[
31]
But the
man who does not believe that it is enough to fix
his eyes merely on his own age and his own transitory
life, but regards the space allotted for an honourable
life and the course in which glory's race is run as
conditioned solely by the memory of posterity, will
not rest content with a mere knowledge of the
events of history. No, it is from the thought of
posterity that he must inspire his soul with justice
and derive that freedom of spirit which it is his duty
to display when he pleads in the courts or gives
counsel in the senate. No man will ever be the
consummate orator of whom we are in quest unless
[p. 401]
he has both the knowledge and the courage to speak
in accordance with the promptings of honour.
III. Our orator will also require a knowledge of
civil law and of the custom and religion of the state
in whose life he is to bear his part. For how will he
be able to advise either in public or in private, if he
is ignorant of all the main elements that go to make
the state? How can he truthfully call himself an
advocate if he has to go to others to acquire that
knowledge which is all-important in the courts?
He will be little better than if he were a reciter of
the poets.
