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

About this Item

Title
The art of rhetoric, with A discourse of the laws of England by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.
Author
Hobbes, Thomas, 1588-1679.
Publication
London :: Printed for William Crooke ...,
1681.
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Subject terms
Rhetoric -- Early works to 1800.
Oratory -- Early works to 1800.
Law -- Great Britain -- History.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A43971.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The art of rhetoric, with A discourse of the laws of England by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A43971.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 26, 2025.

Pages

Page 86

CHAP. XXIII.

Of the Invention of Enthymemes.

SEeing an Enthymeme differs from a Lo∣gical Syllogisme, in that it neither con∣cludes out of every thing, nor out of remote Principles; the Places of it, from whence a Man may argue ought to be certain, and determinate.

And because whosoever makes a Syllo∣gisme Rhetorical, or other, should know all, or the most part of that which is in question; as, whosoever is to advise the Athenians in the question, whether they are to make War or no, must know what their Revenues be; what, and what kind of power they have: and he that will praise them, must know their acts at Salamis, Ma∣rathon, &c. It will be necessary for a good speaker to have in readiness the choicest particulars of whatsoever he foresees he may speak of.

He that is to speak ex tempore, must com∣prehend in his speech as much as he can of what is most proper in the matter in hand.

Proper, I call those things which are least common to others; as, he that will praise Achilles, is not to declare such things

Page 87

as are common both to him, and Diomedes; as that he was a Prince, and Warred against the Trojans; but such things as are proper only to Achilles; as that he killed Hector and Cygnus; went to the War young, and Voluntary.

Let this therefore be one general Place, from that which is proper.

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