Chapter 25.—How the Temperate Style is to Be Used.

55.  From all this we may conclude, that the end arrived at by the two styles last mentioned is the one which it is most essential for those who aspire to speak with wisdom and eloquence to secure.  On the other hand, what the temperate style properly aims at, viz., to please by beauty of expression, is not in itself an adequate end; but when what we have to say is good and useful, and when the hearers are both acquainted with it and favorably disposed towards it, so that it is not necessary either to instruct or persuade them, beauty of style may have its influence in securing their prompter compliance, or in making them adhere to it more tenaciously.  For as the function of all eloquence, whichever of these three forms it may assume, is to speak persuasively, and its object is to persuade, an eloquent man will speak persuasively, whatever style he may adopt; but unless he succeeds in persuading, his eloquence has not secured its object.  Now in the subdued style, he persuades his hearers that what he says is true; in the majestic style, he persuades them to do what they are aware they ought to do, but do not; in the temperate style, he persuades them that his speech is elegant and ornate.  But what use is there in attaining such an object as this last?  They may desire it who are vain of their eloquence and make a boast of panegyrics, and such-like performances, where the object is not to instruct the hearer, or to persuade him to any course of action, but merely to give him pleasure.  We, however, ought to make that end subordinate to another, viz., the effecting by this style of eloquence what we aim at effecting when we use the majestic style.  For we may by the use of this style persuade men to cultivate good habits and give up evil ones, if they are not so hardened as to need the vehement style; or if they have already begun a good course, we may induce them to pursue it more zealously, and to persevere in it with constancy.  Accordingly, even in the temperate style we must use beauty of expression not for ostentation, but for wise ends; not contenting ourselves merely with pleasing the hearer, but rather seeking to aid him in the pursuit of the good end which we hold out before him.

CAPUT XXV. Temperatum dicendi genus quem in finem referri decet.

55. Unde colligitur illa duo genera quod efficere intendunt, hoc eis esse maxime necessarium, qui sapienter et eloquenter volunt dicere Illud vero quod agitur genere temperato, id est, ut eloquentia ipsa delectet, non est propter seipsum usurpandum; sed ut rebus quae utiliter honesteque dicuntur, si nec docente indigent eloquio nec movente, quia et scientes et faventes auditores habent, aliquanto promptius ex delectatione ipsa elocutionis, accedat vel tenacius adhaerescat assensus. Nam cum eloquentiae sit universale officium, in quocumque istorum trium generum, dicere apte ad persuasionem; finis autem, id quod intenderis, persuadere dicendo: in quocumque istorum trium generum dicit quidem eloquens apte ad persuasionem, sed nisi persuadeat, ad finem non pervenit eloquentiae. Persuadet autem in submisso genere vera esse quae dicit; persuadet in grandi, ut agantur quae agenda esse jam sciuntur, nec aguntur; persuadet in genere temperato, pulchre ornateque se dicere: quo fine nobis quid opus est? Appetant eum qui lingua gloriantur, et se in panegyricis talibusque dictionibus jactant, ubi nec docendus, nec ad aliquid agendum movendus, sed tantummodo est delectandus auditor. Nos vero istum finem referamus ad alterum finem, ut scilicet quod efficere volumus, cum granditer dicimus, hoc etiam isto velimus, id est, ut bona morum diligantur, vel devitentur mala; si ab hac actione non sic alieni sunt homines, ut ad eam grandi genere dictionis urgendi videantur: aut, si jam id agunt, ut agant studiosius, atque in eo firmiter perseverent. 0117 Ita fit ut etiam temperati generis ornatu, non jactanter, sed prudenter utamur: non ejus fine contenti, quo tantummodo delectatur auditor; sed hoc potius agentes, ut etiam ipso ad bonum quod persuadere volumus, adjuvetur.