|
56. Now in regard to the three conditions I laid down a little
while ago as necessary to be fulfilled by any one who wishes to speak
with wisdom and eloquence, viz. perspicuity, beauty of style, and
persuasive power, we are not to understand that these three qualities
attach themselves respectively to the three several styles of speech,
one to each, so that perspicuity is a merit peculiar to the subdued
style, beauty to the temperate and persuasive power to the majestic.
On the contrary, all speech, whatever its style, ought constantly to
aim at, and as far as possible to display, all these three merits.
For we do not like even to, not with intelligence merely, but with
pleasure as well. Again, why do we enforce what we teach by divine
testimony, except that we wish to carry the hearer with us, that, to
com pel his assent by calling in the assistance of Him of whom it is
said, "Thy testimonies are very sure"? And when any one narrates a
story, even in the subdued style, what does he wish but to be
believed? But who will listen to him if he do not arrest attention by
some beauty of style? And if he be not intelligible, is it not plain
that he can neither give pleasure nor enforce conviction? The subdued
style, again, in its own naked simplicity, when it unravels questions
of very great difficulty, and throws an unexpected light upon them;
when it worms out and brings to light some very acute observations from
a quarter whence nothing was expected; when it seizes upon and exposes
the falsity of an opposing opinion, which seemed at its first statement
to be unassailable; especially when all this is accompanied by a
natural, unsought grace of expression, and by a rhythm and balance of
style which is not ostentatiously obtruded, but seems rather to be
called forth by the nature of the subject: this style, so used,
frequently calls forth applause so great that one can hardly believe it
to be the subdued style. For the fact that it comes forth without
either ornament or defence, and offers battle in its own naked
simplicity, does not hinder it from crushing its adversary by weight of
nerve and muscle, and overwhelming and destroying the falsehood that
opposes it by the mere strength of its own fight arm. How explain the
frequent and vehement applause that waits upon men who speak thus,
except by the pleasure that truth so irresistibly established, and so
victoriously defended, naturally affords? Wherefore the Christian
teacher and speaker ought, when he uses the subdued style, to endeavor
not only to be dear and intelligible, but to give pleasure and to bring
home conviction to the hearer.
57. Eloquence of the temperate style, also, must, in the case of
the Christian orator, be neither altogether without ornament, nor
unsuitably adorned, nor is it to make the giving of pleasure its sole
aim, which is all it professes to accomplish in the hands of others;
but in its encomiums and censures it should aim at inducing the hearer
to strive after or avoid or renounce what it condemns. On the other
hand, without perspicuity this style cannot give pleasure. And so the
three qualities, perspicuity, beauty, and persuasiveness. are to be
sought in this style also; beauty, of course, being its primary
object.
58. Again, when it becomes necessary to stir and sway the hearers
mind by the maestic style (and this is always necessary when he admits
that what you say is both true and agreeable, and yet is unwilling to
act accordingly), you must, of course, speak in the majestic style.
but who can be moved if he does not understand what is said? and who
will stay to listen if he receives no pleasure? Wherefore, in this
style, too, when an obdurate heart is to be persuaded to obedience,
you must speak so as to be both intelligible and pleasing, if you would
be heard with a submissive mind.
|
|