quence. In fine, he often declares that an orator ought to furnish his mind with a clear, comprehensive view of things, before he attempt to speak in public. I fancy I could almost repeat some of his words on this subject; so often have I read them; and so strong an impression did they make on my thoughts. You will be surprised to see how much knowledge, and how many* qualities he requires. An orator,' says he, 'ought to have the acuteness of logicians, the knowledge of philosophers, the style almost of the poets; the elocution and gesture of the finest actors.' Consider now how much application must be necessary to attain all this. C. I have observed indeed, on several occasions, that some orators, though they have good natural parts, want a fund of solid knowledge. Their heads seem unfurnished: and one cannot but perceive they labour hard for matter to fill up their discourses. They do not seem to speak from the abundance of their hearts, as if they were full of useful truths: but they talk as if they were at a loss for the very next thing they are to say. * Non quæritur mobilitas linguæ, non celeritas verborum, non denique ea quæ nobis non possumus fingere, facies, vultus, sonus. In oratore autem acumen dialecticorum, sententiæ philosophorum, verba prope pœtarum, memoria juris consultorum, vox tragœdorum, gestus pene summorum actorum, est requirendus. Quamobrem nihil in hominum ge. nere rarius perfecto oratore inveniri potest: quæ enim singularum rerum artifices, singula si mediocriter adepti sunt, probantur, ea nisi omnia summa sunt in oratore, probari non possunt.-De Orat. lib. i. §. 28. A. Cicero takes notice of these kind of people; who live always, as it were, from hand to mouth, without laying up any stock of provision. But the discourses of such declaimers appear always thin and half-starved, whatever pains they take about them. Though these men could afford three months for studying a public harangue, such particular preparations, however troublesome, must needs be very imperfect and any judicious hearer will easily discern their defects. They ought to have employed several years in laying up a plentiful store of solid notions: and then after such a general preparation, their particular discourses would cost them but little pains. Whereas if a man, without this preparatory study, lay out all his application upon particular subjects, he is forced to put off his hearers with* florid expressions, gaudy metaphors, and jingling antitheses. He de *There are two extremes to be avoided with the utmost care, the frigid style, and the boyish. The former renders a discourse dry and insipid, by a languor and flatness of expression: the latter renders it ungrateful and shocking, by a swelling loftiness, and affected amplification. Those who use the frigid style, employ pompous expressions when the subject requires plain ones: and they who affect the boyish style, make use of low expressions when the matter requires the loftiest. But our language is become so modest, so reserved, and so scrupulous, that the frigid style includes all such expressions as are too strong, or too sparkling; too bold and hardy metaphors, and frequent turns of wit. And the boyish style comprehends strokes of humour, and quaint conceits upon serious subjects; too loose and heavy repetitions in those parts of a discourse that ought to be close and concise; too violent exaggerations, and too laborious figRAPIN. Reflections sur l'Eloquence. ures. livers nothing but indeterminate commonplace notions; and patches together shreds of learning and rhetoric which any one may see were not made one for another. He never goes to the bottom of things, but stops in superficial remarks, and oft-times in false ones. He is not able to shew truths in their proper light, and full extent; because all general truths are necessarily connected among themselves so that one must understand almost all of them, before he can treat judiciously of any one. C. However many of our public speakers get repute by those slight attainments you so much despise. A. It is true, they are applauded by women and the undiscerning multitude, who are easily dazzled and imposed on: but this repute is very precarious; and could not subsist long if it were not supported by a cabal of acquaintance, and the zeal or humour of a party. They who know the true end and* rules of eloquence, cannot hear such empty, vain haranguers without satiety, disgust, and contempt. * Expression is the dress of thought, and still POPE. 59 C. It seems then you would have a man wait several years before he attempt to speak in public for the flower of his age must be spent in attaining that vast fund of knowledge you reckon necessary to an orator: and then he must be so far advanced in years, that he will have but little time to exert his talents. A. I would have him begin to exert them betimes: for I know very well how great the power of action is. But under the pretence of exercising his parts, I would not have him immediately engage himself in any kind of employment that will take off his mind from his studies. A youth may try his skill, from time to time but for several years, a careful perusal of the best authors ought to be his main business. ; C. Your judicious observation puts me in mind of a preacher I am acquainted with: who lives, as you say, from hand to mouth and never thinks of any subject till he be obliged to treat of it: and then he shuts himself up in his closet, turns over his concordance, combefix, and polyanthea, his collections of sermons; and common-place book of separate sentences and quotations that he has gathered together. A. You cannot but perceive, Sir, that this method will never make him an able, judicious preacher. In such cases, a man cannot talk with strength and clearness; he is not sure of any thing he says: nor doth any thing flow easily from him. His whole discourse has a borrowed air; and looks like an awkward piece of patchwork. Certainly those are much to be blamed, who are so impatiently fond of showing their parts. B. Before you leave us, Sir, pray tell us what you reckon the chief effect of eloquence. A. Plato says an oration is so far eloquent as it affects the hearer's mind. By this rule you may judge certainly of any discourse you hear; if an harangue leave you cold and languid; and only amuses your mind, instead of enlightening it; if it does not move your heart and passions, however florid and pompous it may be, it is not truly eloquent. Tully approves of Plato's sentiments on this point; and tells us that the whole drift and force of a discourse should tend to move those secret springs of action that nature has placed in the hearts of men. Would you then consult your own mind to know whether those you hear be truly eloquent? If they make a lively impression upon you, and gain your attention and assent to what they say; if they move and animate your passions, so as tot raise you above yourself, you may be assured they are true orators. But if instead of affecting you thus, they only please or divert you, and make you admire the brightness of their thoughts, or the beauty and propriety of their language, you may freely pronounce them to be mere declaimers. * Lib. i. §. 5. lib. ii. § 82. † See Longinus. §. vii. |