Institutio Oratoria
Quintilian
Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria, Volume 1-4. Butler, Harold Edgeworth, translator. Cambridge, Mass; London: Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1920-1922.
The peroration, if it involves a recapitulation, requires an even utterance of short, clear-cut clauses. If, on the other hand, it is designed to stir the emotions of the judges, it will demand some of the qualities already mentioned. If it aims at soothing them, it should How softly; if it is to rouse them to pity, the voice must be delicately modulated to a melancholy sweetness, which is at once most natural and specially adapted to touch the heart. For it may be noted that even orphans and widows have a certain musical quality in the lamentations which they utter at funerals.
A muffled voice, such as Cicero [*](Brutt. xxxviii. 141. ) says was possessed by Antonius, will also be exceedingly effective under such circumstances, since it has just the natural tone which we seek to imitate. Appeals to pity are, however, of two kinds: they may be marked by an admixture of indignation, as in the passage just quoted [*](§ 162.) describing the condemnation of Philodamus, or they may be coupled with appeals for mercy, in which case their tone will be more subdued.
Therefore although there is a suggestion of the chanting tone in the delivery of such passages as
In an assembly of the Roman people(for he did not utter these words in a contentious tone), or in
Ye hills and groves of Alba(for he did not say this as though he were appealing to them or calling them to witness), the ensuing phrases [*](pro Mil. xxxvii. 102. ) require infinitely greater modulation and longer-drawn harmonies:
Ah, woe is me, unhappy that I am!and
What shall I reply to my children?and
You, Milo, had the power to recall me to my country with the aid of these men, and shall I be powerless by their aid to keep you in that same country, your native land and mine?or when he offers to sell the property of Gaius Rabirius at one sesterce,
Ah, what a sad and bitter task my voice is called on to perform Again,