Dialogue on Orators E-Book

Tacitus

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

In "Dialogue on Orators," Tacitus crafts a nuanced exploration of rhetoric's role in society, set against the backdrop of the Roman imperial landscape. Through a Socratic dialogue format, Tacitus examines the decline of oratory amidst increasing reliance on written communication, reflecting the cultural and political shifts of his time. The text is notable for its stylistic elegance and philosophical depth, blending historical analysis with eloquent prose, which invites readers to ponder the implications of effective communication and the responsibilities of the orator. Tacitus, a prominent Roman historian and senator, is regarded for his incisive observation of Roman society and governance. His experiences in the turbulent political environment of the early empire likely informed the profound urgency and cultural critique embedded within this dialogue. Drawing from a rich intellectual tradition, Tacitus not only articulates his thoughts on rhetoric but also embeds a commentary on moral decay and the burdens of power, enhancing the text's relevance to contemporary discourse. "Dialogue on Orators" is essential reading for anyone interested in the art of persuasion, the intricacies of Roman culture, or the intersection of power and communication. Tacitus'Äôs work remains a profound reminder of the importance of oratory in both historical and modern contexts, making it a valuable addition to the library of any scholar or enthusiast of literature and rhetoric.

Leseprobe

Tacitus

Dialogue on Orators

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4064066446086

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Other translations

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You often ask me, Justus Fabius, how it is that while the genius and the fame of so many distinguished orators have shed a lustre on the past, our age is so forlorn and so destitute of the glory of eloquence that it scarce retains the very name of orator. That title indeed we apply only to the ancients, and the clever speakers of this day we call pleaders, advocates, counsellors, anything rather than orators. To answer this question of yours, to undertake the burden of so serious an inquiry, involving, as it must, a mean opinion either of our capacities, if we cannot reach the same standard, or of our tastes, if we have not the wish, is a task on which I should scarcely venture had I to give my own views instead of being able to reproduce a conversation among men, for our time, singularly eloquent, whom, when quite a youth, I heard discussing this very question. And so it is not ability, it is only memory and recollection which I require. I have to repeat now, with the same divisions and arguments, following closely the course of that discussion, those subtle reflections which I heard, powerfully expressed, from men of the highest eminence, each of whom assigned a different but plausible reason, thereby displaying the peculiarities of his individual temper and genius. Nor indeed did the opposite side lack an advocate, who, after much criticism and ridicule of old times, maintained the superiority of the eloquence of our own days to the great orators of the past. (Latin)

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It was the day after Curiatius Maternus had given a reading of his Cato, by which it was said that he had irritated the feelings of certain great personages, because in the subject of his tragedy he had apparently forgotten himself and thought only of Cato. While all Rome was discussing the subject, he received a visit from Marcus Aper and Julius Secundus, then the most famous men of genius at our bar. Of both I was a studious hearer in court, and I also would follow them to their homes and when they appeared in public, from a singular zeal for my profession, and a youthful enthusiasm which urged me to listen diligently to their trivial talk, their more serious debates, and their private and esoteric descourse. Yet many ill-naturedly thought that Secundus had no readiness of speech, and that Aper had won his reputation for eloquence by his cleverness and natural powers, more than by training and culture. As a fact, Secundus had a pure, terse, and a sufficiently fluent style, while Aper, who was imbued with learning of all kinds, pretended to despise the culture which he really possessed. He would have, so he must have thought, a greater reputation for industry and application, if it should appear that his genius did not depend on any supports from pursuits alien to his profession. (Latin)

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