manner, or when that which may be of benefit to the speaker is stated in an obscure or careless way.  Wherefore, in order that this fault may be avoided, everything ought to be converted by the speaker to the advantage of his own cause by passing over all things which make against it which can be passed over, by touching lightly on those points which are beneficial to the adversary, and by relating those which are advantageous to himself carefully and clearly.  And now we seem to have said enough about narration.  Let us now pass on in regular order to the arrangement of the different topics.

XXII An arrangement of the subjects to be mentioned in an argument, when properly made, renders the whole oration clear and intelligible.  There are two parts in such a division, each of which is especially connected with the opening of the cause, and with the arrangement of the whole discussion.  One part is that which points out what are the particulars as to which one is in agreement with the opposite party, and also what remains in dispute; and from this there is a certain definite thing pointed out to the hearer, as that to which he should direct his attention.  The other part is that in which the explanation of those matters on which we are about to speak, is briefly arranged and pointed out.  And this causes the hearer to retain certain things in his mind, so as to understand that when they have been discussed the speech will be ended.  At present it seems desirable to mention briefly how it is proper to use each kind of arrangement.  And this arrangement points out what is suitable and what is not suitable; its duty is to turn that which is suitable to the advantage of its own side, in this way—­“I agree with the opposite party as to the fact, that a mother has been put to death by her son.”  Again, on the other side.—­“We are both agreed that Agamemnon was slain by Clytaemnestra” For in saying this each speaker has laid down that proposition which was suitable, and nevertheless has consulted the advantage of his own side.

In the next place, what the matter in dispute is must be explained, when we come to mention the examination into the excuses which are alleged.  And how that is managed has been already stated.

But the arrangement which embraces the properly distributed explanation of the facts, ought to have brevity, completeness, conciseness.  Brevity is when no word is introduced which is not necessary.  This is useful in this sort of speaking, because it is desirable to arrest the attention of the hearer by the facts themselves and the real divisions of the case, and not by words or extraneous embellishments of diction.  Completeness is that quality by which we embrace every sort of argument which can have any connexion with the case concerning which we have got to speak, and in this division we must take care not to omit any useful topic, not to introduce any such too late, out of its natural place, for that is the most pernicious and