Institutio Oratoria

Quintilian

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria, Volume 1-4. Butler, Harold Edgeworth, translator. Cambridge, Mass; London: Harvard University Press, William Heinemann Ltd., 1920-1922.

And just in proportion as these small segments of the period are grave or vigorous, slow or rapid, languid or the reverse, so will the periods which they go to form be severe or luxuriant, compact or loose.

Again, the conclusions

v7-9 p.547

of clauses sometimes seem to halt or hang, if they are regarded apart from their context, but are usually caught up and supported by what follows, so that what seemed a faulty cadence is corrected by the continuation. Non vult populus Romanus obsoletis criminibus accusari Verrem would be harsh in rhythm, if the sentence ended there; but when it is continued with what follows, nova postulat, inaudita desiderat, [*](Verr. v. xliv. 117. The Roman people does not wish Verres to be accused of obsolete crimes: no, it is new and Unheard of crimes that it demands and desires. ) although the words are separate in meaning, the rhythmical effect is preserved.

Ut adeas, tantum dabis would be a bad conclusion, for it forms the last portion of an iambic trimeter: but it is followed by ut cibum vestitumque introferre liceat, tantum: [*](Verr. V. xliv. 118. To see him, you will pay so much, and so much to bring in food and clothing. No one refused. ) the rhythm is still abrupt but is strengthened and supported by the last phrase of all, nemo recusabat.