"----_Si vis me flere, dolendum est Primum ipsi tibi_----[161]
"A man must himself express some concern and affection in delivering his discourse, if he expects his auditory should interest themselves in what he proposes: for otherwise, notwithstanding the dignity and importance of the subject he treats of, notwithstanding the weight and argument of the discourse itself, yet too many will say,
"----_Male si mandata loqueris, Aut dormitabo, aut ridebo._----[162]
"If there be a deficiency in the speaker, there will not be a sufficient attention and regard paid to the things spoken: but, Mr. Bickerstaff, you know, that as too little action is cold, so too much is fulsome. Some indeed may think themselves accomplished speakers, for no other reason than because they can be loud and noisy (for surely Stentor[163] must have some design in his vociferations). But, dear Mr. Bickerstaff, convince them, that as harsh and irregular sound is not harmony, so neither is banging a cushion, oratory; and therefore, in my humble opinion, a certain divine[164] of the first order, whom I allow otherwise to be a great man, would do well to leave this off; for I think his sermons would be more persuasive if he gave his auditory less disturbance. Though I cannot say that this action would be wholly improper to a profane oration, yet I think, in a religious assembly, it gives a man too warlike, or perhaps too theatrical a figure to be suitable to a Christian congregation. I am,
The most learned and ingenious Mr. Rosehat is also pleased to write to me on this subject.
"I read with great pleasure in the _Tatler_ of Saturday last the conversation upon eloquence. Permit me to hint to you one thing the great Roman orator observes upon this subject, 'Caput enim arbitrabatur oratoris' (he quotes Menedemus, an Athenian), 'ut ipsis apud quos ageret talis qualem ipse optaret videretur, id fieri vitæ dignitate.[165] It is the first rule in oratory, that a man must appear such as he would persuade others to be, and that can be accomplished only by the force of his life. I believe it might be of great service to let our public orators know, that an unnatural gravity, or an unbecoming levity in their behaviour out of the pulpit, will take very much from the force of their eloquence in it. Excuse another scrap of Latin; it is from one of the Fathers: I think it will appear a just observation to all, as it may have authority with some: 'Qui autem docent tantum, nec faciunt, ipsi præceptis suis detrahunt pondus; quis enim obtemperet, quum ipsi præceptores doceant non obtemperare?' I am,