A DIALOGUE CONCERNING ORATORY, OR THE CAUSES OF CORRUPTELOQUENCE.
I. General introduction, with the reasons forwriting an account of the following discourse.
II. The persons engaged in the dialogue; atfirst, Curiatius Maternus, Julius Secundus, and Marcus Aper.
III. Secundus endeavours to dissuadeMaternus from thinking any more of dramatic composition.
IV. Maternus gives his reasons forpersisting.
V. Aper condemns his resolution, and, in pointof utility, real happiness, fame and dignity, contends that theoratorical profession is preferable to the poetical.
VIII. He cites the example of EpriusMarcellus and Crispus Vibius, who raised themselves by theireloquence to the highest honours.
IX. Poetical fame brings with it noadvantage.
X. He exhorts Maternus to relinquish themuses, and devote his whole to eloquence and the business of thebar.
XI. Maternus defends his favourite studies;the pleasures arising from poetry are in their nature innocent andsublime; the fame is extensive and immortal. The poet enjoys themost delightful intercourse with his friends, whereas the life ofthe public orator is a state of warfare and anxiety.
XIV. Vipstanius Messala enters the room. Hefinds his friends engaged in a controversy, and being an admirer ofancient eloquence, he advises Aper to adopt the model of theancients in preference to the plan of the modern rhetoricians.
XV. Hence a difference of opinion concerningthe merit of the ancients and the moderns. Messala, Secundus, andMaternus, profess themselves admirers of the oratory thatflourished in the time of the republic. Aper launches out againstthe ancients, and gives the preference to the advo