The art of rhetoric, with A discourse of the laws of England by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.

CHAP. IX.

Of the Colours of Honourable and Disho∣nourable.

IN a Demonstrative Oration, the subject whereof is Praise, or Dispraise; the proofs are to be drawn from the Elements of Ho∣nourable and Dishonourable.

In this place we anticipate the second way of getting belief; which is from the manners of the Speaker. For Praise, whe∣ther it come in as the principal business, or upon the by, depends still upon the same Principles. Which are these.

Honourable, is that, which we love for it self, and is withal laudable.

And that Good, which pleaseth us only because 'tis Good.

And Vertue.

Vertue is the faculty of getting and pre∣serving that which is Good; and the facul∣ty of doing many, and great things well.

The kinds of it are these;

1. Justice; which is a Vertue whereby every man obtains what by Law is his.

2. Fortitude; which is a Vertue by which a man carries himself Honourably, and ac∣cording to the Laws, in time of danger.

3. Temperance; which is a Vertue where∣by a man Governs himself in matter of plea∣sure according to the Law.

4. Liberality; which is a Vertue, by which we benefit others in matter of money.

5. Magnanimity; which is a Vertue, by which a man is apt to do great benefits.

6. Magnificence; which is a Vertue, by which a man is apt to be at great cost.

7. Prudence; which is an Intellectual Ver∣tue, by which a man is able to deliberate well concerning any Good leading to Feli∣city.

And Honourable, are the Causes and ef∣fects of things Honourable.

And the Works of Vertue.

And the signs of Vertue.

And those actions, the reward whereof is Honor.

And the reward whereof is rather Honor, than Money.

And that which we do not for our own sakes.

And what we do for our Countries good, neglecting our own.

And those things are Honourable, which good of themselves, are not so to the Ow∣ner.

And those things which happen to the dead, rather than to the living.

And what we do for other men, especi∣ally for Benefactors.

And bestowing of Benefits.

And the contrary of those things we are ashamed of.

And those things which men strive for earnestly, but without fear of Adver∣sary.

And of the more Honourable, and better men, the Vertues are more Honourable.

And more Honourable are the vertues that tend to other mens benefit, than those which tend to ones own.

And Honourable are those things which are Just.

And Revenge is Honourable.

And Victory.

And Honour.

And Monuments.

And those things which happen not ot the living.

And things that excell.

And what none can do but we.

And Possessions we reap no profit by.

And those things which are had in ho∣nour particularly in several places.

And the signs of praise.

And to have nothing of the servile, mer∣cenary, or Mechanick.

And that which seems Honourable; Name∣ly such as follow.

Vices confining upon Vertue.

And the extreams of Vertues.

And what the Auditors think Honour∣able.

And that which is in estimation.

And that which is done according to cu∣stom.

Besides, in a Demonstrative Oration, the Orator must shew, that he whom he prai∣seth, did what he praiseth unconstrainedly, and willingly.

And he does so, who does the same of∣ten.

Praise, is speech, declaring the magni∣tude of a Vertue, Action, or Work.

But to praise the Work from the Vertue of the Worker, is a circular proof.

To Magnifie, and to Praise, differ in them∣selves, as Felicity and Vertue. For Praise declares a mans Vertue; and Magnifying declares his Felicity.

Praise is a kind of inverted Precept. For to say, Do it because 'tis good, is a Precept. But to say, He is good because he did it, is Praise.

An Orator in Praising must also use the forms of Amplification; such as these:

He was the first that did it.

The only man that did it.

The special man that did it.

He did it with disadvantage of time.

He did it with little help.

He was the cause, that the Law ordain∣ed Rewards and Honours for such Actions.

Further, he that will praise a Man, must compare him with others; and his actions with the actions of others; especially with such as are renowned.

And Amplification is more proper to a Demonstrative Oration, than to any other. For here the Actions are confess'd; and the Orators part is only this, to contribute un∣to them Magnitude and Luster.