![]() For we see that speech is much more conversant in adorning that which is good, than in colouring that which is evil for there is no man but speaketh more honestly than he can do or think: and it was excellently noted by Thucydides in Cleon, that because he used to hold on the bad side in causes of estate, therefore he was ever inveighing against eloquence and good speech knowing that no man can speak fair of courses sordid and base. The end of rhetoric is to fill the imagination to second reason, and not to oppress it: for these abuses of arts come in but ex obliquo 3, for caution.ģ And therefore it was great injustice in Plato, though springing out of a just hatred to the rhetoricians of his time, to esteem of rhetoric but as a voluptuary art, resembling it to cookery, that did mar wholesome meats, and help unwholesome by variety of sauces to the pleasure of the taste. The end of morality is to procure the affections to obey reason, and not to invade it. For the end of logic is to teach a form of argument to secure reason, and not to entrap it. Neither is the nature of man so unfortunately built, as that those powers and arts should have force to disturb reason, and not to establish and advance it. And as in negotiation with others, men are wrought by cunning, by importunity, and by vehemency so in this negotiation within ourselves, men are undermined by inconsequences, solicited and importuned by impressions or observations, and transported by passions. For we see reason is disturbed in the administration thereof by three means by illaqueation 2 or sophism, which pertains to logic by imagination or impression, which pertains to rhetoric and by passion or affection, which pertains to morality. ![]() Again, the excellency of examples of eloquence in the orations of Demosthenes and Cicero, added to the perfection of the precepts of eloquence, hath doubled the progression in this art and therefore the deficiences which I shall note will rather be in some collections, which may as handmaids attend the art, than in the rules or use of the art itself.Ģ Notwithstanding, to stir the earth a little about the roots of this science, as we have done of the rest the duty and office of rhetoric is to apply reason to imagination for the better moving of the will. ![]() And as to the labouring of it, the emulation of Aristotle with the rhetoricians of his time, and the experience of Cicero, hath made them in their works of rhetorics exceed themselves. For although in true value it is inferior to wisdom, as it is said by God to Moses, when he disabled himself for want of this faculty, Aaron shall be thy speaker, and thou shalt be to him as God yet with people it is the more mighty: for so Salomon saith, Sapiens corde appellabitur prudens, sed dulcis eloquio major a reperiet 1 signifying that profoundness of wisdom will help a man to a name or admiration, but that it is eloquence that prevaileth in an active life. 1 Now we descend to that part which concerneth the illustration of tradition, comprehended in that science which we call rhetoric, or art of eloquence a science excellent, and excellently well laboured.
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