[3]
In the first place, following the
natural order, we investigated that which first presented itself—what
gives things themselves their persuasiveness;
in the
second place, their arrangement by style; and in the third place, delivery,
which is of the greatest importance but has not yet been treated of by anyone.
In fact, it only made its appearance late in tragedy and rhapsody, for at first
the poets themselves acted their tragedies.1 It is
clear, therefore, that there is something of the sort in rhetoric as well as in
poetry, and it has been dealt with by Glaucon of Teos among others.
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1 Since the authors of tragedies acted their own plays, there was no need for professional actors, nor for instruction in the art of delivery or acting. This explains why no attempt had been made to deal with the question. Similarly, the rhapsodists （reciters of epic poems） were at first as a rule the composers of the poems themselves.
Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 22, translated by J. H. Freese. Aristotle. Cambridge and London. Harvard University Press; William Heinemann Ltd. 1926.
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