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[f] What distinguishes the Eloquence of Demosthenes, is the impetuosity of the expression, the "choice of words, and the beauty of the disposition; "which being supported throughout, and accompa"nied with force and sweetness, keeps the attention "of the auditors perpetually fixed. Eschines in"deed is less energetic; but he distinguishes himself by his diction, which he sometimes adorns with the most noble and magnificent figures; and sometimes seasons with the most lively and strong touches. "We do not discover any art or labour in them; a "happy facility, which nature only can bestow, runs "through the whole. He is bright and solid; he enlarges and amplifies, but is often close; so that his 'style, which at first seems only flowing and sweet, "discovers itself, upon a nearer view, to be vehement "and emphatic, in which Demosthenes only surpasses him; so that Eschines justly claims the se"cond place among orators.

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[g] I remember, says Cicero, that I preferred "Demosthenes to all other orators. He is adequate "to the idea I had formed to myself of Eloquence; "he attained to that degree of perfection which I conceive in thought, but find no where, except in "him alone. Never had any orator more greatness "and strength, more art and cunning; nor more pru"dence and moderation in his ornaments. He ex"cels in every kind of Eloquence. . . . [h] He pos"sesses all the qualifications necessary for forming "the orator. He is perfect. Whatever penetration,

[f] Dion. Halicarn. in his book called τῶν ἀρχαίων κριτὴς, c. 5.

[g] Recordor me longè omnibus unum anteferre Demosthenem, qui vim accommodarit ad eam quam sentiam eloquentiam, non ad eam quam in aliquo ipse cognoverim. Hoc nec gravior extitit quisquam, nec callidior, nec temperatior. ... Unus eminet inter omnes in omni genere dicendi. Orat. n. 23. & 104. [b] Planè quidem perfectum, &

VOL. II.

cui fihil admodum desit, Demosthenem facilè dixeris. Nihil acutè inveniri potuit in eis causis quas scripsit,nihil (ut ita dicam) subdolè, nihil versutè, quod ille non viderit; nihil subtiliter dici, nihil pressè, nihil enucleatè, quo fieri possit aliquid limatius: nihil contrà grande, nihil incitatum, nihil ornatum vel verborum gravitate, vel sententiarum,quo quidquam esset elatius, &c. Brut. n. 35.

F

"what

"whatever refinement, whatever artifice, as it were, "and cunning, can suggest on any subject, these he "finds and employs with a justness, a brevity, and clearness, which give us a satisfaction, to which nothing can add. Are elevation, greatness, and vehemence, necessary? He surpasses all others in the 'sublimity of his thoughts, and the magnificence of "his expressions. He is incontestably the first; none equals him. Hyperides, Æschines, Lycurgus, Di"narchus, Demades, have no other merit but that of coming nearest to him.

"[i] That harangue (says Cicero in another place, speaking of Ctesiphon's defence) answers so effectually to the idea I have formed of perfect Eloquence, "that we can wish nothing more finished."

Before I proceed to the character of Cicero's Eloquence, I think myself obliged to add here some reflexions upon that of Demosthenes.

It would, in my opinion, be renouncing of good sense and sound reason, to call in question the superior merit of the Greek orator, after the incredible success he had in his time, and the noble encomiums which the best judges have been, in a manner, contending to bestow upon him.

He spoke [k] before the most polite people that ever lived, and the most delicate and difficult to be pleased, in point of Eloquence; a people so well acquainted with the beauties and graces of speech, and the purity of diction, that their orators durst not venture to use any doubtful or uncommon expression, or any which might be the least offensive to such nice and refined ears. Besides, he lived in an age when the taste of the beautiful, the true, and the simple, was

[i] Ea profectò oratio in eam formam, quæ est insita in mentibus nostris, includi sic potest, ut major eloquentia non quæratur. Orat. n. 133.

[4] Atheniensium semper fuit prudens sincerumque judicium, nihil ut possent nisi incorruptum au

dire & elegans. Eorum religioni cùm serviret orator, nullum verbum insolens, nullum odiosum ponere audebat... Ad Atticorum aures teretes & religiosas qui se accommodant, ii sunt existimandi Atticè dicere, Orat. n. ag, & 27.

in its utmost perfection. [1] Thrice happy age! which gave birth to a multitude of orators at the same time, every one of whom might have been looked up, on as a complete model, had not Demosthenes eclipsed them all, by the strength of his genius, and the extraordinary superiority of his merit.

All posterity have done him the same justice, which even his own age did not deny him. But Cicero's judgment alone should determine that of every judicious and equitable man. He is not a stupid admirer, who gives himself up to blind prejudices without examination. But how much soever in Cicero's opinion, Demosthenes excelled in every species of Eloquence, [m] he still owns that he does not satisfy him in every particular, and that he left him something to wish for; so delicate was he upon that point, and so sublime and elevated was his idea of a perfect orator. However, he gives his orations, and especially that for Ctesiphon, which was his master-piece, as the most finished models we can propose to ourselves.

What is there then in his orations that is so admirable, and could seize the universal and unanimous applause of all ages? Is Demosthenes an orator who amuses himself barely with tickling the ear, by the sound and harmony of periods; or does he impose upon the mind by a florid style, and shining thoughts? Such Eloquence may indeed dazzle and charm, the moment we hear it; but the impression it makes is of a short duration. What we admire in Demosthenes is the plan, the series, and the order and disposition of the oration; it is the strength of the proofs, the solidity of the arguments, the grandeur and nobleness of the sentiments, and of the style; the vivacity of

[] Sequitur oratorum ingens manus cùm decem simul Athenis ætas una tulerit: quorum longè princeps Demosthenes, ac penè lex orandi fuit. Quint. 1. 10. c. 1.

[m] Usque eò difficiles ac morosi sumus, ut nobis non satisfaciat ipse

Demosthenes: qui, quanquam unus eminet inter omnes in oniri genere dicendi, tamen non semper implet aures meas, ita sunt avide & capa ces, & semper aliquid immensum infinitumque desiderant. Orat. a. 104.

the turns and figures; in a word, [n] the wonderful art of representing the subjects he treats in all their lustre, and displaying them in all their strength; in which, according to Quintilian, that just Eloquence chiefly consists, which is not satisfied with representing things as they really are, but heightens them by lively and animating touches, which only are capable of affecting and moving the passions of the auditors. But that which distinguishes Demosthenes still more, and in which no one has imitated him, is, that he drops himself so entirely; is always so scrupulous in avoiding every thing that might look like a shew or parade of wit and genius; and so careful to make the auditor attend to the cause, and not to the orator, that no expression, turn, or thought ever escape him, such, I mean, as are calculated merely to please or shine. This reservedness, this moderation, in so fine a genius as Demosthenes, and in topics so susceptible of graces and elegance, raises his merit to its highest pitch, and is superior to all encomiums. M. Tourreil's translation, though generally very just, does not always preserve that inimitable character; and we sometimes meet with ornaments in it, which are not found in the original.

The reader will not take it amiss, if I support what I have declared of Demosthenes's style, by the opi nion of two illustrious moderns, which ought to have as much weight as those of the ancients.

The first is from the archbishop of Cambray's dialogues upon Eloquence, which are very proper to form the taste, by the judicious reflections with which they abound. He thus speaks of Demosthenes, in his comparison between him and Isocrates. "Isocrates " is full of florid and effeminate orations, and with "periods laboured with infinite pains to please the ear; whilst Demosthenes moves, warms, and seizes "the heart. The latter is too much concerned for

[n] In hoc eloquentiæ vis est ut judicem non ad id tantùm impellat, in quod ipse à rei naturâ duceretur; sed aut qui non est, aut ma Jorem quàm est, faciat affectum.

Hæc est illa quæ dois vocatur, rebus indignis, asperis, invidiosis addens vim oratio: quâ virtute præter alios plurimùm Demosthenes vafuit. Quint. 1. 6. c. 2.

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"his country, to amuse himself, like Isocrates, in playing upon words: he argues closely, and his "sentiments are those of a soul that conceives nothing but great ideas: his discourse improves and gathers strength, at every word, from the new arguments he employs. It is a chain of bold and "moving figures. Every reader sees plainly, that "his whole soul is fixed on his country. Nature "herself speaks in his transports, and art is so ex"quisite in what he says, that it does not appear.

Nothing was ever equal to his impetuosity and "vehemence." I shall soon quote another passage from M. Fenelon, which is still more beautiful, wherein he compares Demosthenes to Cicero.

My second authority is M. de Tourreil, who had studied Demosthenes long enough to discover his character, and the genius of his writings. "I allow, says

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he, that we do not find in Eschines that air of rec"titude, that impetuosity of style, that force of trans"cendant veracity, which forces the consent by the "weight of conviction; a talent that leaves De"mosthenes without an equal, and which he applies “in a singular manner. Whether he calms or ele<6 vates the mind, we do not find ourselves in any disorder, but think we are obeying the dictates of nature. Whether he persuades or dissuades, we do not perceive any thing that offers violence, but we "think we are obeying the commands of reason, for "this orator always speaks like nature and reason, " and has properly no other style but theirs. Whatever he says flows from that spring. He avoids " even the shadow of redundancy. He has no far"fetched embellishments nor flowers. He loves nothing but fire and light. He will not employ glit

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tering weapons, but such only as will do execution. "This, in my opinion, is the foundation of that vic"torious impetuosity which subdued the Athenians, "and places Demosthenes above all the orators "who ever lived.