGES, at omnes sui cives CONSILIUM EXPETANT, SUARUM RERUM INCERTI: QUOS EGO MEA OPE EX INCERTIS CERTOS, COMPOTESQUE CONSILII DIMITTO, UT ne res te MERE TRACTENT TUR- Est enim sine dubio domus juris- Ulla-ne tanta ingentium opum ac magnæ potentiæ voluptas, quam spectare homines veteres & senes, & totius urbis gratiâ subnixos, in summâ omnium rerum abundantiâ, confitentes id quod optimum sit se non habere? Dialog. de Orat. n. 6. H 2 tigable |