He is a gentle, moderate man, imitating the usual customs, differing from those who are not eloquent in fact rather than in any of his opinions.  Therefore those who are his hearers, even though they themselves have no skill in speaking, still feel confident that they could speak in that manner.  For the subtlety of his address appears easy of imitation to a person who ventures on an opinion, but nothing is less easy when he comes to try it; for although it is not a style of any extraordinary vigour, still it has some juice, so that even though it is not endowed with the most extreme power, it is still, if I may use such an expression, in perfect health.  First of all, then, let us release it from the fetters of rhythm.  For there is, as you know, a certain rhythm to be observed by an orator, (and of that we will speak presently,) proceeding on a regular system; but though it must be attended to in another kind of oratory, it must be entirely abandoned in this.  This must be a sort of easy style, and yet not utterly without rules, so that it may seem to range at freedom, not to wander about licentiously.  He should also guard against appearing to cement his words together; for the hiatus formed by a concourse of open vowels has something soft about it, and indicates a not unpleasing negligence, as if the speaker were anxious more about the matter than the manner of his speech.  But as to other points, he must take care, especially as he is allowed more licence in these two,—­I mean the rounding of his periods, and the combination of his words; for those narrow and minute details are not to be dealt with carelessly.  But there is such a thing as a careful negligence; for as some women are said to be unadorned to whom that very want of ornament is becoming, so this refined sort of oratory is delightful even when unadorned.  For in each case a result is produced that the thing appears more beautiful, though the cause is not apparent.  Then every conspicuous ornament will be removed, even pearls; even curling-irons will be put away; and all medicaments of paint and chalk, all artificial red and white, will be discarded; only elegance and neatness will remain.  The language will be pure and Latin; it will be arranged plainly and clearly, and great care will be taken to see what is becoming.

XXIV.  One quality will be present, which Theophrastus calls the fourth in his praises of oratory;—­full of ornament, sweetness, and fluency.  Clever sentiments, extracted from I know not what secret store, will be brought out, and will exert their power in the speeches of this perfect orator.  There will be a moderate use of what I may call oratorical furniture; for there is to a certain degree what I may call our furniture, consisting of ornaments partly of things and partly of words.  But the ornaments consisting of words are twofold:  one kind consisting of words by themselves, the other consisting of them in combination.  The simple embellishment is approved of in the case