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

CHAP. I.

Of the Original of Elocution and Pronunti∣ation.

THree things being necessary to an Oration, namely Proof, Elocution and Disposition; we have done with the first, and shall speak of the other two in that which follows.

As for Action, or Pronunciation, so much as is necessary for an Orator, may be fetcht out of the Book of the Art of Poetry, in which we have treated of the Action of the Stage.

For Tragedians were the first that invented such Action, and that but of late; and it consisteth in governing well the Magnitude, Tone, and Measure of the Voice; a thing less subject to Art, than is either Proof, or Elocution.

And yet there have been Rules delivered concerning it, as far forth as serve for Poe∣try.

But Oratorical Action has not been hither∣to reduced to Art.

And Orators in the beginning, when they saw that the Poets in barren and feigned Arguments, nevertheless attained great Re∣putation; supposing it had proceeded from the choice, or connexion of words, fell in∣to a Stile, by imitation of them, approach∣ing to Verse, and made choice of words.

But when the Poets changed their Stile, and laid by all words that were not in com∣mon use, the Orators did the same, and lighted at last upon words, and a Govern∣ment of the Voice and Measures proper to themselves.

Seeing therefore Pronuntiation, or Action are in some degree necessary also for an Ora∣tor, the Precepts thereof are to be fetcht from the Art of Poetry.

[In the mean time this may be one ge∣neral Rule. If the Words, Tone, Greatness of the Voice, Gesture of the Body and Countenance, seem to proceed all from one Passion, then 'tis well pronounced. Otherwise not.

For when there appear more passions than one at once, the mind of the Speak∣er appears unnatural and distracted. O∣therwise, as the mind of the Speaker, so the mind of the Hearer always.]