1031.] Paragraphs from a Portfolio. 413 



After all that we have been told of the prepared orations of the Greek 

 and Roman orators, it is curious to find so high an authority as Quin- 

 tilian declaring, that without the power of extempore speaking an orator 

 had better let his art alone. 



" INIaximus vero studiorum fructus est, et velut praemium quoddam 

 amplissimum longi laboris, ex tempore dicendi facultas. Quam qui 

 non erit consecutus, mea quidem sententia, civilibus officiis renuntiabit, 

 et solam scribendi facultatem ad alia opera convertet." 



His directions to attain this essential faculty are many and rational. 

 " Nota sit primum dicendi via." We must first look to the order of the 

 subject, and settle which part to place first, second, and so forth. The 

 next point is the " copia sermonis optimi," the commodity of good 

 words. This is to be the work of habit. " Nam consuetudo et exerci- 

 tatio facilitatem maxime parit." The next point is to acquire the habit 

 of " foreseeing the parts of the discourse." " Ut dum proxima dici- 

 mus, struere ulteriora possiraus semperque nostram vocem provisa et 

 formata excogitatio excipiat." A great point is to throw our own feel- 

 ing into the subject. " Pectus est enim quod disertos facit, et vis men- 

 tis. Ideaque imperitis quaque, si modo sint aliquo afFectu concitati, 

 verba non desunt." 



But no one should trust entirely to his talent, nor suppose that words 

 and thoughts will come at command. We must cultivate the extempore 

 faculty from the least beginning, to perfection. 



The other mode is thinking the subject over in all its divisions, which 

 has the advantage of its being manageable in all times and places. Dili- 

 gence should be perpetual. " Studendum semper et ubique." Cicero 

 recommends " perpetually to speak one's best." " Quidquid loquemur, 

 ubicunque, sit pro sua scilicet portione perfectum." 



We should never write more than when we are practising extempore 

 speaking ; for writing corrects the superfluities of style, and gives it 

 solidity and dignity. Those who have frequent necessity for extempore 

 speaking, often find it convenient to write down the principal points, and 

 " beginnings," which Cicero did. It may be advisable also to have 

 notes and heads written to glance at. But it is bad to write down an 

 oration whicli we are to deliver ; for it restrains the natural impulse of 

 the time. " Nam hie quoque accidit, ut revocet nos cogitatio ad ilia 

 elaborata, nee sinet praesentem fortunam experiri." 



