Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

2273

Cicero, Brutus, 65

catonem vero quis nostro- rum oratorum, qui quidem nunc sunt, legit ? aut quis novit omnino ? At quem virum, di boni ! mitto civem aut senatorem aut imperatorem; oratorem enim hoc loco quaerimus: quis illo gravior in laudando ? acerbior in vituperando ? in sententiis argutior? in docendo edisserendoque subtilior? Refertae sunt orationes amplius centum quinquaginta, quas quidem adhuc invenerim et legerim, et verbis et rebus inlustribus. Licet ex his eligant ea quae notatione et laude digna sint: omnes oratoriae virtutes in eis reperientur. But as to Cato, where will you find a modern orator who condescends to read him?- nay, I might have said, who has the least knowledge of him?- And yet, good Gods! what a wonderful man! I say nothing of his merit as a citizen, a senator, and a general; we must confine our attention to the orator. Who, then, has displayed more dignity as a panegyrist?- more severity as an accuser?- more ingenuity in the turn of his sentiments?- or more neatness and address in his narratives and explanations? Though he composed above a hundred and fifty orations, (which I have seen and read) they are crowded with all the beauties of language and sentiment. Let us select from these what deserves our notice and applause: they will supply us with all the graces of oratory.

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subject	book bibliographic info
cato the elder'	Konstan and Garani, The Philosophizing Muse: The Influence of Greek Philosophy on Roman Poetry (2014) 16