A briefe of the art of rhetorique Containing in substance all that Aristotle hath written in his three bookes of that subject, except onely what is not applicable to the Engligh tongue.

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Title
A briefe of the art of rhetorique Containing in substance all that Aristotle hath written in his three bookes of that subject, except onely what is not applicable to the Engligh tongue.
Author
Aristotle.
Publication
London :: Printed by Tho. Cotes, for Andrew Crook, and are to be sold at the black Bare in Pauls Church-yard,
[1637?]
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Subject terms
Rhetoric, Ancient.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A21323.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A briefe of the art of rhetorique Containing in substance all that Aristotle hath written in his three bookes of that subject, except onely what is not applicable to the Engligh tongue." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A21323.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 1, 2025.

Pages

Page 38

CHAP. 10. Of Accusation and Defence, with the Definition of Injury.

IN a Iudiciall Oration, which consists in Accusation and De∣fence, the thing to be prooved is, that Injury has beene done: and the heads from whence the proofes are to be drawn, are these three.

  • 1. The causes that moove to Injury.
  • 2. The Persons apt to doe In∣jury.
  • 3. The Persons obnoxious, or apt to suffer Injury.

An Injury is a voluntary offen∣ding of another man contrary to the Law.

Voluntary is that which a man does with knowledge; and with∣out compulsion.

Page 39

The causes of Voluntary Acti∣ons are Intemperance, and a Vici∣ous disposition concerning things Disirable. As the Covetous man does against the Law out of an in∣temperate desire of Money.

All Actions proceed either from the Doers disposition, or not.

Those that proceed not from the Doers disposition are such as hee does by Chance, by Compulsion, or by Naturall necessity.

Those that proceed from the Doers disposition are such as hee does by Custome, or upon Preme∣ditation, or in Anger, or out of In∣temperance.

By Chance are said to bee done those things, whereof neither the Cause, nor the Scope, is evident, and which are done neither Or∣derly; nor alwaies, nor most commonly after the same man∣ner.

By Nature are said to be done

Page 40

those things, the Causes where∣of are in the Doer; and are done orderly; and alwaies, or for the most part after the same manner.

By Compulsion are done those things, which are against the Ap∣petite, and Ordination of the Doer.

By Custome those Actions are said to be done the Cause where∣of is this, that the Doer has done them often.

Vpon Premeditation are said to be done those things which are done for profit, as the End, or the way to the End.

In Anger are said to be done those things which are done with a purpose of Revenge.

Out of Intemperance are said to be done those things which are delightfull.

In summe, every Voluntary Action tends either to Profit, or Pleasure.

Page 41

The Colours of Profitable are already set downe.

The Colours of that which is Pleasing follow next.

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