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Paffions, with respect to the Influence Oratory
hath over them, may be fufficiently known by
confidering them as the great Mafter hath
done;
and the Rules herein remain the fame.
The first of which we have mentioned.
"Observe, which, of what Kind and Turn, are
"the Paffages, that most affect yourselves and
"others; from thence take your Direction."

LEC

LECTURE the Eleventh.

W

A Continuation of the Foregoing.

E fhall lay down as a fecond Rule the

Precept most generally recommended and infifted upon, without which nothing fhould be attempted, nothing of Moment can be accomplished in this Way, thus expreffed by the Poet,

Si vis me flere, dolendum
Primum ipfi tibi.

"BE yourself poffeffed with the Paffion "would excite.'

you

How would you receive a Perfon speaking upon a Subject of the utmost Importance with Coldness and Phlegm; or bemoaning a grievous Calamity with an Air and Tone of the calmeft Unconcern? Would you not turn away from him as a Deceiver; or at least despise him as a Trifler unworthy of Attention?

PLUTARCH relates a Paffage of Demofthenes very apt to this Purpose. A Citizen of Athens came to this Orator, befeeching him to plead his Cause against one, by whom he had been treated with great Cruelty. As the Per

fon

fon made his Complaint with an Air and Stile of perfect Coldness and Indifference, "This "Affair cannot be as you reprefent it, faid the "Orator; you have not suffered hard Usage." "How," anfwers the other, raifing his Voice, and with the utmost Emotion, "I not harshly "ufed! I not ill treated !"-"Nay, now," faid Demofthenes, "I begin to believe you,―That is "the Form, that the Language of an injured "Man.-I acknowledge the Juftice of your "Cause, and will be your Advocate."

NATURE hath fo framed us, that all strong Paffions ftamp themselves upon the outward Form. They are visible in the Air of the Countenance, in every Gesture and Motion. The Ufe or final End of which Conftitution is very evident; that our Paffions may be communicated. These form a Kind of natural Eloquence, which, without the Help of any other, is most powerful in winning over the Spectator, fpreading as if by Contagion. Hence, in Perfons altogether illiterate, Grief and Anger burft out in Exclamations more affecting than the most confummate Power of Speaking, unaffifted by that inward Impulfe, can furnish, because, flowing fresh from the Heart, the Voice of Truth and Nature.

FROM hence we may account for the remarkable Difference between the Effects produced by extemporary, and by premeditated Difcourses. A Difcourfe prepared before-hand, although regular in it's Method, juft in the Sentiments, pure in the Stile, shall yet move and please

please less than one spoken off-hand, which is defective in all these; because this latter, infpired by the Occafion, proceedeth directly from the Heart, from a Mind agitated by the fame Paffions which the Speaker would raise in his Audience. This Effect is most observable in Replies, where, the Matter being unexpected, the Answerer is rouzed and warmed with fuch Heat as enliveneth his Discourse, animateth his Form and Action, and carries the Flames which glow in his Breast into those of his Hearers. The former may be compared to a fine Statue, wrought by vaft Labour and Skill into the trueft Symmetry, yet hath it not half the Graces of this other, thofe inimitable Graces, which Life giveth to a Body lefs perfectly proportioned.

THE fame Principles fhew likewise the Truth of a Rule often repeated; "That an Orator ought to be esteemed a good Man." You cannot be much affected by what he says, if you do not look upon him to be a Man of Probity, who is in earneft, and doth himself believe what he endeavoureth to make out as credible to you.

Is it not from hence, that there have been Times in which the Words publick Spirit, Good of the Community, Love of one's Country, occurring often in a Difcourfe, however ufed, have yet been treated with fome Degree of Scorn or Ridicule? Why? Because these Terms, naturally representing very noble Ideas, and fublime Springs of Action, had been fullied, contaminated, as it were profaned by Tongues,

where

where the Heart was governed by corrupt, base, and mercenary Principles.

A VERY material Question, relating to the Subject before us, is this; " Upon what Occa"fions may an Orator moft properly employ "this Branch of his Art; addrefs himself to "the Paffions ?"

IN Answer to which observe, first, Where a Person is called upon to speak on a Point of Importance before one or few chofen Judges of acknowleged Skill and Integrity, he ought to be very sparing in the Ufe of the Pathetick: Because here the Discovery of Truth being the only End in View, and Reason being the only certain Guide leading to that End, every Deviation from it, every Appeal to Paffion will be looked upon by fuch Men as an Attempt to deceive, will therefore offend, cannot fail of raiseing fome Prejudice against the Speaker, and it is likely against the Cause which he pleadeth.

THIS Fault becomes unpardonable, if the Caufe be good. It is then like to the painting over a fair Face, destroying real Beauty by artificial Embellishment. In fuch Circumftances a natural, clear, well methodized Explanation of the Cafe is the only just perfwafive Eloquence.

A VERY different Conduct is required in those who speak before a large Audience, as in a popular Affembly. Here Addrefs to the Paffions is not only allowable, but neceffary. For the first Thing to be compaffed is to gain their Attention. And this you cannot fo well effect in any Way, as by infinuating yourself into their

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