[8]
But there are so he who, even although the cases
which they have undertaken give but small scope for
eloquence, none the less trick it out with matter
drawn from without and, if all else fails, fill up the
gaps in their case with abuse of their opponents,
true if possible, but false if necessary, the sole consideration that weighs with them being that it affords
exercise for their talents and is likely to win applause
during its delivery. Such conduct seems to me so
unworthy of our perfect orator that, in my opinion,
he will not even bring true charges against his
opponents unless the case demand.
Quintilian. With An English Translation. Harold Edgeworth Butler. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1922.
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