[45]
We must therefore avoid even tile famous terseness
of Sallust (though in his case of course it is a merit),
and shun all abruptness of speech, since a style
which presents no difficulty to a leisurely reader,
flies past a hearer and will not stay to be
looked at again; and whereas the reader is
almost always a man of learning, the judge often
comes to his panel from the country side and is
expected to give a decision on what he can understand. Consequently we must aim, perhaps everywhere, but above all in our statement of facts, at
striking the happy mean in our language, and the
happy mean may be defined as saving just what
is necessary and just what is sufficient.
Quintilian. With An English Translation. Harold Edgeworth Butler. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1921.
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