326 On the Nature and Utility of Eloquence. 



eloquent themfelves ? He will endeavour to be 

 unaffedcd, rational and concife. Does he defire 

 to convince ? He will reafon. Does he wifh to 

 give delight ? He will be copious, flowing, rich in 

 imagery, and elegant in cxpreffion : nothing will 

 be harjfh, nothing carelefs ; nothing unpolilhed 

 or repulfive. Does he mean to agitate or per- 

 fuade ? He will be warm, animated and glow- 

 ing. Pie will arm himfelf with the thunders and 

 lightnings of eloquence ; or will fpeak in the 

 mild, infiinuating tone of gentle infinuation ; 

 with " bated breath and whifpering humble- 

 nefs." In fhort, he will at all times accom- 

 modate himfelf to his fituation j he will be 



Orpheus in filvis, inter delphinas Arion. 



Yet this is not all his praife, for it is not only 

 on public and folemn occafions that he will find 

 opportunities to ufe his manifold flcill* — his elo- 

 quence is not only fitted for the bar, the pulpit, 

 or the public affemblies of the ftate, but for the 

 numberlefs interefting occurrences of private 

 life, and may even defcend to the narration of 

 events, the compofition of a letter, or the dex- 

 terous management of common converfation. 



• Is orator erit, mea fententia, hoc tam gravi dignus no- 

 mine, qui qu/ecumque res inciderit, prudenter, et compofite, 

 ornate, et memoiiter dicat. Cic. de Or. lib. I. fe£l. 15. 



To 



