[g] This speech of Brutus is also lost with his other works.  Cicero says, he heard him plead the cause of Dejotarus with great elegance, and a flow of harmonious periods. Causam Dejotari, fidelissimi atque optimi regis, ornatissime et copiosissime a Bruto me audisse defensam.  De Claris Orat. s. 21.  He tells us in another place, that Caesar observed of Brutus, that whatever he desired, he desired with ardour; and therefore, in the cause of Dejotarus, he exerted himself with warmth, with vehemence, and great freedom of language. Quidquid vult, valde vult; ideoque, cum pro rege Dejotaro dixerit, valde vehementer eum visum, et libere dicere.  Ad Attic. lib. xiv. ep. 1.  The same Dejotarus was afterwards defended by Cicero before Caesar himself.  See the Oration pro Rege Dejotaro.

[h] See what is said of Asinius Pollio, s. xii. note [e].

[i] Pliny the younger has the same metaphorical allusions, which we here find in the Dialogue.  Speaking of the difference between the oratorial and historical style; the latter, he says, may be content with the bones, the muscles, and the nerves; the former must have the prominence of the flesh, the brawny vigour, and the flowing mane. Habent quidem oratio et historia multa communia, sed plura diversa in his ipsis, quae communia videntur.  Narrat sane illa, narrat haec, sed aliter.  Huic pleraque humilia, et sordida, et ex medio petita:  illi omnia recondita, splendida, excelsa conveniunt.  Hanc saepius ossa, musculi, nervi; illam tori quidam, et quasi jubae decent. Lib. v. ep. 8.

[k] Messala Corvinus has been often mentioned.  See for him s. xii. note [e].

Section XXII.

[a] The words sententia and sensus were technical terms with the critics of antiquity.  Quintilian gives the distinct meaning of each, with his usual precision.  According to the established usage, the word sensus signified our ideas or conceptions, as they rise in the mind:  by sententia was intended, a proposition, in the close of a period, so expressed, as to dart a sudden brilliancy, for that reason called lumen orationis.  He says, these artificial ornaments, which the ancients used but sparingly, were the constant practice of the modern orators. Consuetudo jam tenuit, ut mente concepta, SENSUS vocaremus; lumina autem, praecipueque in clausulis posita, SENTENTIAS. Quae minus crebra apud antiquos, nostris temporibus modo carent. Lib. viii. cap. 5.  These luminous sentences, Quintilian says, may be called the eyes of an oration; but eyes are not to be placed in every part, lest the other members should lose their function. Ego vero haec lumina orationis velut oculos quosdam esse eloquentiae credo:  sed neque oculos esse toto corpore velim, ne caetera membra suum officium perdant. Lib. viii, cap. 5.  As Cowley says,

     Jewels at nose and lips but ill appear;
     Rather than all things, wit let none be there.