active lives, even whilst engaged in actual public business, and even during the period of their highest reputation, the Roman orators used to practise private declamation, in order to regulate their voice and action, and to keep themselves in a state of preparation for real business.38

It was owing to these indefatigable exertions, that ancient eloquence arrived at such perfection, as to be, even in the dead letter, the admiration and model of all posterity. How much greater would prove the delight arising from the beautiful compositions of the ancients, were their accomplished mode of delivery capable of being also recorded intelligibly? We know the value which they set upon this part of eloquence, and apparently with reason, since we also know that Hortensius in his lifetime rivalled Cicero himself, owing to the excellence of his delivery; even although his compositions were not only far

circumstance, and gives an idea of the manner of exercising the voice incidentally. Vox robusta, sed sordida lucubrationibus... Nulla unquam illi cura vocis exercendæ fuit .. .. nil vocis causa facere: non illam per gradus paullatim ab imo usque ad summum perducere,. non rursus a 'summa contentione a paribus intervallis descendere, non sudorem unctione discutere, non latus ambulatione reparare. Senec. Proem. Cont.

This practice was called by the Phonasci Tawví. And is alluded to by Cicero. Suetonius in Nero, c. xxvi. gives the following account of his attention to his voice. Ac post hoc tantum abfuit a remittendo relaxandoque studio: ut conservandæ vocis gratia, neque milites unquam, nisi absens, aut alio verba pronunciante, appellaret: neque quidquam serio jocove egerit, nisi adstante Phonasco, qui moneret, parceret arteriis; ac sudarium ad os applicaret.

38 Tam flagrans tamque eximium fuit studium, et ad bene dicendi laudem contentio, ut ipsi viri clarissimi, functi honoribus, insigni quadam et inaudita animi magnitudine præditi, sæpe declamarent. M. Tullius in foro diu curiaque spectatus, cum Rex quidem facundiæque antistes omnium confessione videretur, eum declamandi consuetudinem nulla die omisit. Cicero filius patria laude et exempio commotus, quotidianam suam declamationem prædicat. Cresoll. Vac. Aut.

inferior, but probably below mediocrity, as Quintilian insinu⚫ates. But to arrive at this height of perfection requires a degree of labour which modern public speakers do not think proper to bestow." Indeed false notions seem rather to prevail, which directly oppose all great advancement in eloquence. The readiest speaker (among the youth at least who should

39 Cicero I. xvi. ep. 21. Cicero's son writes an account of his occupations and society in the country: Præterea declamitare Græce apud Cassium institui, Latine autem apud, Bruttium exerceri volo . . . . . . De Gorgia autem quod mihi scribis, erat quidem ille in quotidiana declamatione utilis. The extraordinary exertions, which Cicero made to improve himself in oratory, even after having arisen to great celebrity, and whilst in a very delicate state of health, may be seen in his work called Brutus de claris Oratoribus. Ed. Ol. p. 485, et seq. Having mentioned his travelling to Athens, and the masters of rhetoric under whom he studied, and also his going to Asia and to Rhodes, p. 486, he says, p. 487, sed omni huic sermoni præpositum est, non ut ingenium, et eloquentiam meam perspicias, unde longe absum, sed ut laborem et industriam.

Cicero ad præturam usque Græce declamavit: Latine vero senior quoque, et quidem consulibus Hirtio et Pansa: quos discipulos et grandes prætextatos, vocabat. Cneium Pompeium, quidam historici tradiderunt, sub ipsum civile bellum, quo facilius Caio Curioni promptissimo juveni, causam Cæsaris defendenti contradiceret, repetisse declamandi consuetudinem. Marcum Antonium, item Augustum ne Mutinensi quidam bello omisisse. Nero Cæsar et primo imperii anno, publice quoque bis antea declamavit, plerique autem oratorum etiam declamationes ediderunt. Quare magno studio hominibus injecto, magna etiam professorum ac doctorum profluxit copia, adeoque floruit; ut nonnulli ex infima fortuna in ordinem senatorium, atque ad summos honores processerint. Sueton. de claris. Rhet.

Suetonius's account of the studies of Augustus, will serve as an illustration of both this and the former paragraph. Eloquentiam sturliaque liberalia ab ætate prima et cupide, et laboriosissime exercuit, Mutinensi bello in tanta mole rerum, et legisse, et scripsisse, et declamasse quotidie traditur. Nam deinceps neque in senatu, neque apud populum, neque apud milites locutus est unquam, nisi meditata et composita oratione: quamvis non deficeret ad subita extemporali facultate. Ac ne periculum memoriæ adiret; aut in ediscendo tempus absumeret; instituit recitare omnia. Sermones quoque cum singulis, etiam cum Livia sua graviores, nonnisi in scriptis et e libello habebat, (" Something too much of this") ne plus minusve loqueretur ex tempore: pronuntiabat dulci et proprio quodam oris sono: dabatque assidue Phonasco operam sed nonnunquam infirmatis faucibus, præconis voce ad populum concionatus est. Sueton. in Aug.

Octavo decimo anno publice declamavit (S. Severus imperator) Elu Spart. in Severo.

E

be engaged in laborious study,) is held in the highest estimation; to be gifted with the ability of quick reply, and to pour out an uninterrupted stream of language extempore, is the summit of ambition. This sort of talent is considered as the peculiar mark of genius, whilst sound logic, correct rhetorical ornament, lucid order, and laborious research are thought to smell of the lamp, and to be fit only for the drudgery of dulness. As to delivery, that is supposed to be altogether the gift of nature, and a modern orator would be ashamed to be discovered in the practice of any thing conducing to improvement in this respect." Whilst such prejudices prevail, notwithstanding all the learning and all the genius which heaven has lavished on these islands, and under every circumstance favourable to the most exalted eloquence; our public speakers will continue to be mere reasoners, or generally something less, and will ever fall short of the orators of antiquity, whom they must be content to admire at humble distance.

4o Itaque jactent illi nostri repentini et tumultuarii oratores, quantum volent, naturæ vim et gestuum facilitatem, quos ratio et effata magnorum sapientum, et experientia quotidiana refellit; ego prætium me operæ facturum putavi, si adolescentiam excitarem, ut in id studium diligentissime incumberent, sine quo pulcherrimæ alioquin et elegantissimæ orationes, ut speciosum cadaver, in tenebris sine vita et motu abjiciuntur. Cresol Prælus. ad finem.

Against this extemporary gesture we have also Quintilian's authority, to which we shall more effectually appeal in another place.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE VOICE.

Advantages of a powerful voice-Quantity and quality—All voices in some degree capable of improvement-Articulation-Cicero's observations-Peculiar difficulty in acquiring a correct articulation of the English language - Impediments-Palliative cure-Dr. Darwin's opinions-Pronunciation and accent-Usage the standard-Provincial accent-Emphasis-Pauses and breathing-Management of the breath -Italian singers-Rhetorical pauses-Pitch or key-Great advantages of choosing the proper pitch-Manner of determining the pitch or key-Quantity of voice to be issued Modulation—Variety and rate of utterance-Tones—their powerful effects, from SheridanAnd from Herder.