M. CORNELIUS FRONTO
any choice expression or striking word I have extracted it. Such of these as were by me for my own use I have sent to you. You might, if you think it worth while, have the three books, two to Brutus and one to Axius, copied and return them to me, as of these particular extracts I have made no copies. All Cicero's letters, however, should, I think, be read—in my opinion, even more than his speeches. There is nothing more perfect than Cicero's letters.
Fronto to Marcus Antoninus
Fronto to my Lord.[1]
1. . . . .[† 1] a facility adapted to history, and not that restraint which is suitable for oratory; that these authors[2] employed figures of speech also, which the Greeks call σχήματα, the former those which are in keeping with history, the latter with oratory; that Sallust made use of antithesis happily arranged: greedy of another's wealth, lavish of his own; eloquence enough, too little wisdom;[3] of word-echo, too, and that not ridiculous or trivial but judicious and in good taste: expert in simulation and dissimulation;[4] that Tullius, however, made use of a most passionate figure, and one well known to orators, which grammarians call epanaphora[5] . . . .[† 2]
2. Who on occasion more delightful to our nobler men? Who more intimate with the baser? Who at
- ↑ This letter, contrasting the characteristics of history and oratory in the matter of style, preserves for us long extracts from Sallust which would have been greatly appreciated if Sallust's works had been totally lost. It has not been thought necessary here to give the extracts in full.
- ↑ Sallust and Cicero
- ↑ Sallust, Catil. 5.
- ↑ Sallust, ibid.
- ↑ i.e. repetition of an emphatic word.
