Institutio Oratoria

We must do what we can to make it less long by postponing some points, taking care however to mention what it is that we propose to postpone. Take the following as an example.

As regards his motives for killing him, his accomplices and the manner in which he disposed his ambush, I will speak when I come to the proof.

Some things indeed may be omitted altogether from our marshalling of the facts, witness the following example from Cicero, [*](pro Caec. iv. 11. )

Fulcinius died; there are many circumstances which attended that event, but as they have little bearing on this case, I shall pass them by.

Division of our statement into its various heads is another method of avoiding tedium: for example,

I will tell you first what preceded this affair, then what occurred in its actual development, and finally you shall hear its sequel.

Such a division will give the impression of three short statements rather than of one long one. At times it will be well to interrupt our narrative by interjecting some brief remark like the following:

You have heard what happened before: now learn what follows.

The judge will be refreshed by the fact that we have brought our previous remarks to a close and will prepare himself for what may be regarded as a fresh start.