7. Nevertheless, both taunts and raillery may sometimes be part of
political discourse, so they proceed not to injury or scurrility, but
are usefully spoken by him who either reprehends or scoffs. But these
things seem most to be allowed in answers and replies. For in that
manner to begin a discourse as if one had purposely prepared himself
for it, is the part of a common jester, and carries with it an opinion
of maliciousness; as was incident to the biting jests of Cicero, Cato
the Elder, and Euxitheus, an intimate acquaintance of Aristotle,—all of
whom frequently began first to jeer; but in him, who does it only in
revenge, the seasonableness of it renders it not only pardonable but
also graceful. Such was the answer of Demosthenes, when one that was
suspected of thievery derided him for writing by night: I know that
the keeping my candle burning all night is offensive to you. So when
Demades bawled out, Demosthenes forsooth would correct me: thus would
the sow (as the proverb has it) teach Minerva;—That Minerva, replied
Demosthenes, was not long since taken in adultery. Not ungraceful also
was that of Xenaenetus to those citizens who upbraided him with flying
when he was general, ’Twas with you, my dear hearts. But in raillery
great care is to be taken for the avoiding of excess, and of any thing
that may either by its unseasonableness offend the hearers or show the
speaker to be of an ungenerous and sordid disposition;—such as were
the sayings of Democrates. For he, going up into the assembly, said
that, like the city, he had little force but much wind; and after the
overthrow at Chaeronea, going forth to the people, he said: I would
not have had the state to be in so ill a condition that you should
be contented to hear me also giving you counsel. For this showed a
mean-spirited person, as the other did a madman; but neither of them
was becoming a statesman. Now the succinctness of Phocion’s speech was
admired; whence Polyeuctus affirmed, that Demosthenes was the greatest
orator, but that Phocion spake most forcibly, for that his discourse
did in very few words contain abundance of matter. And Demosthenes, who
contemned others, was wont, when Phocion stood up, to say, The hatchet
(or pruning-knife) of my orations arises.
8. Let your chief endeavor therefore be, to use to the multitude a
premeditated and not empty speech, and that with safety, knowing that
Pericles himself, before he made any discourse to the people, was
wont to pray that there might not a word pass from him foreign to
the business he was to treat of. It is requisite also, that you have
a voluble tongue, and be exercised in speaking on all occurrences;
for occasions are quick, and bring many sudden things in political
affairs. Wherefore also Demosthenes was, as they say, inferior to many,
withdrawing and absconding himself when sudden occasion offered. And
Theophrastus relates that Alcibiades, desirous to speak not only what
he ought but as he ought, often hesitated and stood still in the midst
of his speech, seeking and composing expressions fit for his purpose.
But he who, as matters and occasions present themselves, rises up to
speak, most of all moves, leads, and disposes of the multitude. Thus
Leo Byzantius came to make an harangue to the Athenians, being then at
dissension amongst themselves; by whom when he perceived himself to
be laughed at for the littleness of his stature, What would you do,
said he, if you saw my wife, who scarce reaches up to my knees? And
the laughter thereupon increasing, Yet, went he on, as little as we
are, when we fall out with one another, the city of Byzantium is not
big enough to hold us. So Pytheas the orator, who declaimed against
the honors decreed to Alexander, when one said to him, Dare you, being
so young, discourse of so great matters? made this answer, And yet
Alexander, whom you decree to be a God, is younger than I am.
9. It is requisite also for the champion of the commonweal to bring to
this not slight but all-concerning contest a firm and solid speech,
attended with a strong habit of voice and a long lasting breath, lest,
being tired and spent with speaking, he chance to be overcome by
Some ravening crier, with a roaring voice,
Loud as Cycloborus.[56]
Cato, when he had no hopes of persuading the people or senate, whom
he found prepossessed by the courtships and endeavors of the contrary
party, was wont to rise up and hold them a whole day with an oration,
by that means depriving his adversaries of their opportunity. And thus
much concerning the preparation and use of speech may be sufficient for
him who can of himself find out and add what necessarily follows from
it.
10. There are, moreover, two avenues or ways of entering into the
government of the state; the one short and expeditious to the lustre
of glory, but not without danger; the other more obscure and slow, but
having also greater security. For some there are who, beginning with
some great and illustrious action which requires a courageous boldness,
do, like to those that from a far extended promontory launch forth
into the deep, steer directly into the very midst of public affairs,
thinking Pindar to have been in the right when he said,
If you a stately fabric do design,
Be sure that your work’s front with lustre shine.[57]
For the multitude do, through a certain satiety and loathing of those
to whom they have been accustomed, more readily receive a beginner;
as the beholders do a fresh combatant, and as those dignities and
authorities which have a splendid and speedy increase dazzle and
astonish envy. For neither does that fire, as Ariston says, make a
smoke, nor that glory breed envy, which suddenly and quickly shines
forth; but of those who grow up slowly and by degrees, some are
attacked on this side, others on that; whence many have withered away
about the tribunal, before ever they came to flourish. But when, as
they say of Ladas,
The sound o’ th’ rope[58] yet rattled in his ear,
When Ladas having finished his career
Was crowned,
any one suddenly and gloriously performs an embassy, triumphs, or leads
forth an army, neither the envious nor the disdainful have like power
over him as over others. Thus did Aratus ascend to glory, making the
overthrow of the tyrant Nicocles his first step to the management of
the commonweal. Thus did Alcibiades, settling the alliance with the
Mantineans against the Lacedaemonians. Pompey also required a triumph,
being not yet admitted into the senate; and when Sylla opposed it, he
said to him, More adore the rising than the setting sun; which when
Sylla heard, he yielded to him. And the people of Rome on a sudden,
contrary to the ordinary course of the law, declared Cornelius Scipio
consul, when he stood candidate for the aedileship, not from any vulgar
reason, but admiring the victory he had got, whilst he was but a youth,
in a single combat fought in Spain, and his conquests a little after,
performed at Carthage, when he was a tribune of foot; in respect of
which Cato the Elder cried out with a loud voice,