Cluentius, fair, unspotted, and respectable. He produces the testimonies of the magistrates of Larinum in his favour, given in the most ample and honourable manner by a public decree, and supported by a great concourse of the most noted inhabitants, who were now present, to second every thing that Cicero could say in favour of Cluentius.

WHEREFORE, judges," he concludes,

"if

you abominate crimes, stop the triumph of this impious woman, prevent this most unnatural "mother from rejoicing in her son's blood. If you love virtue and worth, relieve this unfor"tunate man, who, for so many years, has been

exposed to most unjust reproach through the "calumnies raised against him by Sassia, Oppiani<< cus, and all their adherents. Better far had it "been for him to have ended his days at once by "the poison which Oppianicus had prepared for "him, than to have escaped those snares, if he "must still be oppressed by an odium which I "have shown to be so unjust. But in you he

"Romam proficisci cum magno comitatu et pecunia, quo faci"lius circumvenire judicio capitis, atque opprimere filium possit. "Nemo erat illorum, pæne dicam, quin expiandum illum lo" cum esse arbitraretur quacunque illa iter fecisset; nemo,

་་

quin terram ipsam violari, quæ mater est omnium, vestigiis "consceleratæ matris putaret. Itaque nullo in oppido con"sistendi ei potestas fuit: nemo ex tot hospitibus inventus est "qui non contagionem aspectûs fugeret."

έσ

trusts, in your clemency, and your equity, that now, on a full and fair hearing of his cause, you "will restore him to his honour; you will restore "him to his friends and fellow-citizens of whose " zeal and high estimation of him you have seen "such strong proofs; and will show, by your decision, that though faction and calumny may reign for a while in popular meetings and harangues, in trial and judgment regard is paid to the truth only."

I HAVE given only a skeleton of this oration of Cicero. What I have principally aimed at, was to show his disposition and method; his arrangement of facts, and the conduct and force of some of his main arguments. But, in order to have a full view of the subject, and of the art with which the orator manages it, recourse must be had to the original. Few of Cicero's orations contain a greater variety of facts and argumentations, which renders it difficult to analyse it fully. But for this reason I chose it, as an excellent example of managing at the bar a complex and intricate cause; with order, elegance, and force.

LECTURE XXIX.

ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT.

BEFORE treating of the structure and component parts of a regular oration, I purposed making some observations on the peculiar strain, the distinguishing characters, of each of the three great kinds of public speaking. I have already treated of the eloquence of popular assemblies, and of the eloquence of the bar. The subject which remains for this Lecture is, the strain and spirit of that eloquence which is suited to the pulpit.

LET us begin with considering the advantages and disadvantages, which belong to this field of public speaking. The pulpit has plainly several advantages peculiar to itself. The dignity and importance of its subjects must be acknowledged superior to any other. They are such as ought to interest every one, and can be brought home to every man's heart; and such as admit, at the same time, both the highest embellishment in describing, and the greatest vehemence and warmth in enforc

ing them. The preacher has also great advantages in treating his subjects. He speaks not to one or a few judges, but to a large assembly. He is secure from all interruption. He is obliged to no replies, or extemporaneous efforts. He chuses his theme at leisure; and comes to the public with all the assistance which the most accurate premeditation can give him.

BUT, together with these advantages, there are also peculiar difficulties that attend the eloquence of the pulpit. The preacher, it is true, has no trouble in contending with an adversary; but then, debate and contention enliven genius, and procure attention. The pulpit orator is, perhaps, in too quiet possession of his field. His subjects of discourse are, in themselves, noble and important, but they are subjects trite and familiar. They have for ages employed so many speakers, and so many pens; the public ear is so much accustomed to them, that it requires more than an ordinary power of genius to fix attention. Nothing within the reach of art is more difficult, than to bestow on what is common, the grace of novelty. No sort of composition whatever is such a trial of skill, as where the merit of it lies wholly in the execution; not in giving any information that is new, not in convincing men of what they did not believe; but in dressing truths which they knew, and of which they were before convinced, in such colours as may most forcibly affect their imagina

4

tion and heart*. It is to be considered too, that the subject of the preacher generally confines him to abstract qualities, to virtues and vices; whereas, that of other popular speakers leads them to treat of persons; which is a subject that commonly interests the hearers more, and takes faster hold of the imagination. The preacher's business is solely to make you detest the crime. The pleader's, to make you detest the criminal. He describes a living person; and with more facility rouses your in

* What I have said on this subject, coincides very much with the observations made by the famous M. Bruyere, in his Maurs de Siecle, when he is comparing the eloquence of the pulpit to that of the bar. "L'Eloquence de la chaire, en ce qui y entre d'hu"main, & du talent de l'orateur, est cachée, connue de peu de

"

personnes, & d'une difficile execution. Il faut marcher par des "chemins battus, dire ce qui a été dit, & ce qui l'ou prevoit que "vous allez dire: les matières sont grandes, mait usées & tri"viales; les principes surs, mais dont les auditeurs penetrent les "conclusions d'une seule yûe; il y entre des sujets qui sont sublimes, mais qui peut traiter le sublime?-Le Prédicateur n'est point soutenu comme l'avocat par des faits toujours nouveaux, par de differens evénémens, par des avantures inouies; il ne s'exerce point sur les questions douteuses; il ne fait point valoir "les violentes conjectures, & les presomptions; toutes choses, "neanmoins, qui élevent le génie, lui donnent de la force, & de "l'étendue, & qui contraignent bien moins l'éloquence, qu'elles "ne le fixent, & le dirigent. Il doit, an contraire, tirer son dis

cours d'une source commune, & au tout le monde puise; & s'il "s'écarte de ces lieux communs, il n'est plus populaire; il est ab"strait ou déclamateur."-The inference which he draws from these reflections is very just-" Il est plus aisé de prêcher que de "plaider; mais plus difficile de bien prêcher que de bien plaider ?? Les Characteres, ou Mœurs de ce Siecle, p. 601.