CHAPTER VI.Of Meditation.De Cogitatione.VI:1VI. Proxima stilo cogitatio est, quae et ipsa vires ab hoc accipit et est inter scribendi laborem extemporalemque fortunam media quaedam et nescio an usus frequentissimi. Nam scribere non ubique nec semper possumus, cogitationi temporis ac loci plurimum est. Haec paucis admodum horis magnas etiam causas complectitur; haec, quotiens intermissus est somnus, ipsis noctis tenebris adiuvatur; haec inter medios rerum actus aliquid invenit vacui nec otium patitur.§ 1.stilo: see on1 §2.cogitatio, ‘premeditation’: cp.commentatio(‘preparation’) andmeditatio. So ii. 6, 3: and below,7 §8. Cic. de Orat. ii. §103 ita adsequor ut alio tempore cogitem quid dicam et alio dicam ... sed certe eidem illi melius aliquanto dicerent si aliud sumendum sibi tempus ad cogitandum aliud ad dicendum putarent: cp. id. i. §150 etsi utile est etiam subito saepe dicere, tamen illud utilius sumpto spatio ad cogitandum paratius atque adcuratius dicere ... nam si subitam et fortuitam orationem commentatio et cogitatio facile vincit, hanc ipsam profecto adsidua ac diligens scriptura superabit. Cp. Brutus §253.et ipsa: ‘likewise,’ i.e. as well as thefacultas ex tempore dicendi, which, as stated in3 §§1-4, derives its strength mainly from the pen. See on1 §31.extemporalemque fortunam: ‘the chances of improvisation,’ which depends so much on the inspiration of the moment (fortunam opp. to laborem): = ‘fortunam quam ex tempore dicentes experimur’ (Krüger). Cp. §§5, 6: and7 §13successum extemporalem.media quaedam: cp. xi. 2, 3 memoria ... quasi media quaedam manus.nescio an: see on1 §65.somnus: cp.3 §25.rerum actus, as inter ipsas actiones xii. 3, 2, ‘in the midst of legal proceedings,’ and so rather more special thanactum rei1 §31, where see note. Cp. esp. Plin. Ep. ix. 25, 3 Nunc me rerum actus modice sed tamen distringit: and Suet. Aug. 32 triginta amplius dies ... actis rerum accommodavit. In xi. 1, 47 actus is again quite general: in ceteris actibus vitae.otium: ‘inactivity.’ A good advocate will be able to think out a speech even while a trial is going on.VI:2Neque vero rerum ordinem modo, quod ipsum satis erat, intra se ipsa disponit, sed verba etiamcopulat totamque ita contexit orationem ut ei nihil praeter manum desit; nam memoriae quoque plerumque inhaeret fidelius quod nulla scribendi securitate laxatur.Sed ne ad hanc quidem vim cogitandi perveniri potest aut subito aut cito.§ 2.satis erat: see on5 §7fas erat.intra se ipsa, ‘by itself’: there is no need for any recourse to writing. This isquite parallel to such expressions as ‘virtus per se ipsa placet,’ and ‘medici ipsi se curare non possunt,’ where the tendency is to keepipsein the nominative so as to emphasise the subject. Cp.5 §2:3 §30.scribendi securitate. Cp. the story of Theuth and Thamus, Phaedrus 274 sq., esp. 275 Aτοῦτο γὰρ τῶν μαθόντων λήθην μὲν ἐν ψυχαῖς παρέξει, μνήμης ἀμελετησίᾳ, κ.τ.λ.: xi. 2, 9 quamquam invenio apud Platonem obstare memoriae usum litterarum: videlicet quod illa quae scriptis reposuimus velut custodire desinimus, et ipsa securitate dimittimus. Reliance on written memoranda, he says, may in the end make the mind incapable of retaining by a special effort what can be at any time recalled by a glance at the paper.vim cogitandi: see on vim dicendi1 §1. For the thought cp.3 §9.VI:3Nam primum facienda multo stilo forma est, quae nos etiam cogitantes sequatur: tum adsumendus usus paulatim, ut pauca primum complectamur animo, quae reddi fideliter possint: mox per incrementa tam modica ut onerari se labor ille non sentiat augenda vis et exercitatione multa continenda est, quae quidem maxima ex parte memoria constat. Ideoque aliqua mihi in illum locum differenda sunt.§ 3.forma, a pattern, model, or ideal: we must ‘form our style’ by constant writing, and attain to the ease described in3 §9verba respondebunt, compositio sequetur, cuncta denique ut in familia bene instituta in officio erunt. Forfacere formamcp.3 §28faciendus usus.onerari: the labour is not perceptibly increased. So xi. 2, 41, of exercising the memory, turn cotidie adicere (decet) singulos versus, quorum accessio labori sensum incrementi non adferat.in illum locum: memory is treated in xi. 2.VI:4Eo tandem pervenit ut is cui non refragetur ingenium acri studio adiutus tantum consequatur ut ei tam quae cogitarit quam quae scripserit atque edidicerit in dicendo fidem servent. Cicero certe Graecorum Metrodorum Scepsium et Empylum Rhodium nostrorumque Hortensium tradidit quae cogitaverant ad verbum in agendo rettulisse.§ 4.pervenit, sc. vis, just as in7 §19facilitas extemporalis is generally supplied.ei ... fidem servent: ‘keep their faith with him,’ i.e. are as much at his command when he comes to speak as, &c.certe: see Introd.p. li.Metrodorusof Scepsis in Mysia, a philosopher of the Academic school, and a pupil of Carneades. Cic. de Orat. ii. §360 vidi enim ego summos homines et divina prope memoria, Athenis Charmadam, in Asia, quem vivere hodie aiunt, Scepsium Metrodorum, quorum uterque tamquam litteris in cera, sic se aiebat imaginibus in eis locis quos haberet quae meminisse vellet perscribere. Cp. Tusc. i. §59.Empylusis nowhere else mentioned.Hortensium: Brut. §301 memoria (erat) tanta quantam in nullo cognovisse me arbitror, ut quae secum commentatus esset ea sine scripto verbis eisdem redderet quibus cogitavisset: hoc adiumento ille tanto sic utebatur ut sua et commentata et scripta et nullo referente omnia adversariorum dicta meminisset. Cp. xi. 2, 24.ad verbum. Cp. Plin. Ep. ix. 36, 1 cogito ad verbum scribenti emendantique similis.VI:5Sed si forte aliqui inter dicendum offulserit extemporalis color,non superstitiose cogitatis demum est inhaerendum. Neque enim tantum habent curae ut non sit dandus et fortunae locus, cum saepe etiam scriptis ea quae subito nata sunt inserantur. Ideoque totum hoc exercitationis genus ita instituendum est ut et digredi ex eo et redire in id facile possimus.§ 5.si ... aliqui: see on2 §23.extemporalis color, a sudden inspiration,or ‘happy thought’: the notion of suddenness being contained in offulserit.Colormust carry the idea here of something that ‘sets off’ the subject,—an unpremeditated turn of expression, embodying a thought which suddenly flashes on the speaker’s mind. In the Bonnell-Meister edition it is said to denote the particularcomplexiongiven to the style by happy improvisation: but this seems too wide for what may be only an occasional divergence from the written word. Krüger takes it as the abstract for ‘id quod habet colorem extemporalem’ (dictorum ex tempore): a thought or expression which suddenly occurs, and which has on it the mark of improvisation. Cp. ‘extemporalem fortunam’§1, and ‘scriptorum color’7 §7, which presents a sort of antithesis to ‘extemporalis color’: also1 §§59,116with the notes.superstitiose: i. 1, 13 non tamen hoc adeo superstitiose fieri velim.demum: see on1 §44: Introd.p. li. Traian. ad Plin. Ep. 10, 33 Nobis autem utilitas demum spectanda est.habent, sc. cogitata. What we premeditate is not so accurately thought out as to leave no room for extemporary chance (fortuna, cp. on§1).scriptis: even inwrittenspeeches, on which a greater degree ofcurahas been bestowed, sudden inspirations (subito nata) are often introduced during delivery.VI:6Nam ut primum est domo adferre paratam dicendi copiam et certam, ita refutare temporis munera longe stultissimum est. Quare cogitatio in hoc praeparetur, ut nos fortuna decipere non possit, adiuvare possit. Id autem fiet memoriae viribus, ut illa quae complexi animo sumus fluant secura, non sollicitos et respicientes et una spe suspensos recordationis non sinant providere: alioqui vel extemporalem temeritatem malo quam male cohaerentem cogitationem.§ 6.domo adferre: ‘bring from the study’; cp.7 §30quae domo adferunt: Cicero, Orat. §89 domo adlata quae plerumque sunt frigida.refutare= repudiare, ‘reject,’ ‘despise,’ the inspirations of the moment (temporis munera). Cic. Tusc. ii. §55 inprimisque refutetur ac reiciatur Philocteteus ille clamor: pro Rab. Post. §44 quam ... bonitatem ... non modo non aspernari ac refutare sed complecti etiam et augere debetis.in hoc: see on5 §11.decipere: ‘nonplus’ or embarrass us: make us to stumble. The chance opening must not find us unequipped with well-shaped thoughts: we must be ready to improve our opportunity.non ... non sinant. The double negative hampers the clause, though it is simplified by makingnon sinant=prohibeant. Krüger compares ix. 3, 72. After the firstnonthe wordsfiet ut illamust be repeated, or simplyut. Tr. ‘It is by our powers of memory that we must secure the easy flow of what we have formulated in thought, instead of letting it keep us from looking ahead by anxious backward glances and the consciousness of being absolutely dependent on what we can recall to mind.’ The last phrase describes a familiar style of oratory, referring as it does to those speakers ‘qui apprennent par cœur et sont paralysés par la crainte de rester court.’—Fénelon, quoted by Hild.extemporalem temeritatem, ‘the rashness of improvisation’: cp. §1 above. Tac. Dial. §6 Sed extemporalis audaciae atque ipsius temeritatis vel praecipua iucunditas est.—For alioqui, see Introd.p. li.VI:7Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus, quia, dum illa desideramus, ab aliisavertimur, et ex memoria potius res petimus quam ex materia. Plura sunt autem, si utrimque quaerendum est, quae inveniri possunt quam quae inventa sunt.§ 7.Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus: ‘we are at a disadvantage in looking back.’ It would be better to throw over our premeditated ideas altogether: while we are at a loss for them (illa) we miss others.utrimque, i.e. ex memoria and ex materia: cp.1 §131and5 §20. To the former corresponds chiasticallyquae inventa sunt, to the latterquae inveniri possunt.
De Cogitatione.VI:1VI. Proxima stilo cogitatio est, quae et ipsa vires ab hoc accipit et est inter scribendi laborem extemporalemque fortunam media quaedam et nescio an usus frequentissimi. Nam scribere non ubique nec semper possumus, cogitationi temporis ac loci plurimum est. Haec paucis admodum horis magnas etiam causas complectitur; haec, quotiens intermissus est somnus, ipsis noctis tenebris adiuvatur; haec inter medios rerum actus aliquid invenit vacui nec otium patitur.§ 1.stilo: see on1 §2.cogitatio, ‘premeditation’: cp.commentatio(‘preparation’) andmeditatio. So ii. 6, 3: and below,7 §8. Cic. de Orat. ii. §103 ita adsequor ut alio tempore cogitem quid dicam et alio dicam ... sed certe eidem illi melius aliquanto dicerent si aliud sumendum sibi tempus ad cogitandum aliud ad dicendum putarent: cp. id. i. §150 etsi utile est etiam subito saepe dicere, tamen illud utilius sumpto spatio ad cogitandum paratius atque adcuratius dicere ... nam si subitam et fortuitam orationem commentatio et cogitatio facile vincit, hanc ipsam profecto adsidua ac diligens scriptura superabit. Cp. Brutus §253.et ipsa: ‘likewise,’ i.e. as well as thefacultas ex tempore dicendi, which, as stated in3 §§1-4, derives its strength mainly from the pen. See on1 §31.extemporalemque fortunam: ‘the chances of improvisation,’ which depends so much on the inspiration of the moment (fortunam opp. to laborem): = ‘fortunam quam ex tempore dicentes experimur’ (Krüger). Cp. §§5, 6: and7 §13successum extemporalem.media quaedam: cp. xi. 2, 3 memoria ... quasi media quaedam manus.nescio an: see on1 §65.somnus: cp.3 §25.rerum actus, as inter ipsas actiones xii. 3, 2, ‘in the midst of legal proceedings,’ and so rather more special thanactum rei1 §31, where see note. Cp. esp. Plin. Ep. ix. 25, 3 Nunc me rerum actus modice sed tamen distringit: and Suet. Aug. 32 triginta amplius dies ... actis rerum accommodavit. In xi. 1, 47 actus is again quite general: in ceteris actibus vitae.otium: ‘inactivity.’ A good advocate will be able to think out a speech even while a trial is going on.VI:2Neque vero rerum ordinem modo, quod ipsum satis erat, intra se ipsa disponit, sed verba etiamcopulat totamque ita contexit orationem ut ei nihil praeter manum desit; nam memoriae quoque plerumque inhaeret fidelius quod nulla scribendi securitate laxatur.Sed ne ad hanc quidem vim cogitandi perveniri potest aut subito aut cito.§ 2.satis erat: see on5 §7fas erat.intra se ipsa, ‘by itself’: there is no need for any recourse to writing. This isquite parallel to such expressions as ‘virtus per se ipsa placet,’ and ‘medici ipsi se curare non possunt,’ where the tendency is to keepipsein the nominative so as to emphasise the subject. Cp.5 §2:3 §30.scribendi securitate. Cp. the story of Theuth and Thamus, Phaedrus 274 sq., esp. 275 Aτοῦτο γὰρ τῶν μαθόντων λήθην μὲν ἐν ψυχαῖς παρέξει, μνήμης ἀμελετησίᾳ, κ.τ.λ.: xi. 2, 9 quamquam invenio apud Platonem obstare memoriae usum litterarum: videlicet quod illa quae scriptis reposuimus velut custodire desinimus, et ipsa securitate dimittimus. Reliance on written memoranda, he says, may in the end make the mind incapable of retaining by a special effort what can be at any time recalled by a glance at the paper.vim cogitandi: see on vim dicendi1 §1. For the thought cp.3 §9.VI:3Nam primum facienda multo stilo forma est, quae nos etiam cogitantes sequatur: tum adsumendus usus paulatim, ut pauca primum complectamur animo, quae reddi fideliter possint: mox per incrementa tam modica ut onerari se labor ille non sentiat augenda vis et exercitatione multa continenda est, quae quidem maxima ex parte memoria constat. Ideoque aliqua mihi in illum locum differenda sunt.§ 3.forma, a pattern, model, or ideal: we must ‘form our style’ by constant writing, and attain to the ease described in3 §9verba respondebunt, compositio sequetur, cuncta denique ut in familia bene instituta in officio erunt. Forfacere formamcp.3 §28faciendus usus.onerari: the labour is not perceptibly increased. So xi. 2, 41, of exercising the memory, turn cotidie adicere (decet) singulos versus, quorum accessio labori sensum incrementi non adferat.in illum locum: memory is treated in xi. 2.VI:4Eo tandem pervenit ut is cui non refragetur ingenium acri studio adiutus tantum consequatur ut ei tam quae cogitarit quam quae scripserit atque edidicerit in dicendo fidem servent. Cicero certe Graecorum Metrodorum Scepsium et Empylum Rhodium nostrorumque Hortensium tradidit quae cogitaverant ad verbum in agendo rettulisse.§ 4.pervenit, sc. vis, just as in7 §19facilitas extemporalis is generally supplied.ei ... fidem servent: ‘keep their faith with him,’ i.e. are as much at his command when he comes to speak as, &c.certe: see Introd.p. li.Metrodorusof Scepsis in Mysia, a philosopher of the Academic school, and a pupil of Carneades. Cic. de Orat. ii. §360 vidi enim ego summos homines et divina prope memoria, Athenis Charmadam, in Asia, quem vivere hodie aiunt, Scepsium Metrodorum, quorum uterque tamquam litteris in cera, sic se aiebat imaginibus in eis locis quos haberet quae meminisse vellet perscribere. Cp. Tusc. i. §59.Empylusis nowhere else mentioned.Hortensium: Brut. §301 memoria (erat) tanta quantam in nullo cognovisse me arbitror, ut quae secum commentatus esset ea sine scripto verbis eisdem redderet quibus cogitavisset: hoc adiumento ille tanto sic utebatur ut sua et commentata et scripta et nullo referente omnia adversariorum dicta meminisset. Cp. xi. 2, 24.ad verbum. Cp. Plin. Ep. ix. 36, 1 cogito ad verbum scribenti emendantique similis.VI:5Sed si forte aliqui inter dicendum offulserit extemporalis color,non superstitiose cogitatis demum est inhaerendum. Neque enim tantum habent curae ut non sit dandus et fortunae locus, cum saepe etiam scriptis ea quae subito nata sunt inserantur. Ideoque totum hoc exercitationis genus ita instituendum est ut et digredi ex eo et redire in id facile possimus.§ 5.si ... aliqui: see on2 §23.extemporalis color, a sudden inspiration,or ‘happy thought’: the notion of suddenness being contained in offulserit.Colormust carry the idea here of something that ‘sets off’ the subject,—an unpremeditated turn of expression, embodying a thought which suddenly flashes on the speaker’s mind. In the Bonnell-Meister edition it is said to denote the particularcomplexiongiven to the style by happy improvisation: but this seems too wide for what may be only an occasional divergence from the written word. Krüger takes it as the abstract for ‘id quod habet colorem extemporalem’ (dictorum ex tempore): a thought or expression which suddenly occurs, and which has on it the mark of improvisation. Cp. ‘extemporalem fortunam’§1, and ‘scriptorum color’7 §7, which presents a sort of antithesis to ‘extemporalis color’: also1 §§59,116with the notes.superstitiose: i. 1, 13 non tamen hoc adeo superstitiose fieri velim.demum: see on1 §44: Introd.p. li. Traian. ad Plin. Ep. 10, 33 Nobis autem utilitas demum spectanda est.habent, sc. cogitata. What we premeditate is not so accurately thought out as to leave no room for extemporary chance (fortuna, cp. on§1).scriptis: even inwrittenspeeches, on which a greater degree ofcurahas been bestowed, sudden inspirations (subito nata) are often introduced during delivery.VI:6Nam ut primum est domo adferre paratam dicendi copiam et certam, ita refutare temporis munera longe stultissimum est. Quare cogitatio in hoc praeparetur, ut nos fortuna decipere non possit, adiuvare possit. Id autem fiet memoriae viribus, ut illa quae complexi animo sumus fluant secura, non sollicitos et respicientes et una spe suspensos recordationis non sinant providere: alioqui vel extemporalem temeritatem malo quam male cohaerentem cogitationem.§ 6.domo adferre: ‘bring from the study’; cp.7 §30quae domo adferunt: Cicero, Orat. §89 domo adlata quae plerumque sunt frigida.refutare= repudiare, ‘reject,’ ‘despise,’ the inspirations of the moment (temporis munera). Cic. Tusc. ii. §55 inprimisque refutetur ac reiciatur Philocteteus ille clamor: pro Rab. Post. §44 quam ... bonitatem ... non modo non aspernari ac refutare sed complecti etiam et augere debetis.in hoc: see on5 §11.decipere: ‘nonplus’ or embarrass us: make us to stumble. The chance opening must not find us unequipped with well-shaped thoughts: we must be ready to improve our opportunity.non ... non sinant. The double negative hampers the clause, though it is simplified by makingnon sinant=prohibeant. Krüger compares ix. 3, 72. After the firstnonthe wordsfiet ut illamust be repeated, or simplyut. Tr. ‘It is by our powers of memory that we must secure the easy flow of what we have formulated in thought, instead of letting it keep us from looking ahead by anxious backward glances and the consciousness of being absolutely dependent on what we can recall to mind.’ The last phrase describes a familiar style of oratory, referring as it does to those speakers ‘qui apprennent par cœur et sont paralysés par la crainte de rester court.’—Fénelon, quoted by Hild.extemporalem temeritatem, ‘the rashness of improvisation’: cp. §1 above. Tac. Dial. §6 Sed extemporalis audaciae atque ipsius temeritatis vel praecipua iucunditas est.—For alioqui, see Introd.p. li.VI:7Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus, quia, dum illa desideramus, ab aliisavertimur, et ex memoria potius res petimus quam ex materia. Plura sunt autem, si utrimque quaerendum est, quae inveniri possunt quam quae inventa sunt.§ 7.Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus: ‘we are at a disadvantage in looking back.’ It would be better to throw over our premeditated ideas altogether: while we are at a loss for them (illa) we miss others.utrimque, i.e. ex memoria and ex materia: cp.1 §131and5 §20. To the former corresponds chiasticallyquae inventa sunt, to the latterquae inveniri possunt.
VI:1VI. Proxima stilo cogitatio est, quae et ipsa vires ab hoc accipit et est inter scribendi laborem extemporalemque fortunam media quaedam et nescio an usus frequentissimi. Nam scribere non ubique nec semper possumus, cogitationi temporis ac loci plurimum est. Haec paucis admodum horis magnas etiam causas complectitur; haec, quotiens intermissus est somnus, ipsis noctis tenebris adiuvatur; haec inter medios rerum actus aliquid invenit vacui nec otium patitur.
§ 1.stilo: see on1 §2.cogitatio, ‘premeditation’: cp.commentatio(‘preparation’) andmeditatio. So ii. 6, 3: and below,7 §8. Cic. de Orat. ii. §103 ita adsequor ut alio tempore cogitem quid dicam et alio dicam ... sed certe eidem illi melius aliquanto dicerent si aliud sumendum sibi tempus ad cogitandum aliud ad dicendum putarent: cp. id. i. §150 etsi utile est etiam subito saepe dicere, tamen illud utilius sumpto spatio ad cogitandum paratius atque adcuratius dicere ... nam si subitam et fortuitam orationem commentatio et cogitatio facile vincit, hanc ipsam profecto adsidua ac diligens scriptura superabit. Cp. Brutus §253.et ipsa: ‘likewise,’ i.e. as well as thefacultas ex tempore dicendi, which, as stated in3 §§1-4, derives its strength mainly from the pen. See on1 §31.extemporalemque fortunam: ‘the chances of improvisation,’ which depends so much on the inspiration of the moment (fortunam opp. to laborem): = ‘fortunam quam ex tempore dicentes experimur’ (Krüger). Cp. §§5, 6: and7 §13successum extemporalem.media quaedam: cp. xi. 2, 3 memoria ... quasi media quaedam manus.nescio an: see on1 §65.somnus: cp.3 §25.rerum actus, as inter ipsas actiones xii. 3, 2, ‘in the midst of legal proceedings,’ and so rather more special thanactum rei1 §31, where see note. Cp. esp. Plin. Ep. ix. 25, 3 Nunc me rerum actus modice sed tamen distringit: and Suet. Aug. 32 triginta amplius dies ... actis rerum accommodavit. In xi. 1, 47 actus is again quite general: in ceteris actibus vitae.otium: ‘inactivity.’ A good advocate will be able to think out a speech even while a trial is going on.
§ 1.stilo: see on1 §2.
cogitatio, ‘premeditation’: cp.commentatio(‘preparation’) andmeditatio. So ii. 6, 3: and below,7 §8. Cic. de Orat. ii. §103 ita adsequor ut alio tempore cogitem quid dicam et alio dicam ... sed certe eidem illi melius aliquanto dicerent si aliud sumendum sibi tempus ad cogitandum aliud ad dicendum putarent: cp. id. i. §150 etsi utile est etiam subito saepe dicere, tamen illud utilius sumpto spatio ad cogitandum paratius atque adcuratius dicere ... nam si subitam et fortuitam orationem commentatio et cogitatio facile vincit, hanc ipsam profecto adsidua ac diligens scriptura superabit. Cp. Brutus §253.
et ipsa: ‘likewise,’ i.e. as well as thefacultas ex tempore dicendi, which, as stated in3 §§1-4, derives its strength mainly from the pen. See on1 §31.
extemporalemque fortunam: ‘the chances of improvisation,’ which depends so much on the inspiration of the moment (fortunam opp. to laborem): = ‘fortunam quam ex tempore dicentes experimur’ (Krüger). Cp. §§5, 6: and7 §13successum extemporalem.
media quaedam: cp. xi. 2, 3 memoria ... quasi media quaedam manus.
nescio an: see on1 §65.
somnus: cp.3 §25.
rerum actus, as inter ipsas actiones xii. 3, 2, ‘in the midst of legal proceedings,’ and so rather more special thanactum rei1 §31, where see note. Cp. esp. Plin. Ep. ix. 25, 3 Nunc me rerum actus modice sed tamen distringit: and Suet. Aug. 32 triginta amplius dies ... actis rerum accommodavit. In xi. 1, 47 actus is again quite general: in ceteris actibus vitae.
otium: ‘inactivity.’ A good advocate will be able to think out a speech even while a trial is going on.
VI:2Neque vero rerum ordinem modo, quod ipsum satis erat, intra se ipsa disponit, sed verba etiamcopulat totamque ita contexit orationem ut ei nihil praeter manum desit; nam memoriae quoque plerumque inhaeret fidelius quod nulla scribendi securitate laxatur.
Sed ne ad hanc quidem vim cogitandi perveniri potest aut subito aut cito.
§ 2.satis erat: see on5 §7fas erat.intra se ipsa, ‘by itself’: there is no need for any recourse to writing. This isquite parallel to such expressions as ‘virtus per se ipsa placet,’ and ‘medici ipsi se curare non possunt,’ where the tendency is to keepipsein the nominative so as to emphasise the subject. Cp.5 §2:3 §30.scribendi securitate. Cp. the story of Theuth and Thamus, Phaedrus 274 sq., esp. 275 Aτοῦτο γὰρ τῶν μαθόντων λήθην μὲν ἐν ψυχαῖς παρέξει, μνήμης ἀμελετησίᾳ, κ.τ.λ.: xi. 2, 9 quamquam invenio apud Platonem obstare memoriae usum litterarum: videlicet quod illa quae scriptis reposuimus velut custodire desinimus, et ipsa securitate dimittimus. Reliance on written memoranda, he says, may in the end make the mind incapable of retaining by a special effort what can be at any time recalled by a glance at the paper.vim cogitandi: see on vim dicendi1 §1. For the thought cp.3 §9.
§ 2.satis erat: see on5 §7fas erat.
intra se ipsa, ‘by itself’: there is no need for any recourse to writing. This isquite parallel to such expressions as ‘virtus per se ipsa placet,’ and ‘medici ipsi se curare non possunt,’ where the tendency is to keepipsein the nominative so as to emphasise the subject. Cp.5 §2:3 §30.
scribendi securitate. Cp. the story of Theuth and Thamus, Phaedrus 274 sq., esp. 275 Aτοῦτο γὰρ τῶν μαθόντων λήθην μὲν ἐν ψυχαῖς παρέξει, μνήμης ἀμελετησίᾳ, κ.τ.λ.: xi. 2, 9 quamquam invenio apud Platonem obstare memoriae usum litterarum: videlicet quod illa quae scriptis reposuimus velut custodire desinimus, et ipsa securitate dimittimus. Reliance on written memoranda, he says, may in the end make the mind incapable of retaining by a special effort what can be at any time recalled by a glance at the paper.
vim cogitandi: see on vim dicendi1 §1. For the thought cp.3 §9.
VI:3Nam primum facienda multo stilo forma est, quae nos etiam cogitantes sequatur: tum adsumendus usus paulatim, ut pauca primum complectamur animo, quae reddi fideliter possint: mox per incrementa tam modica ut onerari se labor ille non sentiat augenda vis et exercitatione multa continenda est, quae quidem maxima ex parte memoria constat. Ideoque aliqua mihi in illum locum differenda sunt.
§ 3.forma, a pattern, model, or ideal: we must ‘form our style’ by constant writing, and attain to the ease described in3 §9verba respondebunt, compositio sequetur, cuncta denique ut in familia bene instituta in officio erunt. Forfacere formamcp.3 §28faciendus usus.onerari: the labour is not perceptibly increased. So xi. 2, 41, of exercising the memory, turn cotidie adicere (decet) singulos versus, quorum accessio labori sensum incrementi non adferat.in illum locum: memory is treated in xi. 2.
§ 3.forma, a pattern, model, or ideal: we must ‘form our style’ by constant writing, and attain to the ease described in3 §9verba respondebunt, compositio sequetur, cuncta denique ut in familia bene instituta in officio erunt. Forfacere formamcp.3 §28faciendus usus.
onerari: the labour is not perceptibly increased. So xi. 2, 41, of exercising the memory, turn cotidie adicere (decet) singulos versus, quorum accessio labori sensum incrementi non adferat.
in illum locum: memory is treated in xi. 2.
VI:4Eo tandem pervenit ut is cui non refragetur ingenium acri studio adiutus tantum consequatur ut ei tam quae cogitarit quam quae scripserit atque edidicerit in dicendo fidem servent. Cicero certe Graecorum Metrodorum Scepsium et Empylum Rhodium nostrorumque Hortensium tradidit quae cogitaverant ad verbum in agendo rettulisse.§ 4.pervenit, sc. vis, just as in7 §19facilitas extemporalis is generally supplied.ei ... fidem servent: ‘keep their faith with him,’ i.e. are as much at his command when he comes to speak as, &c.certe: see Introd.p. li.Metrodorusof Scepsis in Mysia, a philosopher of the Academic school, and a pupil of Carneades. Cic. de Orat. ii. §360 vidi enim ego summos homines et divina prope memoria, Athenis Charmadam, in Asia, quem vivere hodie aiunt, Scepsium Metrodorum, quorum uterque tamquam litteris in cera, sic se aiebat imaginibus in eis locis quos haberet quae meminisse vellet perscribere. Cp. Tusc. i. §59.Empylusis nowhere else mentioned.Hortensium: Brut. §301 memoria (erat) tanta quantam in nullo cognovisse me arbitror, ut quae secum commentatus esset ea sine scripto verbis eisdem redderet quibus cogitavisset: hoc adiumento ille tanto sic utebatur ut sua et commentata et scripta et nullo referente omnia adversariorum dicta meminisset. Cp. xi. 2, 24.ad verbum. Cp. Plin. Ep. ix. 36, 1 cogito ad verbum scribenti emendantique similis.
VI:4Eo tandem pervenit ut is cui non refragetur ingenium acri studio adiutus tantum consequatur ut ei tam quae cogitarit quam quae scripserit atque edidicerit in dicendo fidem servent. Cicero certe Graecorum Metrodorum Scepsium et Empylum Rhodium nostrorumque Hortensium tradidit quae cogitaverant ad verbum in agendo rettulisse.
§ 4.pervenit, sc. vis, just as in7 §19facilitas extemporalis is generally supplied.ei ... fidem servent: ‘keep their faith with him,’ i.e. are as much at his command when he comes to speak as, &c.certe: see Introd.p. li.Metrodorusof Scepsis in Mysia, a philosopher of the Academic school, and a pupil of Carneades. Cic. de Orat. ii. §360 vidi enim ego summos homines et divina prope memoria, Athenis Charmadam, in Asia, quem vivere hodie aiunt, Scepsium Metrodorum, quorum uterque tamquam litteris in cera, sic se aiebat imaginibus in eis locis quos haberet quae meminisse vellet perscribere. Cp. Tusc. i. §59.Empylusis nowhere else mentioned.Hortensium: Brut. §301 memoria (erat) tanta quantam in nullo cognovisse me arbitror, ut quae secum commentatus esset ea sine scripto verbis eisdem redderet quibus cogitavisset: hoc adiumento ille tanto sic utebatur ut sua et commentata et scripta et nullo referente omnia adversariorum dicta meminisset. Cp. xi. 2, 24.ad verbum. Cp. Plin. Ep. ix. 36, 1 cogito ad verbum scribenti emendantique similis.
§ 4.pervenit, sc. vis, just as in7 §19facilitas extemporalis is generally supplied.
ei ... fidem servent: ‘keep their faith with him,’ i.e. are as much at his command when he comes to speak as, &c.
certe: see Introd.p. li.
Metrodorusof Scepsis in Mysia, a philosopher of the Academic school, and a pupil of Carneades. Cic. de Orat. ii. §360 vidi enim ego summos homines et divina prope memoria, Athenis Charmadam, in Asia, quem vivere hodie aiunt, Scepsium Metrodorum, quorum uterque tamquam litteris in cera, sic se aiebat imaginibus in eis locis quos haberet quae meminisse vellet perscribere. Cp. Tusc. i. §59.
Empylusis nowhere else mentioned.
Hortensium: Brut. §301 memoria (erat) tanta quantam in nullo cognovisse me arbitror, ut quae secum commentatus esset ea sine scripto verbis eisdem redderet quibus cogitavisset: hoc adiumento ille tanto sic utebatur ut sua et commentata et scripta et nullo referente omnia adversariorum dicta meminisset. Cp. xi. 2, 24.
ad verbum. Cp. Plin. Ep. ix. 36, 1 cogito ad verbum scribenti emendantique similis.
VI:5Sed si forte aliqui inter dicendum offulserit extemporalis color,non superstitiose cogitatis demum est inhaerendum. Neque enim tantum habent curae ut non sit dandus et fortunae locus, cum saepe etiam scriptis ea quae subito nata sunt inserantur. Ideoque totum hoc exercitationis genus ita instituendum est ut et digredi ex eo et redire in id facile possimus.
§ 5.si ... aliqui: see on2 §23.extemporalis color, a sudden inspiration,or ‘happy thought’: the notion of suddenness being contained in offulserit.Colormust carry the idea here of something that ‘sets off’ the subject,—an unpremeditated turn of expression, embodying a thought which suddenly flashes on the speaker’s mind. In the Bonnell-Meister edition it is said to denote the particularcomplexiongiven to the style by happy improvisation: but this seems too wide for what may be only an occasional divergence from the written word. Krüger takes it as the abstract for ‘id quod habet colorem extemporalem’ (dictorum ex tempore): a thought or expression which suddenly occurs, and which has on it the mark of improvisation. Cp. ‘extemporalem fortunam’§1, and ‘scriptorum color’7 §7, which presents a sort of antithesis to ‘extemporalis color’: also1 §§59,116with the notes.superstitiose: i. 1, 13 non tamen hoc adeo superstitiose fieri velim.demum: see on1 §44: Introd.p. li. Traian. ad Plin. Ep. 10, 33 Nobis autem utilitas demum spectanda est.habent, sc. cogitata. What we premeditate is not so accurately thought out as to leave no room for extemporary chance (fortuna, cp. on§1).scriptis: even inwrittenspeeches, on which a greater degree ofcurahas been bestowed, sudden inspirations (subito nata) are often introduced during delivery.
§ 5.si ... aliqui: see on2 §23.
extemporalis color, a sudden inspiration,or ‘happy thought’: the notion of suddenness being contained in offulserit.Colormust carry the idea here of something that ‘sets off’ the subject,—an unpremeditated turn of expression, embodying a thought which suddenly flashes on the speaker’s mind. In the Bonnell-Meister edition it is said to denote the particularcomplexiongiven to the style by happy improvisation: but this seems too wide for what may be only an occasional divergence from the written word. Krüger takes it as the abstract for ‘id quod habet colorem extemporalem’ (dictorum ex tempore): a thought or expression which suddenly occurs, and which has on it the mark of improvisation. Cp. ‘extemporalem fortunam’§1, and ‘scriptorum color’7 §7, which presents a sort of antithesis to ‘extemporalis color’: also1 §§59,116with the notes.
superstitiose: i. 1, 13 non tamen hoc adeo superstitiose fieri velim.
demum: see on1 §44: Introd.p. li. Traian. ad Plin. Ep. 10, 33 Nobis autem utilitas demum spectanda est.
habent, sc. cogitata. What we premeditate is not so accurately thought out as to leave no room for extemporary chance (fortuna, cp. on§1).
scriptis: even inwrittenspeeches, on which a greater degree ofcurahas been bestowed, sudden inspirations (subito nata) are often introduced during delivery.
VI:6Nam ut primum est domo adferre paratam dicendi copiam et certam, ita refutare temporis munera longe stultissimum est. Quare cogitatio in hoc praeparetur, ut nos fortuna decipere non possit, adiuvare possit. Id autem fiet memoriae viribus, ut illa quae complexi animo sumus fluant secura, non sollicitos et respicientes et una spe suspensos recordationis non sinant providere: alioqui vel extemporalem temeritatem malo quam male cohaerentem cogitationem.
§ 6.domo adferre: ‘bring from the study’; cp.7 §30quae domo adferunt: Cicero, Orat. §89 domo adlata quae plerumque sunt frigida.refutare= repudiare, ‘reject,’ ‘despise,’ the inspirations of the moment (temporis munera). Cic. Tusc. ii. §55 inprimisque refutetur ac reiciatur Philocteteus ille clamor: pro Rab. Post. §44 quam ... bonitatem ... non modo non aspernari ac refutare sed complecti etiam et augere debetis.in hoc: see on5 §11.decipere: ‘nonplus’ or embarrass us: make us to stumble. The chance opening must not find us unequipped with well-shaped thoughts: we must be ready to improve our opportunity.non ... non sinant. The double negative hampers the clause, though it is simplified by makingnon sinant=prohibeant. Krüger compares ix. 3, 72. After the firstnonthe wordsfiet ut illamust be repeated, or simplyut. Tr. ‘It is by our powers of memory that we must secure the easy flow of what we have formulated in thought, instead of letting it keep us from looking ahead by anxious backward glances and the consciousness of being absolutely dependent on what we can recall to mind.’ The last phrase describes a familiar style of oratory, referring as it does to those speakers ‘qui apprennent par cœur et sont paralysés par la crainte de rester court.’—Fénelon, quoted by Hild.extemporalem temeritatem, ‘the rashness of improvisation’: cp. §1 above. Tac. Dial. §6 Sed extemporalis audaciae atque ipsius temeritatis vel praecipua iucunditas est.—For alioqui, see Introd.p. li.
§ 6.domo adferre: ‘bring from the study’; cp.7 §30quae domo adferunt: Cicero, Orat. §89 domo adlata quae plerumque sunt frigida.
refutare= repudiare, ‘reject,’ ‘despise,’ the inspirations of the moment (temporis munera). Cic. Tusc. ii. §55 inprimisque refutetur ac reiciatur Philocteteus ille clamor: pro Rab. Post. §44 quam ... bonitatem ... non modo non aspernari ac refutare sed complecti etiam et augere debetis.
in hoc: see on5 §11.
decipere: ‘nonplus’ or embarrass us: make us to stumble. The chance opening must not find us unequipped with well-shaped thoughts: we must be ready to improve our opportunity.
non ... non sinant. The double negative hampers the clause, though it is simplified by makingnon sinant=prohibeant. Krüger compares ix. 3, 72. After the firstnonthe wordsfiet ut illamust be repeated, or simplyut. Tr. ‘It is by our powers of memory that we must secure the easy flow of what we have formulated in thought, instead of letting it keep us from looking ahead by anxious backward glances and the consciousness of being absolutely dependent on what we can recall to mind.’ The last phrase describes a familiar style of oratory, referring as it does to those speakers ‘qui apprennent par cœur et sont paralysés par la crainte de rester court.’—Fénelon, quoted by Hild.
extemporalem temeritatem, ‘the rashness of improvisation’: cp. §1 above. Tac. Dial. §6 Sed extemporalis audaciae atque ipsius temeritatis vel praecipua iucunditas est.—For alioqui, see Introd.p. li.
VI:7Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus, quia, dum illa desideramus, ab aliisavertimur, et ex memoria potius res petimus quam ex materia. Plura sunt autem, si utrimque quaerendum est, quae inveniri possunt quam quae inventa sunt.
§ 7.Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus: ‘we are at a disadvantage in looking back.’ It would be better to throw over our premeditated ideas altogether: while we are at a loss for them (illa) we miss others.utrimque, i.e. ex memoria and ex materia: cp.1 §131and5 §20. To the former corresponds chiasticallyquae inventa sunt, to the latterquae inveniri possunt.
§ 7.Peius enim quaeritur retrorsus: ‘we are at a disadvantage in looking back.’ It would be better to throw over our premeditated ideas altogether: while we are at a loss for them (illa) we miss others.
utrimque, i.e. ex memoria and ex materia: cp.1 §131and5 §20. To the former corresponds chiasticallyquae inventa sunt, to the latterquae inveniri possunt.