Finally, since I am desirous of leaving behind a memorial of myself, and am humoring my ambition, I am committing this speech to writing. (1) Often in the past, men of Greece, I have pondered and been astonished at the intentions of those who address us, wondering what on earth their purpose is in readily coming forward here and giving advice to you when they offer no help to the common cause, and very many mutual insults are produced, and they waste untimely words at random on whatever subject they happen to choose. On Isaeus p. 121, 24 U. R., cf. David C. Mirhady. Suda s.v. And following these this man comes and makes himself clever after the same pattern. (20) Furthermore, in extemporaneous speaking forgetting involves no disgrace, since the flow of speech runs smoothly on, as the fixed and precise order of the words is not essential; if the speaker forgets a topic he can easily pass it by, and proceed to the next in order, and so avoid embarrassment; later on, if the omitted topic is recalled, it can then be easily elucidated. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. It often happens that crises occur unexpectedly, when those who can say nothing seem contemptible, while the speakers are seen to be honored by the listeners as possessors of god-like minds. [11] Would it not be ludicrous if, when the herald announces, `Who of the citizens wishes to speak? In introducing OWS (xiii-xv) Muir leaves any summarizing for the commentary and here plunges the reader into some of the ancient and modern controversies surrounding this (24) Aside from these considerations, extemporaneous speakers and those who deliver set speeches cannot, in the same way, handle arguments that arise in the course of lawsuits. 63 0 obj <> endobj xref 63 23 0000000016 00000 n Alcidamas (August 28, 2001 edition) | Open Library PrezesIveta Spolnikova Thus it is that to memorize topics is easy, but to learn by heart an entire speech, word by word, is difficult and onerous. He was a pupil of the Sophist Gorgias and even succeeded him as the head of his WebFor Alcidamas writing should not be rejected out of hand. (31) Furthermore, I am now attempting the written word because of the display orations which are delivered to the crowd. 11. Instructions John Tzetzes, Rhetorical Epithets []: Alcidamas wrote Refutations. For I say that on that also there was writing to say at what hour and when he would commit his treachery. Some enterprises don't know how to make the change. But, when we sailed here, he had a trident embossed on it. [28] so, in the same way, the written speech, which employs one hard and fast form and arrangement, if privately read, makes an impression, but in crises, because of its rigidity, confers no aid on its possessor. (9) For, before we made our invasion here, we were in the same place for a long time and none of us saw him with a sign on his shield. Everyone would agree that it is harder to learn and commit to memory details than main heads, and similarly many points than few. (2) They speak, each of them wanting to get some advantage in selfish glory, and some even charge a fee for consulting with those from whom they think they can get a greater return. 1. Suidas designates Alcidamas as cptX6o'oqos; compare Teichmuller, Literarische Fehden, (27) Written discourses, in my opinion, certainly should not be called real speeches, but they are like wraiths, semblances, and imitations. Dionysius of Halicarnassos, To Ammaeus p. 259.2: [Aristotles admirers say that] Isocrates, Anaximenes and Alcidamas did not come up with anything worthwhile, nor did all the writers of precepts of the art and competitive rhetorical speakers who lived at the same time as those men. Wolfgang Pross. Now, since speeches seem most convincing when they imitate extemporaneous speakers, should we not especially esteem that kind of training which shall readily give us ability in this form of speaking? tool, essential for keeping abreast with current classical scholarship. The latter are accustomed to hear the set speeches of the rhetors and, if I spoke extemporaneously, they might fail to estimate my ability at its real worth. The style of Isocrates soon became the standard, and the fashion of writing discourses rapidly grew. 746. It publishes over 2,500 books a year for distribution in more than 200 countries. And at this critical moment the children of Molos arrived from Crete asking Menelaus to reconcile them and divide their property for them because their father had died and they themselves were quarrelling about their fathers goods. Now, since speech-writers seem most convincing when they imitate extemporaneous speakers, should we not especially esteem that kind of training by which we will readily speak this kind of speeches? (24) Orpheus was the first to introduce writing, having learnt it from the Muses, as the inscription on his tomb shows: The Thracians buried Orpheus here, the minister of the Muses/Whom lofty-ruling Zeus slew with the smoking thunderbolt/The dear son of Oiagros, who taught Herakles/Having discovered writing and wisdom for mankind. This is not understandable at all, unless perhaps these words refer to the speech On the Writers of Written Discourses. scholars on new work covering the literatures and civilizations of ancient And, just as the living human body has far less pleasantness than a beautiful statue, yet manifold practical service, so also the speech which comes directly from the mind, on the spur of the moment, is full of life and action, and keeps pace with events like a real person, while the written dis- course, a mere semblance of the living speech, is devoid of all efficacy. Neglecting the orders which Aleos had given him, he brought the girl and the baby to Mysia and sold them to King Teuthras. (3) In the first place, one may condemn the written word because it may be readily assailed, and because it may be easily and readily practised by any one of ordinary ability. What sensible man, therefore, is envious of this ability to compose speeches-an ability which fails so completely at the critical moment? 1. (5) Everything good and fine is hard to come by and difficult, and is usually Alcidamas - Alcidamas - Google Books We possess two declamations under his name: .mw-parser-output .wst-lang-grc{font-family:GentiumPlus;font-feature-settings:"cv78"on,"cv83"on} , directed against Isocrates and setting forth the superiority of extempore over written speeches (a recently discovered fragment of another speech against Isocrates if probably of later date); , in which Odysseus accuses Palamedes of treachery during the siege of Troy (this is generally considered spurious). Cultural Diversity: Chapter 1-7 Flashcards | Quizlet But, where the speech is previously written, there is need to learn and carefully to commit to memory, not merely the main topics, but words and syllables. 0000035880 00000 n [33] It must distinctly be understood that I am not encouraging careless speaking when I say that I esteem the ability to speak extemporaneously more highly than the written word. Pupil of Gorgias, rival of Isocrates, and teacher of Aeschines, he also influenced Demosthenes and was later admired by both Aristotle and Cicero. Cultural Change [18] To learn extemporaneous speeches is, in my opinion, difficult, and the memorizing likewise is laborious, and to forget the set speech in the trial of a case is disgraceful. Cf. II 155 b. (23) For Nestor here, the oldest of us all, himself fought alongside the Lapiths against the Centaurs at the marriage of Peirithoos in a phalanx formation; and Menestheus is said to have been the first to dispose formations and companies and to have formed phalanxes when Eumolpos, son of Poseidon, made an expedition against the Athenians, taking Thracians with him. Menelaus decided to sail and, having ordered his wife and her brothers to look after the guests, seeing that they should not want for anything until he himself should return from Crete, he departed. Thae Classical Weekly - JSTOR It is necessary that what has happened should be explained at greater length. The man I am going to accuse is both educated and clever, so it is right that you must give me your attention and not be careless over what is now being said. 1911 Encyclopdia Britannica/Alcidamas - Wikisource, the free Cf. Yan Hong Lee: How DBS embraces change | McKinsey (12) The truth is that speeches which have been laboriously worked out with elaborate diction (compositions more akin to poetry than prose) are deficient in spontaneity and truth, and, since they give the impression of a mechanical artificiality and labored insincerity, they inspire an audience with distrust and ill-will. It contains a controversial entry: et, quem Palameden Plato appellat, Alcidamas Elaites (1.10). [4] On the contrary, to write after long premeditation, and to revise at leisure, comparing the writings of previous Sophists, and from many sources to assemble thoughts on the same subject, and to imitate felicities cleverly spoken, to revise privately some matters on the advice of laymen and to alter and expunge other parts as a result of repeated and careful excogitation, verily, this is an easy matter even for the untutored. assimilation: The adoption, by a minority group, of the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture. Quintilian 3.1.8 f. lists him among the authors of treatises. | 20.11.17 96). 0000001049 00000 n Philodemus, On Rhetoric: Many, forsaking education and all sciences, not only avoided these things but also resided much lower than the rhetorical sophists in the use of metaphors, except, of course, if one belonged to the general group of people such as Alcidamas, Hegesias or Cleitarchus. (10) We must also make a probable inference from these things about the hurling of the javelin too. My customary listeners I bid test me by that usual standard whenever I am able to speak opportunely and felicitously on any subject proposed. Webthe centrality of historia and paideia for Alcidamas seems to echo also in section 2, first in ET'potS, then in rhetorike and philosophia. Then, too, each topic is brought forward once only, but words, often the same ones, are used again and again. and it is quite sure that the Contest was excerpted in Alcidamas Museum. %PDF-1.4 % (28) Fire-beacons again he devised, but he intended to make them for our detriment and as something useful to the enemy. r. Alcidamas - A New Radermacher - Simon Fraser University (18) To learn written speeches is, in my opinion, difficult, and the memorizing likewise is laborious, and to forget the set speech in the trial of a case is disgraceful.
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alcidamas cultural change