[12]
Deliberative oratory borrows its exordia from
forensic, but naturally they are very uncommon in it. For in fact the hearers
are acquainted with the subject, so that the case needs no exordium, except for
the orator's own sake, or on account of his adversaries, or if the hearers
attach too much or too little importance to the question according to his idea.
Wherefore he must either excite or remove prejudice, and magnify or minimize the
importance of the subject. Such are the reasons for exordia; or else they merely
serve the purpose of ornament,
since their absence makes the speech appear offhand. For such is the encomium on the Eleans, in which Gorgias, without any preliminary sparring or movements, starts off at once, “Elis, happy city.”
since their absence makes the speech appear offhand. For such is the encomium on the Eleans, in which Gorgias, without any preliminary sparring or movements, starts off at once, “Elis, happy city.”
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