268 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



CHAPTER III 



The Grounds and Functions of Rhetoric. Three Appendices which belong 

 only to the Preparatory Part, viz. , the Colors of Good and Evil, both 

 simple and composed; the Antithesis of Things (the pro and con of 

 General Questions) ; the Minor Forms of Speech (the Elaboration 

 of Exordiums, Perorations, and Leading Arguments) 



WE NEXT proceed to the doctrine of ornament in 

 speech, called by the name of rhetoric or oratory. 

 This in itself is certainly an excellent science, 

 and has been laudably cultivated by writers. But to form 

 a just estimate, eloquence is certainly inferior to wisdom. 

 The great difference between them appears in the words of 

 God to Moses upon his refusing, for want of elocution, the 

 charge assigned him: &quot;Aaron shall be thy speaker, and thou 

 shalt be to him as God.&quot; But for advantage and popular 

 esteem, wisdom gives place to eloquence. &quot;The wise in 

 heart shall be called prudent, but the sweet of tongue shall 

 find greater things,&quot; says Solomon: 2 clearly intimating that 

 wisdom procures a name and admiration, but that eloquence 

 is of greater efficacy in business and civil life. And for the 

 cultivation of this art, the emulation between Aristotle and 

 the rhetoricians of his time, the earnest study of Cicero, 

 his long practice and utmost endeavor every way to dignify 

 oratory, has made these authors even exceed themselves in 

 their books upon the subject. Again, the great examples 

 of eloquence found in the orations of Demosthenes and 

 Cicero, added to the perfection and exactness of their pre 

 cepts, have doubled its advancement. And therefore the 

 deficiencies we find in it rather turn upon certain collections 

 belonging to its train, than upon the doctrine and use of the 

 art itself. 



1 Exodus iv. 14, 15, 16. 3 Prov. i. 21. 



