Read the _Declamations_[695] and _Various Discourses_ of Himerius the
sophist.[696] Two of the former are deliberative, and three forensic,
all with introductions. Of the deliberative speeches the first is
supposed to be delivered by Hyperides in support of Demosthenes, the
second by Demosthenes, on behalf of Aeschines. Of the other three,
the first is in the form of an attack on Epicurus, who is supposed
to be on trial for impiety; the second is written against a rich
man who had exhausted the substance of a poor man by his abominable
actions, and introduces the poor man pleading his cause; in the third
Themistocles declaims against the king of Persia, who had made many
promises in the hope of ending the war.[697]
These speeches, more than the others, are written in such a manner as
to show what can be done by excellence of style and brilliancy and
vigour of ideas. The author often heaps up periods,[698] in imitation
of Demosthenes, in a variety of forms; although he specially affects
an elevated style, he cleverly modifies his language by introducing
other forms. His diction, at least in the matter of phraseology
and the meaning and the force of words, is by no means wanting in
perspicuity. The frequent breaking up of words sounds strange to
the ear but is not disagreeable, although it renders the sense
less intelligible to the ordinary reader. Another reason for the
author’s general clearness of style is that he uses expressions that
make for distinctness. As I have said, he uses heaped-up periods
in argumentation[699] and at other times, but by illuminating them
by vigorous[700] figures of speech he clears his language of any
obscurity that might arise from them. He makes frequent and clever
use of hyperbaton[701] and other figures of speech, although not to
the same extent as of periods. He is vehement and earnestly vigorous
where needed. Such he shows himself in the speeches mentioned.
Next to these speeches comes the _Polemarchicus_, a eulogy of those
who fell in battle fighting for freedom against the Persians, and
also in praise of war; the _Areopagiticus_, claiming citizenship
for his son Rufinus, not a fictitious declamation; a monody on
the death of the same son; on the marriage of his friend Severus,
also obviously not fictitious, with an introduction; _Diogenes_
or _Propempticus_,[702] a send-off speech, also furnished
with an introduction, and written in the form of a dialogue;
_Syntacterius_, a farewell speech to his friends on starting for
Corinth; a _Propempterius_ to Flavian, on his promotion to the
consulship of Asia; to a new student named Piso; another Diogenes
or _Propempticus_; an impromptu[703] on a dispute which arose in
the school; on the arrival of some Cyprians; on his first hearer
from Cappadocia; a show-speech,[704] which he at first refused to
deliver when asked, in which the thesis “Beautiful things are rare”
is discussed; on Musonius, proconsul of Greece; on the new pupil
Severus, who came on the scene during the scuffle;[705] a short
address;[706] on count Ursacius; on another Severus; on Scylacius,
proconsul of Greece; on some new pupils, Ephesians and Mysians and
citizens of Leon;[707] on companions from his fatherland; on count
Athenaeus; on the Roman Privatus, tutor of the son of Ampelius
the proconsul; on his return from Corinth; on Phoebus the son of
Alexander the proconsul; on count Arcadius a physician. Hortatory
speech to his pupils just arrived and a _propemptic_ to Flavian; on
the marriage of Panathenaeus; two short addresses; a discourse[708]
when leaving Philippi in obedience to a summons from the emperor
Julian; an oration delivered in Constantinople on the city itself,
the emperor Julian, and the rites of Mithras; a discourse on the
prefect Sallust, with an argument; on the proconsul Flavian; on
his friend’s birthday; short address on his friend’s recovery; on
intriguers; on Basil the proconsul (two); on Hermogenes, Plocianus,
Ampelius, Praetextatus, proconsuls of Greece, and their companions;
on his departure to the emperor Julian; speech delivered in Nicomedia
at the exhortation of Pompeianus the prefect; a speech on the new
students; on a new student; on his companion Zeno; on Aphobinus,
a new student; on one who entered the school in consequence of an
oracle of Poseidon; on those who had arrived from Ionia; on the
Ionian strangers; an extempore oration to his hearers; a speech in
honour of a friend in Constantinople; a discussion with his pupils
after his return from his country; an extempore oration on his
(poor) lecture-room; rebuke of those who listened indifferently to
speeches; an extempore speech on some who attended his lectures and
were inclined to be restive; on Cytianus and his companions who
behaved in a disorderly manner when he was speaking extempore;
exhortation on the necessity of endeavouring to secure variety in
discourse; discussion after the healing of his wound;[709] a speech
after his return from Corinth; on the stylus (pencil) and his pupils;
on Amyclae, a city of the Lacedaemonians, which, in obedience to a
dream, he visited to offer prayer to the God; that lectures should
not be delivered in public; speech on the necessity of taking
exercise; another speech delivered at Corinth.[710]
I think that these are all the orations of Himerius, nearly seventy
in number, which you patiently and laboriously read while I was
present. In all of them, while preserving the same type of diction
and the same kind of style, he uses heaped-up periods and figures
of speech in such a manner that a feeling of satiety is prevented
by their cleverness and the way in which they are adapted. So far
as I know, I am of opinion that no one has ever used figures of
speech so admirably or pleasantly. His writings are full of all
kinds of historical and mythical examples, either for purposes of
demonstration, or for drawing parallels, or for affording pleasure,
or for the embellishment of the subjects discussed, by which he
guides aright and diversifies his language, and by which his exordia,
epilogues, and arguments are constructed. He also often gives a
preliminary outline of the matter and manner of the discussion. But
while such is the character of his orations, it is obvious that he
held impious views on religion and imitates the dogs who yelp against
us in secret. He flourished in the time of Constantius and the most
impious Julian, and was head of the rhetorical school at Athens.