11. For who would not see what the apostle meant to say, and how wisely
he has said it, in the following passage: "We glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience,
experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is
given unto us"? Now were any man unlearnedly learned (if I may use the
expression) to contend that the apostle had here followed the rules of
rhetoric, would not every Christian, learned or unlearned, laugh at
him? And yet here we find the figure which is called in Greek "klimax"
(climax,) and by some in Latin gradatio, for they do not care to call
it scala (a ladder), when the words and ideas have a connection of
dependency the one upon the other, as we see here that patience arises
out of tribulation, experience out of patience, and hope out of
experience. Another ornament, too, is found here; for after certain
statements finished in a single tone of voice, which we call clauses
and sections (membra et caesa), but the Greeks "koola" and "kommata",
there follows a rounded sentence (ambitus sive circuitus ) which the
Greeks call "periodos", the clauses of which are suspended on the voice
of the speaker till the whole is completed by the last clause. For of
the statements which precede the period; this is the first clause,
"knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" the second, "and patience,
experience;" the third, "and experience, hope." Then the period which
is subjoined is completed in three clauses, of which the first is, "and
hope maketh not ashamed;" the second, "because the love of God is shed
abroad in our hearts;" the third, "by the Holy Ghost which is given
unto us." But these and other matters of the same kind are taught in
the art of elocution. As then I do not affirm that the apostle was
guided by the rules of eloquence, so I do not deny that his wisdom
naturally produced, and was accompanied by, eloquence.
12. In the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, again, he refutes certain
false apostles who had gone out from the Jews, and had been trying to
injure his character; and being compelled to speak of himself though he
ascribes this as folly to himself how wisely and how eloquently he
speaks! But wisdom is his guide, eloquence his attendant; he follows
the first, the second follows him, and yet he does not spurn it when it
comes after him. "I say again," he says, "Let no man think me a fool:
if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a
little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it
were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory
after the flesh, I will glory also. For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing
ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage,
if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a
man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we
had been weak. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold (I speak foolishly),
I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am
I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ?
(I speak as a fool), I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes
above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews
five times received I forty stripes save one, thrice was I beaten with
rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day
I have been in the deep; in journeying often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the
heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils
in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and
painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things which are without,
that which comets upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is
weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must
needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities."
The thoughtful and attentive perceive how much wisdom there is in these
words. And even a man sound asleep must notice what a stream of
eloquence flows through them.
13. Further still, the educated man observes that those sections which
the Greeks call "kommata", and the clauses and periods of which I spoke
a short time ago, being intermingled in the most beautiful variety,
make up the whole form and features (so to speak) of that diction by
which even the unlearned are delighted and affected. For, from the
place where I commenced to quote, the passage consists of periods: the
first the smallest possible, consisting of two members; for a period
cannot have less than two members, though it may have more: "I say
again, let no man think me a fool." The next has three members: "if
otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little."
The third has four members: "That which I speak, I speak it not after
the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting."
The fourth has two: "Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will
glory also." And the fifth has two: "For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing
ye yourselves are wise." The sixth again has two members: "for ye
suffer, if a man bring you into bondage." Then follow three sections
(caesa): "if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt
himself." Next three clauses (membra): if "a man smite you on the face.
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak." Then is
subjoined a period of three members: "Howbeit, whereinsoever any is
bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also." After this, certain separate
sections being put in the interrogatory form, separate sections are
also given as answers, three to three: "Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are
they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I." But a
fourth section being put likewise in the interrogatory form, the answer
is given not in another section (caesum) but in a clause (membrum):
"Are they the ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool.) I am more."
Then the next four sections are given continuously, the interrogatory
form being most elegantly suppressed: "in labours more abundant, in
stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Next
is interposed a short period; for, by a suspension of the voice, "of
the Jews five times" is to be marked off as constituting one member, to
which is joined the second, "received I forty stripes save one." Then
he returns to sections, and three are set down: "Thrice was I beaten
with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck." Next comes
a clause: "a night and a day I have been in the deep." Next fourteen
sections burst forth with a vehemence which is most appropriate: "In
journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils
by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the
city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often,
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." After
this comes in a period of three members: "Besides those things which
are without, that which comets upon me daily, the care of all the
churches." And to this he adds two clauses in a tone of inquiry: "Who
is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?" In fine,
this whole passage, as if panting for breath, winds up with a period of
two members: "If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which
concern mine infirmities." And I cannot sufficiently express how
beautiful and delightful it is when after this outburst he rests
himself, and gives the hearer rest, by interposing a slight narrative.
For he goes on to say: "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not." And then he
tells, very briefly the danger he had been in, and the way he escaped
it.
14. It would be tedious to pursue the matter further, or to point out
the same facts in regard to other passages of Holy Scripture. Suppose I
had taken the further trouble, at least in regard to the passages I
have quoted from the apostle's writings, to point out figures of speech
which are taught in the art of rhetoric? Is it not more likely that
serious men would think I had gone too far, than that any of the
studious would think I had done enough? All these things when taught by
masters are reckoned of great value; great prices are paid for them,
and the vendors puff them magniloquently. And I fear lest I too should
smack of that puffery while thus descanting on matters of this kind. It
was necessary, however, to reply to the ill-taught men who think our
authors contemptible; not because they do not possess, but because they
do not display, the eloquence which these men value so highly.
15. But perhaps some one is thinking that I have selected the Apostle
Paul because he is our great orator. For when he says, "Though I be
rude in speech, yet not in knowledge," he seems to speak as if granting
so much to his detractors, not as confessing that he recognized its
truth. If he had said, "I am indeed rude in speech, but not in
knowledge," we could not in any way have put another meaning upon it.
He did not hesitate plainly to assert his knowledge, because without it
he could not have been the teacher of the Gentiles. And certainly if we
bring forward anything of his as a model of eloquence, we take it from
those epistles which even his very detractors, who thought his bodily
presence weak and his speech contemptible, confessed to be weighty and
powerful.
I see, then, that I must say something about the eloquence of the
prophets also, where many things are concealed under a metaphorical
style, which the more completely they seem buried under figures of
speech, give the greater pleasure when brought to light. In this place,
however, it is my duty to select a passage of such a kind that I shall
not be compelled to explain the matter, but only to commend the style.
And I shall do so, quoting principally from the book of that prophet
who says that he was a shepherd or herdsman, and was called by God from
that occupation, and sent to prophesy to the people of God. I shall
not, however, follow the Septuagint translators, who, being themselves
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their translation, seem to
have altered some passages with the view of directing the reader's
attention more particularly to the investigation of the spiritual
sense; (and hence some passages are more obscure, because more
figurative, in their translation;) but I shall follow the translation
made from the Hebrew into Latin by the presbyter Jerome, a man
thoroughly acquainted with both tongues.
16. When, then, this rustic, or quondam rustic prophet, was denouncing
the godless, the proud, the luxurious, and therefore the most
neglectful of brotherly love, he called aloud, saying: "Woe to you who
are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, who are
heads and chiefs of the people, entering with pomp into the house of
Israel! Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath
the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines, and to all the best
kingdoms of these: is their border greater than your border? Ye that
are set apart for the day of evil, and that come near to the seat of
oppression; that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch yourselves upon
couches; that eat the lamb of the flock, and the calves out of the
midst of the herd; that chant to the sound of the viol. They thought
that they had instruments of music like David; drinking wine in bowls,
and anointing themselves with the costliest ointment: and they were not
grieved for the affliction of Joseph." Suppose those men who, assuming
to be themselves learned and eloquent, despise our prophets as untaught
and unskilful of speech, had been obliged to deliver a message like
this, and to men such as these, would they have chosen to express
themselves in any respect differently--those of them, at least, who
would have shrunk from raving like madmen?
17. For what is there that sober ears could wish changed in this
speech? In the first place, the invective itself; with what vehemence
it throws itself upon the drowsy senses to startle them into
wakefulness: "Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the
mountains of Samaria, who are heads and chiefs of the people, entering
with pomp into the house of Israel!" Next, that he may use the favours
of God, who has bestowed upon them ample territory, to show their
ingratitude in trusting to the mountain of Samaria, where idols were
worshipped: "Pass ye unto Calneh," he says, "and see, and from thence
go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines, and
to all the best kingdoms of these: is their border greater than your
border?" At the same time also that these things are spoken of, the
style is adorned with names of places as with lamps, such as "Zion,"
"Samaria," "Calneh," "Hamath the great," and "Gath of the Philistine."
Then the words joined to these places are most appropriately varied:
"ye are at ease," "ye trust," "pass on," "go," "descend."
18. And then the future captivity under an oppressive king is announced
as approaching, when it is added: "Ye that are set apart for the day of
evil, and come near to the seat of oppression." Then are subjoined the
evils of luxury: "ye that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch
yourselves upon couches; that eat the lamb from the flock, and the
calves out of the midst of the herd." These six clauses form three
periods of two members each. For he does not say: "Ye who are set apart
for the day of evil, who come near to the seat of oppression, who sleep
upon beds of ivory, who stretch yourselves upon couches, who eat the
lamb from the flock, and calves out of the herd." If he had so
expressed it, this would have had its beauty: six separate clauses
running on, the same pronoun being repeated each time, and each clause
finished by a single effort of the speaker's voice. But it is more
beautiful as it is, the clauses being joined in pairs under the same
pronoun, and forming three sentences, one referring to the prophecy of
the captivity: "Ye that are set apart for the day of evil, and come
near the seat of oppression;" the second to lasciviousness: "ye that
lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch yourselves upon couches;" the third
to gluttony: "who eat the lamb from the flock, and the calves out of
the midst of the herd." So that it is at the discretion of the speaker
whether he finish each clause separately and make six altogether, or
whether he suspend his voice at the first, the third, and the fifth,
and by joining the second to the first, the fourth to the third, and
the sixth to the fifth, make three most elegant periods of two members
each: one describing the imminent catastrophe; another, the lascivious
couch; and the third, the luxurious table.
19. Next he reproaches them with their luxury in seeking pleasure for
the sense of hearing. And here, when he had said, "Ye who chant to the
sound of the viol," seeing that wise men may practice music wisely, he,
with wonderful skill of speech, checks the flow of his invective, and
not now speaking to, but of, these men, and to show us that we must
distinguish the music of the wise from the music of the voluptuary, he
does not say, "Ye who chant to the sound of the viol, and think that ye
have instruments of music like David;" but he first addresses to
themselves what it is right the voluptuaries should hear, "Ye who chant
to the sound of the viol;" and then, turning to others, he intimates
that these men have not even skill in their art: "they thought that
they had instruments of music like David; drinking wine in bowls, and
anointing themselves with the costliest ointment." These three clauses
are best pronounced when the voice is suspended on the first two
members of the period, and comes to a pause on the third.
20. But now as to the sentence which follows all these: "and they were
not grieved for the affliction of Joseph." Whether this be pronounced
continuously as one clause, or whether with more elegance we hold the
words, "and they were not grieved," suspended on the voice, and then
add, "for the affliction of Joseph," so as to make a period of two
members; in any case, it is a touch of marvelous beauty not to say,
"and they were not grieved for the affliction of their brother;" but to
put Joseph for brother, so as to indicate brothers in general by the
proper name of him who stands out illustrious from among his brethren,
both in regard to the injuries he suffered and the good return he made.
And, indeed, I do not know whether this figure of speech, by which
Joseph is put for brothers in general, is one of those laid down in
that art which I learnt and used to teach. But how beautiful it is, and
how it comes home to the intelligent reader, it is useless to tell any
one who does not himself feel it.
21. And a number of other points bearing on the laws of eloquence could
be found in this passage which I have chosen as an example. But an
intelligent reader will not be so much instructed by carefully
analysing it as kindled by reciting it with spirit. Nor was it composed
by man's art and care, but it flowed forth in wisdom and eloquence from
the divine mind; wisdom not aiming at eloquence, yet eloquence not
shrinking from wisdom. For if, as certain very eloquent and acute men
have perceived and said, the rules which are laid down in the art of
oratory could not have been observed, and noted, and reduced to system,
if they had not first had their birth in the genius of orators, is it
wonderful that they should be found in the messengers of Him who is the
author of all genius? Therefore let us acknowledge that the canonical
writers are not only wise but eloquent also, with an eloquence suited
to a character and position like theirs.
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