Instructions for history with a character of the most considerable historians, ancient and modern / out of the French, by J. Davies of Kidwelly.

XIX.

Harangues.

I Find the Sentiments of our Masters much differing as to this point. Herodotus, Thu∣cydides, Xenophon, Salust, have principally signallized themselves by their Harangues. Thucydides has therein excelled the rest: the Discourses which he makes the principal Actors of his History deliver, as Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades, Archidamus, and whole Nations, whom he introduces speaking by their Deputies, are admirable Lectures for the Orators of all Ages; and it is principally in that School that Demosthenes had his In∣stitution. Polybius is more reserved; he does not make Scipio speak so much, though he might justly have done it,* 1.1 as having always accompanied him in his Wars. Caesar is yet

more reserv'd, for he does not in a manner make any of those Harangues, pretending they derogate from the truth of History; and making it his business onely to write plain Memoirs, that so he might be the more sim∣ple in his Discourse. Dionysius Halicarnassaeus brings in Brutus making a great Exhortation upon the death of Lucretia, to animate the people to revenge: and the Harangue he in∣troduces Valerius making upon the Form of Government, which was most convenient for the State, in the seventh Book of his Histo∣ry, is of a great length. Josephus, Appianus, Dion Cassius, Procopius, are great Discour∣sers, as were also Thucydides and Xenophon, who had taken that Idea of Haranguing from Homer. And indeed if we examine the ground of those Discourses, especially of those which are made by chief Commanders, to encourage their Souldiers to fight, we shall find but little likelyhood in them. Trogus with much reason reproaches Salust and Li∣vy, * 1.2 with the immoderate excess of Harangues in their Histories. Accordingly all those Discourses made by Grandees have an Air of

Fiction: for upon what Memoirs could they have been taken? Besides that, it is not likely a Warriour should speak as an accom∣plish'd Orator. So when Pericles in Thucydi∣des commends those Souldiers who had been defeated and killed by the Boeotians, his Ha∣rangue is supposititious; as is also that which Salust makes Catiline speak to the Conspira∣tors, which in all probability was secret, and not much thought of before hand. And this is some part of Beny's Argument in his disap∣proval of that Abuse.* 1.3 Thucydides, who was a judicious Author, grew sensible of it in his last Books, wherein he Harangues much less than in the precedent. But it is a Lesson of Nature; for there is no account made there∣of, if they who are concerned therein are not introduc'd to speak them; for there is not any thing else does so much animate the Narrati∣on, which is apt to become frigid by too even a thread of Discourse. There is therefore a mean or temperament to be observed: A short Discourse pertinently made in an Hi∣story, by an Author fit to make such a one, and such as may be conveniently applicable to the person and the subject then concerned, may have its peculiar beauty, being set in its proper place. But those formal Harangues at the head of an Army, when they are just ready to engage, and those tiresom and pro∣lix

Deliberations, which are made upon the Affairs whereof they speak, are now in a manner obsolete and out of use in well-digest∣ed Histories; and the wisest Authors chuse rather to introduce the persons concern'd speaking indirectly, and saying the things in general, without engaging themselves to speak the very wo••••••, as Livy has done at the beginning of his History, by the Embassa∣dors whom Romulus sends to his Neighbours. Most of the Harangues in Salust are always admirable, and never pertinent nor to the purpose. For nothing can be more excellent than the Discourse of Marius; it is a most solid piece of Morality upon the subject of Gallantry: all is rational in it, and Antiqui∣ty has but few Discourses of that vigour in order to the persuasion of Vertue; but that is not in its proper place. And the Air wherewith he makes Cato and Caesar give their Votes in the Senate, is not (as great as it is) proportionate to the rest of the Histo∣ry. For the same reason the great Discourse which Dion Cassius makes in the 56. Book of his History, upon the Commendation of Marriage and Celebacy, is not very perti∣nent. There is not any thing comparable to the Harangue which Tacitus brings in Tibe∣rius making in the Senate, upon the Refor∣mation of Luxury and Riot, in the third

Book of his Annals: never did Historian make a Prince speak with more Dignity. The Harangues of Agrippa and Mecaenas to Augustus, the one advising him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quit the Empire, and the other to keep it, are admi∣rable in Dion Cassius; but they are so long, that they take up the whole 52. Book. In a word, to put a period to this Article, I am of Cicero's Opinion, who speaking of the Dis∣courses of Thucydides,* 1.4 wisely says, I find them very excellent; but I could not do as much my self if I would, nor would I do it if I could. And this is the best that can be said as to that point: for in fine, Harangues are always sub∣ject to be tedeous. And 'tis a pleasant hu∣mour of Boccalini, who makes an ancient man to be condemn'd, by way of Penance, to read one of Guicciardine's Harangues, because he had read a Madrigal in the Parnassus with his Spectacles on.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In sermoni∣bus effin∣gendis Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Salustius, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vadentur: ea causa est cur Caesar Commentarios scripsit, ut id omitteret, in quo alii laborârunt. Bisciol. l. 7. hor. subcaes.
• * 1.2

  Trogas re∣pre••endit in Livio & Salustio, quòd con∣ciones & orationes operi suo inserendo, historiae modum excesserint. Justin. l. 38.

  Livius, Thucydides, interserunt conciones, quae nunquam ab iis, qui∣bus sunt attributae, cogni••e fuerunt. Scal. Poet. l. 1.
• * 1.3

  Ben. l. 2. de hist.
• * 1.4

  De Thucy∣dide oratio∣nes, quas interposuit, laudare so∣leo; sed imitari ne{que} possim si ve••im, ne{que} velim ss possim. Cic. de clar. Orat.