Epistle XX. To Ursus.
by
the Same. [Mr. Henley.]
[_]
On the Cause of Varenus.
SOON after the Bithynians had laid their Accusation against
Julius Bassus, they form'd another against Rufus Varenus, the Proconsul;
the same Varenus whom they had lately demanded and accepted as their Advocate,
in Opposition to Bassus. When they came into the House, they mov'd for an Enquiry;
then Varenus petition'd, that he might Summon up the proper Evidence for his Defence:
On a Refusal of the Bithynians, he was oblig'd to enter his Plea.
I defended Varenus, not without Success; but whether deservedly or not,
the Work it self will inform you; for a Cause is influenc'd by Fortune on either Side:
The Memory, the Gesture, the Pronunciation, the Juncture it self, in short,
the Love or Hatred of the Person accus'd, either give or take away a great Share of Commendation.
But a Plea in the Reading is not attended with those Disgusts, or that Favour;
it is free from those lucky or unfortunate Chances. I was answer'd by
Fontejus Magius, one of the
Bithynians, with a Plenty of Words,
but a Penury of Sense. It is the Practice of most of the
Greeks,
to use a volubility for a copiousness of Speech; they whirl their Periods so long and so stiff,
with one Breath, like a Torrent. Therefore
Julius Candidus is us'd to say agreeably enough,
That Eloquence is one thing, and Speaking another. For Eloquence is scarcely the Lot of one or two Men;
nay, if we may believe
Marc Antony, of none: But that which
Candidus calls easiness of Speaking, is the Talent of many, and chiefly of the most assur'd.
The next Day,
Homulus spoke for
Varenus, with Address, Force,
and Correctness: He was oppos'd by
Nigrinus closely, weightily, and
floridly.
Acilius Rufus, design'd Consul, thought an Information was to be allow'd to the
Bythynians, but pass'd over the Demand of
Varenus in Silence.
This was a Method of giving a Negative upon it.
Cornelius Priscus
a Consular Man, would have the Proposition of both Parties equally satisfy'd;
and he out number'd the rest. We carry'd our Point, that had neither fallen under any Law,
nor was very usual, and yet reasonable. Why it is so, my Letter
shall not explain; that you may be more impatient to expect the Pleading it self.
For if what
Homer affirms be true,
The newest Song procures the best Applause,
I ought to be cautious with you, that I do not take off that Grace and Flower of Novelty,
that is the Recommendation of my Pleading, by the Lavishness of my Epistle.
Farewell.
