The arte of rhetorique for the vse of all suche as are studious of eloquence, sette forth in English, by Thomas Wilson.

¶An Oration deliberatiue.

AN Oration deliberatiue,* 1.1 is a meane, wherby we do perswade, or disswade, entreate, or rebuke, exhorte, or dehorte, commende, or cōforte any man. In this kynd of Oration we doe not purpose wholly to praise any body, nor yet to determine any matter in cōtrouersie, but the whole compasse of this cause is, either to aduise our neigh∣bour to that thyng, whiche we thynke most nedeful for hym or els to cal him backe frō that folie, which hindereth muche his estimacion. As for exāple, if I would counseil my frende to trauaile beyond the Seas for knowlege of the tongues, & experience in forein countries: I might resorte to this kinde of Oration, & finde matter to cōfirme my cause plentifully. And the reasons which are commonly vsed to enlarge suche matters, are these that folowe.

The thyng is honest.

Saufe.

Profitable.

Easie.

Pleasaunt.

Harde.

• Lawful and meete.
• Praise worthie.
• Necessarie.

NOW in speakyng of honestie, I may by deuision of the vertues make a large walke.* 1.2 Againe loke what lawes, what customes, what worthie dedes, or sai∣ynges haue bene vsed heretofore, all these might serue wel for the confirmacion of this matter▪ lastly where honestie is called in, to establish a cause: there is nature and God hym selfe present from whome commeth al goodnesse. In the seconde place where I spake of profite,* 1.3 this is to be learned, that vnder the same is comprehended the gettyng of gaine, and the eschewyng of harme. Againe, concernyng profite* 1.4 (which also beareth the name of goodnesse) it parte∣ly perteineth to the bodie, as beautie, strength, and healthe, partely to the mynde, as the encrease of witte, the gettyng of experience, and heaping together of muche learnyng: and partely to fortune (as Philosophers take it) wherby bothe wealth, honor, and frendes are gotten. Thus he that diui∣deth profite, can not want matter. Thirdely in declaryng it is p••easaunt, I might heape together the varietie of plea∣sures,* 1.5 whiche comme by trauaile, firste the swetnesse of the tongue, the holsomnesse of the ayer in other countries, the goodly wittes of the ientlemen, the straunge and auncient buildynges, the wonderful monumentes, the great learned Clerckes in al faculties, with diuerse other like, and almost infinite pleasures.

The easines of trauaile* 1.6 may thus beperswaded, if we shew that freepassage is by wholsō lawes appointed, for al straū∣gers, & waie fairers. And seyng this life is none other thyng but a trauaile, & we as pilgrymes wander frō place to place, muche fondenesse it were to thinke that hard, which nature hath made easie, yea & pleasaunt also. None are more health∣ful, none more lusty, none more mery, none more strōg of bo∣dy, thē suche as haue trauailed* 1.7 countries. Mary vnto them that had rather sleape al day, then wake one houre, chosyng for honest labour sleuthful ydlenesse: thinking this life to be none other thyng but a continual restyng place, vnto suche

pardy, it shall seme painfull to abide any labour. To learne Logique, to learne the Lawe, to s••me it semeth so harde, that nothyng can enter into their heddes, and the reason is, that thei wan•• a will, and an ea••nest mynde to do their en∣deuour. For vnto a willyng har••e, nothyng can bee harde, laie lode on suche a manne•• backe, and his good harce maie soner make his backe to a••e, then his good will, can graunt to yelde and refuse the weighte.* 1.8 And now where the sweete hath his sower ioyned with hym, it shalbee wisedome to speake some what of it, to mitigate the sowernesse thereof, as muche as maie be possible.

That is lawfull* 1.9 and praise worthy, whiche lawes dooe graunt, good men do allowe, experience commendeth, and men in all ages haue moste vsed.

A thyng is necessary twoo maner of waies.* 1.10 Firste, when either we must do some one thyng, or els do worse. As if one should threaten a woman, to kill her, if she would not lie w^t him, wherin appereth a forcible necessitie. As touchyng tra∣uaile we might saie, either a man must be ignoraunt, of ma∣ny good thinges, and want greate experience, or els he must trauaill. Now to be ignoraunt, is a greate shame, therefore to trauaill is moste nedefull, if we will auoyde shame. The other kynde ef necessitie is, when we perswade men to beare those crosses paciently, whiche God doeth sende vs, consi∣deryng will we, or nill we, nedes must we abide them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Oration deli∣beratiue.
• * 1.2

  ••onestie com∣prehendeth al vertues.
• * 1.3

  Profite howe largely it ex∣tendeth.
• * 1.4

  Profite bea∣reth the name of goodnes, whiche is thre folded.
• * 1.5

  Pleasures, lar¦gely sette out.
• * 1.6

  Eas••nesse of trauaile.
• * 1.7

  Trauaile vnto whome it is ••arde.
• * 1.8

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.9

  Lawfull.
• * 1.10

  Necessary 〈◊〉〈◊〉 waies taken.