Epistle XIV. To Maximus.
by
Mr. Henley
[_]
On Pleadings before the Centumviri.
YOUR Conjecture is right: I am taken up with Causes of the Centumviri,
which are an Exercise, rather than a Delight to me. For most of them are small and insignificant;
you rarely meet with any that are Remarkable, either for the Eminence of the Persons,
or the Importance of the Matter. Besides, there are few that afford a Pleasure in speaking them;
the rest are extravagantly bold, and mostly obscure. Young Men come hither to Declaim,
with so slender a Regard or Precaution, that my Friend Attilius
express'd himself very justly, That Striplings open in Court with the Causes,
as
they begin with
Homer in the
Schools. For in both Places,
what is the greatest, is set the first. But I have often been inform'd by Men of advanc'd Years (for it is beyond the reach of my Memory) that even young Noblemen of the highest Rank were not admitted here,
unless recommended by some Consular Man; a Business of that Consequence was so tenderly manag'd.
Now all is promiscuously free, without the least respect to Modesty or Decency;
nor are they introduc'd, but they break in upon us. They are follow'd by Auditors,
that have the Resemblance of Pleaders; Slaves are hir'd or ransom'd; they assemble in the middle of the Court,
where the
Dole is as openly dispens'd, as in a Dining-Room. They pass from Cause to Cause with the same Reward:
From this they are pleasantly enough call'd
sofokleij, Applauders;
and in
Latin Laudicoeni, Parasites: and yet the Infamy that is pointed out by the Expression in either Tongue,
encreases daily. Yesterday two of my Name-Prompters,
(of that Age which has just assum'd the manly Gown) were drawn in by three
Denarii a-piece to commend the Speaker; this is your Price, to be esteem'd a great Orator.
At this Rate, the Seats, however numerous, are fill'd; a large Circle of Audience is form'd,
and endless Clamours are rais'd, when the Ruler of the Company has given the Signal.
For the want of Understanding, and even of Hearing, makes a sign
Necessary; most are incapable of Hearing, and yet are the loudest in their Praise.
If you pass thro' the Court, and would know the Method of Speaking that is severally practis'd by each,
you need not mount the Bench, or listen, but may easily divine it. Be assur'd that the worst Speaker is the most extoll'd.
Largius Licinius was the first that introduc'd this Way of Hearing;
so far only, as to get an Audience together. This I have been told by my Master
Quintilian;
I was (said he)
a Follower of Domitius
when he spoke gravely and slowly, according to his Turn of Action, before the
Centumviri. He hear'd and immoderate and uncommon Noise from a neighbouring Place;
was surpriz'd, and paus'd at it. When Silence was made, he repeats what he broke off;
a second Cry arose, and then a Silence: He resum'd his Speech, and enquir'd at last who was Haranguing:
It was answer'd,
Licinius. Then, suspending the Cause, he said,
Gentlemen of the Centumvirate,
This Art of Speaking is lost. And indeed, what began to decline, when
Aser imagin'd it was sinking, is now almost totally destroy'd, and overthrown.
I blush to relate what is here deliver'd; how broken the Utterance; only Claps of Applause are wanting to attend on this Rhetorical Cant;
or rather a few Cymbals alone, or Tabors, to accompany the Confort. Hooting (for the thing cannot be express'd by another Term) which is a manner of
Praising, not very much becoming even a Theatre, is very lavishly perform'd.
Yet I am still detain'd here by the Interest of my Friends, and the Consideration of my Age.
For, I am afraid it should be thought I did not take Leave of these Meannesses,
but only avoided the Drudgery of them. Yet I am less frequently there,
than usual, which is the way to put a gradual End to the Employment.
