Figure 25:

                     Gellius: Noctes Atticae, ca. 150

 

 

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Gellius/home.html

 

English translation by John C. Rolfe, 1927

 

 

Liber I

 

1. 1 Plutarchus in libro quem de Herculis, quamdiu inter homines fuit, animi corporisque ingenio atque virtutibus conscripsit, scite subtiliterque ratiocinatum Pythagoram philosophum dicit in reperienda modulandaque status longitudinisque eius praestantia.

 

In the treatise which he wrote on the mental and physical endowment and achievements of Hercules while he was among men, Plutarch says that the philosopher Pythagoras reasoned sagaciously and acutely in determining and measuring the hero's superiority in size and stature.

 

4.4 Neque ego nunc Plancio desinam debere, si hoc solvero, nec minus ei redderem voluntate ipsa, si hoc molestiae non accidisset" - "crispum sane" inquit "agmen orationis rotundumque ac modulo ipso numerorum venustum, sed quod cum venia legendum sit verbi paulum ideo inmutati, ut sententiae fides salva esset.

 

"Here," said Julianus, "is to be sure a fine artistry in the way the words are marshalled, something well-rounded that charms the ear by its mere music; but it must be read with the privilege of a slight change in the meaning of one word in order to preserve the truth of the proposition.

 

7.19 Ut et rationem autem istam missam facias et auctoritates, sonus tamen et positura ipsa verborum satis declarat id potius epimeleiai ton lexeon modulamentisque orationis M. Tulli convinisse, ut, quoniam utrumvis dici Latine posset, "potestatem" dicere mallet, non "potestate".

 

But quite apart from that rule and those authorities, the very sound and order of the words make it quite clear that it is more in accordance with the careful attention to diction and the rhythmical style of Marcus Tullius that, either being good Latin, he should prefer to say potestatem rather than potestate.

 

11.1 Auctor historiae Graecae gravissimus Thucydides Lacedaemonios, summos bellatores, non cornuum tubarumve signis, sed tibiarum modulis in proeliis esse usos refert non prorsus ex aliquo ritu religionum neque rei divinae gratia neque autem, ut excitarentur atque evibrarentur animi, quod cornua et litui moliuntur, sed contra, ut moderatiores modulatioresque fierent, quod tibicinis numeris temperatur.

 

Thucydides, the most authoritative of Greek historians, tells us that the Lacedaemonians, greatest of warriors, made use in battle, not of signals by horns or trumpets, but of the music of pipes, certainly not in conformity with any religious usage or from any ceremonial reason, nor yet that their courage might be roused and stimulated, which is the purpose of horns and trumpets; but on the contrary that they might be calmer and advance in better order,

 

11.10 Ecce autem per tibicinia Laconica tibiae quoque illius contionariae in mentem venit, quam C. Graccho cum populo agente praeisse ac praeministrasse modulos ferunt.

 

But, look you, the Laconian pipe-playing reminds me also of that oratorical pipe, which they say was played for Gaius Gracchus when he addressed the people, and gave him the proper pitch.

 

11.17-18 Morem autem illum ingrediendi ad tibicinum modulos proelii institutum esse a Lacedaemonis Aristoteles in libris problematon scripsit, quo manifestior fieret exploratiorque militum securitas et alacritas.

"Nam diffidentiae" inquit "et timori cum ingressione huiuscemodi minime convenit, et maesti atque formidantes ab hac tam intrepida ac tam decora incedendi modulatione alieni sunt."

 

Finally, Aristotle wrote in his volume of Problems that the custom of the Lacedaemonians which I have mentioned, of entering battle to the music of pipers, was adopted in order to make the fearlessness and ardour of the soldiers more evident and indubitable.

"For," said he, "distrust and fear are not at all consistent with an advance of that kind, and such an intrepid and rhythmical advance cannot be made by the faint-hearted and despondent."

 

15.14 Quapropter Hesiodus, poetarum prudentissimus, linguam non vulgandam, sed recondendam esse dicit proinde ut thesaurum, eiusque esse in promendo gratiam plurimam, si modesta et parca et modulata sit:

glosses toi thesauros en anthropoisin aristos,

pheidoles pleiste de charis kata metron iouses.

 

It is for the same reason that Hesiod, wisest of poets, says that the tongue should not be vulgarly exposed but hidden like a treasure, and that it is exhibited with best effect when it is modest, restrained and musical. His own words are:

The greatest of man's treasures is the tongue,

Which wins most favour when it spares its words

And measured is of movement.

 

 

Liber IV

 

13.1-3 Creditum hoc a plerisque esse et memoriae mandatum, ischia cum maxime doleant, tum, si modulis lenibus tibicen incinat,

minui dolores, ego nuperrime in libro Theophrasti scriptum inveni.

Viperarum morsibus tibicinium scite modulateque adhibitum mederi refert etiam Democriti liber, qui inscribitur . . ., in quo docet plurimis hominum morbidis medicinae fuisse incentiones tibiarum.

 

I ran across the statement very recently in the book of Theophrastus „On Inspiration“

that many men have believed and put their belief on record, that when gouty pains in the hips are most severe, they are relieved if a flute-player plays soothing measures.

That snake-bites are cured by the music of the flute, when played skilfully and melodiously, is also stated in a book of Democritus, entitled „On Deadly Infections“, in which he shows that the music of the flute is medicine for many ills that flesh is heir to.

 

Liber V

 

1.1 . . . Musonium philosophum solitum accepimus. "Cum philosophus" inquit "hortatur, monet, suadet, obiurgat aliudve quid disciplinarum disserit, tum, qui audiunt, si de summo et soluto pectore obvias vulgatasque laudes effutiunt, si clamitant etiam, si gestiunt, si vocum eius festivitatibus, si modulis verborum, si quibusdam quasi fritamentis orationis moventur, exagitantur et gestiunt, tum scias et qui dicit et qui audiunt frustra esse neque illi philosophum loqui, sed tibicinem canere.

 

I have heard that the philosopher Musoniuswas accustomed. . . . "When a philosopher," he says, "is uttering words of encouragement, of warning, of persuasion, or of rebuke, or is discussing any other philosophical theme, then if his hearers utter trite and commonplace expressions of praise without reflection or restraint, if they shout too, if they gesticulate, if they are stirred and swayed and impassioned by the charm of his utterance, by the rhythm of his words, and by certain musical notes, as it were, then you may know that speaker and hearers are wasting their time, and that they are not hearing a philosopher's lecture, but a fluteplayer's recital.

 

 

Liber VI

 

3.52 Praeterea animadvertere est in tota ista Catonis oratione omnia disciplinarum rhetoricarum arma atque subsidia mota esse; sed non proinde ut in decursibus ludicris aut simulacris proeliorum voluptariis fieri videmus. Non enim, inquam, distincte nimis atque compte atque modulate res acta est, sed quasi in ancipiti certamine, cum sparsa acies est, multis locis Marte vario pugnatur, sic in ista tum causa Cato, cum superbia illa Rhodiensium famosissima multorum odio atque invidia flagraret, omnibus promisce tuendi atque propugnandi modis usus est et nunc ut optime meritos commendat, nunc tamquam si innocentes purgat, nunc, ne bona divitiaeque eorum expetantur, obiurgat, nunc, quasi sit erratum, deprecatur, nunc ut necessarios reipublicae ostentat, nunc clementiae, nunc mansuetudinis maiorum, nunc utilitatis publicae commonefacit.

 

It is further to be observed that throughout that speech of Cato's recourse is had to every weapon and device of the art rhetorical; but we are not conscious of their use, as we are in mock combats or in battles feigned for the sake of entertainment. For the case was not pleaded, I say, with an excess of refinement, elegance and observance of rule, but just as in a doubtful battle, when the troops are scattered, the contest rages in many parts of the field with uncertain outcome, so in that case at that time, when the notorious arrogance of the Rhodians had aroused the hatred and hostility of many men, Cato used every method of protection and defence without discrimination, at one time commending the Rhodians as of the highest merit, again exculpating them and declaring them blameless, yet again demanding that their property and riches should not be coveted, now asking for their pardon as if they were in the wrong, now pointing out their friendship to the commonwealth, appealing now to clemency, now to the mercy shown by our forefathers, now to the public interest.

 

 

Liber IX

 

6.0 Verbum, quod est ab "ago" frequentativum, in syllaba prima quonam sit modulo pronuntiandum

 

With what quantity the first syllable of the frequentative verb from ago should be pronounced

 

 

Liber XI

 

13.2 In eius orationis principio conlocata verba sunt accuratius modulatiusque quam veterum oratorum consuetudo fert.

 

At the beginning of that speech the sentences were constructed with more care and regard for rhythm than was customary with the early orators.

 

13.10 Haec ego" inquit "admonui, non ut C. Graccho vitio darem - dii enim mentem meliorem mihi! nam, si quicquam in tam fortis facundiae viro vitii vel erroris esse dici potest, id omne et auctoritas eius exhausit et vetustas consumpsit -, sed uti caveretis, ne vos facile praestringeret modulatus aliqui currentis facundiae sonitus atque ut vim ipsam rerum virtutemque verborum prius pensitaretis et, si quidem gravis atque integra et sincera sententia diceretur, tum, si ita videretur, gressibus quoque ipsis orationis et gestibus plauderetis, si vero frigidi et leves et futtiles sensus in verba apte numeroseque posita includerentur, non esse id secus crederetis, quam cum homines insigni deformitate ac facie deridicula imitantur histriones et gestiunt".

 

I have warned you of this," said he, "not with the idea of censuring Gaius Gracchus — may the gods give me a wiser mind! for if any fault or error can be mentioned in a man of such powerful eloquence, it is wholly excused by his authority and overlooked in view of his antiquity — but in order that you might be on your guard lest the rhythmic sound of any flowing eloquence should easily dazzle you, and that you might first balance the actual weight of the substance against the high quality of the diction; so that if any sentence was uttered that was weighty, honest and sound, then, if you thought best, you might praise also the mere flower of the language and the delivery; that if, on the contrary, thoughts that were cold, trifling and futile should be conveyed in words neatly and rhythmically arranged, they might have the same effect upon you as when men conspicuous for their deformity and their ludicrous appearance imitate actors and play the buffoon."

 

 

Liber XIII

 

21.11 Versus ex decimo hi sunt:

tres quoque Threicios Boreae de gente suprema

et tris, quos Idas pater et patria Ismara mittit.

"Tres" illic, "tris" hic; pensicula utrumque modulareque: reperies suo quidque in loco sonare aptissime.

 

These are the lines, from the tenth book of the „Aeneid“:

Three (tres) Thracians too from Boreas' distant race,

And three (tris) whom Idas sent from Ismarus' land.

In one place he has tres, in the other tris; weigh and ponder both, and you will find that each sounds most suitable in its own place.

 

21.16 Itidem in secunda simili usus modulamine "manifesto peccatu" inquit, non "peccato"; hoc enim scriptum in uno atque in altero antiquissimae fidei libro Tironiano repperi.

 

Also in his second „Oration against Verres“, making use of a like rhythm, he said "by an evident sin," using peccatu instead of peccato; for I find this written in one or two of Tiro's copies, of very trustworthy antiquity.

 

21.22-23 Sacerdotes quoque feminas M. Cicero "antistitas" dicit, non secundum grammaticam legem "antistites". Nam cum insolentias verborum a veteribus dictorum plerumque respueret, huius tamen verbi in ea parte sonitu delectatus: "Sacerdotes" inquit "Cereris atque illius fani antistitae".

Usque adeo in quibusdam neque rationem verbi neque consuetudinem, sed solam aurem secuti sunt suis verba modulis pensitantem.

 

Marcus Cicero calls even priests by a feminine term, antistitae, instead of antistites, which is demanded by the grammarians' rule. For while he usually avoided the obsolete words used by the earlier writers, yet in this passage, pleased with the sound of the word, he said: "The priests of Ceres and the guardians (antistitae) of her shrine."

To such a degree have writers in some cases followed neither reason nor usage in choosing a word, but only the ear, which weighs words according to its own standards.

 

25.9 Quid igitur" inquit Favorinus "valet haec repetitio instauratioque eiusdem rei sub alio nomine in "manubiis" et in "praeda"? num ornat, ut alioqui solet, orationem? num eam modulatiorem aptioremque reddit? num onerandi vel exprobrandi criminis causa exaggerationem aliquam speciosam facit? sicut in libro eiusdem M. Tulli, qui de constituendo accusatore est, una eademque res pluribus verbis vehementer atque atrociter dicitur: "Sicilia tota, si una voce loqueretur, hoc diceret: "quod auri, quod argenti, quod ornamentorum in meis urbibus, sedibus, delubris fuit" ". Nam cum urbes semel totas dixisset, sedes delubraque addidit, quae sunt ipsa quoque in urbibus.

 

"Pray," said Favorinus, "what force has this repetition and recapitulation of the same thing under another name in manubiae and praeda? It does not adorn the sentence, does it, as is sometimes the case? It does not make it more exact or more melodious, does it? Does it make an effective cumulation of words designed to strengthen the accusation or brand the crime? As, for example, in the speech of the same Marcus Tullius On the Appointment of an Accuser one and the same thing is expressed in several words with force and severity: 'All Sicily, if it could speak with one voice, would say this: "Whatever gold, whatever silver, whatever jewels I had in my cities, abodes and shrines.' " For having once mentioned the cities as a whole, he added 'abodes' and 'shrines,' which are themselves a part of the cities. Also in the same oration he says in a similar manner:

 

25.25 Nam neque ornatius fit additis manubiis neque exaggeratius modulatiusve; sed aliud omnino "praeda" est, ut in libris rerum verborumque veterum scriptum est, aliud "manubiae".

 

For by the addition of manubiae the sentence does not become more ornate, more forcible, or more euphonious; but manubiae means one thing, as we learn from the books on antiquities and on the early Latin, praeda quite another.

 

 

Liber XIV

 

4.0 Quod apte Chrysippus et graphice imaginem Iustitiae modulis coloribusque verborum depinxit.

 

 

Liber XVII

 

20.0 Verba sumpta ex Symposio Platonis numeris coagmentisque verborum scite modulateque apta exercendi gratia in Latinam orationem versa.

 

20.5 habesne nobis dicere in libris rhetorum vestrorum tam apte tamque modulate compositam orationem? sed hos" inquit "tamen numeros censeo videas hodou parergon.

 

20.7 Haec admonitio Tauri de orationis Platonicae modulis non modo non repressit, sed instrinxit etiam nos ad elegantiam Graecae orationis verbis Latinis adfectandam;

 

 

Liber XVIII

 

10.3 Eo Calvenus Taurus philosophus et alii quidam sectatores eius cum Athenis visendi mei gratia venissent, medicus, qui tum in his locis repertus adsidebat mihi, narrare Tauro coeperat, quid incommodi paterer et quibus modulis quibusque intervallis accederet febris decederetque.

 

 

Liber XIX

 

9.5 Oblectati autem sumus praeter multa alia versiculis lepidissimis Anacreontis senis, quos equidem scripsi, ut interea labor hic vigiliarum et inquies suavitate paulisper vocum atque modulorum adquiesceret: